Apple's "It's Glowtime" event kicks off today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, where we're expecting to see the iPhone 16 lineup and some updated Apple Watch and AirPods models unveiled, and perhaps some other announcements.
Apple is providing a live video stream on its website, on YouTube, and in the company's TV app across various platforms. We will also be updating this article with live blog coverage and issuing Twitter updates through our @MacRumorsLive account as the event unfolds. Highlights from the event and separate news stories regarding today's announcements will go out through our @MacRumors account.
As usual, Apple's online store is down for updates ahead of the event.
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Live blog transcript ahead...
7:30 am:
Apple Park is glowing! #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/gVgtMbZhaM
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) September 9, 2024
7:35 am: Apple is unveiling a new special events building at Apple Park today: The Observatory. It will be used for product demonstrations following the main presentation at the Steve Jobs Theater nearby.
9:30 am: Rumors have been flying fast and furious in the final hours ahead of the event, so check out our recap of ten last-minute rumors for the latest updates, as well as our full overview of what to expect today.
9:38 am: The video stream is now live on the Apple TV app, and should also be up shortly on Apple's website and YouTube. As usual, the pre-event video involves ambient music over shifting colors, in this case the "It's Glowtime" Apple logo.
9:50 am: 10 minutes to glowtime! Make your final preparations of snacks and drinks and get settled in!
9:55 am: Five minutes to go!
9:59 am: We're building up to the top of the hour...
10:00 am: Here we go!
10:01 am: We're starting with a video showing various people using Apple devices across a variety of places.
10:02 am: It's a diverse group — old, young, black, white — showing how real users take advantage of Apple's Accessibility services, crash detection on Apple Watch, Apple Fitness, the ECG app on Apple Watch, and more.
10:03 am: Now we're zooming in to Apple Park on a beautiful day, with Tim Cook standing in the middle next to the Rainbow sculpture.
10:05 am: Tim says we'll be talking about iPhone, Apple Watch, and the various services and products. We'll be talking about AI and more. Starting with Apple Watch and a "beautiful new design!"
10:06 am: Apple Watch Series 10, with the biggest display and thinnest design ever.
10:07 am: "We developed the largest and most advanced display ever for Apple Watch. It's the biggest wearable display we've ever built, even slightly bigger than Apple Watch Ultra and, compared to previous generations, it has up to 30% more screen area."
10:08 am: "With a larger screen, you can increase the font size without sacrificing content, and you can see an additional line of text and apps like Messages, Mail or news. It also makes it easier to type a message, enter your passcode, or pause your workout. Both the display and the case have more rounded corners and a wider aspect ratio, which makes series 10 appears softer, sleeker and more streamlined."
10:09 am: "Under the front crystal is Apple's first ever wide angle OLED display. Each pixel has been optimized to emit more light at wider angles. Often, you look at your watch from an angle, like while you're walking, typing on a keyboard, or when your hand is resting in your lap. So we made the display on Series 10 up to 40% brighter when viewed from an angle, which improves visibility."
10:09 am: New colors: Jet Black and Rose Gold, joining Silver Aluminum.
10:09 am: The new screen updates once per second with a ticking second hand, rather than once per minute.
10:09 am: Series 10 is 9.7mm thick, nearly 10% thinner than Series 9.
10:10 am: Can play music and podcasts directly through the speaker for the first time. Integrated metal back integrates the antenna into the housing.
10:11 am: It's the fastest-charging Apple Watch ever, getting 80% of a charge in 30 minutes.
10:11 am: It's thinner but also lighter weight. Aluminum cases weigh up to 10% less, while Series 10 also comes in Grade 5 titanium, replacing stainless steel.
10:11 am: Weighs 20% less than Stainless Steel Series 9.
10:12 am: Natural, Gold, dark Slate Gray. Updated the Milanese Loop and Link Bracelet to match the finishes.
10:12 am: They "celebrate the beauty of metal."
10:12 am: Series 10 is the most refined expression of Apple Watch yet.
10:12 am: It's also a carbon neutral product, made with 95% recycled titanium and 100% renewable electricity.
10:12 am: Prioritizing non-air shipping with Apple Watch Series 10.
10:13 am: The new S10 SiP is designed for performance, power efficiency, and intelligence.
10:13 am: Series 10 uses a new neural network to reduce background noise when making calls with the watch.
10:14 am: The Smart Stack adds new widgets when you need them. The new Photos face uses machine learning to curate photos from your library, and the Translate app is now on Apple Watch.
