Apple September event: iPhone 14, Apple Watch Ultra, AirPods Pro 2 and everything announced

And we're kicking off! Welcome to the Apple "Far Out" September event live blog, where we'll be talking all things iPhone 14 and 14 Pro, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Pro, AirPods Pro 2, and everything Apple might be hiding up its sleeve.

Without a doubt, the launch of Apple's next flagship iPhone is one of the most anticipated events of the year, and if the abundance of leaks and rumors ring true, we have a lot to look forward to when it comes to the iPhone 14 Pro.

As for the standard iPhone 14? Well, I believe I'll be skipping it, according to recent rumors.  

The launch of the iPhone 14 could be in trouble in Brazil, as the country's Justice Ministry has fined the Cupertino tech giant 2.275 million reais ($2.38 million) and ordered it to stop selling iPhone 13 and newer models.

As reported by Reuters, this is due to Apple not including a battery charger in the box, which is deemed to be an essential component in a "deliberate discriminatory practice against consumers."

Apple states that the exclusion of a power adapter is to reduce the impact of carbon emissions, but, as the report points out, Brazil authorities have rejected this argument as is "no evidence that selling the smartphone without a charger offers environmental protections."

In a comment to Bloomberg, Apple states it will appeal the ruling ban on iPhone sales. “Power adapters represented our largest use of zinc and plastic and eliminating them from the box helped cut over 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions — equivalent to removing 500,000 cars from the road per year," the company said in an email statement.

Apple is looking optimistic about the outcome, as the company says it has "already won a number of court decisions in Brazil on this topic and are confident our customers are aware of the various options to charge and connect their devices.” 

Whatever the case, that's not stopping the iPhone 14 from announcing today. However, if you are looking for different ways to charge your iPhone, check out this awesome MagSafe stand. 

Wondering what colors the iPhone 14 will come in? Well, there's a good chance we'll see the recently announced green and purple options make a return. But what else is there?

According to user “yeux1122” on Korean blog Naver, the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus will come in Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Red, Purple, and Green, while the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will have Graphite, Silver, Gold, Purple, and Green available.

That's not too different from what Apple leaker Jioriku on Twitter says: expect to see green, blue, black, white, red, and purple options for the standard models. The tipster also states the Pro model color options will include green, purple, silver, gold, and graphite.

Leaker Majin Bu on Twitter also gave us a hint of the iPhone 14 cases to expect, which, as always, come in a range of colors from a simple red to chalk pink.

Sure, the expected AirPods Pro 2 will most likely come in the usual white, but what about the Apple Watch 8 color options? First off, leaker ShrimpApplePro claims we'll see a new shade of red in the usual (PRODUCT) RED lineup, along with Midnight, Starlight, and Silver in the aluminum options. The stainless steel frame is tipped to come in Silver and Graphite. 

It's an Apple event day, so of course there is a special Twitter like animation. Just give the tweet above a like and you'll see what we mean.

We will also be live tweeting about the event over on @LaptopMag, so be sure to follow us for reactions (and maybe some memes, as our social media guy can't help himself).

So, what can we expect from the Apple event today? Let's break it down.

Of course, there's the iPhone 14  and iPhone 14 Pro. This is a given, as Apple generally launches a new flagship iPhone lineup in September each year.

The iPhone 14 is the star of the show, and it's reportedly coming with a host of interesting new features, but the Pro models, not the entry-level variants, are getting all of the eye-catching goodies. Design-wise, the Pro models are expected to have a significant departure from the iPhone 13. They will sport a new "pill and hole" design, eliminating the controversial notch. When turned on, however, the cutouts will look more unified, giving more of an elongated pill look.

Significant camera hardware improvements will be reserved for the upper-tier iterations, including a 48-megapixel wide camera. The Pro models will also get an always-on display and a zippier A16 Bionic chip — perks the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Plus will not get.

As for the Apple Watch Series 8, the most interesting rumor is the introduction of a new Pro variant. According to trusted analyst Mark Gurman, Apple is throwing the Watch Pro into the luxury, rugged wearable market to compete against popular brands like Garmin Ltd. Garmin currently dominates the $500+ athlete-targeted smartwatch market, but Gurman expects Apple to knock Garmin off its throne.

