Apple event product news — iPhone 14, Apple Watch 8, AirPods Pro 2 and more

Good morning and welcome to our Apple event rumors live blog. We'll be updating this regularly over the next day-and-a-bit leading up to the event itself, which is due to start at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. BST tomorrow (September 7).

There's certainly no shortage of last-minute leaks and speculation around the various devices tipped to launch tomorrow, so read on for our thoughts on each one.

One of the latest rumors to surface ahead of the Apple event concerns a battery boost for the iPhone 14 Pro range. 

That's according to well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, who writes in his Power On newsletter that “beyond the notch, I’m told to expect the iPhone 14 Pro models to appear slightly larger overall and include slimmer bezels. They will have bigger batteries too.”

Slimmer bezels are nice, but a battery boost could help the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro max win a spot on our best phone battery life list, replacing the iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro respectively. 

One of the key iPhone 14 rumors is that the standard models will stick with the current A15 processor, but that Pro models will get a new A16 Bionic chip.

However, we've now heard a new variation on this theme — namely that the A15 chip in the iPhone 14 will be an enhanced version.

This is according to the Wall Street Journal, citing "people familiar with the plans." There's no indication as to how the A15 will be enhanced — but we'd guess that it would offer slightly higher performance than the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, which offered one extra GPU core compared to the A15 used in the base iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini.

The dual chip approach is one we've heard lots about already. For instance, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has also tipped the regular iPhone 14s to stick with A15, while the Pro models get an upgrade. 

On the one hand, this would be disappointment — Apple almost always puts new chips inside new phones. But on the other, you could argue that the A15 Bionic is so powerful that having it in the iPhone 14 is going to be no bad thing anyway. And if the version of the A15 used is more powerful than that in the iPhone 13, there's even less reason to worry about it.

If you're wondering whether you should be prepared to buy the iPhone 14 when it launches, or if you should wait for 12 months and get an iPhone 15, then phones writer Richard Priday has chewed over the iPhone 14 vs iPhone 15. 

It's looking like the iPhone 14 Pro will be the phone to get. But if you're on an iPhone 13 Pro, you may want to consider waiting as the 2023 iPhone model could bring in some major changes, such as USB-C connectivity and a periscope camera. 

Shifting away from iPhones, we're expecting to see at least two new Apple Watch models on Wednesday. But there's also the Apple Watch SE 2 that may make an appearance. 

This would be a replacement for the Apple Watch SE, Apple's cheapest smartwatch, but is could also spell the end of the Apple Watch 3, which looks set to be killed off this week. 

As for the Apple Watch 8 itself, we're not expecting to see a host of major changes, but a Pro model has been tipped. 

And going by some alleged leaked case photos, it looks like the Apple Watch 8 Pro will be a seriously rugged smartwatch able to withstand the elements and rigorous outdoor activities while still offering access to a suite of watchOS 9 features. That'll likely be thanks to additional buttons and a titanium construction by default. 

Just in! A new iPhone 14 Pro rumor. This time it's an image of what's claimed to be an iPhone 14 Pro case over an iPhone 14 Pro, with the big take away being the camera lenses of the next-gen iPhone could be notably larger than those of the current Pro phones. 

What does this mean in practical terms? Well larger lenses can let in more light and that can mean more detail is captured by a phone's cameras. With the iPhone 14 Pro already tipped to get a 48MP main camera, letting in more light and boosting low-light photography too, could see it top our best camera phone list; though we'd need to put it through some through testing before drawing any conclusions. 

Camera upgrades are all well and good but one of the worrying rumor doing the rounds is how the iPhone 14 range will be more expensive than the iPhone 13 range, with the Pro phones set to rise by $100. 

But Market intelligence firm TrendForce has predicted that the jump in price won't be overly severe, with prices rising by $50 instead. Supposedly, this will be a means for Apple to be more cautious with pricing when global inflation in on the rise. We're not sure how much we buy into that, but we'd much rather no price hike at all, especially if the standard iPhone 14 isn't changing much.  

But one way Apple could justify a price hike for the iPhone 14 Pro at least, could be a new entry-level storage tier. According to some rumors, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro max will start at 256GB of storage space rather than 128GB. 

However, this iPhone 14 Pro storage boost has been shot down in a report from Haitong International analyst Jeff Pu, who claims that Apple will be keeping storage the same as it was with the iPhone 13 Pro, which means sticking with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage options. 

Speaking of options and specs, we've pulled together a specs table for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max based on the rumors so far. 

With the exception of screen and battery size, the two phones look set to be very similar. That’s the same deal as with the 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max, but in contrast to the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, which had differing camera capabilities. 

Check out the specs list below. 

Based on the rumored specs for the iPhone 14 Pro, it looks like the next-gen iPhone to get — with the only question being whether 6.1 inches is enough, or if you want a larger 6.7-inch display. 

However, we don’t reckon you should dismiss the standard iPhone 14 entirely. 

As managing editor and phones expert Philip Michaels discusses: “The importance of getting all the valuable things the iPhone 14 promises — great cameras, solid performance, a stellar design — without having to pay more for the privilege can't be overstated, especially at a time when prices are ballooning all around us. 

“The iPhone 14 Pro may be getting some impressive enhancements, but in this environment, the attractive price of the iPhone 14 could wind up being the most compelling feature of all.”

To help you break down some last-minute iPhone14 rumors, editor Kate Kozuch has pulled together a video that collates some of the best tidbits of information we've put our eyes on. 

Take a look at it below. Oh, and like and subscribe! 

One of the more compelling rumors to have bubbled up to the surface lately is the claim that the iPhone 14 Pro will feature an always-on display. 

Why is that a big deal? Well it would give the iPhone 14 Pro the scope to further challenge some of the best Android phones around, as well as offer a much neater way of seeing information at a glance. Phones writer Richard Priday has chewed over all the iPhone 14 always-on display rumors so far. 

There are a lot of Apple Watch 8 rumors to dissect and rationalize. And that's exactly what editor Kate Kozuch has done. 

Check out the Apple Watch 8 rumors explained video below for a lowdown of what to expect, as well as what not to get your hopes up about. 

If those rumors have got you excited about the Apple Watch 8, and you already have an Apple Watch you are keen to upgrade from, then we've got you covered. 

Take a look at our guide on how to trade in your Apple Watch, and how you can get credit towards a new smartwatch. 

OK, so lets talk AirPods Pro 2 for a moment. We're expecting a new design and a whole suite of new features, but should you be poised to buy them if they are announced at the Apple event? 

Well take a look at our AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro rundown to get a feel for the biggest upgrades to expect. We're rather hoping that the AirPods Pro 2 really shake things up on the wireless earbuds front.  