10:14 am: Apple Intelligence also supports some new health features...
10:15 am: Talking about Afib notifications and wrist temperature measurements on existing devices.
10:15 am: Now, Series 10 can also alert you to sleep apnea conditions, where breathing stops repeatedly during the night.
10:15 am: "If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause significant issues with health."
10:16 am: 80% of people with sleep apnea are undiagnosed, so Apple Watch uses the accelerometer to note breathing disturbances and notify wearers if it shows consistent signs of moderate or severe sleep apnea.
10:17 am: The algorithm was developed using machine learning and clinical data, and then validated in a large clinical trial. "We expect clearance from the FDA and other regulators soon."
10:17 am: Sleep Apnea detection will also be available on Series 9 and Ultra 2.
10:18 am: Now talking about workouts on Series 10. They're noting the lighter weight and the bigger display, but it's also getting a new depth gauge (good to 20 feet) as well as water temperature for pool and open water swims.
10:19 am: The new watch is excellent for surfing, fishing, and "simply playing in the waves" thanks to a new Tides app in watchOS 11 with data from coastlines around the world. The workout app also includes distance, speed and route mapping for kayaking.
10:19 am: The design of Series 10 is "truly a milestone of watchmaking."
10:20 am: Starts at $399, with GPS + cellular for $499. Preorder today, ships September 20.
10:20 am: Now moving to Apple Watch Ultra.
10:21 am: "Ultra is the perfect accessory for athletes."
10:21 am: It has the most accurate GPS in a sports watch.
10:21 am: Touting the different existing features in Apple Watch Ultra, for cyclists, runners, and more.
10:22 am: The Compass app with waypoints and backtrack, offline maps and turn-by-turn directions, and more.
10:23 am: This fall, a new finish is coming to Apple Watch Ultra.
10:23 am: It's dark!
10:23 am: Ultra 2 is now available in Satin Black.
10:24 am: Like Series 10, Ultra 2 is made by 95% recycled titanium.
10:24 am: There's a new titanium Milanese loop for Ultra.
10:24 am: It's available in both natural and black.
10:25 am: Hermes is coming to Ultra with a titanium buckle.
10:25 am: Ultra is the "ultimate sports and adventure watch."
10:25 am: Apple Watch Ultra 2 starts at $799, preorder today, shipping September 20.
10:26 am: Tim: "These are the most beautiful and capable watches we've ever created."
10:26 am: Now, we're moving on to AirPods.
10:27 am: "This year, we have significant updates across the entire lineup." Starting with a new generation of AirPods.
10:27 am: AirPods 4!
10:27 am: "The geometry of our ears is unique to each one of us."
10:28 am: "We used advanced modeling tools... to build an unparalleled data set" of ears. Generated 50 million data points, allowing Apple to refine the design to create "the most comfortable AirPods ever."
10:28 am: There's a new acoustic architecture with richer base and crystal clear highs, with personalized Spatial Audio.
10:29 am: AirPods 4 uses machine learning to support nods and shaking heads for Siri questions, plus voice isolation to remove background noise.
10:30 am: AirPods 4 now includes a smaller, more portable USB-C charging case providing up to 30 hours of total battery life.
10:30 am: There's a new, second model of AirPods with Active Noise Cancellation.
10:31 am: Transparency mode and adaptive audio coming to these new, second model of AirPods.
10:31 am: Conversation awareness is coming, too.
10:32 am: Wireless charging is coming to the new charging case, using Qi and MagSafe.
10:32 am: The AirPods 4 start at $129, while AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are $179.
10:33 am: Now moving to AirPods Max. New colors, Midnight, Blue, Purple, Orange and Starlight. Also gains USB-C, and in iOS 18, you get personalized Spatial Audio at $549. Preorder today, shipping September 20.
10:34 am: New health features are coming to AirPods Pro.
10:34 am: Hearing loss can affect quality of life, with the WHO saying 1.5 billion people are living with hearing loss.
10:35 am: "We've developed important building blocks in this space, with the Noise app on Apple Watch" and the Apple Hearing Study.
10:35 am: "We've gained deeper insights into the issues surrounding hearing health, which inspired us to do even more." Three new health features for AirPods Pro 2.
10:36 am: Raising awareness of noisy environments, adding hearing protections to AirPods Pro. Eartips provide passive noise reduction, but active noise reduction will help protect hearing.
10:36 am: 80% of adults have not had hearing checked in the last 5 years. Adding a clinically validated hearing test with AirPods Pro and iPhone.