Finally, the AirPods Pro 2. The original wireless earbuds are three years old now, so they're long overdue for an update. Gurman believes the next-gen AirPods Pro will be announced at the event, but there's a chance Apple could give it a skip and wait until the October event instead, seeing as AirPods usually are announced in October.

For more on what to expect at the Apple event, we've got you covered. 

We have to talk about that "pill + notch" design coming to the iPhone 14 Pro (take note, not the standard iPhone 14 and 14 Plus). For a while, reports stated it would simply be revamped notch that shows two separate cutouts: one is a small round circle and the other is shaped like a capsule.

However, we've heard this so-called "pill-and-hole design" may look more unified. What this means is the cutouts will appear to have a continuous pill shape, even with the cutouts still there. So, when the phone is turned on, the pill and hole should have a more unified appearance, which Apple reportedly believes is "less distracting."

On top of that, according to MacRumors' anonymous source, Apple will extend the borders of the cutouts to make room for status indicators. For example, users may find icons or privacy indicators on the left and right sides of the cutouts. MacRumors' claims that it may even extend "downward into a large rounded square when delivering certain notifications."

Of course, we won't know until the iPhone 14 is revealed, which won't be that much longer!

One of the more interesting announcements we're anticipating is the introduction of a new Apple Watch on the block: The Apple Watch Pro. And it's set to be a big one.

91Mobiles has CAD renders of the Apple Watch Pro, giving us a better idea of how it might look. The new "rugged" high-end Apple Watch will allegedly come with a larger, 2-inch display, a noticeable protrusion for the side button and Digital Crown, and a new button on the left below the speaker vent.

Apparently, "industry sources" claim it will come in a 49mm size, making it the largest Apple Watch around. The rugged model is aimed at "extreme sports" athletes and is expected to have a 7% screen area increase with a 410 x 502-pixel resolution display.

It's also expected to be pretty pricey. Rumor has it the Apple Watch Pro could be priced anywhere between $900 to $1,000, possibly due to the upgrades and more durable formulation of titanium.

It will be a tough sell for most, but that's where the Apple Watch Series 8 and new Apple Watch SE come in. 

The word on the street is we may see satellite communication come to the iPhone 14, according to well-regarded Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's blog. "iPhone 14's satellite communication mainly provides emergency texting/voice services," the blog states.

That's a big deal for many users, and one of our writers even says it's the one reason he will finally upgrade from my iPhone 11. In his post, Kuo goes on to say that the hardware testing is complete and all that's left to be done is for Apple to come up with a business model and possibly form a partnership with a satellite communications provider.

But wait, what's this? Huawei has beaten Apple to the satellite punch. The company has announced its new Huawei Mate 50 and Mate 50 Pro, and it comes with satellite connectivity. This means the phones have the ability to send texts through satellite communications without the need for a cellular signal, all through China’s global BeiDou satellite network.

Will Apple be offering the same in the iPhone 14? If Huawei has done it, it seems likely the Cupertino tech giant will make this a big selling point. It will definitely keep me interested, as it doesn't seem like there's much else the standard iPhone 14 is bringing to the table. 

This year, one of the most talked about details is how expensive the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro will be.

So far, none of the cost news has been particularly positive, given the expected $100 increase of the iPhone 14 Pro. However, not only will the standard iPhone 14 be getting a reduction, the price rise of the Pro models may not be as bad as is being anticipated.

Market intelligence company TrendForce has analyzed the situation and is predicting that pricing may not be as bad as everyone is fearing. 

TrendForce is claiming that while the expected upgrades to the 14 Pro (such as a new design, camera system, and possible upgraded starting storage) will increase prices, “rising global inflation” will drive Apple to “adopt a more cautious pricing strategy so as to not affect its sales performance.”

Well, I know that I'm hoping for the same price as the iPhone 13, like, well, everyone else. If we do see an increase, fingers crossed it won't be a $100 price jump. 

What are you most excited to see?

We've covered rumors and leaks about the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, Apple Watch Series 8 and AirPods Pro 2 quite extensively. But now, it's your turn to have your say — what are you most excited to see?

