The world will likely get its first glimpse of the next iPhone in less than two weeks.

Reports emerged today that Apple Inc. has started sending out invites for a company event that will take place on Sept. 10 at its Cupertino, California headquarters.

The minimalist invite letter didn’t reveal much about the focus of the conference. However, Apple has been debuting new iPhones in September for the past seven years, which leaves little room for doubt as to what attendees can expect.

There’s also a fair bit of information available about the upcoming iPhones themselves. The inevitable pre-launch leaks revealed that Apple is lining up three new devices to succeed the 2018 XR, XS and XS Max models.

Sources told Bloomberg last week that one of the flagship features will be a triple-lens rear camera. The system is said to include an ultrawide-angle sensor for shots requiring a large field of view and artificial intelligence software that can automatically touch up pictures. The AI’s features reportedly include, among other things, the ability to fill in group photos if a person is left out of one of the shots.

Bloomberg’s tipsters said the new iPhones pack improvements in the video department as well. They described a new app developed by Apple that will enable users to retouch, alter and crop footage in real-time while the camera is rolling.

Consumers can also expect numerous smaller improvements. Recent leaks have indicated the upcoming iPhones will offer better water resistance, a more convenient version of the Face ID login system and a reverse wireless charging mechanism. This latter feature will apparently enable users to top up their AirPods’ battery by placing the earbuds on the iPhone.

Even with all the upgrades, the new devices will likely struggle to garner the kind of consumer interest models from previous years received. Apple’s iPhone revenue has been mostly flat for the past few quarters against the backdrop of a global slowdown in smartphone shipments. The changes in the consumer hardware market are one of the reasons Apple is increasingly betting on services such as its TV Plus streaming offering. 

Photo: Apple