10:37 am: The hearing test builds on learnings from the Apple Hearing Study and was developed using large-scale real-world data.
10:37 am: Stored in Health App, where you can take regular tests and learn more about hearing loss.
10:38 am: The Apple Hearing Study showed that 75% of people diagnosed with hearing loss have not received the assistance they need. AirPods Pro gaining clinical-grade over-the-counter hearing aid feature.
10:38 am: After the hearing test, AirPods Pro are turned into a customized hearing aid.
10:39 am: The hearing profile is added to music, movies and other audio, across all your devices.
10:39 am: Hearing Aid mode is coming in more than 100 regions, in a software update coming to AirPods Pro 2.
10:39 am: "These are breakthrough updates and category-defining innovations."
10:40 am: Tim: "I'm proud that we're continuing to deliver on Apple's commitment to health."
10:40 am: "We continue to take the best personal audio experience in the world even further."
10:40 am: Now moving to iPhone...
10:41 am: Designed for Apple Intelligence from the ground up.
10:42 am: iPhone 16 "raises the bar for what an iPhone can do."
10:42 am: Made of "aerospace-grade aluminum", celebrating color "in an unparalleled way." New color-infused backglass, with ultramarine, teal, and pink, plus white and black.
10:43 am: New formulation Ceramic Shield, 50% tougher than first-generation Ceramic Shield.
10:43 am: 2000 nits in a sunny environment, down to 1 nit in the dark. 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch for iPhone 16 Plus.
10:44 am: Has a customizable action button, brought over from iPhone 15 Pro. Record a voice memo, identify a song, translate a phrase, or customize it with a shortcut. Or access in-app functionality, like locking or unlocking a car in the FordPass app.
10:44 am: There's also a new camera control, allowing you to slide your finger to control features. Always within reach on the right side, below the on/off switch.
10:44 am: Camera gains new intelligence features, too, powered by Apple Silicon.
10:45 am: But moving to Apple Silicon chip with high-performance compute, memory and bandwidth, plus energy efficiency. Jumping from A16 Bionic to A18, the new chip created specifically for iPhone 16. 16-core neural engine, optimized for running large generative models. Up to 2x faster for ML.
10:46 am: A18 has 17% more system memory bandwidth, giving more efficient access to generative models. Uses 2nd-gen 3nm technology.
10:46 am: A18 uses 6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores.
10:46 am: Up to 30% faster than A16 bionic in iPhone 15 and up to 60% faster than A14 Bionic from iPhone 12.
10:47 am: Uses 30% less power than A16 Bionic. Faster than the competition, challenging even high-end desktop PCs.
10:47 am: Includes desktop-class GPU architecture, with 5-core GPU, up to 40% faster than iPhone 15, and 2x faster than iPhone 12. More efficient, delivering same performance using 35% less power.
10:48 am: Now, going to Craig to talk about Apple Intelligence.
10:48 am: Personal context is joining generative models, "to deliver intelligence that understands you."
10:48 am: Apple Intelligence can understand and create languages, images, and more.
10:49 am: The models are built by Apple and fine-tuned for everyday dynamic experiences. For more computationally intensive tasks, Apple Intelligence uses private cloud compute, giving access to larger generative models securely.
10:50 am: Data is never stored or shared with Apple with private cloud compute, with verifiable privacy promise.
10:51 am: Much of this was already revealed in June at WWDC, including rewriting text in apps across the device. New emoji creation by typing a description like "cowboy frog"
10:52 am: Users can use descriptions to search Photos like "Shani dancing in a red dress" or to search for a specific moment in a video. Create memories with prompts like "the kids learning to crochet with Aunt Fiona."
10:53 am: Apple Intelligence will help "prioritize and focus." Mail will create summaries for messages, and notifications are summarized, with priority notifications moved to the top of the stack.
10:53 am: It'll help "get things done" with Siri, marking "the start of a new era" for the assistant.
10:53 am: Siri will follow along even if you stumble over your words, and you can type to Siri directly.
10:54 am: Siri can give step-by-step guidance for how to do things on the iPhone, like deleting duplicate photos, useful for new iPhone users.
10:54 am: Siri will gain on-screen awareness, and can take action like updating a contact card — or more complicated tasks like "send Erica the photos from Saturday's barbecue."
10:55 am: Apple Intelligence will transform "so much of what you use" with iPhone. Apple Intelligence coming in beta in U.S. English, with localized English coming later this year. Chinese, French, Japanese and Spanish coming next year.
