Apple’s iPhone 12 event may have been delayed this year, but we’re set to hear about new gadgets from the company at a livestreamed keynote set to take place later today.
The Apple event kicks off pretty soon now,(September 15) at 10am PT / 1pm EST / 6pm BST (3am AEST on September 16 in Australia).
The event is being livestreamed, so you can watch along, and we’re expecting to see a variety of new gadgets from the company, with rumors of announcements for the Apple Watch 6, Apple Watch SE, iPad Air 4 and even Apple AirTags.
Leaks suggest we’ll only see those products, and maybe a few other surprises, and it’s unlikely that we’ll get an iPhone 12 announcement later today, although Apple has yet to confirm that’s the case, so there’s a chance it could still happen.
Below we’ll talk you through what to expect before the event gets underway at Apple HQ, and then we’ll be talking you through the launch as it happens, and providing reaction, analysis, japes and witty asides… all the while watching a tired man sink further into madness if this goes on for over 90 minutes.
While you’re waiting for the event to start, why not refresh yourself with all our lovely hubs, which have sifted through all the key information about the stuff we’re likely to be seeing today?
Apple WWDC 2020 live blog
All times in Pacific Standard Time (PT)
09:42 – I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it now: why on earth hasn’t Apple brought out AirTags already?
Imagine a system where you lose your bag, but every time anyone with an iPad, iPhone or even an Apple Watch (maybe) goes past it, it would send a message to the AirTags network and let you know ‘hey, you left it in your car, doofus’.
Yes, Tile is doing the same thing, but people need the app for that – this would open up a hugely addressable market.
Apple AirTags (codename: B389)- White front (no logo) CLEAN!- Polished metal back- Apple logo on back3D render made by the AMAZING @CConceptCreator. Sources shared with me a video of the real AirTags — to protect them, we made a 3D render to show you. pic.twitter.com/aKGOATXMMOSeptember 14, 2020
09:37 – NEWS JUST IN: Analysts are predicting that Apple bringing out a cheaper Apple Watch, the much-vaunted Apple Watch SE, will help the brand maintain a stranglehold on the wearables market:
“Rupantar Guha, Associate Project Manager for Thematic Research at GlobalData, said: “Apple had a 60% share of smartwatch revenues in 2019, according to GlobalData estimates.
“However, smartwatch revenues are expected to decline by 10% in 2020 as the global recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic hits consumer spending.
“The cheaper Watch model will help Apple broaden its customer base and maintain its grip on a market that GlobalData expects to be worth $64bn by 2030.”
In other NEWS JUST IN: I’m already onto my second glass of Pepsi Max.
09:36 – Fun fact for Gareth-fans out there: I’ve been trying to have ice cold showers of late as I’ve heard they’re good for you. They’ve been consistently colder than this Pepsi Max.
09:32 – Hello! It’s me, Gareth, that man that James Peckham just so kindly promoted below. Usually I’d be in the Steve Jobs Theater right now, wondering if I’ve got the speediest route to the hands on area – but today, I’m about to pour my first glass of sort-of cold Pepsi Max. Hang on a tick while I do that…
09:24 – Why does the latest rumor say that the iPhone 12 range won’t have any phones with 120Hz screens? Maybe it’s down to battery life.
Right, I’m signing off now – you’ve got Gareth Beavis, TechRadar’s Global Editor in Chief and all-round lovely chap taking over now. He’s going to be hilariously entertaining for the next two-and-a-half hours.
I still think this is the reason that 120Hz lives on iPads but not iPhones this year (reportedly) https://t.co/0YKn5w83HzSeptember 15, 2020
09:15 – How does TechRadar cover these big events? Well, obviously things are a little different in 2020 to normal years. Often we’ll have teams in our offices covering the event as well as people at the actual Apple campus itself covering but this year we’re all doing it from home.