Vote in the poll on our Twitter page and we'll share the results just before the show begins.

Look, Mark Gurman is convinced the long-awaited AirPods Pro 2 will be unveiled at the Apple event today, but it will be going against the (recent) trend of announcing AirPods in September.

To further back this claim, oft-reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also believes the AirPods Pro 2 will arrive this year. However, Kuo states they are set to launch in the fourth quarter of 2022, meaning an October announcement is looking more likely. What's more, Apple has a consistent track record of releasing AirPods in October, including the AirPods 3 in 2021 and the first AirPods Pro in 2019.

That said, the AirPods have had various launch dates, with the original AirPods being revealed in September 2016, and the AirPods 2 being announced in March 2019. Gurman has a reliable track record when it comes to rumors and leaks, and this is the first rumor that indicates a specific announcement date.

Whatever the case, all signs are pointing to the AirPod Pro 2 finally being announced this year. Previous leaks and rumors stated they were set to arrive back in 2021 and even in early 2022, but thanks to Gurman's report, we could see them as soon as today!

I'm a big fan of the AirPods Pro, and a while back, I wrote about why it's best to just nab the original AirPods Pro and not wait for the next-gen model. That's not the case anymore, it seems. Hopefully, they'll arrive with some worthwhile upgrades.

And the Apple Store is down. This is a regular occurrence before any Apple event, and means the company is getting ready to introduce new products to buy. I don't know, maybe it's the iPhone 14, Apple Watch Series 8, and AirPods Pro 2 that have been heavily rumored?

Not too much longer until everything kicks off. iPhone 14 preorders are sure to skyrocket, and we have a good idea of when those iPhone 14 pre-orders will happen

The iPhone 14 Pro may just be the longest-lasting iPhone yet, according to a short comment from Mark Gurman. He indicates both the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are set to get bigger batteries, with the source stating the models will "appear slightly larger overall" but will also boast slimmer bezels.

Last year's iPhone 13 lineup received a much-needed boost in capacity, and this year looks to do one better for the Pro models.

While Gurman doesn't specify what battery capacity to expect, it's sure to offer significant improvements. The extra 280mAh of battery found in the iPhone 13 Pro delivered 12 hours of battery life in our review, which is almost a full 3 hours longer than the iPhone 12 Pro.

The bigger the battery, the better, right? Well, the expected always-on display on the Pro models may hinder the flagship's battery life, but the bigger battery capacity is likely to help out in that department. 

Only a few more hours to go. 

So, there's word of a redesigned Apple Watch Pro, but what's the Apple Watch Series 8 bringing to the table? Thanks to Apple introducing watchOS 9, we can expect a number of new features. Although, these are features coming to all Apple Watch owners.

The most notable of these is a body-temperature sensor, while Gurman believes that the blood pressure sensor and blood glucose sensors that some have suggested may arrive are not coming until 2025 and beyond.

We also expect updates to the internals that may offer some performance enhancements and perhaps longer battery life, but there have been no direct leaks to offer any specifics there.

To make it a worthy upgrade, it would have to deliver an upgrade that would stand out the Apple Watch 7. Sure, there were rumors of a flat-edge design, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

We can expect an upgraded S8 processor, but apart from that, expect the same display, sizes, and price. 

What I'm most excited about is the next Apple Watch SE tipped to be arriving at the event. It's Apple's low-cost option to get in on all the fitness and health tracking features the popular wearable offers. For most, this will be the model to get, as it's likely to have the same upgraded S8 processor (or possibly the S7 from the Apple Watch 7), and may even boast better battery life.

There aren't too many details to rummage through, but we expect prices for the Apple Watch SE 2 to be the same, if not a little higher (unfortunately), as the original Apple Watch SE. That's a starting price of $279/£260.

I wrote about why the Apple Watch SE is one of the best smartwatches to buy, and it may convince you to skip the Series 8 and head straight to the SE, instead. 

Just how long will this Apple event be? Well, get ready to break out the popcorn, as it could be over an hour long.