And here's editor and video maker extraordinaire Kate Kozuch with a rundown of all the AirPods Pro 2 rumors you'll want to pay attention to. 

Check it out below. 

Jordan here, Phones Editor for TG, and I'm taking over for the next few hours. As we close in on the big Apple event tomorrow, I got to thinking. What rumors have you the most excited? A few come to mind for me.

I'm looking at the iPhone 14 Pro as my next upgrade, having found myself dissatisfied with the monstrous iPhone 13 Pro Max. But I have three rumored things that get me hyped for tomorrow: battery life, always-on display, and the 48MP camera upgrade.

First is the rumored larger battery for the iPhone 14 Pro, which some say could be 3,200 mAh. Considering how good the iPhone 13 Pro's battery life was last year, I have high hopes that the iPhone 14 Pro will crush our battery life test.

Second, I can't wait to see if iPhones finally get an always-on display. This is a feature that's been on Android for years and I really hope I get it back on my iPhone.

Third, the rumored 48MP camera upgrade has me intrigued. The iPhone 13 Pro is already a camera champ, but the extra resolution ought to help it in low-light photos. While Apple is certainly one of the better night mode options out there, it's not the king. A larger and higher-res sensor might help with that.

@kate_kozuch

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Check out our very own Kate talk about what she's doing to prepare for the Apple event tomorrow.

Less than 24 hours to go and now we've seen some new Apple Watch 8 Pro renders pop up (via MacRumors). These are based on leaked CAD designs, so these aren't official. It's an overall very different design, and will likely feature a high price tag to match. Guess we'll find out tomorrow.

We've even some stuff about a third button.

Philip Michaels, here to take you the rest of the way this afternoon and into the early evening as we keep tabs on what's surfacing just before tomorrow's big Apple event. Let's kick things off by talking batteries.

If you've been following the iOS 16 beta releases, you know that you'll be able to flip a switch that makes the battery percentage indicator appear — a feature that's been MIA since the notch arrived on the iPhone X in 2017. The screenshot up above is my iPhone 12 running the iOS 16 public beta and displaying the battery percentage right there on the battery icon.

The iPhone 14 Pro models — rumored to be notch-free — might move the percentage back to the side of the battery icon where it truly belongs. That, plus how the always-on display rumored for the iPhone 14 Pro models is part of a new report on just how you'll be able to see how much battery life you've got left on Apple's new phones.

You didn't expect other tech companies to let Apple enjoy a week of news all to itself, did you? About 24 hours before Tim Cook takes the stage for the Apple launch event, Google sent out invitations of its own for an October 6 product launch.

There's no mystery as to what Google will unveil. It's already previewed the Pixel 7 and the Pixel Watch, so we expect to get the full releases of those devices at that time. That's going to summon up comparisons with whatever Apple announces on September 7, especially with the iPhone 14 and Apple Watch 8 leading the charge.

You can look at our iPhone 14 vs. Pixel 7 face-off to see how that comparison is shaping up.

iPhones could become hard to find in Brazil, as The Verge reports that Brazil is suspending local sales of Apple phones that don't include chargers in their packaging. If you're familiar with the iPhone's history, you'd know that includes everything from the iPhone 12 onward, as Apple stopped including chargers with its phones two years ago, as a way to reduce the environmental impact of its products.

Brazilian officials seem more concerned with the impact of that decision on customers rather than the planet, as it's arguing that the iPhone is "incomplete" without a charger since shoppers will have to buy that accessory separately. 

When the iPhone 14 debuts tomorrow, it's likely to ship without a charger, too, and we wouldn't expect Brazil's decision to change Apple's strategy going forward. It could be seen as an argument for switching from a Lightning port to a USB-C one, as USB-C is more ubiquitous than Apple's proprietary port. But we also know that's not happening with the iPhone 14, either. Maybe next year's iPhone 15, instead.

We're focusing a lot on the iPhone 14, Apple Watch 8 and AirPods Pro because that's what Apple is tipped to be showing off on September 7. But there are more products in the works, and likely more Apple events to follow this Wednesday's edition.

No less an authority than Mark Gurman of Bloomberg says so, in his Sept. 7 event preview. There's a paragraph at the end claiming that Apple will hold another event in October where it will show off a new iPad Pro as well as high-end Macs.

We agree — in fact, we've got our own preview of Apple's other event likely to take place this fall.

In addition to showing off new hardware at tomorrow's Apple event, Apple could also unveil a new method of paying for that hardware.

Back in the spring, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg told us about the possibility of a subscription program for the iPhone. Under this proposal, you'd pay a monthly fee for your iPhone, essentially renting the device until it's time to upgrade to a new model. The subscription price might also include access to some of Apple's subscription services as well.

Here's a rundown of what we know about the rumored iPhone subscription service, should it debut alongside the iPhone 14, as some expect.

We don't often do this, but here's the current weather conditions in Cupertino, where Apple will be hosting tomorrow's iPhone 14 launch.

We'd call your attention to the severe heat warning, as the San Francisco Bay Area finds itself dealing with much higher temperatures than normal. 

The cooling trend begins tomorrow, just in time for Apple's event, when temperatures in Cupertino are only supposed to reach 96 degrees. Hope the Steve Jobs Theater has ample air conditioning.

One iPhone rumor to keep tabs on between now and the start of the September 7 Far Out event is one that emerged about a week ago — that the iPhone 14 could add satellite connectivity that allows you to make emergency calls when cellular connectivity is unavailable.

That's a rumor that emerged just ahead of the iPhone 13 launch, but never materialized again until people started speaking of it as a possibility for the iPhone 14. What we're apparently waiting on is for Apple to sign a deal with a satellite provider to support the feature; analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that the hardware is otherwise in place on the new phones.

So if satellite connectivity is a go, we could find out just ahead of the launch in case Apple's satellite partner — whoever that happens to be — lets things slip prematurely.

This is global editor in chief Mark Spoonauer taking over the Apple event live blog for the next few hours as we get closer and closer to the big showcase. The AirPods Pro 2 is tipped to launch September 7, and now there's a last-minute leak that could show us the final case design along with new features. 

Leaked by Andrew O'Hara on Twitter, the alleged CAD files show a possible lanyard anchor and built-in speakers for Find My support. So you could be able to track down your lost AirPods Pro 2 more easily. 

One of the biggest questions following the Apple event is likely to be: "what's the difference between the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro?" To help you out we have an in-depth iPhone 14 vs iPhone 14 Pro preview that breaks it all down.

Short on time? The gist is that the iPhone 14 Pro series is tipped to feature a new 48MP main camera, an always-on display and a new design that ditches the notch in favor of a pill-shaped cutout. And that's on top of the telephoto camera and 120Hz ProMotion display that are expected to remain Pro-exclusive features.