Here’s TechRadar Deputy Editor John McCann’s set up for this evening:
Okay, let’s see your #AppleEvent setups. How will you be watching?(Don’t worry, pizza is on its way) pic.twitter.com/MXGF0gxDJFSeptember 15, 2020
09:07 – So Apple has managed to convince Twitter to change the animation when you like a tweet with #AppleEvent in it. That’s the first time we’ve seen Twitter change that, and it’s a similar effect to what the invite for this event showed.
You can try it on the tweet below, and you’ll see the new animation. What does the animation mean? We honestly don’t know yet, but maybe we’ll find out soon.
So much could be on tap at today’s #AppleEvent:📺📰 Apple One bundle⌚️ Watch 6 or Watch SE📜 iPad Air 4👉 A new iPad🔍 AirTags📲 iOS 14 📱 iPadOS 14 ⌚️ watchOS 10.16 Follow our live blog https://t.co/mFNwKXQm1OOR watch with us LIVE!https://t.co/uScPzpoEMCSeptember 15, 2020
08:50 – Will we be getting audio related products today? That’s a good question, and TechRadar’s Audio and Music Editor, Olivia Tambini, has broken down what we currently expect to see.
Tambini says, “There are lots of rumored audio products that Apple is said to be working on now, including its first over-ear headphones the Apple AirPods Studio, the AirPods 3, and a cheaper version of the AirPods Pro known as the AirPods Pro Lite.
“There are even rumors of the Apple HomePod 2, a smaller, smarter version of the brand’s smart speaker. When you consider just how popular the AirPods have become – they’re easily the most ubiquitous true wireless earbuds on the planet – any new headphones from Apple are sure to be a game-changer for the audio world.
“Unfortunately, a few reputable tech analysts have said that the AirPods Studio or any over audio hardware won’t be shown today – and we aren’t expecting new wireless earbuds until early 2021, based on predictions from Ming-Chi Kuo, who’s often right about these things.
“We’re still hopeful however – and it may not be a complete wash out for audiophiles. We’ve heard mounting rumors that a new all-in-one Apple subscription service could be announced today. Known as Apple One, it’s said to combine services like Apple Music and Apple TV Plus into discounted bundles – and Apple Music users in particular may be in for a new announcement today.”
08:02 – The Apple Store is down, as per usual with these sort of events. The company closes down its online store for a couple of hours so it can prepare to list the new products without spoiling what’s in store.
Here’s what it looks like right now:
07:14 – It’s very unlikely we’ll be seeing the iPhone 12 today, but TechRadar’s Phones Writer Tom Bedford has found some listings for some remarkably similarly named products already up for sale.
Please do not buy these thinking they’re phones made by Apple.
The #iPhone12 almost definitely isn’t coming at the #AppleEvent today – but that doesn’t matter! Because there already numerous daft knock-offs on #wish! pic.twitter.com/4maKRrZVu6September 15, 2020
06:54 – Cook is awake, and we totally missed his early morning tweet. Even though today is different to previous Apple events, he was still up early ready to send out that morning message.
Good morning! T-minus 6 hours! #AppleEventSeptember 15, 2020
This has led to speculation in the TechRadar team of what Cook does with those six spare hours? Does he go over his script? Does he try to relax?
Some have even suggested he plays a quick game of Apex Legends to calm his nerves. If that’s true, we’re pretty certain Cook is a Pathfinder main.
06:15 – Will there be Apple TV related announcements today? TechRadar’s Home Cinema Editor, Henry St Leger, says “I’m not expecting all the rumors around this event to be true, but something on the TV side seems likely. We’ve been hearing about a new iteration of the Apple TV hardware for months now, and it would be perfect timing to launch it alongside tvOS 14, which will likely be leaving public for a full release sometime this month.
“I don’t expect much to happen with Apple TV Plus, either – as much as I want the interface overhauled – but being able to access it through an umbrella Apple One subscription with other Apple services would probably do much to reignite interest in it.”
