There’s less than a month until Apple’s big September event, where the Cupertino company is expected to announce a whole host of new products. We’re expecting at least four new iPhones, the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. We should also get a good look at the Apple Watch Series 10 and possibly a revamp of Apple’s earbuds, the Airpods 4 and perhaps the Apple Airpods Max 2.
Compared to its competitors Samsung and Google, Apple tends to be a tighter ship when it comes to rumors. But that doesn’t mean their boat is airtight.
We’ve compiled seven of the most important rumors we’ve uncovered to give you an idea of what to expect when Apple finally unveils the next generation of iPhone and other devices.
Top rumors about the iPhone 16
Larger screens for iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max
Apple is really planning big things this year, as there have been several rumors that the size of the iPhone 16 Pro phones is increasing. The regular iPhone 16 Pro is said to grow from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches, making it more of a mid-sized phone.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is said to be 6.9 inches, which would be a pretty big jump from the 6.7 inches of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. For comparison, the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL are both 6.8 inches, so the new iPhone 16 Pro Max would be the largest flagship in the US that isn’t a foldable device.
Lights, cameras, record button
We’ve heard conflicting rumors about this, but it’s clear that Apple is reportedly adding what it calls a capture button to at least some iPhone 16 models. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, this dedicated camera button would work just like a rear camera. When you press the button halfway down, you activate autofocus, and when you press it all the way down, you take a photo.
It gets even more interesting. Swiping your finger across the capture button will allow you to zoom in and out when taking photos and videos. We would expect Apple to add this feature to the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, but it could very well end up on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus.
No price increase (maybe)
For most of the summer, it felt like every tech company, from streamers to manufacturers, had agreed to raise prices. A recent rumor suggests that Apple will keep the iPhone price unchanged, with only a slight increase on the iPhone 16 Pro.
The base model of each iPhone 16 is expected to remain the same. As with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple could reduce the storage capacity from 128GB for the iPhone 16 Pro, which would increase the price by $100 to $1,099.
Rumors about the Apple Watch Series 10
Larger displays
2024 is apparently the year that Apple will make big strides in all of its products, as rumors suggest that the Apple Watch Series 10 will see the biggest design change since the Apple Watch 7. Rumor has it that there will be two versions, increasing the size of the Apple Watch to 45mm and 49mm compared to the current 41mm and 45mm sizes.
If the renderings are to be believed, the Apple Watch 10’s display could be 2 inches, making it the largest Apple Watch ever. Despite the display increase, it could still be smaller than the 1.93-inch Apple Watch Ultra, with thinner bezels.
Detection of sleep apnea and high blood pressure
If Apple manages to integrate sleep apnea detection and blood pressure monitoring into the Apple Watch 10, that will be a big reason to get Apple’s next smartwatch. Unfortunately, this feature is still uncertain, so it’s a matter of luck whether we’ll see these features in the new watch or not.
Reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggest that neither feature performed well in testing. Sleep apnea is also linked to blood oxygen saturation monitoring, a feature Apple couldn’t get around as it was sued by Masimo Corp for patent infringement.
Unless Apple has found a workaround for both features, we may not see them until next year. However, conflicting reports suggest the features will roll out this year.
Rumors about Apple Airpods 4
Two new versions on the way
Apple hasn’t updated the original AirPods since the third generation was released in 2021. However, reports suggest we’ll see a pair of new AirPods during Apple’s September event. Reportedly, Apple wants to release a more budget-friendly set to replace the AirPods 2, which Apple has kept around as a cheaper option and successor to the AirPods 3.
The big difference between the two possible versions, aside from the price, is ANC. The more expensive AirPods 3 sequel is said to offer active noise cancellation, which currently only the AirPods Max and AirPods Pro models have.
