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What To Expect At Apple’s Upcoming “Wonderlust” Event
Tuesday’s big event will include a new range of iPhones, Apple Watches, and more.
Even though we’re all pretty used to Apple’s yearly iPhone reveals, it’s hard not to get excited when the Cupertino company drops the date for its annual fall press conference.
This year, the September 12 event will be known as “Wonderlust” and will herald the arrival of the latest iPhone 15 series, comprising the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Along with new smartphones, the electronics giant may announce a slew of other products, though pundits are reasonably confident that we can only expect minor Apple Watch and Airpod upgrades.
Here’s what we know so far:
iPhone 15 Models
The biggest news about this year’s iPhone 15 upgrade is that all models will likely lose their Lightning Connectors in place of USB-C. Apple will almost certainly tout the benefits of the industry-standard connector, but the reality is that the European Union has forced the company to comply with its legislation on electronic waste.
Renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that only the higher-end Pro models will get the faster USB-C data transfer speeds and 35W charging, with “lesser” models throttled to USB 2.0 levels.
Meanwhile, the screen sizes of the various devices will likely remain the same as last year’s models. That means a 6.1-inch screen for the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro and 6.7-inch displays for the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro Max (which may be renamed “Ultra”). ProMotion 120Hz variable refresh rates will almost certainly remain exclusive to the high-end models.
Dynamic Island — the display cutout that premiered on the iPhone 14 Pro models — is expected to carry over to all handsets for the iPhone 15. However, Pro models could receive a premium upgrade in the form of a titanium chassis with thinner screen bezels.
We’ve also seen leaks of dummy iPhone 15 handsets in the last few days. These replicas are used by case manufacturers to produce products of the correct size before the launch of the real thing. So far, journalists have noticed rounded corners that give an “Apple Watch look” to the iPhone 15. Meanwhile, Pro models also look like they will benefit from a programmable Apple-watch-esq “Action Button” that will replace the mute switch.
Regarding camera upgrades, we expect iterative changes to this year’s phones. However, many experts believe that the iPhone 15 Pro Max (or Ultra) will sport a brand-new periscope lens with an optical zoom that doubles the capability of the existing model.
Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra And AirPods
As for the rest of Apple’s lineup, we’re expecting only minor updates. It’s doubtful we’ll see new iPads or Macs, but Apple Watches will likely receive a slight processor and feature spec bump, while Airpods may be upgraded to USB-C to match the new iPhones.
Software Updates
One final thing worth sticking around for will be Apple’s software announcement. We expect to hear details of iOS 17, WatchOS 10 and perhaps even iPadOS 17.
iOS 17 will include a new StandBy mode, voicemail transcriptions, FaceTime video voicemails, contact posters, NameDrop and more. WatchOS 10 will see a more significant update with big changes to the control scheme and a customizable stack of easy-to-view widgets.
News
Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024
The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.