Last year's Apple September event was over an hour long, and announced everything from the iPhone 13 to the iPad mini 6. This year, it's likely to have the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro, Apple Watch 8 and SE, the newly added Apple Watch Pro, and AirPods Pro 2. Oh, and sections for more software-orientated features, including Apple Fitness, Apple Music, and more. That's a lot to get through, meaning it could inch closer to 90 minutes.

It's set to be a long one, but we'll be here covering the latest (a reminder to myself to get some popcorn of my own). 

And a good morning to you, Tim Cook. Looks to be a cloudy yet glorious day at Apple HQ, and Cook notes it's set to be a stellar event.

Doesn't seem to be any teases of what to expect in this post, but the leaks and rumors already out there have given us plenty to go on. 

Under an hour to go! We're hearing the folks at Apple Park are being let into the Steve Jobs Theater, meaning the "Far Out" event is gearing up to kick off soon.

The iPhone 14 Pro is set to be the star of the show — not just because of the upgraded 48MP camera or the revamped display design, but also because of the always-on display.

That's a first on any iPhone, even though we've had more than enough Android phones already pulling off an always-on display for a while. We've already got a tease of how it will look, and it's expected to make the most of the extra information on your customized iOS 16 lockscreen. If you put widgets on there, you’ll see them in stripped-back detail on the always-on display mode, too.

Plus, it's also tipped to slightly brighten the elements and give the widgets more detail. Is this tied to maybe lifting the phone up, but not tapping the screen — an alternative to just waking the phone up? Or maybe there’s some sort of proximity detection?

Well, it won't be much longer until all is revealed. 

So, will Apple pull out a One More Thing? I certainly hope so. There aren't many indications of what it might be, but we have been hearing a lot about the Apple AR/VR headset for a while. I know, it's a bit of a long shot, but it would make sense with the "Far Out" event.

Recently, we've heard that Apple may have already given the headset some names: "Reality Pro," "Reality One," and "Reality Processor." Not sure which I like best, but if we don't see it at the event, Apple will have plenty of time to work on a fitting name. 

We're in the 30-minute-or-so countdown now, and the hype is real. We'll be churning out everything announced as soon as it happens, and no need to keep that clicker on the refresh button, as this page will do it all for you.

As a side, shout out to @MKBHD on Twitter for going against the grind and taking a shot of the Apple pass with a Pixel 6 Pro. Apple, you're going to have to impress in the camera department in the iPhone 14 Pro. 

Only 10 minutes to go until we see if all the leaks and rumors we've been hearing about come true. If accurate, we're going to have a lot to look forward to with the iPhone 14 Pro, but let's hope we don't see such a drastic price increase.

Speaking of, if you're looking for the best-expected trade-in offers for the next flagship, check out what Deals Editor Hilda Scott has put together for all things iPhone 14 deals. 

The results are in and...well...that's pretty definitive. A huge 67% of you are most excited for the iPhone 14 Pro, followed by 26% for the AirPods Pro 2.

We're just minutes away, so keep it locked on our Live Blog and Twitter for all the latest updates and (maybe) the occasional meme.

1-minute warning! The show is about to begin, and we're seeing a galaxy of stars that will form to shape the Apple logo.

I'm liking these tunes Apple has at the start of each event. Gets me pumped about what will be announced. The question is, what comes first? 

Here. We. Go.

Hello, planet Earth. We're zooming straight into Apple HQ, where CEO Tim Cook is kicking things off, as usual. 

It's official. Apple will be talking about the iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch. Know what that means? AirPods Pro 2, Apple Watch 8, and, of course, iPhone 14 and 14 Pro. 

Cook talks about how connected the three products are, which is all part of the famed Apple ecosystem.

Apple Watch comes first, so prepare for the Apple Watch Series 8 announcement, and maybe that Apple Watch Pro and Apple Watch SE 2. 

First things first, all the letters Cook has received about the Apple products and the people's experiences they've had. I'm interested in the guy who was "facing down a bear." He used the Apple Watch to get help! Wow.

Clearly, the Apple Watch has helped quite a few people is different situations. 

This will be the "best Apple Watch lineup yet, by far!" Interesting. 

This is it, the Apple Watch Series 8 has officially been announced. It has the most advanced tech around, and is swim-proof, dust-proof, and crack-proof. 

