Last Minute Rumors About What We’ll See at Today’s ‘Awe Dropping’ Event
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We’re just a few hours away from Apple’s “Awe Dropping” iPhone event, and before things kick off, we have some last-minute rumors about what we can expect the company to unveil later today.
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman claims Apple will reveal major battery life improvements for both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max flagship handsets.
While Gurman did not go into detail about the battery improvements, information found in a Chinese regulatory database shows the iPhone 17 Pro will boast a 4,252 mAh battery in regions without a SIM card tray, an impressive 18.7% increase from the iPhone 16 Pro’s 3,582 mAh capacity.
The information also showed that the larger iPhone 17 Pro Max could be the first iPhone to have a battery larger than 5,000 mAh, with a rumored 5,088 mAh battery, 8.6% larger than the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
The expected increase in battery life is due to Apple ditching the plastic placeholder it has used in SIM-less iPhones since the iPhone 14. By reclaiming that space for battery cells, Apple is able to deliver capacity improvements without increasing device sizes. However, at least one rumor claims that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be marginally thicker than its predecessor.
Apple is expected to expand eSIM-only availability for the iPhone 17 lineup beyond the US, including the EU and other markets. However, the physical SIM slots will remain in iPhones destined for China, due to regulatory requirements in the country.
Gurman says that combined with the expected power efficiencies of the A19 Pro chip, the increased battery capacities will result in hours of additional time between charges.
Gurman also expects the Pro lineup to be available in two unique colors, orange and blue, and offer improved optical zoom (possibly 8x, up from the iPhone 16 Pro models’ 5x zoom), a vapor chamber cooling system that will provide improved heat dissipation, and external design changes that include a redesigned rear camera system, boasting three 48-megapixel cameras.
Apple Watch Ultra 3
Gurman also says Apple will unveil a third-generation Apple Watch Ultra with a larger screen. While Gurman did not specify the size of the new display, we’ve seen reports that indicate the new watch will have a resolution of 422 x 514 pixels, a slight bump from the current Ultra 2’s 410 x 502 panel. This will expand the viewing area on the screen without affecting the Watch Ultra’s overall dimensions.
This means the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will boast the largest Apple Watch display ever, providing enhanced readability and making better use of the rugged Watch’s large front surface.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is also expected to boast an improved display, the same panel used in the Apple Watch Series 10, which last year received an LTPO3 OLED always-on Retina display, an improvement from the Ultra 2’s LTPO2 panel.
The Series 10 also debuted a wide-angle OLED, which provides 40% more brightness when viewed off-axis, when compared to the Ultra’s OLED display. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to receive the same improvement.
Satellite messaging capabilities and 5G connectivity are also expected for the Ultra 3.
Apple is expected to unveil the Apple Watch Ultra 3 later today at its “Awe Dropping” event. We’ll also see new iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models, Apple Watch Series 11 and SE 3 models, AirPods Pro 3, and possibly even a new M5-powered iPad Pro.
Stay tuned for all the action.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]
