Live Updates From Apple’s ‘Awe Dropping’ iPhone 17 Event 🔴

After a week of coverage, we’re zipping up this live blog. Preorders for all the new products Apple announced on Tuesday went live this morning. We’ll have reviews for all the new devices soon. Did you pick get anything, and if so what? Leave a comment down below! —Raymond Wong

That was fast. Late on Thursday, Apple told us it had finally received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its new hypertension alerts on the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. This new feature uses the optical heart monitor on the latest phones. It works in the background and monitors for high blood pressure over 30-day periods. Apple made it clear this isn’t a medical device, and hypertension detection may not detect every instance of high blood pressure. Users should treat it as an opportunity to see an actual medical professional. The feature is also making its way to Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. —Kyle Barr

I also wrote down my first impressions for the AirPods Pro 3. I got to check out the improved active noise cancellation for myself, got a demo for the Live Translation feature, and checked out the heart rate tracking with the Fitness app. It’s not a full review, but from what I saw, the AirPods Pro 3 sound like a solid upgrade over AirPods Pro 2, which were looking long in the tooth. —Raymond Wong

AirPods Pro 3 Hands-On: All the Upgrades Seem to Check Out (So Far)

I finally had some time to put into words my thoughts about the trio of new smartwatches that Apple announced—Apple Watch SE 3, Series 11, and Ultra 3—and what I realized is that they’re mostly all about the longer battery life. Sure, there’s 5G if you pick up cellular models, and the Watch Ultra 3 has Emergency SOS via satellite, but other than those and a few other features, these aren’t very different from previous Apple Watches. It made me wonder if it’s time for Apple to redesign its smartwatch to revitalize interest. —Raymond Wong

Apple Watch Series 11, SE 3, and Ultra 3 Hands-On: Time for a Bigger Reboot?

More than a week before they officially start to ship on Sept. 19, the iPhone 17 Pros are already driving silicon nerds mad with their supposed benchmarks. Current benchmark scores show GPU capabilities way beyond the last generation. It shows that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are promising “sustained performance” for gaming and video editing tasks. The new Pros may actually be far more pro than before, while the regular iPhone 17 with its 120Hz display is better for the average Joe. —Kyle Barr

The iPhone 17 Pros Are Going to Crush Flagship Android Phones on Performance

Bad news for anyone with an Apple ID in the EU—Apple’s Live Translation feature will not be available. According to Apple:

“Live Translation with AirPods is not available if you are in the EU and your Apple Account Country or Region is also in the EU.”

The reason? The EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act and the General Data Protection Regulation, which places restrictions on when and how AI tools (translation-related and otherwise) roll out. The idea here is that implications on digital privacy and beyond need to be assessed first before a feature makes its way to the public.

In one way, that makes sense, but in another, it feels like Apple, which has a solid track record of actually respecting personal privacy, might be getting caught in a web that’s meant to trap other offenders. Either way, it looks like anyone in Europe will have an indefinite wait for Live Translation on AirPods Pro 3. —James Pero

Update: Looks like Apple finally updated its polishing cloth to include the iPhone 17 lineup. Phew, that was a close one. I was worried I’d have to buy a whole new microfiber cloth just for the iPhone 17.

BREAKING: Apple has updated the Polishing Cloth to be compatible with both the iPhone 17 models and iPhone Air pic.twitter.com/ZuvBjfIodJ

— Aaron (@aaronp613) September 12, 2025

Original post: Everybody’s favorite Apple product, the $19 “Polishing Cloth,” isn’t technically compatible with the iPhone 17—at least not yet. The store page for the overly expensive microfiber wipe currently lists compatible iPhone models up to the iPhone 16 line. So before you go rubbing down your brand-new iPhone 17 screen with your Apple-brand towel, take a second and ask yourself, “What if I ruin my display?” Then take another second, pull yourself together, and go get some air. It’s been a long week, and you’re tired. Touch some grass, enjoy some sunshine. The iPhone will still be there when you get back. Hell, I have way too many microfiber cloths if you need to borrow one. —Kyle Barr

The iPhone Air is a feat of engineering in a lot of ways, but the one that jumps out to me is the fact that it manages to miniaturize all of the computing into a tiny sliver on top of the device. That’s impressive from a technical standpoint and also potentially impactful for products down the line like AR glasses—a category that Apple has long-rumored to be interested in. The smaller and more powerful you can make a computer, the lighter and more capable a pair of Apple-made smart glasses will be. —James Pero

