Thomas Benkö and Lorenz Keller
Apple seems to have found its way back to normal mode. After the new iPhones were only presented in October last year, there will now be a keynote in mid-September as in the time before Corona.
What still applies: The keynote is actually just a live, thoroughly pre-produced video. Apple boss Tim Cook is not on stage in front of an audience, but will lead the team through the new products almost in feature film style with Hollywood effects.
It starts at 7 p.m. Swiss time. We report directly here in this article with a live ticker about the most important information and impressions.
iPhone 13: More Than Just an Update?
Most of the keynote will be used by Apple for the new iPhone 13. According to rumors and leaks, there are still four models: Mini, normal iPhone 13, a Pro and a Pro Max. The size and design are also unlikely to change.
But there will probably be new colors. Maybe a bit of a bronze variant. If you start from the event invitation, then it could also go in the direction of sunset. It is clear, however, that the biggest changes to the iPhone 13 will be in the technical area.
There is a lot of discussion about the screen: At least the Pro models could finally get a 120 Hertz refresh rate. Something that Android devices have been able to do for a long time. In addition, the notch could be smaller, i.e. the black recess in the screen for selfie cam and sensors.
An always-on screen, as Apple fans already know from the watch, is also being hotly traded. That means that certain information such as the time or notifications can be displayed even when the display is switched off.
The iPhone 13 should also get better cameras, maybe finally more than 2x or 2.5x zoom for the Pro models. And the sensor stabilization from the iPhone 12 Pro Max is now coming for all new iPhones. Thanks to even better processors, it would probably also be possible to create videos with a blurring effect. Portraits with bokeh are already very popular.
Leaker also claim that the new iPhone can make phone calls via satellite. However, this is unlikely as it would require a new subscription. But maybe Apple is building in an emergency call function that runs via satellite and therefore also works where there is normally no reception.
Unfulfilled wishes from Apple fans
However, some of the fans’ wishes are likely to remain unfulfilled. A fingerprint scanner would be highly recommended as a supplement to face recognition. The subject of masks will not be dealt with anytime soon. Still, Apple is very unlikely to take a step backwards here. Face ID is more likely to be optimized for masks.
Many users would also welcome a uniform standard for chargers. Is Apple finally getting away from Lightning? Here, too, the probability is rather small, even if the EU has put pressure on this issue in recent weeks and months.
That is actually a shame, because Apple itself uses USB-C for iPad and MacBook. For the iPhone, the fans always have to take a separate cable with them. But in the longer term, the US manufacturer will probably do without plugs on the iPhone and only transmit power and data wirelessly.
Incidentally, many iPhone users also hope that the black bar on the screen will disappear completely. This is also unlikely at the moment, as the notch is necessary for the Face ID sensors. The recess in the screen could be smaller, but it will only disappear completely when Apple can install the sensors under the screen. Maybe next year, but maybe it will take a little longer.
By the way: Other requests from fans and things that Apple urgently needs to improve on the iPhone one here in this article on the ringer gadget platform Daskannwas.ch read up.
Are there also watches, Airpods or iPads?
The iPhone is unlikely to be the only gadget to be unveiled tonight. Apple CEO Tim Cook is almost certain to show the Apple Watch Series 7. And it will be a bit bigger and get a whole new look: angular and more retro design like the iPhones.
The big question will be whether the old bracelets will still fit the brand new watch. Maybe it’s the same as with the cases: the old ones often still fit to some extent, but not perfectly. And Apple leaves it open, but certainly has a large range of new accessories.
New iPads or MacBooks are also expected in the fall. However, there should be one or even two separate keynotes for this. However, new Airpods may also come to match the iPhone, here it would already be the third generation.