04:02 – Apple TV Plus is almost a year old, so will we be hearing about new TV shows at the Apple event? Maybe getting some insight into the company’s next foray into film?
TechRadar’s Senior Entertainment Editor, Samuel Roberts, says: “‘With Apple TV Plus, a steady stream of new, high-profile originals have kept subscribers busy with content during a fairly tepid year for entertainment options. Bold moves like acquiring the Tom Hanks movie Greyhound, or bankrolling Martin Scorsese’s next movie Killers of the Flower Moon, show that Apple is serious about being a contender in entertainment.
“My expectation is that like the reveal of Foundation on Apple TV Plus earlier this year, you’ll catch a first look at another major series in the works, or see the announcement of another big acquisition. Something like that will make a splash alongside the reveal of Apple One.
“Apple TV Plus arguably still lacks an original show like The Mandalorian that’ll get the service attention from those outside of the company’s tech ecosystem – that’s what the service will need to truly take off.”
03:30 – So, what should we expect from the Apple Watch 6? The most trusted rumors suggest the company won’t be updating the design of its smartwatch extensively, and that we’ll be seeing a similar looking device to the Apple Watch 6.
Instead the improvements are likely to be internal, with some suggesting the new Watch may be getting a larger battery to ensure better sleep tracking, plus new fitness features.
TechRadar’s Fitness and Wellbeing Editor, Catherine Ellis, says: “The Apple Watch 6 might be first to feature SpO2 tracking, allowing you to see changes in your blood oxygen saturation overnight that can indicate problems like sleep apnea.
“It’s a feature that’s become common on even inexpensive fitness trackers, and seems like a natural addition for a device that already has heart rate monitoring and an ECG.”
01:52 – Oh, and we almost forgot… there’s a rumor that Apple One will be launched today. This is a subscription service that’s been rumored for a while now, which will supposedly bundle Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple TV Plus, Apple News Plus and other software into one package, and therefore one price.
I hope someone @AppleOneWorks has been keeping up with the rumours about the Apple Event today – I get the feeling their employment staffing website is about to get deluged with confused visitors… https://t.co/znqJH3bE23September 15, 2020
01:45 – So, exactly what are we going to see today? That’s the big question, and it’s a little uncertain at the moment, but the leaks tend to point towards the below. Think something is missing from the list? That likely means it won’t be getting announced today, and we’ll talk you through those things in a new update coming soon.
- Apple Watch 6 This is expected to be the big highlight of today’s event, as the company looks to expand its smartwatch portfolio further, and improve one of the world’s best smartwatches.
- Apple Watch SE Wait, what’s that? Rumors have suggested that Apple is working on a cheaper Apple Watch that has a similar design to the Series 4, and which will launch alongside the Apple Watch 6.
- iPad Air 4 The iPad Air is back again, and the latest rumors suggest it’ll be dropping the home button for a more iPad Pro-like design. Is that going to happen? You’ll have to tune in later to find out.
- New iPad This hasn’t been rumored much, but some sources are claiming we may see an updated iPad model in the mix today. If so, that may mean new features coming to the more affordable slate.
- Apple AirTags It may finally be happening – these Tile-like location trackers are designed to help you keep an eye on things like your keys or purse, and some rumors suggest they’re finally launching today.
- iOS 14 / iPadOS 14 / watchOS 7 / macOS 10.16 Apple often uses its iPhone event at the start of September to announce the exact release dates for its upcoming software.
01:35 – Welcome to our Apple event 2020 live blog – this is where you’ll find all the latest news and rumors in the build-up to Apple’s new product launch, as well as our coverage of the event itself.
It’s a little early to be talking about the new products, so we’ll be talking you through the information that we know so far, as well as any leaks or news that breaks throughout the day.
But first, the key details for today:
- The Time Flies event is today – September 15
- It starts at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST (3am AEST on September 16)
- It’s free to watch the show
- Here’s how you can watch the Apple event
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