The Apple Watch 8 comes with a new temperature sensor, which has been rumored for a while. Apple claims it will progress health tracking for women's health, so users can now get an accurate tracking of ovulation. Overnight, the sensor will track the body's temperature every 5 seconds, along with indicating ovulation. It even has an ovulation date estimation.

It will also notify users of cycle deviations, making it be able to track even more health-related symptoms. Plus, Apple makes sure all this data stays private, and only users will be able to share their data

The Apple Watch 8 also has "Crash Detection" that will detect when you've been in a car crash. It will send out an SOS and contact emergency services when it believes you've been in an accident. And, it can even detect exactly when the impact happens.

By the way, I knew that bear scene looked familiar.

The Apple Watch Series 4 and above are getting a new low-power mode! it offers 36 hours of battery life on a full charge. It will temporarily turn off certain features like the always-on display, but leave everything else on.

The Apple Watch 8 won't come in as many colors, but we are getting new band colors along with two new Hermes bands, although we can imagine that will be pricey.

So, we're getting crash detection and temperature sensors on the Apple Watch 8.

The Apple Watch Series 8 will start at $399, with the cellular model at $499, and you'll get 3 months of Apple Fitness Plus. Available September 16, but you can order it today! 

Now we're talking about the Apple Watch SE! That means we're getting the next-gen model. The new SE will be available in Silver, Midnight, and Starlight, all made of 100$ recyclable material. Nice! 

The SE includes the same motion sensors as the Series 8, including the Crash Detection. Plus, it's display is 30% larger than the Series 3, and is 20% faster than the original SE.

It will start at $249 and $299 for cellular. Available September 16, but you can order it today! 

Oh, something new, eh? Talking about extreme sports, eh? Are we talking Apple Watch Pro?

Yes, yes we are talking Apple Watch Pro. Wait, I mean Apple Watch Ultra! And it appears to be extremely durable. And wow, that's a cool-looking Watch band. 

It comes in a 49mm case, and comes with a new "action button" that comes in orange, and the audio system also gets a second speaker, so you can hear everything better "even in windy conditions."

The Apple Watch Ultra can get 36 hours of battery life, but up to 60 hours with a new battery function coming later this year. Nice.

There's also a new Apple Watch face called "Wayfinder" for all-thing outdoors. 

Now onto the bands. They are highly durable for water sports, trekking, and the wilderness. Some look big, but there's also a band that "the thinnest band yet." Liking what I see so far. 

Apple Watch Ultra provides the "most accurate GPS than any smartwatch on the market." Interesting.

The action button will let you instantly start off a workout, plus mark different segments when track running and kick off a different activity for triathletes.

The compass app also has a new update, and will be able to read where you've run or trekked so you can backtrack the way you came.

It's all about diving, too. It's EN13319 certified, which is recognized around the world for diving real deep. 

For all the divers out there, the Oceanic+ app is your personal dive computer, and works seamlessly with the Apple Watch Ultra. It will be available later this fall.

(I need to readjust my fingers to stop typing Apple Watch Pro...)

The Apple Watch Ultra will be available for $799, and you can order it today to get in on September 23. Phew, at least it isn't as expensive has others have predicted: somewhere between $900 to $1,000.

Clearly, this one is for extreme or pro athletes, whether it be climbing icy mountains or going deep diving. Not for everyone, but an exciting entry nonetheless. 

That's the Apple Watch lineup. Now, what's next?

AirPods. And I'm thinking AirPods Pro 2. As in, FINALLY, AirPods Pro 2.

Yup, it's the AirPods Pro 2. 

It's getting a brand-new H2 chip, with high-band connectivity, and a new low-distortion so you can hear more detail and clarity across a wider range of frequencies.

Expect personalized Spatial Audio, that can be adjusted straight on your iPhone.

Another feature that's getting an update is Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). The next-gen experience includes 2x more noise cancelation over the last AirPods Pro. There's also a new extra-small eartip for more to enjoy a comfortable fit.

Adaptive transparency will automatically reduce any high-decibel noise. 

The AirPods Pro 2 introduces touch control, all so you can adjust volume right on the tip.