Plus, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max may be the only new iPhones to feature the new A16 Bionic chip, though the iPhone 14 could get an enhanced version of the A15 Bionic. 

The Apple event hype machine is already in full effect with a promoted tweet that promises to send you a reminder when the Apple event is expected to begin. As a reminder, the Apple event starts at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM GMT on September 7.

And we'll be there live from the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino to bring you all the big news as it happens. We also hope to bring you hands-on impressions of the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro and all the other new gear. 

For the past couple of generations Apple has only promised to get you to 50% charge in 30 minutes with its iPhone chargers. But maybe we could see an upgrade with the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro series.

Rumor has it that Apple will support 30W charging for at least the iPhone 14 Pro series which would be a notable upgrade from the current 20W charger support. But we don't know how that will equate to charge times. 

We previously heard that all four iPhone 14 models will get 30W charging, and we hope that's true, as there's way too many Pro-exclusive features leaking at this point. 

If you already own an iPhone 13, chances are you're not going to upgrade to the iPhone 14. Or should you? The answer depends a lot on whether you're thinking of going with the regular iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus or the iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max.

Our iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13 preview comparison breaks down the biggest expected upgrades from one generation to the next. Based on what we've heard, it doesn't sound like the iPhone 14 will be a huge leap ahead of the iPhone 13. 

But if you're thinking of going Pro? Well, that could actually be quite a big jump, with the expected always-on display, new 48MP camera and other goodies. Of course, Apple is rumored to sweeten the deal with a new iPhone subscription service. 

One more thing...Could we actually see a tease of the Apple VR/AR headset?

The latest rumors point to a 2023 launch for Apple's first VR/AR headset, so on the surface it would not make sense to show it off at this Apple event. But there are some valid reasons to tease this device.

For one, if Apple wants developers to start creating apps for the rumored realityOS, it will need to prime the pump sooner than later. Recent trademarks actually point to two possible Apple headsets in the Reality One and Reality Pro, and we've heard the latter could cost as much as $3,000.

With Meta expected to launch the Meta Quest Pro October 11 at its own Meta Connect event, this could be a way for Apple to steal Mark Zuckerberg's thunder. But with so many products expected to debut at this Apple event, my money is on a tease later down the road. 

iPhone 14 preorders could happen very soon after the Apple event, and early rumors point to a date of September 9. Our iPhone 14 preorder guide has everything you need to know about getting your hands on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro series early. 

We also go over the prices to expect — ranging from $799 for the iPhone 14 Pro all the way up to $1,199 for the iPhone 14 Pro Max — and the carrier deals we anticipate. 

@tomsguide

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It's no secret that the iPhone 14 lineup will be running iOS 16 out of the box, but there's lots of other iPhones that will be able to run Apple's new software. We're talking every iPhone dating back to the iPhone 8. 

So what should you expect? There's lots of great new features, including a customizable lock screen, iCloud Shared Photo Library, the ability to unsend text messages and more. Our own Kate Kozuch sheds some light on the possible iOS 16 release date; we expect it closer to the release date of the new iPhones and not right after the Apple event. 

One aspect of iPhone design that always sparks plenty of speculation concerns the colors of the new models. This year, there's tipped to be a new purple hue for the entire range, although likely a different tone for the standard models compared to the Pro versions.

Find out what else is predicted on this front in our guide to the iPhone 14 colors. 

We're now just 10 hours away from the start of Apple's event, which is due to kick off at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. BST. 

As you'll have seen if you've been reading this live blog over the past day, there's a lot that we know about Apple's new devices heading into the event. Or rather, there's a lot that we think we know, because nothing is 100% certain yet.

However, there are still plenty of unknowns too, and our Managing Editor Philip Michaels addresses these in his list of the 6 biggest iPhone 14 and Apple Watch 8 questions ahead of the Apple event.

For many Tom's Guide writers, the iPhone 14 Pro is the model to get most excited about. It promises a bunch of upgrades over the iPhone 13 Pro, some key advantages over the standard model and (hopefully) the right balance of features vs price.

Our Phones Editor Jordan Palmer is one of those who likes the sound of it based on all of the leaks so far, as he explains in his feature on the 3 iPhone 14 Pro rumors I’m most excited about.

If you're a regular iPhone user, an Apple product launch can create mixed feelings. Sure, those new devices do look tempting — but do they offer enough reason to upgrade over your current model?

Much depends, obviously, on which model you're already rocking — so our iPhone 14 upgrade guide breaks down the likely advantages compared to iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro/Pro Max, iPhone 13 mini, all varieties of iPhone 12 and iPhone 11, and iPhone SE (2020) just for good measure. Check it out before you decide whether an upgrade is right for you.

Managing editor Roland Moore-Colyer here to take on the live blogging once again. And what's caught my eye out of the gates this morning is the idea of a iPhone subscription service. The rumored idea here is that users can pay a monthly fee for access to an iPhone and a suite of Apple services. 

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, we should see the iPhone subscription service appear "before the end of the year." So we could see it announced today, though there's apparently another Apple event in October where it could appear; I suspect that event will focus on iPads and Macs not iPhone services. 

Such a subscription service would make sense as we've already seen Nokia set one up in the form of its "Circular" service, as revealed at IFA 2022. 

Speaking of iPad and Macs, we're not expecting Apple to show off such devices at today's event, but we do think new models will be on the way soon — probably next month.

One persistent rumor around future iPads has been the addition of an OLED screen, something that Apple already includes in Apple Watch and iPhone models. Right now, the consensus is that the expected iPad Pro 2022 won't get an OLED display, and that we'll have to wait until 2023 or later for that.

It's still an exciting prospect even if it's not imminent, and a new report from 9to5Mac details exactly what (and when) to expect on this front.

One phone that has been gathering a fair bit of attention over the past few months is the so-called iPhone 14 Max or iPhone 14 Plus. It's tipped to offer a 6.7-inch display, like an iPhone Max but without demanding the $1,000 plus price tag. 

We've rejigged our iPhone 14 Plus hub to really give you the lowdown on what to expect from this rumored phone, which looks very likely to be a potential secret weapon in Apple's phone arsenal. 

Sometimes waiting can be the hardest thing, and while we're mere hours away from the Apple event, I'm still chewing over what's going to be 'Far Out' about Cupertino's showcase.

But I've penned an article looking into why Apple may have chosen to go for the Far Out strapline. TL;DR I reckon it could be in reference to improved night photography facilitated by the iPhone 14 Pro's tipped 40MP camera, with more detail capture meaning sky at night shots littered with stars. 

Of course, Far Out could also be a reference to the Apple Watch Pro, which as we've discussed could be a rugged and tough take on the Apple Watch 8 design for use outdoors and in extreme conditions. 

