The Apple Store is closed ahead of the announcements of the iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10

Following the usual tradition when Apple launches new hardware, the Apple Online Store will be unavailable until Apple's “Glowtime” event, which begins today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

The company is expected to announce a new iPhone lineup: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The Apple Watch Series 10 will also be announced with a changed design and new larger screen sizes, along with a new generation of AirPods and possibly some other surprises.

Assuming Apple follows its normal pattern, the iPhone 16 range will be available for pre-order this Friday, September 13. The phones would then begin shipping a week later, with an official release date of September 20. The store will show details and specs on the new phones, but you won't be able to buy one yet.

However, Apple could start selling the AirPods or Watches. In the past, these devices have sometimes been sold immediately after the announcement event.

The main feature of the new iPhones will be a new button, likely to be called the “camera button.” This will allow users to easily take photos and videos with a physical press gesture. The button is expected to be capacitive; a half-press will trigger the camera app to focus on the current subject, similar to how dedicated shutter buttons work on higher-end cameras. The iPhone's camera button will also be swipeable, allowing for seamless zooming.

The iPhone 16 will also feature a new chip (A18 and A18 Pro), improved cameras, and a new color palette. The rear cameras on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have been moved to a new vertically stacked layout, enabling spatial video recording for the first time. Apple is expected to promote Apple Intelligence features in coordination with the new phones, although many of Apple's most eye-catching AI features will be some time away.

To mark the Apple Watch's tenth anniversary, we expect Apple to unveil the Series 10 lineup. These will come in two sizes and are expected to feature thinner cases and larger screens than their Series 9 counterparts. Sleep apnea detection will also be a major new feature that expands the watch's capabilities as a health companion.

The new AirPods lineup is expected to include two models, a high-end and a low-end model, both priced below the AirPods Pro. The higher-end “AirPods 4” are rumored to include some form of active noise cancellation. Apple's high-end headphones, the AirPods Max, may also be updated today, gaining a USB-C port for charging. The AirPods Pro aren't expected to be updated until sometime in 2025.

Updates for iPad and Mac are planned for later this year and will likely be announced at another Apple event in October, so don't expect to see any talk about them today.

Stay tuned to 9to5Mac for complete coverage of Apple’s September event as we bring you live coverage of all the announcements.