What to Expect From Apple’s Big iPhone Event

Daniel Howley
·Technology Editor
Updated
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Apple holds its big iPhone event tomorrow, and rumor has it the tech giant is set to unveil a slew of new products and services.

We’ll be covering the show live from the Bill Graham Auditorium in San Francisco — and remotely from our secret subterranean lair in New York —hitting you with the hottest of takes as Tim Cook & Co. reveal what they’ve been working on for the past year.

So what exactly do we expect Apple to show off at its show? Funny you should ask. Though Apple has said exactly nothing about what it plans to reveal (because Apple), we’ve got some pretty good guesses as to what you’re likely to see.

iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus

After unveiling the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus last year, Apple is in the midst of one of its in-between model years, which means we’re expecting the next iPhones to be called the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.

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And while the 6s and 6s Plus will likely look more or less identical to their predecessors, the phones may include some big improvements. According to MacRumors, the new iPhones will actually be a hair larger and thicker than last year’s handsets, making them sturdier. Bye-bye, Bendgate.

According to Business Insider, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will also come strapped with new 12-megapixel cameras, a step up from the eight-megapixel cameras in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

There’s also word that the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will get new Force Touch-style displays. Like the Apple Watch, the iPhone will let you press hard to make certain selections, AppleInsider reports.

Naturally, both phones will also launch with Apple’s new iOS 9 operating system.

Related: iOS 9 Deep Plunge: The 57 Coolest Features

Apple TV

The bastard offspring of Apple’s product line is getting a big update this time around. According to 9to5Mac, a new Apple TV will show up at tomorrow’s event, complete with improved performance and interface.

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BuzzFeed reports that Apple TV will also come with an App Store, as well as Apple’s Siri and improved games support. A universal search feature will also let you search for movies and TV shows across multiple services from a single location.

Related: Can Apple Save Apple TV?

Apple could also finally give us a look at its much-talked-about over-the-top streaming service, which is said to include premium channels as well as local broadcast networks.

iPad Pro

Rumors of a so-called iPad Pro have been circulating for years, but this time they’re kicking into high gear. According to 9to5Mac, the iPad Pro will indeed bow at Apple’s Sept. 9 event, and will ship in November.

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The iPad Pro has long been rumored to come with a 12.9-inch display and be heavily geared toward business users. It would make sense for it to debut this year, seeing as how iOS 9 has a whole host of multitasking updates for Apple’s tablets, including side-by-side apps.

Still, Apple usually holds off on unveiling its slates until its November press event. So there’s still a good chance that we’ll have to wait until then to meet the newest iPad.

New software

Apple already showed us what early versions of its forthcoming iOS 9, OS X El Capitan, and WatchOS 2 have to offer at its WWDC event in June, and now we should finally be able to get our hands on them.

Chances are good that iOS 9 and El Capitan will be available for download on Sept. 9. WatchOS 2 will likely land that day as well.

And, of course, no Apple event would be complete without the colorful language provided by Apple’s marketing department. That means you can absolutely expect the words “magical,” “fantastic,” “wonderful,” “beautiful,” and “one more thing” to pass the lips of Apple’s various head honchos.

So check back with us on Sept. 9 to see which of these predictions were right, which were wrong, and which were just plain ridiculous.

Email Daniel at dhowley@yahoo-inc.com; follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley or on Google+.