Given traditional watches have had a link to glorified names, such as the Omega Spacemaster, maybe Apple is gong for the same feel with Far Out. The idea could be the Apple Watch Pro is designed to be used in such far out conditions it could conceivably be taken to space. 

I guess we'll have to... watch this space. (I'm sorry.) 

One thing that's not speculation from my point of view is how you absolutely shouldn't buy an iPhone 13  today. Right now Apple has the iPhone 13 range at full price despite the imminent launch of the iPhone 14. 

So you should wait to see what the iPhone 14 range has in store and if the iPhone 13 models are then discounted once the next-gen phones go on sale. 

Well it doesn't look like you'll be buying anything Apple for the time being, at least not from the main online store as it's down. Apple simply left the message: "We’re making updates to the Apple Store. Check back soon."

Now it doesn't take a genius (thankfully, as I am not one) to work out that Apple is almost certainly adding new products to the store ready to go on sale or be up for pre-order after the Apple event.  

Let’s go back to the iPhone 14 range for a bit. As discussed it’s almost certainly game over for the iPhone mini, which will likely be replaced by the iPhone 14 Plus. 

We like big phones here at Tom’s Guide and we cannot lie. But news editor Sanjana Prakash is an iPhone mini advocate, to the extent she wishes Apple wasn’t going to kill the iPhone mini. 

“With inflation and prices soaring everywhere, I wish Apple would have been more mindful of this and given us a cheaper iPhone 14 mini. But going by the trends, consumers might just opt for the iPhone 14 Max to get a big-screen iPhone that was usually much more expensive — leaving compact phone fans like me with the iPhone SE (2022),” explains Prakash. 

“I just hope the iPhone 14 Max does not mark the end of the road for the mini for good.”

Speaking of discontinued iPhones, the launch of the iPhone 14 range is likely to see some older Apple phones get put out to pasture. 

As such, managing editor Philip Michaels has taken a look at what iPhones could be killed-off with the launch of the iPhone 14. I’d also suggest holding fire on buying an iPhone 13 today. 

With iPhones being discontinued and the arrival of iOS 16, you may now be pondering whether you should upgrade to a new iPhone. It’s not as easy a question as it once was, given phones have received more incremental upgrades from generation to generation of late. 

But we've got a rundown of the 5 biggest iPhone 14 Pro rumored upgrades, which should at least give you some early warning of whether you should be saving for a new device after today’s event. If you’re on an iPhone X or iPhone 11 at least, it may be time to upgrade.

As for the iPhone 14 upgrade yours truly might be most interested in, well that’s a tricky one. Fast charging for the iPhone 14 Pro would be good, as the iPhone 13 Pro that I swapped to from Android isn’t as snappy at charging as some of the best Android phones. 

But I do like a good phone camera, so I can’t deny I’d really like to see what Apple could do with a 48MP main sensor. Knowing how Apple works with computational photography and image processing, I’m hoping for some shots that blow me away — though I do expect any shown off at the event to be well choreographed. 

And while I’m musing, I’d like to see what the rumored A16 chip, supposedly only coming to the iPhone 14 Pro models, can do when it comes to gaming. Apple’s smartphone chips have been top performers for a long time, but I’d really like to see them deliver some stunning gaming performance. 

That’ll hopefully lead to more visually impressive Apple Arcade games. I’ve recently been getting into the service, which offers a rather intriguing mix of games to play. But I’m hungry for something special, much like Infinity Blade was on the early iPhones. Failing that, some killer mobile ports of big titles would go down well. 

Good morning — it's me, Philip Michaels, here to take you up to the Apple Far Out Event starting at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT and then typing furiously throughout so that all the details of Apple's different product announcements are captured for all posterity.

Speaking of busy mornings, here's a guy who figures to have a full calendar today.

Maybe log off Twitter, dude, you've got a show to put on.

The Tom's Guide crew has arrived in Cupertino, two hours ahead of the scheduled Apple event. Punctuality is the politeness of princes, after all.

That's Kate Kozuch, Mark Spoonauer and intrepid cameraman Marcus who will be giving us on-site reports from Cupertino all day long. Make sure to follow the Tom's Guide TikTok for all the quick reactions and product hands-ons from the showcase.

Our first TikTok report, via Kate Kozuch, from Apple Park in Cupertino:

@tomsguide

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The Tom's Guide crew is all checked in at the Apple event, and Kate Kozuch notes that the badges are paper this year. That's a change from my event-going days when tech companies used plastic for the badges they handed out to press, VIPs and employees. Chalk that switch up to Apple's on-going environmental moves, which I suspect we'll hear more about during today's product reveals.

Global editor-in-chief Mark Spoonauer checks in from outside of Apple's circular HQ.

We're not just getting new hardware at today's event, though understandably, that's where the focus is going to be. Apple previewed various software releases during summer's Worldwide Developer Conference, and it's very likely the company announces release dates for the full versions of iOS 16, watchOS 9 and tvOS 16. It's possible we could hear about macOS Ventura as well, though that might be tied to the rumored October product event where Apple is likely to show off new Macs. Apple has already told us that iPadOS 16 won't ship until after iOS 16 arrives.

As for iOS 16, I've been spending a lot of time with the software update since the first beta arrived in July. I've already made the full-time move to iOS 16 on my everyday iPhone — no test models for this cowboy — and I think the full release will be polished enough for most people to do the same.

Another report from Cupertino: the crowd's been let into the Steve Jobs Theater where the Far Out event is taking place. We're told they'll be seated in about 40 minutes in advance of the 1 p.m. ET start.

At least there are baked goods to enjoy while passing the time.

Consider this your hour-or-so to go update live from the Steve Jobs Theater.

@tomsguide

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The arrival of the iPhone 14 Pro in about an hour likely means the end of Apple's notch, first introduced five years ago on the iPhone X. And Sanjana Prakash couldn't be happier about the notch's farewell appearance.

With new iPhones and Apple Watches likely coming today, it's easy to overlook the AirPods Pro 2 that are also being tipped for a release. And if you're part of the crowd wondering just how Apple can improve upon the AirPods Pro, there are a couple of rumored features that have caught my attention.

The first is that speaker grill, visible on the bottom of the AirPods Pro 2 charging case in a CAD image supposedly showing off the updated product. It's widely thought that Apple is going to make it possible to add the AirPods Pro 2 case to its Find My network — a welcome addition if you're like me and tend to spend at least one morning per week trying to remember where you left your earbuds.

Another potential feature also involves the case, and it's a lanyard hook. That would let people attach their AirPods Pro case to a keychain, making it easier to keep track of the earbuds in the first place.

Big changes? No, not really.  But welcome ones if you value keeping tabs on your stuff.