10:56 am: Something new for iPhone 16 is something called Visual Intelligence. Using the camera control, you can click and hold the camera control and point your iPhone at something — aim it at a camera, and it'll automatically pull up details about the restaurant.
10:57 am: Or aim it at a flyer about an event and it'll add information to your calendar. Click on a dog and it'll give you information about the breed, all managed on the device and kept private.
10:57 am: You can send images to other apps, like Google or ChatGPT.
10:57 am: "You're always in control of when third parties are used and what information is shared."
10:57 am: Coming to the Camera Control later this year.
10:58 am: More details about the Camera Control and how it works in the camera app itself.
10:59 am: "It's designed for an amazing camera experience." It's easy to use in landscape or portrait, flush to the surface, covered by a sapphire crystal and a color-matched stainless steel trim. Click and it launches the camera app, and once in the app, you don't need to adjust your grip, click again. Click and hold and it records video. The click experience uses a force sensor and taptic engine, ensuring responsive haptic feedback like in a mechanical camera shutter.
10:59 am: Touch gestures are recognized too, allowing the camera control to distinguish between a full click and a lighter press. A lighter press reveals a new clean preview, helping focus on framing the shot. New overlay allows for quick access to camera functions like zoom.
11:00 am: Press lightly twice to see other controls, and slide to the control you want.
11:00 am: Other apps can use the camera control, too.
11:01 am: iPhone 16 gets 48-megapixel main camera. The main camera image pipeline, can fuse a 48MP and 12MP photo that balances light quality and image detail into a 24MP image.
11:01 am: The middle 12MP of the sensor can give a 2x telephoto option with full-resolution photos. Faster aperture at f/1.6, capturing 1.6x more light than before.
11:02 am: It's a 48MP fusion camera, with 1x and 2x options, with separate image pipelines for each. Captures 4k60 video with Dolby Vision HDR.
11:02 am: There's a new 12MP autofocus ultra-wide camera, too.
11:02 am: Larger aperture and bigger pixels, capturing 2.6x more light.
11:03 am: Improved macro photography, too. iPhone 16 can get the equivalent of four lenses in their pocket, plus stereoscopic information from the two lenses to capture Spatial Video and Spatial Photos.
11:03 am: Those videos and photos can be relived on Apple Vision Pro.
11:04 am: It also has intelligent audio treatment to reduce wind noise.
11:04 am: The Photos app is also customizable to reorder collections and albums and to use Apple Intelligence to remove distracting items from photos.
11:05 am: iPhone 16 delivers 30% higher sustained performance for gaming, thanks to new thermal optimizations. Also, ray tracing!
11:06 am: iPhone 16 supports AAA games like Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, and Assassin's Creed: Mirage, that previously only worked with iPhone 15 Pro.
11:07 am: Honor of Kings: World, coming to iPhone 16.
11:07 am: iPhone 16 is getting a bigger battery, which, combined with A18 and advanced power management, delivers "a big boost" in battery life.
11:08 am: iOS 18 now allows live video to be shared with supported 911 dispatch systems.
11:09 am: Messages via Satellite is coming in iOS 18 starting in the US and Canada, and is now extended to more locations when cellular and Wi-Fi aren't available. Emergency SOS and Find My via Satellite are available in 17 regions, with Roadside Assistance expanding to the UK.
11:09 am: Gaining Wi-Fi 7 and "a big boost in battery life."
11:09 am: Now showing a new ad for iPhone 16 and the new blue color.
11:11 am: iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus start at $799 and $899 for 128GB models.
11:11 am: iPhone trade-in offers including up to $800 off in the US for an iPhone 12 or newer.
11:12 am: There's an iPhone 16 Pro, too!
11:13 am: It has a new gold color, with the Camera Control.
11:14 am: It's nighttime at Apple Park now as Joz shows off iPhone 16 Pro.
11:14 am: The Pro Display is larger, at 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch on Pro Max. The largest iPhone display ever.
11:14 am: It has the thinnest borders on any Apple Product, always-on 120Hz ProMotion displays.
11:15 am: iPhone 16 Pro comes in darker Black Titanium, brighter White Titanium, natural Titanium, and a new Desert Titanium.
11:16 am: It has battery optimizations, larger batteries, better power management, and fantastic battery life. "iPhone 16 Pro Max has the best iPhone battery life ever."
11:17 am: Now mentioning Apple Intelligence features that will take advantage of the new iPhone 16 Pro Apple Silicon.
11:17 am: "Remarkable new pro chip" called A18 Pro.
11:17 am: "Even faster and more efficient than A18."