The iPhone Air Looks Like a Wild Preview for Apple AR Glasses

Though Jony Ive left Apple in 2019, I think consumers have been waiting for an iPhone that truly moves beyond his obsession with thinness. The iPhone Air may still uphold that philosophy, but the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are decidedly practical and utilitarian—the most form over function in any iPhone ever. That’s how I felt when I tried them out. You can find my first impressions below. I also have the shortest of thoughts on the iPhone 17. —Raymond Wong

iPhone 17 Pro Hands-On: The Most Un-Jony Ive iPhones Apple Has Ever Made

Just because international regulations forced Apple to switch from Lightning to USB-C doesn’t mean the company will help you get your charge on. MacRumors first spotted that the AirPods Pro 3 won’t come with a USB-C charging cable, even though the AirPods Pro 2 did. Is that a big deal? Probably not, considering just how many cables we’re all inundated with. Still, you should be aware in case you were planning to ditch your old earbuds in favor of Apple’s latest. Apple long ago stopped shipping power bricks with its iPhones. It’s easy to imagine a future where it won’t supply the cables, either. —Kyle Barr

In a comment to The Verge, Apple confirmed that the $800 iPhone 17 and the $1,100 iPhone 17 Pro are using the same screen. Both share the same 6.3-inch size, the same 2,622×1,206 resolution, and the same brightness with a stated 3,000 nits peak outdoors. That makes the base iPhone 17 a better bang for the buck compared to the Pro models. You would miss out on the triple 48-megapixel sensors and the performance of the A19 Pro chip. However, if the A19 performs as well as last year’s A18, most people would be perfectly happy with the base iPhone.

Then again, any regular iPhone 17 buyers would also miss out on that cosmic orange Pro-exclusive color that seems perfect for spooky season. —Kyle Barr

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge phone had been out for several months by the time Apple revealed its iPhone Air. Samsung’s device was a known quantity, so it’s interesting to see how Apple tried to differentiate itself. The Korean tech giant’s first ultra-slim device is just slightly thicker than the iPhone Air and slightly lighter. Specs-wise, the devices are practically neck and neck. Comparing the two offers a glimpse into the design challenges for thin devices, even though they’re running on opposing mobile ecosystems. —Kyle Barr

iPhone Air vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: Begun, the Thin Phone Wars Have

I’ve had a full day to sleep on my thoughts about the iPhone Air. I know the skinny phone has potential compromises like the shorter battery life and single rear camera, but I cannot resist the thin and light design… It’s such an Apple thing to do. I suspect a lot of people are going to go into an Apple Store convinced they don’t need or want the iPhone Air, but then walk out drooling and lusting for it. Read my hands-on below. —Raymond Wong

iPhone Air Hands-On: It’s So Hard to Resist the Reality Distortion Field

New year, new AirPods lineup. With the introduction of AirPods Pro 3, Apple is officially phasing out its AirPods Pro 2—and by phasing out, I mean they’re discontinuing them altogether. That’s not a huge tragedy since the AirPods Pro 3 should be better than the last generation in pretty much every conceivable way (okay, the battery in the case is slightly smaller), but it’s significant nonetheless. The new AirPods lineup is as follows:

• AirPods 4: $129
• AirPods 4 with ANC: $179
• AirPods Pro 3: $249
• AirPods Max: $549

—James Pero

The big new software feature exclusive to the new Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the hypertension—aka high blood pressure—detection. While the feature may seem nifty if you happen to live in a country that doesn’t guarantee access to quality preventative care (cough), you won’t need to upgrade to access other software features coming with watchOS 26. Apple’s Sleep Score feature, which runs in the background and offers advice for how to get a better sleep, is coming to any Apple Watch Series 6 or later, as well as any of the Apple Watch Ultra models. The feature will work on the Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) and the new Apple Watch SE 3. You need to pair it with an iPhone 11 or later running iOS 26, of course. watchOS 26 also offers a few more standout features, such as the fitness tracker Workout Buddy app. —Kyle Barr

Now that you’ve recovered from yesterday’s Apple extravaganza, it’s time to share a tidbit that was mentioned at the keynote but flew under the radar: there’s a $2,000 2TB storage option that’s only available for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Storage for the smaller iPhone 17 Pro only tops out at 1TB. Who needs 2TB of iPhone storage? Probably not you if you’re asking yourself the question. In all seriousness, the answer is photographers and filmmakers who are gonna shoot RAW video and photos. —Raymond Wong

The iPhone 17 lineup is supposed to be protected against advanced spyware, or at least that’s what Apple claims in its latest security blog. This new memory security feature, dubbed “Memory Integrity Enforcement,” halts spyware that hacks devices and can remotely monitor user activities. The most notorious spyware of this kind is Pegasus, a tool developed by Israeli firm NSO Group that’s been used by governments to spy on civilians and journalists.

