Updated 08/20/18: With WWDC in the rear view mirror, we're now looking forward to a big iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch event in September and a Mac-focused event in October.
Apple doesn’t often participate in big industry-wide events like CES or E3. The most valuable company in the world holds it own events, thank you very much. Several times a year, Apple invites the press and industry professionals out to a theater to hear all about its latest products and services. Apple calls these “Special Events,” and streams them online to its millions of fans.
There’s also WWDC, Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference, a multi-day event in the middle of the year focused on sessions for developers, helping them make the most out of the latest Apple tools and products. It kicks off with a big keynote that serves to announce new products (typically the latest versions of iOS and macOS, as well as a few hardware products).
Apple usually announces the exact dates of its special events only a few weeks in advance, but it tends to hold events at similar times from year to year. Here’s a list of the events we expect Apple to hold in 2018, and what we expect it to announce there.
The next Apple Event: iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watch in September 2018
Apple holds a separate event each September to announce the new iPhone models for the year, and often one or two other products. So far, it has always been held on a Tuesday or Wednesday in the 2nd week of September.
Following that pattern, this year’s event will almost certainly take place on September 11 or 12.
Three iPhones
This year’s iPhone models should be announced in September, but we don’t know what they’ll be called. “iPhone XS” seems like an odd choice. Apple skipped iPhone 9, but we don’t see the company taking a step back to announce iPhone 9 after iPhone Ten.
Whatever they’re called, current rumors point to two models that are very similar to the iPhone X—one the same size as the X, and one larger. These could best be though of as the “S” model of the iPhone X, whatever Apple ends up calling it. Also on tap may be a less expensive LCD-based phone with an X-like design (taller display, super small bezels, no Touch ID).
We round up all the iPhone 2018 rumors here.
iPad Pro
We already got a new low-cost iPad, with a faster processor and Apple Pencil support. But we've been hearing rumors of a new iPad Pro all year, and we expect it to be announced at the September event. It is likely to drop the Touch ID sensor and take on a more iPhone X-like appearance, with thinner and symmetrical bezels and a TrueDepth camera module for Face ID. It may also drop the headphone jack, and add a new mystery connector near the charging port.
We round up all the iPad Pro 2018 rumors here.
Apple Watch
The first Apple Watch was introduced in the September 2015 event, with Series 2 announced in 2016 and Series 3 in 2017. Apple is said to be working on an Apple Watch Series 4 with a slightly larger display, longer battery life, and better health and fitness tracking. This is where we would expect the company to announce it.
Apple TV
The 4th generation Apple TV and Apple TV 4K were both announced at September events—2015 and 2017 respectively. Apple does not usually release new Apple TV hardware every year, so it’s doubtful that the company is ready to show a successor to the Apple TV 4K just yet. If anything, expect an Apple TV refresh to come next year, together with the official announcement of Apple's big library of TV shows and series.
AirPods 2
We’ve heard rumors on and off about a successor to its popular AirPods true wireless headphones, but nothing concrete. AirPods were first introduced at the September 2016 event. Might we hear about its successor two years later?
We have no idea what to expect from AirPods 2, but we have our wish list: shorter stems, longer battery life, better sound quality, and maybe even active noise cancellation.
Special event: October 2018?
Apple does not follow up its big September iPhone event with an October event every year. There wasn’t one in 2017 nor in 2015, but there was an event in October in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016. It’s sort of hit-and-miss, but Apple hasn’t skipped two years in a row, so it seems like better-than-average odds of one taking place in 2018.
The MacBook Pro with Touch Bar was introduced at an October event.
The 2016 event unveiled a new MacBook Pro, introducing the Touch Bar.
In 2014, the event introduced the iPad Air 2 and the new iMac.
2013’s October event brought us the iPad Air, a new iPad Mini, and updated MacBook Pro.
It’s anyone’s guess as to what Apple will introduce at its October event, if it holds one. The latest rumors point to an updated low-cost MacBook (or MacBook Air) with retina display, and a Mac Mini aimed at enthusiasts and pros.