And, you can expect 6 hours of listening time on a single charge, and you can expect 30 hours of listening time with the case.

There's also a speaker at the bottom of the case to let users know where to locate them.

The AirPods Pro 2 will be available at $249 and you can order on September 8 and available on September 23. Woo! 

Here's the new iPhone 14, folks! And, well, it looks a lot like the iPhone 13. Except the bigger iPhone model anyway. 

It's official, we're getting the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus with a 6.7-inch size. Both models get Super Retina display, and a ceramic display, and come in 5 colors.

We're getting a new shade of blue and purple, but you can also expect Midnight, Starlight, and red.

The A15 Bionic with a 5-core GPU, the same one found on the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro max, so we already know what to expect -- very fast speeds. Still, it's unfortunate it's not doing much else to stand out from the previous model.

Well, we are getting a new camera system. The iPhone 14 has a new 12MP main camera with a 1.9um. It has a 49% increase in low-light photography, and it's better in Night Mode, too.

The iPhone 14 also has a new TrueDepth camera on the front, and has Autofocus and better low-light pictures. iPhone 14 is getting a new Action Mode for smoother videography, too

Now we're on to connectivity. The iPhone 14 will be getting an eSIM, meaning you won't need a physical card in order to connect to your cellular provider, and nobody can connect to it other than you.

You can set it up without a Wi-Fi connection, either. All US models won't have a SIM tray, while international iPhone 14 models will include one.

The iPhone 14 also has Crash Detection, and will notify emergency services when users are in an accident.

We're also getting another new safety feature, and it looks to be the much-talked about satellite connectivity. Emergency SOS via Satellite, to be precise. 

The iPhone 14 has a unique feature that helps users point to a the right satellite connection, all so you can make a emergency message in less than 15 seconds. Of course, when there's a clear sky, that's when you'll find optimal connection.

Apple clearly made a big push for satellite connectivity, and that's great news for those who need it. It will be available this November, but only for US and Canada users right now. 

The iPhone 14 will be available from $799, the same as the iPhone 13, and the iPhone 14 Plus starts from $899, with an upgrades battery life.

It will be available to pre-order September 9, and the iPhone 14 will be available September 16. The iPhone 14 Plus will be available October 6, but pre-orders start September 9, too. 

There's only one device left, and that's the iPhone 14 Pro. 

Cook says its the "most innovative Pro lineup yet." We're sure it will be, cause we don't see any notch on that iPhone 14 Pro. The pill-shaped hole seems to be doing a lot more that just a simple bar.

Four colors: new Space Balk, Silver, Gold, and Depp Purple.

There's a new true-depth camera with a 30% less area used. It will be able to show different alerts and notifications that pop-up throughout the day. It's called Dynamic Island, and it will be able to expand to notify you about calls, charging, messages, and more. The Music app even morphs into the Dynamic Island bar, and even expands into controls in specific apps, like the Phone Maps app. 

The Pro has a new display, coming with thinner borders and is brighter, with 1,600 nits of brightness. It can even go up to 2,000 nits outdoors.

The iPhone 14 Pro will also have an always-on display, and won't waste that much battery thanks to it going down to as low as 1Hz. The time, widgets, and more will always be available.

The iPhone 14 Pro is also powered by the new A16 Bionic chip. It's about power efficency, display power, and power. built on a 4 nanometer process for better performance. It's 40% faster than the competition, apparently, and use 2 high-performance cores that are 20% faster than the A15 Bionic. Expect even better battery life. Also expect a 5-core GPU. 

Now onto the iPhone 14 pro's photography. Yup, its a 48MP camera, and a quad-pixel sensor. Along with a 24mm focal length.

It has up to 2x better low-light photography compared tot he iPhone 13 Pro. Plus, there's a new 2x telephoto sensor. 

The iPhone 14 Pro starts at $999, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max at $1,099. It will be available to pre-order on September 9, and will be available on September 16.

That means no price increase! 

Tim Cook is closing out the show now, recapping everything announced. It's been quite the show, but that iPhone 14 Pro is looking neat. We'll be updating this page with all the new announcements in more detail!