It's almost time for the September 9 Apple event, and last minute rumors have been trickling in. For a quick catch up, we've recapped the new information that we've heard over the last few days.
Battery
Alleged battery capacities for the iPhone 17 models were spotted in a Chinese regulatory database, and in the past, this database has provided accurate battery information.
- iPhone 17 - 3,692 mAh
- iPhone 17 Air - 3,149 mAh
- iPhone 17 Pro - 4,252 mAh
- iPhone 17 Pro Max - 5,088 mAh
It's worth noting that in some countries like China, there will be models with a SIM tray. iPhone 17 models that have a SIM tray will have slightly smaller battery capacities, and the battery capacities above are for the non-SIM models that will be sold in countries like the United States.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to be the first iPhone that has a battery over 5,000 mAh, and it could have the longest ever battery life that we've seen in an iPhone. There's also going to be an impressive year-over-year battery increase for the iPhone 17 Pro.
It doesn't look like the iPhone 17 will offer much of an improvement over the iPhone 16, and of course, the iPhone 17 Air has the lowest capacity of the bunch. It will be interesting to see how it compares to the other models in terms of real-world battery life, because Apple may be using a denser silicone-anode battery that provides more energy in a smaller package.
SIM Trays
There have been multiple rumors suggesting that the iPhone 17 Air won't have the space for a SIM tray, which would prevent it from launching in China. iPhones sold in China are required to have a physical SIM tray, and carriers in the country do not support eSIM technology for smartphones.
The recent battery database leak mentions a variant of the iPhone 17 Air with a SIM tray, so it looks like information suggesting that the iPhone 17 Air won't be available in China could be inaccurate.
It would be surprising for Apple not to offer its flagship ultra thin device in China where it's likely to sell well.
Apple phased out SIM trays in the U.S. with the iPhone 14 launch. In most other countries aside from China, iPhones include both a SIM tray and an eSIM, but that could change this year. Rumors suggest that SIM-free iPhones will expand to more countries.
Thicker iPhone 17 Pro Max
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is going to measure in at 8.725mm thick, making it thicker than the 8.25mm iPhone 16 Pro Max. The extra space could allow for a larger battery and rumored camera features like an adjustable aperture. The iPhone 17 Pro Max will be about five percent thicker than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and most people probably won't notice the increase.
A thicker chassis and a bigger battery typically means a higher weight, but Apple is transitioning to aluminum instead of titanium and replacing some of the glass at the back with aluminum, so overall weight could be the same or lower.
iPhone 17 Lanyard
We've seen leaked iPhone 17 cases that have a spot where a lanyard can connect, and an image of the accessory surfaced over the weekend.
The image features a long crossbody strap in bright orange color that might match the iPhone 17 Pro. Both iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to come in an orange shade along with dark blue, black, and white.
The strap has a flexible metal core and uses magnetic attachment points to connect to the iPhone case.
iPhone 17 Pro Design
Last Friday, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman clarified iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max design rumors. The two smartphones are expected to be made from aluminum, but with a new cutout area on the bottom two thirds of the device. The cutout will be made from glass, and it will enable wireless charging.
This updated design has been rumored for months now, but it's useful to get some clarification on the half-aluminum half-glass rumors.
Sketchy Dynamic Island Rumors
On Friday, a leaker who claims to work for a company making iPhone screen protectors said the iPhone 17 Dynamic Island is 1.5cm, down from 2cm in the iPhone 16 models.
There have been some mixed rumors of changes to the Dynamic Island over the iPhone 17 rumor cycle, but reliable sources have suggested the Dynamic Island is the same. A change to the Dynamic Island is possible, but unlikely, and this rumor is on the sketchier side.
Most screen protectors do not include cutouts for the Dynamic Island, and it's not clear if that information would have been included with CAD renders sourced by accessory makers ahead of the iPhone 17's launch.
AirPods Pro 3
In a somewhat confusing last minute AirPods Pro 3 rumor, a reliable leaker said that Apple plans to release two versions of the AirPods Pro 3. There will be a standard version and a higher-end variant with an infrared camera for gesture controls, but we might not hear about the higher-end model until next year.
Apple Watch SE 3 and Ultra 3 Confirmed
Last year there were rumors that Apple would refresh the Apple Watch SE and the Apple Watch Ultra, but that didn't happen. We're hearing the same rumors about new models this year, and it looks like they're actually coming.
A leaker with an established track record confirmed that Apple is planning to introduce Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch Ultra models tomorrow, all with an S11 chip that uses the same architecture as the current S10 chip.
Read More
For a more detailed overview on what to expect from the Apple event, make sure to check out our dedicated guide that walks through everything Apple might announce.
How to Watch
Apple's "Awe Dropping" event will start at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, September 9. Apple will livestream the event on its website on YouTube, and through the Apple TV app on supported devices.
For those unable to watch the livestream, MacRumors will be providing full event coverage on MacRumors.com and the MacRumorsLive Twitter account. We'll also do a much deeper dive into all the announcements after the event.