We interrupt our build-up to the Apple event for a glimpse at a would-be competitor to the Apple Watch 8 coming out later today.

That'd be Sundar Picahi wearing what looks to be a Pixel Watch, the previewed though not released smartwatch that Google's likely to roll out next month. It's another sign that tech companies are hoping to challenge Apple in the smartwatch space, raising the stakes for today's Apple Watch 8 reveal.

Apple had a small smattering of attendees on its campus for the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, but the keynote itself was pre-recorded. By my estimation, the Far Out event will be Apple's first in-person product launch since the fall of 2019, when it showed off the iPhone 11.

Are people eager to return to in-person Apple product launches? We submit the photo above showing the pre-event crowd filling up the Steve Jobs Theater lobby as Exhibit A.

We are through the looking glass*, people.

* "through the looking glass" means "inside the theater."

The crowd may be in their seats at the Steve Jobs Theater, but I've moved myself to the living room so I can watch the Apple Far Out event on my Apple TV. (Just go to the TV app to find the live stream.)

Trying to find a live stream of the Apple event for yourself. Here's our guide on how to watch today's Far Out event.

We're less than five minutes from the beginning of the Apple event — great time to squeeze in one more rumor. 

This one involves a leaked iPhone 14 Pro deal at T-Mobile where you'll be able to get the new phone for free with a trade-in. Expect confirmation one way or the other in about an hour.

And away we go.

Tim Cook says we're talking about three products "that are essential in our lives" — iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods.

Spoilers, dude.

Apple Watch is first up. It's always there, encourages you to stay active and monitors your health, says Tim Cook. And now we have a recurring segment of these Apple events where Apple shares testimonials from Apple Watch owners who had life-saving experiences with their smartwatch.

Special shout-out to the guy who used his Apple Watch when he was trapped by a bear.

Jeff Williams, Apple's COO, is going to lead us through the new Apple Watch lineup.

First up, the Apple Watch 8 — "all the things you love about Apple Watch, but even more."

So far it's a recap of the basic Apple Watch features — sleep tracking, fitness tracking, blood oxygen monitoring and so forth. But Apple Watch 8 adds more, starting with a temperature sensor.

Temperature sensor is connected to cycle tracking for women, allowing monitoring for ovulation. The temperature sensor can give you a retrospective estimate of when you ovulate.

Apple is also emphasizing the privacy of this information, as that's been a concern since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade earlier this year. Only you can share the information — Apple has no way of decrypting it.

Knowing if and when you've ovulated can help with family planning, and the Apple Watch 8 makes it more convenient than using a physical thermometer and paper journal, Apple says.

(Incidentally, even though the theater is packed, we're seeing a pre-recorded product announcement video as we have for the past two-plus years.)

Now we're talking about safety features, like the fall detection feature Apple previously added to its watches. Apple Watch 8 is going to add a Crash Detection feature that can detect if you were in a severe car crash, automatically connecting you with emergency services. The Crash Detection feature will share your location and notify your emergency contacts as well.

The Crash Detection feature focuses on four types of crash -- front, side, rear-end and rollover. It taps into different sensors like a gyroscope to determine if there's a crash. It works with passenger cars, SUVs and pickup trucks.

Apple Watch 8 introduces a low power mode which can extend battery life to 36 hours on a full charge. That essentially doubles the Apple Watch's battery life. It will work on Series 4 and later once you upgrade to watchOS 9.

Apple Watch can also stay connected when you travel abroad via international roaming. It will work with Apple Watch Series 5 onward.

Apple Watch 8 colors include Midnight, Starlight, Silver, Project Red. There are lots of new bands too that are too multiple to recount.

Apple Watch 8 starts at $399 for the GPS version. The cellular version costs $499. When you buy the watch, you'll get 3 months of Apple Fitness Plus, the subscription fitness service offered by Apple.

You can order the Apple Watch 8 today, with the new model hitting stores September 16.

Apple Watch SE is next up, with Apple Watch SE 2 available in silver, midnight and starlight. The back case has been redesigned to match the casing.

You'll get workout and activity tracking, heart rate notifications, fall detection and emergency SOS. It has the same motion sensor for Crash Detection support. 

The display is 30% larger than Apple Watch 3, and it's 20% faster than the original SE.

Apple Watch SE 2 is $249 for the GPS and $299 for cellular — that's cheaper than before, I believe. As with the Apple Watch 8, it's coming to stores September 16 and you can place an order today.

Those watches aren't extreme enough for you? Well, friend, let us show you an Apple Watch designed for exploration and endurance, in Apple's words.

The Apple Watch Ultra is a completely new design with new capabilities. (This is the Apple Watch 8 Pro that had been rumored before the event.) You get a more durable titanium case and a big, bright display that's easier to read in sunlight.

An action button is customizable for quick physical control over a range of functions. The digital crown and side button are remodeled for use with gloves, and you get a second speaker for louder sound.

Want cellular? All Apple Watch Ultra's come with cellular.

Battery life on the Ultra is 36 hours. It expands to 60 with a low-power mode coming later this fall.

There's a night mode to let you see the watch in the dark, and the Apple Watch GPS features a dual-frequency solution (L1+L5) to get more precise locations in dense, urban conditions.

Later this year, the Apple Watch Ultra will be able to automatically detect when you're at a running track for more accurate fitness tracking.

The Ultra can work in extreme cold and hot temperatures. And the compass has been updated to help with people who will wear the watch into the back country, with tracking capabilities that help you retrace your step.

An alarm lets you alert people up to 600-feet away. And the watch is designed for water sports, with WR100 water resistance. That's twice the usual depth. Apple is touting dive computer capabilities so scuba enthusiasts take note.

In fact, there's an Oceanic Plus app for the Apple Watch Ultra that helps you plan your dive and turns your regular watch into a diving computer.

The case on the Apple Watch Ultra is 49mm, which is quite larger than your standard Apple Watch. The price is also quite sizable. It's $799, and you can order it today. It's available September 23, a week after the other new Apple Watches released today.

So many Apple Watch Ultra features, such watch.

It's AirPods time — "the best and most popular headphones in the world," Tim Cook says. And so we're getting a new generation of AirPods Pro — we'll call it the AirPods Pro 2 to avoid confusion.

There's a new H2 chip and a new low-distortion audio driver. The latter provides greater detail and clarity across a wider array of sound frequencies. And of course, there's spatial audio. You can use the camera on your iPhone for personalized spatial audio to measure the size of head, so that sound can be tuned just for you.

The H2 chip doubles the amount of noise cancellation over the original AirPods Pro. Different ear tip sizes help more people wear the AirPods Pro 2 comfortably. An Adaptive Transparency mode reduces the sound of harsh environmental noise, reacting to high-decibel noises.

