On Tuesday, Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook will take the stage for the first time in\u00a0the Steve Jobs Theater at its\u00a0new campus.<\/p>\n
The location represents\u00a0a new chapter for the world\u2019s most valuable technology company, and the event will usher in a new era for the iPhone.<\/p>\n
For the first time, Apple plans to unveil three phones, including a premium model that will cast a halo over the rest of the line, and perhaps over the rest of the smartphone industry.<\/p>\n
The devices\u00a0will not only be exciting for customers, but for investors as well. The iPhone represents about two-thirds of Apple\u2019s sales, making it critical to the bottom line.<\/p>\n
The launch means a strong holiday quarter that could also include more\u00a0sales of other Apple products. The entire business relies on the gadget: It serves as remote control for the Apple TV box and upcoming HomePod\u00a0speaker; it\u2019s\u00a0currently tied to the Apple Watch, syncs with the iPad and Mac, and is home to services like Siri, Maps, and Apple Music.<\/p>\n
Beyond the iPhone, the company is also planning a version of the Apple Watch that connects to wireless networks\u00a0and an upgraded Apple TV.<\/p>\n
As previewed in June, Apple is also preparing important software updates for all of its platforms \u2013\u00a0iOS, watchOS, macOS, and tvOS\u00a0\u2013 and is likely to showcase some features from those on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Below, we break down what to expect at Apple\u2019s most important\u00a0event in years:<\/p>\n
iPhone:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Apple is planning to unveil three iPhones, including two that are upgrades to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus called the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus and a premium model\u00a0called the iPhone X.\u00a0Here\u2019s what we know about the high-end device:<\/p>\n New Design:<\/strong>\u00a0This is\u00a0the\u00a0most obvious change \u2013\u00a0so your friends know you have the latest gadget. It\u2019s an all-new look that drops the bezels around the display. Almost the entire front of the phone will be screen save for a cutout at the top for the earpiece, selfie camera, and sensors.<\/p>\n The sides\u00a0will be a continuous stainless steel band and the back will be made of glass \u2013like the iPhone 4 from 2010. Look for the rear cameras to be vertically, not horizontally aligned, for better augmented reality\u00a0apps.<\/p>\n Edge-to-Edge Screen:<\/strong>\u00a0With no bezels and no borders on the top and bottom, the focus will be on the new screen: an OLED display that more accurately reproduces colors and makes content\u00a0much crisper. You\u2019ll be able to see more texts, videos and website information without scrolling down because the screen will be\u00a0taller than the one on the iPhone 7 Plus.<\/p>\n Expect the\u00a0whole screen to be\u00a0slightly larger than the one on the iPhone\u00a07 Plus (5.5 inches), but because of the lack of bezels, the phone\u2019s overall size will be closer to\u00a0the smaller iPhone 7. The screen will also feature \u201cTrue Tone\u201d technology, a sensor that allows the screen to change temperature based on the environment, according to leaked software code.<\/p>\n No Home Button:<\/strong> \u00a0Just as significant as additions to the iPhone are the pieces that are missing. A decade after debuting the home button as the main physical control on the device, Apple is removing it for the premium model. In its place: A\u00a0thin virtual bar that can be dragged up to launch features like multitasking and\u00a0close apps. See our in-depth story on the change from last month.<\/p>\n No Touch ID:<\/strong>\u00a0Also gone is the\u00a0fingerprint scanner. Introduced with the iPhone 5s in 2013, the Touch ID feature\u00a0in the home button let\u00a0iPhone users\u00a0unlock their devices\u00a0in a split second. It also authenticated Apple Pay transactions and approved\u00a0downloads from the App Store.<\/p>\n For this next phone, the company tried to embed it into the screen itself, but faced manufacturing problems, Bloomberg reported earlier this year.<\/p>\n 3-D Face Unlock:<\/strong>\u00a0In place of Touch ID there\u2019ll be\u00a0a 3-D facial recognition scanner for unlocking the phone. It\u2019ll aptly be called Face ID, according to the leaked code.\u00a0It\u2019s designed to scan your features\u00a0within a few hundred milliseconds and can work even if the device is laying flat on a table.<\/p>\n The sensor would also be used to authenticate payments and launch secure apps, Bloomberg reported. It will work in the dark, too.<\/p>\n Inductive Charging:<\/strong>\u00a0This is a\u00a0new feature to the iPhone, but one that\u2019s been on competing smartphones for a number of years. You\u2019ll be able to lay the\u00a0iPhone on a charging pad instead of plugging it into a charging cable.<\/p>\n Faster Processor:<\/strong>\u00a0Apple will\u00a0flex its semiconductor-design muscles yet again with a new chip for the iPhone likely to be dubbed the A11. The component is said to be based on a 10 nanometer\u00a0manufacturing process, which means it will be more efficient so your iPhone battery will last longer. The company has also been working on a dedicated AI chip.