Apple iPhone 17 event — here’s the 7 new products expected to launch on ‘Awe Dropping’ day

We’re just days away from Apple’s ‘Awe Dropping’ event on September 9, where the company’s expected to reveal the iPhone 17. While there’s also growing anticipation for an iPhone 17 Air to reinvent the modern flagship phone design, the event will also be a showcase opportunity for Apple to share all the other devices it’s been rumored to be working on for the last year.

Last year’s event gives us clues to what to expect at the next iPhone 17 event. From go-to devices like the iPhone 17 Pro Max to a refreshed Apple Watch 11, there’s certainly a lot that Apple could show off — along with some other surprises that might be off the radar. Perhaps we could even see a new HomePod?

You also don’t want to forget to check out our Apple iPhone 17 event live blog that will have the most up-to-date details on everything Apple-related. Using all the rumors, we’ll explain here what new products are tipped for a reveal.

Apple iPhone 17

(Image credit: Apple/ Digitpatrox)

Even with the addition of the iPhone 16e to the lineup earlier this year, there’s still likely a fair amount of upgrades in store for the base iPhone 17 model to differentiate it enough. One of the most notable possible upgrades includes a 120Hz display, which is one of the biggest things we’ve pointed out with our iPhone 16 review. In 2025, all flagship caliber phones that start out at around $799 should have 120Hz display refresh rates. This would result in smoother animations and better responsiveness with the interface, while the gaming experience would also get a big boost.

Secondly, it appears that Apple’s going to be increasing the size of its display from 6.1 inches in the current iPhone 16 to 6.3 inches with the iPhone 17. Paired with a 120Hz refresh rate, this new display will certainly be much more inviting — but Apple will need to trim down the bezels to keep it as one-handed friendly as possible.

Selfie fans will also rejoice because it’s tipped that the front-facing camera is jumping up to 24MP, which would be double the 12MP that’s been in place since the iPhone 11. Add in the possibility that it’ll also have a six-element lens, and your selfies could look better than ever before, including under low lighting conditions.

Other improvements tipped for the iPhone 17 are a boost to its charging speed. Although 35W might not seem speedy compared to what some of the best Android phones offer, it would be a substantial step up over the current 20W charging speed.

Apple iPhone 17 Air

Out of all the devices expected to be shown off at the Apple event, the iPhone 17 Air is without question the one that everyone is anticipated to see the most. That’s because it could be a big shakeup to the way Apple designs its iPhones going forward, as it’s tipped to measure in at 5.5mm at its thinnest point — which would be ever so skinnier than the current Galaxy S25 Edge.

Surely all eyes will be on its design, but the iPhone 17 Air is rumored to still get the same 24MP selfie camera and faster 35W charging speed like its siblings. Apparently, it’ll also be the only model in the lineup to lean on Apple’s C1 modem — which is reportedly due to try and save as much space as possible for the phone.

Of course, it’s tipped to run the new A19 chip, but Apple will really need to optimize its chipset if it intends to offer all-day battery life from its rumored 2,900 mAh battery cell. It’ll also be interesting to see how it handles gaming, mainly because it’s reportedly getting one fewer graphics core than the Pro models.

And finally, all the rumors thus far hint at just a single 48MP rear camera on the back of the iPhone 17 Air. Many are divided about this, especially given how cameras factor heavily into the decision of buying a new phone. It certainly won’t have the utility of the iPhone 17 Pros.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max

Both the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max have a tough road ahead of themselves if they intend to earn that best phone title, but the rumors make it very promising. First and foremost, Apple’s expected to refresh their designs by introducing a new two-toned color scheme — along with stretching out the camera arrangement on the back.

The main differences between the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max this time could simply come down to their sizes, which has always been the case, and their battery life. That’s because they’re both expected to be powered by Apple’s A19 Pro chip, which is reportedly being made using a new 3nm manufacturing process. The previous A18 Pro has proven to be a juggernaut, as well as power efficient, so it’ll be intriguing to see what new levels of performance the A19 Pro can achieve.

Speaking of performance, Apple’s also rumored to introduce a vapor chamber to help keep its phones cool under pressure. A recent leaked diagram of this new vapor chamber shows how large this chamber is, which would transform the heat buildup around the processor and RAM to vapor, and then move away from those critical components.

And finally, an upgraded 48MP telephoto camera should put the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max in a strong spot for earning that best camera phone title. However, there’s still debate around what kind of optical zoom Apple’s going to give it. So far, the rumors hint at it dropping to 3.5x because of the upgraded sensor — while another report says it could be as much as 8x.