Apple claims that MIE has done well against mercenary spyware attacks from the last three years. That doesn’t mean bad actors won’t try to develop tools to counter Apple’s design, but MIE “will make exploit chains significantly more expensive and difficult to develop and maintain.” MIE is supported by the A19 and A19 Pro chips, so the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air will all run this security measure on the backend. —Kyle Barr

The Apple Event is over. But this live blog is not. We still have so much to post in the next couple of days. There’s just so much more to unpack about all the devices Apple announced in Cupertino. Signing off (for today) with some photos from the Steve Jobs Theater. I might have been one of the last media out of the glass sanctum. Leave a comment down below on which products kept your attention, which ones you might buy, or even if you think there’s nothing that interests you. I want to have more of a direct dialogue with you all! It still feels like a fever dream to live blog—especially an Apple event—on Gizmodo. Never could have imagined this when I started in tech journalism 15 years ago. —Raymond Wong

Which iPhone 17 Pro color is your favorite? Cosmic orange, Silver, or Deep Blue? #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/ovVTGONiTI

— Ray Wong (@raywongy) September 9, 2025

For a few seconds, I was able to hold all three colors of the iPhone 17 Pro—$3,300 worth of smartphones. I almost dropped them, to be honest. I didn’t, but I almost did! —Raymond Wong

Just got to try the AirPods Pro 3 and its new real-time, in-ear heart rate sensor with an outdoor walk workout. Here's a video of my heart rate being monitored in the Fitness app on iPhone 17 Pro #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/uQcEw8GKeq

— Ray Wong (@raywongy) September 10, 2025

The big new thing in AirPods Pro 3, besides 2x better active noise cancellation compared to AirPods Pro 2 and 4x better ANC versus AirPods Pro, is the new heart rate sensor. I just got a demo of it working with the Fitness app for iPhone, and here’s how it looks when you’ve got the new wireless earbuds in your ear and the app is detecting your heart rate. —Raymond Wong

iPhone 17 Pro table wobble test! Does it pass? Let’s find out! #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/jhUv1zxR3K

— Ray Wong (@raywongy) September 9, 2025

This is probably the most important video you’ll ever see about the new iPhone 17 Pro. Does its massive camera bump (or island if you wanna call it that) still wobble like crazy on a table or flat surface? I found out. FOR SCIENCE. —Raymond Wong

First look at the Apple Crossbody Strap and TechWoven case for iPhone 17 Pro. It’s a strap alright! #appleevent pic.twitter.com/SWUAARUheZ

— Ray Wong (@raywongy) September 9, 2025

One of the more interesting accessories for the iPhone 17 this year is the new Crossbody Strap that lets you wear the device. Here I have an orange one paired with a TechWoven case (the replacement for FineWoven). I dig the orange, but I don’t know I’m a wear-my-iPhone-across-my-chest kinda dude. What do you guys think? —Raymond Wong

Also touched the iPhone 17 in this Sage color. Here’s your first look at the Center Stage camera feature too #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/20n1KSYZNX

— Ray Wong (@raywongy) September 9, 2025

I also spent a few minutes playing with the iPhone 17 in this nice Sage green. It’s not as substantial of an update like the iPhone 17 Pro/17 Pro Max is, but hey, it’s the iPhone that most people will buy. Here’s what it looks like and what’s new. —Raymond Wong

I have touched the Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro. Here’s your first look #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/HUiB8dxC8l

— Ray Wong (@raywongy) September 9, 2025

I finally got to spend a few minutes putting my mitts all over the iPhone 17 Pro—specifically the Cosmic Orange one. Here’s a good POV look at the new larger camera bump, the Ceramic Shield rear cutout, the new Center Stage selfie camera that lets you shoot horizontal selfies while holding the phone vertically, and also the interesting new antenna line that surrounds the camera bump. —Raymond Wong

