Apple's annual September launch event takes place today, with the company expected to unveil a range of new devices and major software updates. It's in September that Apple traditionally reveals its latest iPhone models, but those look set to launch in October this time around.
Judging by the "Time Flies" moniker that the company has tagged to today's event, which will be live streamed, a new version of the Apple Watch will take centre stage instead.
Apple Watch 6
The reliable tech tipster Evan Blass and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman agree that two new Apple Watch models will be unveiled today. One of these will be the flagship Apple Watch 6, the other a cheaper alternative, which has been tentatively dubbed the Apple Watch SE.
The Apple Watch 6's headline feature will reportedly be a blood oxygen monitor that can warn users if their blood oxygen level is abnormally high or low, either of which could be a symptom of a whole range of conditions. It's also likely to be slightly more powerful than the Apple Watch 5, which was released in September 2019 for $399 upwards.
The rumored Apple Watch SE, meanwhile, is said to be intended as a more affordable model, which would compete with Fitbit's range of smartwatches and trackers, though specific details about it are as yet in scant supply.
iPad Air and iPadOS
Apple will also use today's event to launch a new version of the iPad Air, which would be much more similar in both appearance and functionality to Apple's more expensive iPad Pro devices.
The new iPad Air model is expected to sport a sleek new look thanks to slimmer bezels and the ditching of the home button, and will offer a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port, a rear-mounted Smart Connector for pairing with accessories, and improved performance powered by the A14 chip, albeit not quite at the same level as the iPad Pro.
iOS 14
The biggest announcement of all could concern iOS 14, the latest version of Apple's operating system for iPhones.
The software was teased earlier this year and is expected to be released imminently, bringing a host of new features and enhancements to select iPhone models, including home screen widgets, system-wide picture-in-picture mode, the ability to choose default email and browser providers, and a slightly less prominent Siri view.
The software is usually made available as a free update at Apple's September event, but the company may choose to hold it back until its new iPhones launch next month.
Apple One, HomePod, AirTags and headphones
Those are the biggest anticipated announcements, though there's plenty more that could well happen today. Apple One subscription bundles have been heavily tipped, and would allow users to subscribe to packages of apps, such as Apple Music and Apple TV Plus, for less than it would cost to subscribe to them separately.
Apple is also expected to pull the covers off its first ever pair of over-ear headphones, a smaller and cheaper version of its HomePod speaker, and a competitor to Tile's location tracking tags called AirTags either today or before the end of the year.
The Apple September 15 event begins at 1pm ET/10am PT, and Apple will be live streaming the action on its website.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
