Apple Inc.’s signature iPhone introduction of the year kicks off Tuesday, and even for Apple, it will be a special event.

For one, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the iconic device that helped reinvent computing and communications. And fittingly for that milestone, it will be held in the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park, the company’s brand-new headquarters in Cupertino, California — something of a shrine to the Apple co-founder’s vision.

If the rumors are to be believed, the event is expected to be a jam-packed affair, but the star of the show will be the premium iPhone. A possible intentional leak of the iOS 11 GM firmware late Friday has given everyone an unusually clear idea of what Apple plans to unveil on Tuesday. The leak provides possible confirmation of the names of the three iPhone models — iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and the premium iPhone X — as well as the new wallpapers coming to the devices. 

The introduction of the iPhone X, however, is already marred with uncertainties. The biggest concern for Apple’s much-anticipated iPhone is the significant delays it faced in early production, which could ultimately have a negative impact on holiday sales.

The delays were the result of the iPhone’s new Organic Light Emitting Diode-based display, or OLED, currently being produced by Samsung Display. Unlike the OLED display’s found in Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.’s Galaxy S8 and Note with an integrated touch panel, the iPhone’s touch panel will be outside of the display, according to a source familiar with the technology, causing manufacturing delays.

Apple also reportedly wasted a month trying to integrate Touch ID into the display, a feature that ultimately was abandoned in favor of the rumored facial recognition feature. The iOS 11 firmware leak has also confirmed how the facial recognition feature, referred to as Face ID, will work.

Samsung Display is also the sole producer of the OLED displays for Apple, which has placed the Korean supplier in a very powerful position. With its strong hold on the market, renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities said, Apple is paying between $120 and $130 per unit, a huge increase from its LCD displays that cost between $45 and $55. This significant cost will be passed on to the consumer, with the new iPhone expected to start at $1,000.

Here’s what we can expect to see launched at the Sept. 12 event, and how you can watch it:

What to expect

Three new iPhone models

In its biggest redesign of the devices to date, Apple will unveil a premium iPhone, now being referred to as the iPhone X, on Tuesday, Sept. 12. The 5.8-inch iPhone X will also have an edge-to-edge, OLED-based display and a dual-lens camera like the iPhone 7 Plus, but both lenses will sport dual optical image stabilization. The iOS 11 firmware leak also showcases a new Portrait Lighting mode and new video recording resolution and capture speeds.  

The leak also shows off a brand new feature called Animoji that will use 3D face sensors to create custom 3D animated emojis based on the expressions you make into the camera. 

The iPhone X is expected to launch in limited color options and quantities for the first few months and an expensive price tag of between $999 and $1,199.   

Although the iPhone X is expected to capture everyone’s attention at the event, Apple will also update its current LCD iPhone lineup with the launch of the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, according to the naming convention leaked in the iOS firmware. If Apple sticks to its previous release schedule, at least the LCD models will be available for pre-order on Sept. 15 and in stores on Sept. 22. 

Image shows how the iPhone X (middle) will compare in size to the LCD models via iDropNews

iOS 11

As usual, Apple will also use its September event to unveil its latest operating systems for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch and TV.

Apple’s latest operating system for iPad and iPhone users has been available in beta since June and includes various productivity features for iPad users, as well as the ability to pay friends via iMessage, a “Do Not Disturb” mode while driving and a redesigned App Store. Developers will also get access to ARKit, Core ML, MusicKit and new updates to SiriKit.    

Apple will likely focus on its iPhone X-specific updates at its event. These include a dedicated “function area” that replaces the device’s physical home button and contains contextually dependent virtual buttons such as the Touch Bar on the new MacBook Pro.

Apple TV with 4K support

The company announced its fourth-generation Apple TV almost two years ago, and rumors suggest a new Apple TV will be unveiled at the event.

In addition to sporting the latest tvOS 11.0, reports point to an Apple TV that will support 4K and high-dynamic range, a significant leap forward for the company. A larger hard drive also could be included, which would make sense considering the large file sizes for 4K videos, as well as a faster processor. The current Apple TV sports an A8 chip, which was released back in 2014 with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Apple Watch Series 3

If the new iPhones will dominate the event, they likely won’t be alone. There’s speculation that the company may unveil a new Apple Watch as well.

The Apple Watch Series 3 is expected to look very similar to its predecessors, but the new version is reported to have support for 4G LTE, which would allow users to complete certain functions without the need for a tethered iPhone. The leaked iOS 11 GM firmware, also confirmed these rumors with the Watch app showcasing an LTE Apple Watch with a red-accented digital crown and a signal meter.  

Other reports for the Series 3 include a longer-lasting battery and a “micro-LED” display. We could also see support for interchangeable wrist straps with biometric sensors.

Reports emerged earlier this year that the tech giant had a “super secret initiative” focused on bringing sensors to the Apple Watch that would be able to monitor a person’s blood sugar levels continuously and noninvasively.

The price tag of the Apple Watch Series 3 isn’t expected to change much, with prices starting at $270, but the LTE-enabled model will likely cost slightly more.  

Still, since Apple has held separate events for other devices in the past, we could also see the Watch delayed for later in the year. 

AirPods 2

Apple announced its AirPods last year when it announced the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus would lose its headphone jack and have since dominated the “truly wireless” earphones market in the U.S.

While the latest patents filed by the company suggest a future generation of AirPods will see significant improvements, including built-in electrocardiogram and heart rate monitors and improved sound quality, this isn’t expected for Tuesday’s release. 

According to the iOS 11 firmware leak, the only change is the LED charging indicator “status light” that has moved from the inside to the outside of the case.

HomePod

Apple announced its Siri-enabled HomePod smart home speaker at its Worldwide Developer Conference in June. The $350 HomePod is only expected to ship in the fourth quarter, but Apple could announce a pre-order date for the device.

How to watch

Once again, the company will stream the keynote live for both Apple and Window users.

If you meet the following requirements, you can head over to the Apple event page at 10 a.m. PDT Sept. 12 and watch the launch of all the latest technology from the tech giant.

iPhone, iPad, iPod touch: You can watch via the Safari browser and will require iOS 7.0 or later.

Mac: You will need OS X v10.8.5 or later and Safari 6.0.5 or later installed on your Mac.

Apple TV: You will need a second or third-generation Apple TV with software 6.2 or later, or a fourth generation Apple TV.  

Microsoft: You can watch on a Windows 10 PC using the Edge browser.  

Apple will also have the event coverage available on demand after the event on its website and on iTunes.

Image: Apple