<\/p>\n New Software:<\/strong> \u00a0As usual, the iPhone will ship with new software. This time around it\u2019s called iOS 11. Key additions include a redesigned Control Center,\u00a0support for augmented reality apps, Apple Pay support in iMessage, maps for inside airports and malls, and a dedicated app for managing files. The 3-D sensor will also scan your face and apply your facial expressions to new animated emoji in iMessage.<\/p>\n Other Models:<\/strong> The other two models are expected to look similar to the current iPhones, but will have a faster processor and potentially glass backs to also support inductive charging.<\/p>\n Apple Watch:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The Apple Watch is set to see a much needed upgrade that partly frees the device from the iPhone.<\/p>\n Cellular Data: \u00a0The most significant new hardware feature will be a\u00a0wireless option that handles fast LTE data. You\u2019ll be able to leave your new iPhone behind because this\u00a0version of the Apple Watch can connect to cellular data networks, including those from Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T in the US and some carriers internationally.<\/p>\n Imagine loading directions in maps on your wrist and streaming music while on a walk through those wireless\u00a0AirPods\u00a0earphones. You\u2019ll also be able to make phone calls with your iPhone\u2019s number.<\/p>\n New Colors:\u00a0<\/strong>The Apple Watch will look physically similar to prior models, but will be offered in at least two new colors: a grey ceramic and a coat of gold called \u201cblush gold,\u201d according to leaked software code. The LTE models will also show a cellular connectivity meter in the middle of the watch face and include a red dot on the digital crown.<\/p>\n New Bands:<\/strong>\u00a0Since the first\u00a0Watch launched in 2015, Apple has refreshed its selection of straps every six months or so. The last update\u00a0happened this past March, so a new\u00a0collection makes sense at this event.<\/p>\n New Software:<\/strong>\u00a0Apple is continuing to make significant changes to the Apple Watch\u2019s software on an annual basis. This year, as previewed at the\u00a0June developers conference, the company is rolling out a new Siri-powered watch face that can preview your day, improvements to the Workout and Apple Music apps, and support for connecting to gym equipment.<\/p>\n Apple is also adding its News app to the device along with the ability to send and receive money from contacts via Apple Pay.<\/p>\n Apple TV: \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Set to debut is the first update to the set-top box since its overhaul in 2015.<\/p>\n 4K Video Streaming:\u00a0The main upgrade\u00a0will be support for 4K video, a standard with much higher resolution. Of course, this will require a new 4K\u00a0TV. Apple has been in talks with popular video streaming apps, TV studios, and movie studios about supplying 4K content for the box.<\/p>\n HDR Video Streaming:\u00a0To go along with 4K, Apple is planning to support HDR video playback as well. This standard shows video with much more vivid colors.<\/p>\n Faster Processor:\u00a0The updated box will feature a faster processor to handle the higher-resolution video. The current Apple TV box, introduced in 2015, features the A8 processor from the iPhone 6, which launched in 2014. For comparison, the iPhone 7 includes the A10 chip.<\/p>\n Improved Live TV Integration:\u00a0Right now, users can\u00a0access live TV streams from a number of Apple TV applications by asking Siri or launching those respective apps.<\/p>\n Apple is testing expanding that access to its own\u00a0TV app launched last December. That means no more clicking on different app icons, although you\u2019ll still have to enter any required login details.<\/p>\n Coming Later:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Sept. 12\u00a0won\u2019t be it for new Apple products in 2017. The company promised two major launches in the fall, a product category and a souped up Mac to appeal to the company\u2019s small, but important, professional user base of video editors, photographers, and software programmers.<\/p>\n HomePod:<\/strong> \u00a0The Siri-powered smart speaker, introduced in\u00a0June, ships\u00a0to customers in December. The speaker will be a gateway to Apple Music in the home by way of speakers that can adjust to conditions in different rooms. Apple could\u00a0provide more details on the speaker\u2019s functionality at the iPhone event.<\/p>\n iMac Pro:\u00a0<\/strong>Also shipping in December is a high-end version of the iMac. Like the current iMac, this one will have a high-resolution 5K display, but the internals are all new. The machine packs in some of the fastest processors and graphics chips on the market and starts at $4,999.<\/p>\n Apple has also said that it\u2019s working on a new Mac Pro (the company\u2019s high end desktop without a built-in screen) and a new external monitor for professionals.<\/p>\n
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