Touch control adds a capacitive layer so you can adjust volume with a swipe. Apple is promising 6 hours of listening time, a 33% increase from the original Air Pods Pro. With the charging case, you get 30 hours of listening time.

There's a speaker at the bottom of the case to help you more easily find the AirPods Pro 2. 

The AirPods Pro 2 will cost $249. Pre-orders begin September 9 and they'll be available on Sept. 23.

And now, the iPhone. Specifically, the iPhone 14 Plus, a 6.7-inch version of the 6.1-inch iPhone. (If you had Plus instead of iPhone 14 Max in your office pool, collect your bets.)

There's an updated internal design in the iPhone 14, that keeps the phone cooler and lets you play longer without performance dropping. As before, the iPhone 14 models have a ceramic shield.

Four colors — midnight, starlight, blue, purple and Product Red.

The rumors are true: the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are getting an A15 Bionic chip just like the iPhone 13. But the five-core GPU is 18% faster, and there's a 6-core GPU and 16-core neural engine. Since the A15 is faster than other chips, it's not like the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus will be hurting for speed.

As for cameras, you get a 12MP main camera with a faster aperture, larger sensor and bigger pixels. That should help with colors and light — a 49% improvement in low-light settings, Apple claims.

The ultrawide camera looks to also be a 12MP sensor. Deosn't sound like there's many improvements there.

The front camera is improved though, with autofocus and a wider aperture to let in more light. Apple promises faster-focus, even in low light.

The Deep Fusion feature is being applied earlier on uncompressed images for better low-light performance. Apple is calling this the Photonic Engine. So here's the software-driven improvements that always come with new iPhones. End result should be better color on your images.

Action Mode when shooting video promises better stabilization and smoother video without extra equipment.

Apple's touting the eSim features on the iPhone 14 for quickly transferring plans and storing multiple SIMs. It's also more secure, since you can't remove an electronic SIM card. In fact, all U.S. models of the iPhone 14 will ship without a SIM tray.

As with the Apple Watch 8, the iPhone 14 adds a Crash Detection feature that taps into sensors to detect a crash before notifying emergency services. 

You're also going to be able to stay connected even when you're off the grid. The Emergency SOS via Satellite feature will come into play when cellular towers aren't available. Apple built custom components and software that shows you where to point the phone to connect to a satellite, so you don't need a bulky antenna.

The feature also uses an algorithm to compress the size of messages or alerts so they can be sent quickly. There's a streamlined interface for quickly identifying the emergency you're experiencing. The idea is to get you help more quickly.

And while this is intended for emergencies, you can also use Emergency SOS to share your location with the Find My app.

You'll get the service for free for two years after purchase. It goes live in the US and Canada in November.

Apple Fitness Plus is coming to the iPhone later this fall even if you don't have an Apple Watch.

The price on the iPhone 14 is unchanged from the $799 Apple charge for the iPhone 13. The iPhone 14 Plus will cost $899.

You can preorder the phones on Sept. 9. The iPhone 14 is coming Sept. 16. You'll be able to get the Plus on October 7. So we're getting a staggered release this year.

That leaves the iPhone 14 Pro. So guess what we're going to talk about now?

It's the "most innovative Pro lineup yet," according to Tim Cook.

You can get four colors — black, silver, gold and a new deep purple. The frame is stainless steel and the display is Ceramic Shield. And yes, the notch is gone.

But it's more than just a switch to a pill-shaped cutout. Apple calls this the Dynamic Island, with uniquely crafted animations. A phone call for example expands the pill-shaped cutout into a notification. It also expands when you connect your iPads, and you can see current album art in the Dynamic Island when you're playing music.

Got two activities going on? The Dynamic Island splits into two. It's wild, man.

It feels a lot like the touchbar on the MacBook Pros. You know, the feature Apple discontinued?

Display sizes are the same as the standard iPhones — 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches. Apple's increased the peak brightness to 2,000 nits. And at long last, the iPhone is getting an always-on display feature. Or at least, the Pro models are.

Improved LTPO technology lets the iPhone 14 Pro scale down to 1Hz. It can dim the display as well, including wallpaper photos, so the display remains visible without sucking away battery life.

The iPhone 14 Pro models get the A16 Bionic chip, with its 16 billion transistors. It's built on a 4-nanometer process, and it's the fastest chip on the market, Apple says.

You get a 6-core CPU with two high-performance cores that are faster while using 20% less power than the A15. The result is "amazing battery life," Apple's Greg Joswiak says.

The 5-core GPU has 50% more memory bandwidth. A new display engine enables the always-on display and 1Hz refresh rate. And the cameras can tap into the CPU, GPU, neural engine and ISP.

As for the cameras, the iPhone 14 Pro is supposed to deliver a 2x improvement in low-light settings.  That's thanks to the 48MP sensor — an improvement over the 12MP camera Apple has used for eons — and quad-pixel sensor with larger pixel sizes. It's a 7-element lens with an f/1.78 aperture.

The 12MP ultrawide camera also has been designed to support better low-light photos — a 3x improvement. And there's a 12MP telephoto lens with a 2x zoom.

Action Mode and Photonic Engine from the iPhone 14 are available on the iPhone 14 Pro, too, and Apple is updating Cinematic mode to work in 4k at 30fps.

Apple is promising all-day battery life, but there's no word on battery sizes — that's typical for Apple — or charging speed.

In our biggest surprise of the day, Apple is keeping the iPhone 14 Pro prices unchanged — that's $999 for the Pro and $1,099 for the Pro Max. Preorders begin September 9, and the phones hit stores September 16.

And that's it in a day filled with only a few surprises if you've been following the rumors.

• The Apple Watch 8 Pro is going to be called the Apple Watch Ultra instead, and while expensive, it's less than we expected at $799.
• The iPhone 14 Max will indeed be called the iPhone 14 Plus.
• Apple's not changing the iPhone 14 prices, particularly the iPhone 14 Pro models.
• And the long-rumored satellite connectivity feature is a real thing.

That wraps it up for now... until the next Apple product event.

Not a Severance watcher myself, but I guess This Means Something.

Looking for more details on the biggest Apple Watch ever built? Here's an overview of all the Apple Watch Ultra features, including release date, pricing and other information.

From Cupertino, Mark Spoonauer checks in with an iPhone 14 Pro Max hands-on. (And given the iPhone 14 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro Max similarities, this can double as an iPhone 14 Pro preview, too.) Since he's gotten the chance to see the Dynamic Island feature in person, it's worth checking out this first-hand account.

As much as you can test an ultra durable watch for extreme sports lovers and adventurers in a demo room, Kate Kozuch goes hands-on with the Apple Watch Ultra. Be prepared to rethink what you know about Apple smartwatches.

