➡️ The Shortcut Skinny: Apple event
🚀 Launch event: Wed, Sept 7 at 1pm ET / 10am PT for phones & watches
🛍️ Pre-order date: Fri, September 9 at 8am ET for pre-orders (likely)
📆 Delivery date: Fri, September 16 for shipments & in-store pick-ups
📱 iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max (or Plus), iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max
⌚ Apple Watch 8, Apple Watch SE 2, Apple Watch 8 Rugged Edition
What’s happening on September 7 at 1pm ET
At 1pm ET / 10am PT, the confirmed Apple Event will give us our first official look at the iPhone 14 series and the Apple Watch Series 8 (and SE 2). In total, seven new Apple devices are expected to be unveiled at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino.
This includes the rumored iPhone 14, “iPhone 14 Max,” iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. There’s no iPhone 14 Mini expected this year because the iPhone 12 Mini and 13 Mini didn’t sell well, despite the loud pleas of the small-handed among us.
The reason I put the “iPhone 14 Max” in quotes is because we don’t know if it’ll be called iPhone 14 “Max” or “Plus,” two names that have been thrown about for months. But leaks do suggest that Apple has been working on a non-Pro iPhone with 6.8-inch screen. The “Max” name makes sense because it would match the size of the iPhone 14 Pro Max display, but without all of the processor and camera bells and whistles, so will Apple desginate it with the same premium-sounding name? We’ll know on September 7.
The iPhone 14 predictions from Apple leakers and analysts I follow like Ming-Chi Kou, suggest that the iPhone 14 won’t get a big upgrade. In fact it and the “iPhone 14 Max” will still include the iPhone 13’s A15 Bionic chipset, reserving the A16 for the iPhone 14 Pro models.
Advertising the iPhone 14 at “still just $799” is important for Apple. The pricing of the Pro models is less safe in 2022.
The Pro lineup is also expected to ditch the notch cutout in favor of a smaller “pill-shaped” cutout (expect that to be as controversial as the original iPhone X notch) and a 48MP main rear camera. I’ve seen rumored that the iPhone 14 will get a price hike, but I don’t think that’s destined for all models. Advertising the iPhone 14 at “still just $799” is important for Apple. The pricing of the Pro models is less safe in 2022.
Not to jump too far ahead, but Apple also has an October event (I suspect it’ll be in late October), where iPads and Mac computers are expected to be announced. The rumored AirPods Pro 2 could be announced on either September 7 or late October, but, either way, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman thinks new earbuds are coming in 2022.
What’s happening on September 9 at 8am ET
If history repeats itself, Apple’s launch event will segue into a pre-order phase two days later, on Friday, September 9. The Apple Store pre-orders for the iPhone 14 should start at 8am ET / 5am PT.
Apple’s trade-in offers have gotten stronger in recent years and its main competition, Samsung, has given Apple reason to increase trade-in values. I’ll be tracking the best iPhone 14 trade-in deals ahead of the expected September 9 ordering date.
What’s happening on September 16
This is when the first iPhone 14 and Apple Watch 8 shipments are expected to arrive on doorsteps around the world. If you choose an in-store pickup like I do (it makes it easier to get devices at 8am ET), then this will also be the date to unbox your brand new iPhone 14.
Of course, given the supply chain issues and likely high demand for the iPhone 14 series (especially the two iPhone 14 Pro phones), this date will slip into October if you’re not fast enough to pre-order on September 9 at 8am ET.
What will Apple announce in October?
September 7 isn’t going to be the last Apple launch event for 2022. A Mac-dominated event usually takes place in late October, and that’s what we expect to happen again this year. We’re also expecting new iPads (everything but the Air which got an update in March 2022). This timing feels right, especially considering the fact that Apple delayed the iPadOS 16 by a month, landing in October.
How is the Rugged Apple Watch supposedly going to be different? This is the first I’ve heard of it.