Regardless of what ends up happening, the entire iPhone 17 lineup is reportedly going to cost more, as the rumors hint at $50 price hikes across the board.

Apple Watch 11

Just like its iPhones, its wearables are tipped for their annual refresh, and the Apple Watch 11 is no exception. The company already announced the return of blood oxygen reading with current models that support it, but the Apple Watch 11 is tipped to get a few new hardware changes.

While the physical design won’t change, it’s rumored to feature a more power-efficient display — either an LPTO or Micro-LED display. This could mean a more pixel-dense screen for the Apple Watch 11, increased brightness, and even extended battery life.

Rumors include an upgraded S11 SiP and high blood pressure detection.

Sadly, the possibility of an on-board camera is slated for the Apple Watch Series 12, so we’ll need to wait for that upgrade.

Another upgrade tipped for the Apple Watch 11 is switching from 4G LTE connectivity to faster 5G connectivity. Unlike the iPhones, the Apple Watch 11 doesn’t appear to be getting any price increases.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

Being the higher-end version, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to bring even more features than the Apple Watch 11. For starters, its display is tipped to increase to 2.12 inches — while somehow sporting a thinner chassis. That display could also be even more detailed, as leaks suggest the resolution is going up to 422 x 514 pixels.

Other hardware upgrades also include the latest S10 chip to power it, satellite connectivity for messaging, and even longer battery life. The Ultra 3 is also likely to get high blood pressure detection.

Of course, there are other features already with the watchOS 26 beta release, but Apple could always introduce other features, like Apple Intelligence ones tailored for the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

There’s no indication yet that its price could be increased, so expect it to be at $799 just like the two past models.

Apple Watch SE 3

For those who won’t want to spend a fortune on a smartwatch, there’s been a report that hints at a surprising price drop for the Apple Watch SE 3. The last and most recent version costs $249, so making it cheaper than that would be a big deal.

Even though it won’t make the utility that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 would offer, the Apple Watch SE 3 is slated to get the same S11 chip rumored to power the Apple Watch 11. Naturally, there won’t be as many health-related features, but there’s a remote possibility for it to gain sleep apnea detection and ECG tracking.

AirPods Pro 3

Apple’s last iPhone 16 event revealed an updated AirPods 4, which gained active noise cancellation. However, Apple could introduce the AirPods Pro 3 at its upcoming ‘Awe Dropping’ event.

Not only is it tipped for a new design, but this best wireless earbuds contender is reportedly going to have a touchscreen on its charging case. This would allow for quick functions such as controlling music playback and active noise cancellation, instead of having to access them on your iPhone.

Speaking of noise cancellation, it should get a noticeable improvement — while a new H3 processor could also help boost its battery life. What’s also equally interesting is a report about it packing an infrared camera for gesture controls and other functions. Essentially, users could use air gestures for specific controls rather than squeezing on the stems.

And given how iOS 26 brings Live Translation, the AirPods Pro 3 could inherently offer this feature as well for instant translation when conversing with someone speaking a different language.

5 more Apple Products ‘Coming Soon’

Those are the devices that have a strong chance of being introduced at Apple’s event in a matter of days. However, there’s still a bunch more that could also be debuted — with some having a good chance. Here’s what else could be coming soon:

HomePod 3: It’s been more than a couple of years now since the launch of the HomePod 2, but the HomePod 3 could be a totally different kind of Siri-powered smart speaker. That’s because it could come along with an integrated screen of some kind, and act a lot like Amazon’s 3rd-gen Echo Show 10 display by swirling around.
AirTag 2: Given the popularity of the AirTag and its helpfulness in guiding people to their lost items, the AirTag 2 could finally be introduced more than four years after the original. This updated model is believed to offer triple the range with Precision Finding, so that could put the AirTag 2 at upwards of 300 feet of range.
Apple TV 4K: The first 4K-equipped Apple TV streaming box was released in 2022, but this updated model could feature the same A19 chip as the iPhone 17, Wi-Fi 7 support, and an Apple-designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip. There’s also a rumor suggesting it could have a built-in camera as well.
HomePod Mini 2: It’s long overdue, especially when the first one was released in 2020, but the HomePod Mini 2 could finally be introduced at Apple’s event. There haven’t been a whole lot of leaks indicating what changes we’ll see, with only a report about an improved Siri experience with the diminutive-sized smart speaker.
iPhone Fold: All fingers point at a 2026 launch for Apple’s first foldable device. The iPhone Fold has long been rumored, first to be a flip-style phone and now likely to be a notebook-styled one, but it could be the one more thing teaser we could see at the close of Apple’s event.