Apple event 2021: new iPhone 13, but there’s more

It’s official: next week, on September 14, there’s an Apple event. The eyes are mainly focused on the new iPhone 13 series that will be announced then. But Apple undoubtedly has a lot more to say! In this article you can read what our expectations are for the Apple event in September 2021.

Apple event September 2021 expectations

Apple sent out the invitation to the iPhone 13 event yesterday. It takes place on Tuesday, September 14.

We expect it to be a digital event again, something Apple has made a habit of during the pandemic. Not a live event with a large audience and various media, but a pre-recorded show with Tim Cook in the lead role. The theme of the evening is ‘California streaming’, and that seems to be a nod to the fact that we are still at home en masse tuning in to Apple streaming the video from its home base California. But what does Apple have in store for us?

iPhone 13

Last year, the new iPhone 12 did not appear until much later in the fall. But the iPhone 13 is back on schedule for a September release. Or ‘iPhone 13’ … actually we should say: ‘iPhone 13 series’, because we expect the new iPhone 13 in various shapes and sizes. First, a small and a large entry-level model (the iPhone 13 mini and the iPhone 13), secondly, a small and a large luxury model (the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max).

Reportedly, the iPhone 13 has almost the same design as the iPhone 12, but with a smaller notch (the bite from the screen). The arrangement of the camera lenses also differs slightly.

New features are a much improved camera and a ProMotion display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. The battery is getting bigger, a faster A15 Bionic chip is coming in and the fast form of 5G is coming to many more countries. Also new is satellite communication with which you can send an emergency signal if you do not have mobile coverage. It is not yet clear which of the features are exclusive to the Pro models.

Apple Watch Series 7

We also expect a new Apple Watch Series 7 next week. For the first time since 2018, Apple’s smart watch is getting a new design. The case is slightly larger: 41 and 45 mm, now it is still 40 and 44 mm. And the watch is going to look more like recent iPhones and iPads, getting flat bezels and a flat screen.

The Apple Watch has some interesting health features, but no new ones are expected to be added this year. However, existing functions will be improved. Think of the sensor that measures the oxygen level in your blood, or the sensor that registers your heart rhythm.

According to the latest rumors, the Apple Watch is dealing with production problems. The Apple Watch Series 7 may have limited availability immediately after release, or it may not be in stores until weeks after the keynote.

AirPods 3

Because of the theme of the evening, California Streaming, we now have the song California Dreaming in our head all the time. We may be able to stream that to the new AirPods 3 soon!

The third generation of the regular AirPods gets a redesign: shorter stems, different ears, a wider charging box. The earbuds are therefore much more like the AirPods Pro. True Pro features like noise cancellation and different fits are probably something you should miss. Still, we expect the AirPods 3 to sound better than the previous generation, and that they are suitable for spatial audio, for example.

iOS 15 release date

At the earlier Apple event of this year, the WWDC, we were already introduced to iOS 15 and the other operating systems. Next week we’ll hear about the official release date of iOS 15. The release dates of the other operating systems – iPadOS 15, watchOS 8 and perhaps macOS Monterey – will also be announced. The updates will soon bring various improvements to all your Apple devices – they will feel like new again.

(G)an iPad

We are still in doubt about this one, and that is why it is the last. It seems almost certain that an iPad will appear this fall. But when exactly? It could very well be next week, but we’re certainly not ruling out an iPad event later this year.

It is also still unclear which iPad it is. An unexciting ‘normal’ iPad? Or an iPad mini, which will be given a completely new design à la the iPad Pro? We’ll see next week – otherwise, there’s something to look forward to later this fall.