First look at the $39 iPhone Air Bumper. It’s basically the same as the iPhone 4 one! #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/1ZQPa7zIY2

— Ray Wong (@raywongy) September 9, 2025

Remember the Bumper “case” that Apple gave out to all iPhone 4 owners after #antennagate? It’s back for the iPhone Air, and I’m not gonna lie, I missed it. I hate cases, but a bumper at least gives it side protection against drops. It won’t protect the iPhone Air’s back glass, though. —Raymond Wong

A closer look at the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery Pack and how it compares to the old MagSafe Battery Pack. It’s thinner, larger, and charges with USB-C! $99 to add more battery life to the iPhone Air #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/Ssmbo5wScQ

— Ray Wong (@raywongy) September 9, 2025

The iPhone Air may be too skinny for its own good. We’ll have to wait to see how well the battery life is on its own, but if you need the extra juice, you may wanna consider the official MagSafe Battery Pack that Apple is selling for $99. I got to play with the new case. It’s thinner and has a larger footprint compared to the old Lightning MagSafe Battery Pack that I brought to compare it to. —Raymond Wong

iPhone Air thinned comparison with Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/BlujtA6wV1

— Ray Wong (@raywongy) September 9, 2025

Senior Editor of Consumer Tech at Gizmodo, Raymond Wong, is at Apple’s headquarters, where he’s getting up close and personal with the iPhone Air. If you want to know how thin it is, you need to compare it to the other ultra-thin phone available for U.S. consumers, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. The Edge is 5.8mm thick, while the Air edges it out at 5.6mm. What helps Apple’s phone is a trick of the light with the black colorway. But hey, it sure is thin. —Kyle Barr

First look at how thin the iPhone Air is #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/0uMLAJayOi

— Ray Wong (@raywongy) September 9, 2025

In all the hubbub surrounding Apple’s new device lineup, you may have missed that there’s one regular item that’s MIA. The iPhone Air has effectively taken the space once occupied by the iPhone Plus models. The Air is slightly larger than an iPhone 16 with its 6.5-inch display, but you’re still missing the extra camera of the base iPhone 17 model. Big phone fans may be missing out this generation unless they opt for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which starts at $1,200. —Kyle Barr

The Apple Watch Series 11 isn’t a huge upgrade over the Apple Watch Series 10, at least judging by specs alone. The new hypertension monitoring is certainly a selling point for some, but I can imagine most people would be perfectly fine opting instead for the Apple Watch SE 3 at $250. The smartwatch comes stock with a stated 24-hour battery life with fast charging, plus the option for 5G cellular connectivity. It uses the same chip as the Series 10 smartwatches and features an always-on display. The standard displays come in either 40mm or 44mm sizes, which seem like better options than the 42mm or 46mm of the Series 11 for thin wrists. —Kyle Barr

Apple’s Cheaper Apple Watch SE May Be the Wearable Most People Need

The standout feature for the Apple Watch Ultra 3, other than increased screen sizes and improved 42-hour battery life, is the satellite connectivity. That means in case your iPhone is dead, you should still be able to call or text over satellite in case of an emergency. Just last week, Garmin introduced its Fenix 8 Pro that combined cellular and emergency satellite connectivity. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 may not have every single bell and whistle of Garmin’s even-more-expensive watches, but it’s a more enticing buy for Apple mainstays. —Kyle Barr

The Big Ol’ Apple Watch Ultra Will Hit Up Satellites in Case of Emergencies

Listen, I love a thin phone as much as the next person with small hands, but there are some realities with thinner devices that you have to confront eventually. One of them is that if the phone is thinner, so is the battery, and that usually means less battery life. Apple claims its iPhone Air has an “all-day” battery, but we haven’t seen any official specs on the size. It’s selling a MagSafe battery pack that connects to the back of the phone, which says to me that it anticipates some people wanting more.

