Apple’s ‘Awe dropping’ event is just a few days away. On 10 September 2025 at 5:00AM Tim Cook will, no doubt, kick off another pre-recorded set of announcements about new software and hardware. So, what can we expect next week?
1. A stack of software announcements
I could pad this list out with a separate item for each operating systems release but there’s no doubt Apple will announce the dates for the official release of:
- iOS 26
- macOS Tahoe 26
- iPadOS 26
- tvOS 26
- visionOS 26
- watchOS 26
For most users, the big change will be the shift to Apple’s new Liquid Glass design language. It gives a more three-dimensional appearance to the user experience. Items like each boxes, address bars and toolbars disappear when not needed and reappear when you tap on or scroll to the right spots and the corners of dialog boxes are more rounded with some rearrangement of where things are placed.
2. New iPhones
Apple has four new iPhones that are ready for release but only three will make their debut next week. We’ll see the
- iPhone 17
- iPhone 17 Pro (which will come in two versions with different display sizes)
- iPhone 17 Air
The iPhone 17e, an upgrade to the iPhone 16e that was introduced in February 2025 will be held back until 2026.
We can expect pre-orders to be opened later next week with general availability to follow.
3. Apple Watch refresh
There’s a strong possibility the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 will make their debut.
There have been rumours that Apple is preparing a significant redesign of the Apple Watch but it seems that the 2025 release will not make a significant change to the form factor. There will be a bump in processor capability. This is especially important for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 as version 2 only received a very superficial update last year with the release of a black casing option and support for a couple of new gestures.
Last year’s Apple Watch Series 10 managed to eke out a little bit of extra screen real estate without increasing size by reducing the bezels. We can expect a similar trick with the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
4. Faster Vision Pro
The Vision Pro has not been a strong seller for Apple. Which is probably why we’re likely to see a cheaper Vision Air in the next year or so.
But until then, we’ll have to live with the current hardware which will come with either an M4 or M5 system chip, boosting it from the M2 it currently ships with. With any luck, Apple might even have found a way to not increase the weight and do away with the external battery pack that, I suspect, would never have left the lab if Steve Jobs was still alive.
5. Better Apple Intelligence
Apple’s road to integrating artificial intelligence into its software has been bumpy to say the least. It has taken a path that requires not only great AI but integration into several different operating systems in a consistent way so users switching devices have access to the same tools everywhere.
AI is easily the area in which they have fallen furthest behind their competition. Apple doesn’t have many major launch events. If it has made significant improvements, this event is the time to talk about them. Or at least let the world know how its strategy is progressing.
While the beta process for the new software releases has not placed much emphasis on Apple Intelligence, it would not be surprising to hear a significant announcement during next week’s ‘Awe dropping’ event.
6. AirPods refresh
Apple’s AirPods range is due for some love. The AirPods, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max could all do with some attention. The hearing aid function added to the Pro models last year, which was finally made available in Australia recently could be added to an updated non-Pro model. If there’s an announcement to be made about AirPods, it’s these products that will get the update.
The AirPods Max, Apple’s over the ear hearing cans, are a tougher product to update. Other than ditching the Lightning charger for USB-C in response to new rules in the EU, these have received a few nice software updates but not much else. But it’s hard to see what else Apple might do with its premium headphones for audiophiles.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.