Apple’s September 9 extravaganza could be the vendor’s biggest showcase in years.

DH Kass, Senior Contributing Blogger

September 8, 2015

3 Min Read
Apple’s Sept. 9 Mega Event: iPhone 6s, iPad Pro, Mini, Apple TV, Watch Bands

Apple’s (AAPL) September 9 extravaganza could be the vendor’s biggest showcase in years, and considering the size and stature of the 100-year old, 6,000-seat Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, we may, indeed, be in for a lollapalooza.

Based on reports, Apple will unwrap a number of new products, including the next iPhones, a new version of the Apple TV, a large display iPad, an updated iPad mini, new Watch bands, and who knows what else.

Let’s get right to the expected list:

iPhone 6s, 6s Plus:
Right at the top is the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, featuring the same Force Touch technology already on its latest MacBook and the Apple Watch but with a twist–the pressure-sensitive display will be dubbed “3D Touch Display” and will respond to three different depths of pressure rather than the two currently featured, 9to5Mac reported.

According to reports, the new iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus won’t change storage tiers from the current 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. As for pricing, expect 6s contract prices to hold at $199, $299, and $399 as you go up in storage, and $299, $399, and $499 for the iPhone 6S Plus.

Most reports say the new iPhones will feature a 12 megapixel rear camera with 4K video, an upgraded front-facing camera, the super-fast A9 processor, 2GB of RAM and offer a new Rose Gold color choice.

Retailers should have the new units by September 18.

New iPads:
Multiple reports point to Apple showcasing its long-awaited large display, 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which the vendor will kick off pre-orders in late October and begin selling it at retail outlets in November. Think of a large iPad with a 2732 x 2048 display. The iPad Pro will run iOS 9.1, feature Force Touch technology and stereo speakers, reports said.

Rumors persist the vendor may hold back the tablet in favor of an October event so don’t be surprised if it doesn’t show up on Wednesday.

Apple also is expected to debut a new iPad mini 4 and possibly a third version of the iPad Air, although the latter isn’t slated for release until next year. The thinner updated unit will run on the A-series chip and support the split screen apps feature offered on iOS 9, according to reports.

Apple TV:
Apple’s new TV box is said to be a more refined version of earlier models, featuring a slimmed down chassis powered by an A8 SoC, more on-board storage, an upgraded operating system with Siri voice input and a fancier remote with touch-pad controls.

If Apple introduces both an 8GB model and a 16GB unit, the former will be priced at $149 and the latter at $199, according to reports.

The vendor reportedly will open a new App Store dedicated to the Apple TV along with a SDK for developers to build new apps.

Apple is said to have delayed plans until next year to announce a new subscription TV service intended to go hand-and-glove with the TV set top box owing to stalled talks over licensed programming.

Apple will begin selling the hardware unit in October.

Apple Watch:
Don’t expect to see the new Apple Watch bands on stage on Wednesday, but reports indicate the vendor will announce new color choices for the Sport line, perhaps ranging from red to purple.

In addition, WatchOS 2.0, the Watch’s first significant software update, which includes a feature for timekeeping and managing alarms, native apps, an Activation Lock, three new watch faces and new options for the Digital Touch messaging service also is on the vendor’s docket, 9to5Mac reported.

Separately from Wednesday’s event, Apple reportedly will release a new edition of the 21.5-inch iMac with a 4K display sometime in late October, reports said. The unit will run on OS X El Capitan and begin shipping in November.

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About the Author(s)

DH Kass

Senior Contributing Blogger, The VAR Guy

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