Another major question is the iPhone Air’s single camera sensor. I know Apple says that it combines the ability of multiple camera focal lengths in one, but I’m going to have to see how its Fusion camera actually performs for myself before I believe that it will satisfy people in the market for a $1,000 flagship phone. —James Pero

We too were concerned that all the iPhones may go up in price due to the ongoing Trump tariffs. However, Apple offered us a ray of hope when it declared the iPhone prices wouldn’t be changing, even when each will start with a base 258GB of storage. The iPhone 17 will start at $800. The iPhone Air will start at $1,000. Finally, the iPhone 17 Pro will start at $1,100. As per usual, the Pro Max will start at $1,200. The phones go up for preorder Friday, Sept. 12 and they’ll start to ship on Sept. 19. —Kyle Barr

The iPhone 17 Pro is getting a pretty major camera upgrade to really help it stand out from the base iPhone 17 and iPhone Air. Each camera sensor on the Pro models is 48 megapixels. That includes a 4x Fusion Telephoto camera, which also supports 12-megapixel shots at 8x zoom. Apple says it employed more AI in its camera software to try and preserve natural detail and reduce noise. Hell, Apple went as far as to claim it was filming its event with the iPhone 17 Pro (likely with the aid of millions of dollars’ worth of professional camera equipment). —Kyle Barr

The iPhone 17 has some airy colors to match its thin design. I personally like the light blue, but the the gold is also nice. Which color would you buy? —James Pero

The iPhone Air promises to still have a full-day battery life despite its 5.6mm thin size. That means it may not need the MagSafe Battery Pack that Apple designed and is selling separately for $99, at least according to Apple. I guess it’ll depend on your usasge. Instead, the iPhone Air can be protected with either a bumper case or a clear case with a light or dark smoky look. There’s also a Crossbody Strap that can turn your iPhone Air into a purse. —Kyle Barr

The iPhone Air is a “paradox,” according to Apple. Apple claimed its iPhone Air is ultra durable despite its extremely thin, 5.6mm frame. The company said the device will have “remarkable” battery life despite its size and light body. It includes a 6.5-inch display with a revised Ceramic Shield glass front and back to be more scratch-resistant. Its sides are made of titanium, which hopefully will make it as durable as Apple seems to claim. It comes in black, white, light gold, and “sky blue,” which will likely look more gray than blue. The iPhone Air is using the A19 Pro chip with a six-core CPU and five-core GPU. It’s supposed to be more energy efficient and still be speedy. Apple also claimed this device will have strong AI computing capabilities. Alongside a new C1X modem—which should be more energy efficient—the N1 chip will also have Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity. The one major distinction between the iPhone Air and previous iPhones will be the single camera sensor. —Kyle Barr

Apple updated its most expensive Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Ultra, with a third generation that improves battery life and adds a dose of satellite connectivity. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has 42 hours of battery life, according to Apple, and costs $799. For that price, you’ll also get a slightly bigger screen and the ability to monitor high blood pressure and a sleep score. Preorders start today, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will be out in full on Sept. 19. —James Pero

There’s a new Center Stage selfie camera feature on iPhone 17 that lets you shoot horizontal selfies while holding it vertically. Now, that’s innovation! —Raymond Wong

Go figure… the new iPhone 17 is… more powerful thanks to its A19 chip. —Raymond Wong

Apple says the iPhone 17 can last up to 8 hours longer compared to iPhone 16… for video playback. —Raymond Wong

Check out those colors for the iPhone 17. It finally has a 120Hz display. —Raymond Wong

Yep, there’s a new Apple Watch SE 3, and as expected, it’s like a greatest hits mashup of Apple Watch components, but starting at $249. —Raymond Wong

Some new aluminum finishes and titanium models for the Apple Watch Series 11. Familar, but newish. —Raymond Wong

Apple Watch Series 11 has several new health features, including hypertension monitoring and a new sleep score, but the battery life is also longer at up to 24 hours. —Raymond Wong

That’s how much more durable the screen on Apple Watch Series 11 compares to the Series 10. That’s what Apple says! —Raymond Wong

AirPods Pro 3 will be available on Sept. 19. The best part: there’s no price hike. It’ll cost the same $249. Expect to see fire sales for AirPods Pro 2… —Raymond Wong

AirPods Pro 3 have longer battery life than AirPods Pro 2—8 hours with active noise cancellation compared to 6 hours with ANC on the previous generation wireless earbuds. —Raymond Wong

Just like rumored, the AirPods Pro 3 have a heart rate sensor! It integrates with the Fitness app on iPhone. —Raymond Wong

Finally, AirPods are entering into AI translation—a space currently dominated by Google Translate. AirPods Pro 3’s live translation works whether there are one or two people in a conversation. If it’s one person, the AirPods will display your translations on an iPhone through an app. If both people are using the new earbuds, you’ll be able to hear the translation directly, after a small delay. —Kyle Barr

