Apple has confirmed its biggest event of the year, locking in September 9 (3am AEST, September 10) for its annual spring showcase.

The event will stream live from the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park in Cupertino under the tagline “Awe dropping”, with the spotlight falling on Apple’s next iPhone lineup.

The iPhone 17 range is expected to include the standard, Pro, and Pro Max models, along with a new ultra-slim variant dubbed the iPhone 17 Air.

Reports suggest the Air could be Apple’s thinnest handset ever, positioned as the “MacBook Air” of smartphones, though potential trade-offs in battery life and camera performance are tipped.

The Air also marks the first step in a sweeping three-year plan to reinvent the iPhone’s design.

Beginning this year with the thinner Air, Apple will follow up in 2026 with its first foldable iPhone and cap the cycle in 2027 with a curved-glass ‘iPhone 20’, timed for the device’s 20th anniversary. The initiative represents Apple’s boldest design shakeup since the iPhone X as it looks to reinvigorate its flagship after years of incremental updates.


Also likely to debut next month are refreshed Apple Watches, including the Apple Watch Series 11 and Watch Ultra 3.

Both are expected to feature upgraded processors and display improvements, with the Ultra model possibly gaining longer battery life and even satellite connectivity for emergency use.

The AirPods Pro 3 are another hot contender, marking the first update to Apple’s flagship earbuds since 2022.

Rumours point to an all-new H3 chip for improved sound, noise cancellation, and call quality, with speculative features including health monitoring and an interactive charging case. A HomePod mini 2 could also make an appearance.

Notably absent will be Macs. Historically reserved for October launches, Mac updates aren’t expected until 2026, when the M5 MacBook Pro and next-gen Mac Pro are due.

Other long-rumoured hardware, including a touchscreen ‘HomePod Touch’ and second-generation AirPods Max, also remain off the near-term agenda.

Pre-orders for the new iPhone range are expected to open on September 12, with availability from September 19. Apple is also likely to confirm release dates for iOS 26, macOS Tahoe, and other software updates announced at WWDC earlier this year.