The iPhone 14 Plus may lack a "wow" factor, but people who like big screens but hate bigger price tags will find something appealing here. Mark Spoonauer's iPhone 14 Plus hands-on has the details.

The AirPods Pro 2 may not seem like that substantial an update, but in her AirPods Pro 2 hands-on, Kate Kozuch finds that the wireless earbuds pack in a lot of valuable enhancements while holding the line on price.

It may lack the flashier Apple Watch Ultra features, but Kate Kozuch's Apple Watch Series 8 hands-on reveals some incremental changes that some users will find very valuable. (Low-power mode, anyone?)

Here's a look at the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, in video form. Overall, we like the always-on display, new 48MP camera and the replacement for the notch dubbed Dynamic Island. But note that there's no SIM card tray now. 

The Apple event had some pleasant surprises, and the best news according to managing editor Philip Michaels is the pricing for the iPhone 14 Pro models. Both phones were previously tipped for a $100 price hike, but thankfully this was one rumor that proved false.

Another false rumor? The $1,000 price for the Apple Watch Pro, which turned out to be a $799 Apple Watch Ultra. 

Now that the iPhone 14 is here, a lot of people are noticing it looks pretty darn similar to the iPhone 13. So what the heck are the differences?

Our iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13 comparison breaks down all of the biggest upgrades, including the addition of a new model in the line (iPhone 14 Plus), camera improvements like Photonic Engine and features like satellite connectivity in case of emergency.

See if the iPhone 14 is worth upgrading for you...

You don't have to be an Apple obsessive to find the Cupertino firm's events interesting. In fact, plenty of Android users still watch them from start to finish even if they're not planning to ever switch to iOS.

Why? Well, our Senior Editor Anthony Spadafora is a case in point, so we'll let him explain why as an Android user he's jealous of Apple events.

One of the most interesting product reveals at yesterday's Apple event was the new Apple Watch Ultra — not least because it was one of two entirely new devices, along with the iPhone 14 Plus, as opposed to a new version of an existing model.

Its 36-hour battery is one of its key selling points — that's double that of every other Apple Watch, and much longer than many rival smartwatches. But as Editor in Chief Mike Prospero explains, while the Apple Watch Ultra's battery life sounds great, there's a catch.

Apple revealed a lot at yesterday's event — eight new devices plus a bunch of other features. But there was no mention of any of the best Apple TV Plus shows, which was something of a surprise. 

We certainly expected to finally hear something about Ted Lasso season 3. Or rather, we really, really hoped we'd hear something about it. But it wasn't to be — leaving Senior Editor Henry Casey to ask when the heck is Ted Lasso season 3 coming?

Roland Moore-Colyer back to take over this live blog, now full of thoughts to dissect from yesterday's big showcase. And what a showcase it was; no shortage of products to chew over. 

Straight out of the gate, I'm most intrigued by the Apple Watch Ultra, especially as it's basically a dive computer in a smartwatch (as a qualified SCUBA diver, that's quite interesting to me). 

Most disappointing is the standard iPhone 14. Sure it had some tweaks, but the fact it's still using a 60Hz display is a bit of a miss for a 2022 smartphone. 

As sure as night follows day, we've already got next-gen iPhone rumors popping up. And this one come courtesy of rather reliable tipster and Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. 

He claims that Apple will work on an iPhone Ultra, seemingly following the path that the Apple Watch Ultra will layout. Given the iPhone 14 Pro Max is far from cheap, I can't imagine a super high-end iPhone will be affordable either. Or if it would make a lot of sense. But Gurman is often on the money with his tips so I'm prepared to be proven wrong. 

Anyway, let's go back to the iPhone 14 range in the here and now. For the first time in a long time, Apple has got different chips in the standard iPhone 14 models and the Pro models. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus get the A15 Bionic with a few tweaks, while the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max get the new A16 Bionic chip. 

Should that matter to you? Well, take a look at our refreshed A16 Bionic vs A15 Bionic rundown for everything you need to know. 

We're taking a deeper dive into one of the most interesting iPhone 14 Pro features, which is the replacement for the notch. 

The Dynamic Island is an area towards the top of the screen that can display alerts, notifications and live activities. So it could be music playing, turn-by-turn directions or sports scores. And the size of the island morphs based on what's being displayed. 

Check out our TikTok video that shows off this feature. 

@tomsguide

♬ original sound - Max and Cali

Here's a cool thing that Apple announced yesterday but it probably flew under the radar: you no longer need an Apple Watch to use Apple Fitness Plus. 

“Since launching just under two years ago, we have heard incredible feedback from users on what a difference Fitness+ is making in their lives. We are thrilled to bring the award-winning service to even more people by making Fitness+ available to all iPhone users later this fall, even if they don’t have an Apple Watch,” said Jay Blahnik, Apple’s vice president of Fitness Technologies. “We can’t wait for more people around the world to stay motivated toward their fitness and wellness goals, and live a healthier day.”

So Apple Fitness Plus without needing to fork out for an Apple Watch, even though the Apple Watch SE (2022) is more affordable than ever, is pretty slick. 

Let's talk about iPhone battery life. We don't know the battery capacities for the new iPhone 14 models yet, but Apple has published the rated battery life for video playback, video streaming and audio playback. 

Overall, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone Plus are the bigger 6.7-inch devices and understandably are rated to last longer on a charge. For video streaming, the iPhone 14 Pro Max has the longest estimated endurance at 25 hours, but the iPhone 14 Plus has the longest audio playback with 100 hours.

It looks like the iPhone 14 could have the shortest battery life overall, but we'll be doing our own testing. 

Wondering how the Apple Watch 8 and Apple Watch Ultra compare? So did Kate Kozuch, so she put together this Apple Watch 8 vs. Apple Watch Ultra comparison.

Action Mode is one of the new camera features added to all four iPhone 14 models. It promises to make video footage more stable, even without the use of a gimbal. 

How stable? Tech reporter Rich DeMuro tweeted out a sample video.

You can read more about how Action Mode works in our report on this iPhone 14 feature.

The entry-level Apple Watch got an update, too, which is kind of easy to overlook amid all the Apple Watch Ultra hype. Check out Kate Kozuch's Apple Watch SE 2022 hands-on to see what's changing with this watch and whether it's worth the lower $249 starting price.

With preorders for the new phones starting Friday, iPhone 14 deals abound. One of the iPhone 14-related deals that caught our eye is Verizon's new One Unlimited for iPhone, which bundles an Apple One subscription in with unlimited data coverage.

Apple One brings many of Apple's subscription services under one roof — Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade, Apple Music and iCloud Plus. An individual bundle starts at $15 a month with family bundles running you $20. One Unlimited for iPhone takes that bundle and throws in truly unlimited coverage from Verizon, plus access to the carrier's fastest 5G network.