The next generation of the beloved AirPods Pro is here, and while they may look similar to the AirPods Pro 2, the third generation promises to have re-engineered internals to enhance sound quality and ANC. The eartips are designed to aid with blocking out external sounds. They promise the new ANC is 4x as effective as the AirPods Pro 2. Apple also said the transparency mode will sound far more natural. —Kyle Barr

—Kyle Barr

#AppleEvent has started 2 mins early. Here’s @tim_cook pic.twitter.com/tkxxDxwXzb

— Ray Wong (@raywongy) September 9, 2025

The event started two minutes early! Tim Cook is out on stage and said his signature “Good morning.” —Raymond Wong

There’s only 10 minutes left until this party starts. Got a seat dead center.

Where’s Tim Cook?

Apple execs, including Craig Federighi, Phil Schiller, and @gregjoz spotted at the #AppleEvent but where's @tim_cook ? pic.twitter.com/Ov4kz5Nzry

— Ray Wong (@raywongy) September 9, 2025

—Raymond Wong

Apple has separated me from Adriano 😢. But don’t worry, he will be back later. Now, we descend into the Apple temple… —Raymond Wong

They’re about to let media into the Steve Jobs Theater. Just doing a few more edits so you guys can find everything you need to know about everything Apple announces today. —Raymond Wong

Don’t mind me stuffing myself with a little breakfast before listening to Tim Cook and pals for at least an hour. The “gingersnap” juice is giving me life after I downed an awful coffee at 6:30 a.m. that I can only describe as dirt water. —Raymond Wong

Adriano and I just picked up our badges at Apple Park. Here’s our obligatory selfie in front of the Steve Jobs Theater, where Apple’s keynote will be happening in just under 50 minutes. —Raymond Wong

The main draw of the long-rumored iPhone Air (or perhaps iPhone 17 Air, depending on Apple’s new naming convention) is the slim form factor. Just like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, users may have to sacrifice on battery life for something that can cut cake a little easier than your average iPhone. Watch Gizmodo’s Senior Editor of Consumer Tech Ray Wong hash out the thin phone dilemma while demeaning an S25 Edge and a slice of delicious dessert (more specifically, a tres leches cake from Whole Foods). —Kyle Barr

Apple’s Super-Skinny iPhone 17 Air Might Have a Huge Downside

I’ve always loved seeing what’s in peoples’ bags. Inspired by Kyle Barr’s IFA 2025 bag exposé, here’s what I’m bringing with me to the Apple Event to cover arguably the biggest tech launch of the year. I’ve got my trusty MacBook Pro with M1 Max chip and 64GB of RAM. It’s still going strong after almost four years of service. Sorry, but the work MacBook Air with M2 chip and 8GB of RAM that Gizmodo issued me is gonna chug hard at an event like this; plus I need the SD card slot. My camera is the Fujifilm X100V. Bringing two phones with me: iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.

I’ve got an Apple Watch Series 9 paired with the official Apple Link Bracelet that I picked up way back when the Apple Watch Series 4 launched. Staying charged up all day is essential—I use an old Anker magnetic battery pack with 10,000mAh (don’t remember what model it is) and an Apple MagSafe Battery Pack that I’m hoping will get a new version today with USB-C. The DJI Mic 2 is for recording audio for video. That little Dragon Quest Slime vial? Rewetting drops for my contacts. Altoids are to keep me alive and breathing. I got the sunglasses in Japan; Cupertino is sunny af! Notebook (crossing off items on my to-do lists is my latest obsession) and green pouch to store most of these items is from Penco. The black pouch is for the tech gear and cables; I believe it’s from Moment. —Raymond Wong

According to frequent Apple leaker Mark Gurman, better-than-usual carrier promotions are incoming for iPhones, which is great for anyone who wants/needs a new phone but doesn’t want to drop $1000+ right now. As someone who could use a new phone (I’m currently using an iPhone 13 as my main device), my fingers are crossed that Gurman is right about this one. —James Pero

I am expecting more aggressive than usual carrier promotions for the new iPhones, being announced tomorrow. My preview from Friday: https://t.co/MoMJfSD10v

— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) September 8, 2025

It’s almost spooky season—October, to be precise—and that means the leaves will turn a shade of burnt umber and the pumpkins will be bedecking all the neighborhood stoops. In that vein, why shouldn’t the new iPhone also look the part? New leaks from an account on China-centric social media site Weibo feature all supposed iPhone colors, including the orange iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. It effectively confirms prior leaks of the color, but we hope the shade is as deep and rich as these new leaks suggest. —Kyle Barr

