Tech Radar

What to expect at the Apple September Event 2023: iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and more

September 11, 2023

We are now but a day away from the next big Apple event, which is taking place on September 12. It's on that day that we expect to see the iPhone 15 lineup get officially revealed, dispelling the myriad of rumors around the next-generation Apple phones, including chatter about price increases. 

Alongside the iPhones, we expect to see the Apple Watch 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2; the strapline of the event is “Wonderlust” which we posit could be about adventuring and using Apple Watches to do so. But we don't expect to see any MacBooks or many other Apple products (the AirPods could get a new USB-C case), as they could be revealed at a separate event in October. 

Apple's last big event was WWDC 2023, where we saw new MacBooks and the Vision Pro, Apple's mixed-reality headset. While that event was focused more on Apple's software and move into augmented and virtual reality hardware, the September showcase is expected to be laser-focused on iPhones and pure consumer tech. 

So read on for everything you need to know about the next Apple event and what we expect to see. 

When is the next Apple event?

  • September 12 
  • Expect an in-person event for media and a streamed showcase

Apple has announced its next event will be held on September 12, and comes with the strapline “Wonderlust.”  

What this might entail is open to interpretation, but it could be a reference to new Apple Watch features that put an emphasis on exploration and adventuring. It could also be tied to the rumored 6x optical zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which could let users get closer to a subject than ever before and thus encourage exploration, 

What could be announced at the 2023 Apple September Event?

A suggestion iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra in darkness with a question mark across each one

  • The iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • Expect to see the Apple Watch 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2
  • Apple could quietly kill the iPhone 13 mini

The iPhone is the *ahem* apple of Apple's eyes, and as such, will be taking center stage at this event. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max — though the latter may end up being called the iPhone 15 Ultra, if rumors are to be believed.

With the new iPhones, many changes are expected. Apple is suspected to install USB-C in all its iPhones in response to EU regulations. The Dynamic Island is tipped to make it over from the iPhone 14 Pro to all iPhone 15 models, along with a 48MP camera sensor and an A16 for the standard phones and an A17 Bionic chip for the Pro versions. Somewhat disappointingly, a high refresh rate display hasn't been tipped for the iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus; arguably unacceptable given many of the best Android phones have 90Hz displays. 

The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have been the subject of more serious rumored upgrades beyond a new chip and USB-C connectivity. Both phones are expected to pick up much thinner bezels, heavier frames due to a new construction, and ultra-fast charging that could outpace what Google places in the Pixel 8. 

But the iPhone 15 Pro Max could steal the show by offering a new periscope telephoto camera that can deliver a 6x optical zoom, surpassing the 3x zoom of the iPhone 14 Pro Max. That won't challenge the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in terms of pure optical zoom range, but 6x is arguably a more usable telephoto zoom range for a smartphone. 

As a result of new iPhones launching, we could see older Apple phones get a price cut. But the launch could also spell the end of the iPhone 13 mini, a smaller Apple phone that never really took off in the same way as other iPhones. 

Apple could also debut the Apple Watch Series 9, as well as an Apple Watch Ultra sequel, at its September event. The former has been tipped to get a bigger display and more powerful chips, but broadly be similar to the Apple Watch 8, while the Apple Watch Ultra 2 could sport a 2.1-inch Micro LED screen. 

What not to expect at the next Apple Event?

15-inch MacBook Air on wooden table at home

(Image credit: Future)
  • A new iPad Pro 
  • A new iPad Air 
  • A new Macbook Air 
  • A new iPad in general

With Apple's fall events, it is always possible that the company debuts a new iPad mini or something at its iPhone launch. However, in recent years, the Apple has preferred to have its larger screen devices take their own stage. This means either in the first few months of the year, sometime around March, or around October in the latter half when iPads and MacBooks have their say.

Could we see an iPad mini update too? It's certainly possible. Plausible? Well, let's just say stick to iPhones and watches, and you won't be disappointed.

How to watch the Apple September event online

The Apple September Wonderlust event takes place on Tuesday, September 12. It will start at 10am PT / 1am ET / 6pm BST, which is Wednesday, September 13 at 3am AEST for Australia.  

The event will be livestreamed on Apple’s website. It will also be available to watch on YouTube. For more details, check out our how to watch the Apple September event guide. 

What happened at the last Apple Event?

Apple Vision Pro

(Image credit: Apple)
  • iOS 17: Macbook Pro and Mac Mini with the new chip
  • MacOS Sonoma: Serious performance in the Macbook Pro
  • Apple Vision Pro: The much-rumored Apple glasses finally debuted

Apple's last event was at WWDC where it announced iOS 17, macOS Sonoma, watchOS 10, and more. The company's updates to iOS and macOS bring interactive widgets, enhanced safety features, new sharing connections with NameDrop and Contact Posters, and more.

More significantly than that, Apple launched the new, much-rumored headset, and we got to go hands-on with the Apple Vision Pro. Of all the company's products to emerge this year, this has been the most fascinating. TechRadar's Lance Ulanoff  said: “[My] experiences with Apple's stunning Apple Vision Pro spatial computing headset […] convinced me I'd just experienced the true future of VR.” Perhaps the rumored iPhone 15 Ultra may elicit that reaction too. 

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