You can dive into the details about Verizon's One Unlimited for iPhone plan.

Time for some head-to-head comparisons so you can figure out what's new with this year's Apple Watch models. First, here's how the new Apple Watch SE stacks up against the original version followed by an Apple Watch 8 vs. Apple Watch 7 face-off.

Here's a nice perk for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The always-on display for the iPhone 14 Pro series is even more capable than we thought. And this will come in handy if you use the voice recorder. Lets say you start a new recording and then want to save on power or just record in the background. The timer for the voice recorder will show its progress on the always-on display. This will provide peace of mind and prevent you from having to constantly check. 

The iPhone 14 Pro finally ditches the notch. And the replacement is actually pretty darn smart. The new so-called Dynamic Island delivers alerts and live activities right to the top of your display, including music playback, turn-by-turn directions and timers.

It gets better, because third-party developers can tap into the Dynamic Island to display sports scores and your Lyft ride status even while you're using other apps. Here's why our global editor in chief Mark Spoonauer says the new Dynamic Island is a game changer. 

Hands up if you like the look of the iPhone 14 Plus? We suspect that will be quite a few of you, because there's a lot to like about the super-sized version of Apple's base iPhone 14. 

That said, there are also a few potential drawbacks to it — and we explore both sides of the story in our iPhone 14 Plus — 5 reasons to buy and 3 reasons to skip article. Check it out before you make your choice.

One of the new features available on the Apple Watch 8 is a skin temperature sensor. This will have several uses, but one that Apple focused on during the product reveal concerned women's health, and specifically fertility.

Tom's Guide's Fitness Editor Jane Maguire has delved into the detail to see exactly what the Apple Watch 8 skin temperature sensor can do on this front.

Planning on getting one of Apple's new products, or even the likes of the MacBook Air M2? Then you may not want to skip AppleCare. 

That's because AppleCare Plus has been upgraded to offer unlimited repairs for accidental damage. It's a big improvement over the protection policy’s previous limit of two repairs within a single calendar year. And when repairs for the Apple Watch Ultra could end up being a hefty $499 without Apple’s protection policy, having the peace of mind AppleCare Plus offers seems sensible. 

The rumor mill never stops turning: case in point, we've got a new iPhone 15 tip. This one comes from Apple oracle and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who claims there'll be big differences between the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. 

What those will be Kuo wasn't clear about, but it could usher in another time when each iPhone model offers distinct advantages over the next, rather than just a larger display and battery. 

Attention! iPhone 14 pre-orders are now live now! 

We don't expect there to be major supply shortages, but act fast if you want to secure a new iPhone without having a long wait. 

And if you're torn on which models to get (I fancy the iPhone 14 Pro)  take a look at our hands on of the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max, as well as 5 reasons to buy and 3 reasons to skip the iPhone 14 Plus. 

Fancy a closer look at the new AirPods Pro in action? 

Well allow editor and TikTok star Kate Kozuch to tell you in less than 30 seconds in the video below. And don't forget to follow the Tom's Guide TikTok account for more hot takes, ranging from everything Apple to all manner of interesting gadgets and tech we've tried. 

@tomsguide

♬ Aesthetic - Tollan Kim

If you're about to pre-order an iPhone 14 Pro but have held fire because you've seen some early benchmarks that have failed to impress you, then don't worry. 

While Geekbench 5 benchmarks for the iPhone 14 Pro aren't immediately impressive, I don't think they matter. The iPhone 14 Pro isn't likely to be slow by any measure. 

And the A16 Bionic’s upgrades are seemingly more focused around the Neural Engine and powering the new Dynamic Island display cut-out. The A16 also enables the CPU, GPU, Neural Engine and image signal processor to better work together to support the new camera hardware, performing up to 4 trillion operations per photo and tapping into the new Photonic Engine; all of which promise to add up for some impressive smartphone photography. In short, forget the scores and look at th capabilities if the A16 Bionic. 

One device that may have flown a little under the radar at the showcase was the Apple Watch SE (2022). It's not getting a vast upgrade over its predecessor, but it is more competitively priced than ever.  

Never short on thoughts when it comes to the Apple Watch, here's editor Kate Kozuch with another TikTok breaking down what you need to know about the new Apple Watch SE in a matter of seconds.  

@tomsguide

♬ original sound - Music table

Aw snap! It looks like iPhone 14 pre-orders are a bit of a mess with a myriad of errors plaguing customers attempting to get in early on Apple's new phones. 

Orders did go through, some crashed and others ended up with too many orders. And as it stands there's now a much longer wait for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Check out the table below for the latest estimated delivery times. 

One result of new iPhones launching is others are put out to pasture. So we've now lost iPhone 11, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. 

The phones left in the iPhone range are the $429 iPhone SE (2022), $599 iPhone 12, $599 iPhone 13 mini, $699 iPhone 13, and of course, the new iPhone 14 range. 

With iOS 16 coming out Monday — yes, that's a few days before the iPhone 14 models are supposed to hit stores — we've updated our guide to iOS 16's features, which includes how-tos on using the software update's new capabilities.

Apple has finally introduced an always-on display for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, which dims the lock screen while still giving you access to notifications and key info. This is thanks to a display that can scale all the way down to 1Hz.

But our phones editor Jordan Palmer argues that the iPhone 14 AOD is overcomplicated compared to what Android phones offer. What do you think?

Good morning. We're keeping this live blog going for a little longer, not least because there's still plenty to talk about regarding all things Apple.

For instance, today sees the launch of iOS 16, and that's a pretty big deal even if you've not signed up for an iPhone 14 preorder — because it brings dozens of upgrades including changes to the iOS 16 lock screen, to iOS 16 Messages and to iOS 16 Mail.

We've got a full roundup of the first iOS 16 features to try on launch day, to help you navigate your new software.  

Here's an interesting update: the battery sizes for all four iPhone 14 models have been revealed, and the 14 Pro Max is actually slightly smaller than last year's.

The details come from Chemtrec, an organization which maintains a list of Apple products' battery details (via 9to5Mac), and shows that the base iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro have both increased in size from last year's models. 

The Pro Max, meanwhile, is slightly smaller — but we'd be confident the combination of the more efficient ProMotion display and A16 Bionic chipset should offset any difference.

The iPhone 14 Plus might not be the best replacement for the iPhone mini. At least based on early analysis, the preorder numbers for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are 'bad.' This is according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who says "Apple's product segmentation strategy for standard models fails this year."

This seems fairly harsh, especially since the iPhone 14 Plus doesn't go on sale until October. But we'll have to see what happens when the phones go on sale.