Leak Reveals Colors for Entire iPhone 17 Lineup, Including a Bold Orange for the 17 Pro

If there’s any device other than the iPhone that could make use of satellite connectivity, it’s the Apple Watch Ultra series. Multiple Apple leakers, including Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, have hinted Apple could announce an Apple Watch Ultra 3 on Tuesday, complete with a new chip to connect with the company’s Emergency SOS service. This is a feature that’s been on iPhone since the iPhone 14 and lets users make emergency calls via satellite when they’re out of service. Apple recently updated the feature to allow texts over satellite as well. The Apple Watch Ultra is supposed to be the rugged outdoorsy watch made to compete with expensive extreme sports watches from the likes of Garmin, and it could be a literal lifesaver in case you suffer an accident in a remote area and you can’t access your phone. Sorry to all the regular Apple Watch fans. Of all the wearables shown off Tuesday, we expect the Ultra update to be the most significant. —Kyle Barr

The last Apple Watch SE (2nd-gen) arrived back in 2022, and we’ve been holding out hope for a sequel ever since. The latest rumors suggest that the 3rd-gen sequel will finally make its debut on Tuesday. Multiple Apple blogs, such as 9to5Mac, have all put credence behind an anonymous leaker on X who identified the processor IDs for three Apple Watch models. There is the expected Apple Watch Series 11, plus an Apple Watch SE (3rd-gen), and finally the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

The SE normally has fewer health-tracking features than the mainstay Apple Watch. For many users who aren’t obsessed with wellness metrics, that could prove a boon rather than a loss. If it has the same S11 chip and a plastic casing, as suggested by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, it may prove to be the better option for the average user. The last Apple Watch SE started at $250 for the 40mm version and $280 for the 44mm model. We’ll see if that trend continues. —Kyle Barr

AirPods 3 Pro rumors have been steadily coming in for some time now, but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for one more. According to frequent Apple leaker Ming-Chi Kuo, AirPods Pro 3 are likely to be released on Tuesday, but won’t have a rumored IR camera update. That upgrade will allegedly arrive in 2026 on a different generation of AirPods.

Like I’ve covered previously, the AirPods Pro 3 are still rumored to be a significant shift. This generation may be all about health sensors, with the ability to monitor body temperature and heart rate. An update has been a long time coming for AirPods Pro 2, and the good news (IR cameras or not) is that it looks like Apple has quite a bit in store for its iconic earbuds. —James Pero

[Update] Apple is expected to launch AirPods Pro 3 in 2H25, while a more significant hardware upgrade with the IR camera-equipped model is anticipated in 2026.

[更新] 預期Apple將在2H25推出AirPods Pro 3。硬體升級更顯著、配備IR相機的AirPods機型將在2026年推出。 https://t.co/xRbp6jeNU3

— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) September 7, 2025

Rumors persist that Apple is working on a sequel to the much-mocked FineWoven cases from the iPhone 15 launch. This time, however, Apple’s engineers appear to have crafted a separate full-body strap to attach to new “TechWoven” iPhone 17 cases. Apple leaker Sonny Dickson shared shots of this wraparound strap in an X post.

Here’s your first look at the Crossbody Strap for iPhone 17, do people actually use these? pic.twitter.com/jcJOuleRbq

— Sonny Dickson (@SonnyDickson) September 8, 2025

It matches up with straps leaked by Majin Bu, who shared the TechWoven cases.

New Apple Crossbody Strap

Full Article:https://t.co/XGc7qq42lt pic.twitter.com/Ik5dx3Nden

— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) August 28, 2025

What is your favorite color? pic.twitter.com/eTBGVQBryz

— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) August 27, 2025

Before you start asking who uses these, some people who don’t have pockets or a pocketbook make use of straps like these. It’s just another way to keep your phone on you. I’m still waiting for the Apple iBandolier. —Kyle Barr

Got up super early—poor me, I didn’t get a wink of sleep—to board a flight from New York to California for the iPhone 17 reveal on Tuesday. Our social media editor, Adriano Contreras, is also coming along to capture photos and videos of not only the new iPhone 17 devices, but all the other products expected to drop. Make sure to follow Gizmodo on our Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube channel. We’ll be dropping a bunch of fun videos on everything. —Raymond Wong