Apple has announced their annual September keynote where they've historically announced the next generation iPhones and more. To celebrate, we decided to wrap up all the rumors and tell you what to expect.
Two new iPhones
We expect to see two new iPhones unveiled at the press conference- the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. It would be safe to assume that the overall external design will stay the same, as Apple is on an 'S year' with their popular smartphone, but there are some smaller features that we can expect.
The most widely accepted rumor is that the new iPhone will feature Force Touch, which is currently only featured on the Apple Watch and latest MacBook trackpads. Force Touch is used to sense how hard a user is pushing on the screen and adds a variety of new input options that exceed on-screen controls.
Also expected is that the new iPhones will come in a Rose Gold color option. Currently, the only Apple product with that option is the Apple Watch Edition, but this is expected to change this year - although the phone will not be constructed of real gold like the Watch is. The iPhone will keep the original color options of Silver, Gold, and Space Gray.
The new iPhones will reportedly feature a 12mp camera, a 50% increase from the 8mp the iPhone has featured since the introduction of the iPhone 4S. However, this isn't as impressive after considering that many new Android phones now pack a 16mp camera. Nonetheless, the technology in Apple's shooters never disappoints.
It is also rumored to be able to record 4K video, a large upgrade from the 1080p recording that Apple has also stuck with since the iPhone 4S.
The front camera will reportedly feature a flash - however, instead of a light flashing on the front, the screen will flash. Also, we expect panorama and 720p slo-mo capability for the front camera.
Also, according to leaked photos of the alleged boxes for the new devices, the iPhone 6s will have a 1,715 mAh battery (down from the iPhone 6’s 1,800 mAh battery) and the iPhone 6s Plus will have a 2,750 mAh battery (down from the iPhone 6 Plus’s 2,910 mAh battery).
The leaks of the box feature a photo of a Japanese Koi Fish, which leads us to belive that the new iPhones will feature 'motion wallpapers', similarly to the Apple Watch. The leaks additionally show that there will be a 16gb model - something that was previously ruled out.
A new iPad (or three)
Apple is rumored to be releasing at least one new iPad this year. However, it is unknown if it will be the iPad mini 4, the iPad Air 3, or both.
The mini 4 is rumored to feature the exact same components as the iPad Air 2, but be a bit thicker at 6.3mm thin. The Air 2's thickness is 6.1 mm thin.
Other rumors state that this year will mark the end of the mini era, with no new mini to be expected. Reports claim that Apple feels that the "phablet" market has overtaken the "mini tablet" market and has decided to put an end to the iPad mini.
Also rumored are the Air 3 and all-new iPad Pro. Nothing too new is expected for the new iPad Air except maybe a new Rose Gold color option and Force Touch capability, and it will be interesting to see if a Pro option is unveiled at long last.
All-new Apple TV
For the first time since 2012, it looks likely that we will see a new Apple TV. The new set-top box is reported to come with an A8 chip, a touchpad remote, Siri voice control, and, most notably, a new OS with an iOS 9 core.
The new OS is reported to look like iOS 9, with a white-based background rather than the former black-based background. The new OS will apparently keep the same scrolling navigation on the home screen, but the look and feel will be similar otherwise.
What won't be unveiled
We probably won't see the iPhone 6c or the iPad Pro until later this year.
The 6c is expected to have the externals of the 5c with the internals of the 6. It is expected to share the dimensions of the 5c, which means it is likely that cases from the 5c will cycle over. However, it is unknown if it will remain plastic and if it doesn't, it will not have the same color options.
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is expected to have a Force Touch display, an IR Port, a 5K 1080p display, and the first ever Apple Stylus.
We can also expect the absence of a Web TV service for the Apple TV. The box was reportedly initially set for a June release, but Apple reportedly pushed it back so its' new OS could be released alongside iOS 9. As stated above, the new Apple TV OS is reported to feature an iOS 9 core.
Stay tuned to @VAVEL_Tech on Twitter for coverage leading up to Apple's September 9 event.
Jack Griffin is a writer for the VAVEL USA Technology and Music sections. Follow him on Twitter at @jacksonlgriffin.