11:18 am: Same 2nd-gen 3nm transistors, the first smartphone chips in the world to use these new transistors.
11:18 am: New 16-core neural engine for 35 trillion operations per second, with 17% more memory bandwidth.
11:19 am: New, faster 6-core GPU, running up to 20% faster than A17 Pro.
11:20 am: 2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, up to 15% faster than A17 Pro, capable of delivering the same performance with 20% less power usage. Uses larger caches, with next-generation ML accelerators, plus advanced media features with ProMotion and Always-On display support, faster USB 3 speeds, and ProRes video recording. Supports 2x data processing for video encoding.
11:21 am: New fusion camera and camera interface, 48MP fusion camera with 2nd-generation quad-pixel sensor, with 0 shutter lag for 48MP ProRAW and HEIF photos.
11:22 am: New 48MP ultra-wide camera, with quad-pixel sensor with autofocus.
11:22 am: 5x telephoto, with 120mm focal length, comes to iPhone 16 Pro in addition to Pro Max.
11:23 am: Camera control lets you slide between lenses for the perfect shot. Dedicated go-to control for your camera, making the pro camera system more versatile. Camera Control will be updated later this year to lock focus and exposure with a half-press.
11:23 am: New photographic styles to adapt colors and shadows in real-time.
11:24 am: Adjustments are applied to specific colors, not just adding one shade to a scene. There are new black-and-white options, a natural style, and more. Styles can be personalized by adjusting tone and color. They can be added after capture, too.
11:24 am: Styles can be applied during live preview, "like professional color grading in real time."
11:25 am: Now talking about video capture.
11:26 am: Showing a slow-motion capture "to make a scene feel more cinematic."
11:26 am: "When there's a giant explosion behind us, maybe we shouldn't walk in slow motion."
"It's the only time to walk in slow motion."
11:26 am: It now supports 4K120 capture, made possible by the faster sensor on the 48MP fusion camera.
11:26 am: Frame-by-frame, cinema-quality color-grading in Dolby Vision.
11:27 am: 4K120 can be used in slo-mo or video mode, and you don't have to make that decision up front — you can adjust after capture. Play back in 120, 60, 30, or 24 fps.
11:27 am: With camera control, you can capture 4K120 in full HDR.
11:28 am: New audio upgrades coming, too.
11:29 am: Spatial Audio capture during video recording, for a more immersive experience when using AirPods or Apple Vision Pro to watch.
11:29 am: Audio Mix uses machine learning to identify and separate background audio and speech. "In-frame mix" isolates the voice of the person on camera.
11:29 am: Studio mix, gives the effect of recording in a recording studio.
11:30 am: Cinematic Mix handles audio like in movies, with on-screen in front, and environmental noises in surroundings.
11:30 am: Updates coming to Voice Memo, allowing you to layer a track on top of existing recordings.
11:30 am: Can record voice over a previously-recorded guitar track.
11:31 am: From studio-quality mics to built-in sound editing, "these audio features aren't available on any other smartphone."
11:31 am: Now running a video showing how iPhone brought The Weeknd's new song and music video to life.
11:32 am: "Shooting 4K120 helped us slow down reality."
11:32 am: "With the new photo styles, you can dial back contrast or punch it up if you need, so it's super helpful to see it as you're shooting."
11:34 am: "A filmmaking powerhouse. You stop thinking of it being an iPhone and treat it like a normal camera."
11:34 am: Updates coming to MagSafe ecosystem, with clear and silicone cases, with a sapphire crystal coupled to a conductive layer for the camera control. New 1m and 2m, faster-charging MagSafe charging, plus Qi 2 support.
11:35 am: Includes new slimmer, 100% fiber-based packaging.
11:35 am: iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 for 128GB, and $1199 for iPhone 16 Pro Max for 256GB.
11:36 am: All will be available for pre-order on Friday and available on September 20.
11:37 am: Tim is back, thanking the presenters and recounting "the remarkable day of announcements:" Apple Watch Series 10, the black Apple Watch Ultra 2, AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Max with USB-C, a new hearing health experience in AirPods Pro 2.
11:38 am: New generation of iPhone built for Apple Intelligence, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
11:38 am: "I'm proud of our teams and what they've accomplished, and I can't wait for you to experience these amazing products. Thanks for joining us, have a great day!"
11:38 am: "Shot on iPhone. Edited on Mac."
11:39 am: "All presenters, locations, and aerial footage shot on iPhone."
11:39 am: And we're done! Thanks for joining us.
