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Apple Inc. (AAPL. US) will hold its annual autumn product launch event on September 9th (1am Beijing time on September 10th) at its headquarters in Cupertino, California, and is expected to introduce its latest iPhone and Apple Watch series.
IPhone 17 series
The most anticipated product of this press conference is undoubtedly Apple's highly anticipated iPhone 17 Air. Its body thickness is only 5.5 millimeters, much thinner than the standard version of the iPhone at 7.8 millimeters and the Pro version at 8.3 millimeters. According to Apple columnist Mark Gurman, this lightweight design may come at a cost: the model may only be equipped with a single wide-angle camera, rather than the standard dual camera or Pro triple camera system.
The report also stated that the model will be equipped with a smaller capacity battery, which may affect the battery life performance unless Apple achieves energy efficiency breakthroughs through software optimization. This may lead to sales obstacles as consumers typically prefer multi camera and large battery phones. IDC Senior Research Director Nabila Poplar pointed out that Samsung's ultra-thin model Galaxy S25 Edge, launched earlier this year, failed to become a high-volume product.
But the iPhone 17 Air may also become the blueprint for Apple's foldable phone. Gurman said that Apple will launch a foldable iPhone in 2026, and Samsung has previously adopted a similar strategy - first launching the S25 Edge to test the waters, and then releasing the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in July. This foldable phone, which is so thin that it can hardly accommodate the USB-C interface, is currently selling well, with Samsung reporting a 50% increase in sales compared to its predecessor.
In addition to the iPhone 17 Air, Apple will also release a standard version of the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and a larger Pro Max. The Air model will replace the weakest selling main model Plus version. Gurman revealed that the 17 Air and standard version 17 will be equipped with a new A19 processor, while the Pro series will use the A19 Pro chip.
According to analyst Jeff Pu's report cited by Apple news website MacRumors, the iPhone 17 Pro series will upgrade its telephoto lens and redesign its camera protrusion structure to enhance differentiation from the current 16 Pro. In addition, the screen size of the standard version iPhone 17 will increase from 6.1 inches in the 16th generation to 6.3 inches. Wall Street analysts predict that new products will increase in price, with Air models possibly rising by $50 to $100.
wearable devices
Apple will also launch the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3. Series 11 is expected to have no significant improvements except for a possible processor upgrade, as Series 10 has been updated with a larger screen; The Ultra 3 may add a satellite SMS function for use in case of hiking distress and be equipped with a larger screen. The entry-level Apple Watch SE will also receive a new version.
Finally, Apple may launch a new AirPods Pro 3 with heart rate monitoring function - which has been applied to the PowerBeats Pro 2 earphones, and it is logical to port it to the classic product line this time.
More details will be revealed when Apple CEO Tim Cook steps onto the Cupertino press conference stage on September 9th. |
