Apple Inc. today announced that it will hold a launch event on Sept. 12 where it is expected to unveil iPhone 15 models and possibly other products.

The event, dubbed “Wanderlust” by Apple (pictured), starts at 1o a.m. PDT and will be livestreamed on Apple’s website at the same time. As CNBC notes, Apple has used pre-recorded videos to launch its iPhones since 2020.

Leading the launches at the event will be the new iPhone 15, with the biggest change this year expected to be Apple’s long-await adoption of USB-C charging across its range of phones. Apple has been rumored to be considering switching to USB-C since as early as 2019, with rumors ramping up that the switch may be imminent through 2022.

Although Apple has adopted USB-C on devices ranging from its MacBook range to its iPads, the company has been reluctant to abandon its proprietary Lightning connector used to connect and charge iPhones. In the end, Apple was given no choice but to adopt USB-C after the European Parliament voted in October to compel USB-C charging on all portable devices.

Apple has until December 2024 to comply, but it would make sense that it would make the swap well before that date. Added to the mix is that India also voted in December to require USB-C for mobile devices. It’s likely that the move to adopt USB-C as a standard charging port will spread to even more countries, giving Apple little choice unless it wants to make different iPhones for various markets.

The expected USB-C change aside, there hasn’t been very little hype about other significant changes in the lead-up to the event. Apple has been criticized in previous years that new model iPhones are, at best, minor incremental changes from previous models and this year could see more of the same.

The 2023 iPhone 15 range is expected to be similar to last year’s iPhone 14 range, with the same four-model lineup, although there were reports earlier this year of Apple possibly producing a new high-end Ultra model. The models are expected to include two 6.1-inch and two 6.7-inch models. The first two 6.1 and 6.7-inch models will be the standard iPhone and the iPhone Plus, with the last two 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch will be higher-end Pro models.

The iPhone “Dynamic Island,” a pill-shaped front-facing camera area that first made its debut on the iPhone 14 Pro models, is expected to be seen this year on all models, finally retiring the iPhone notch that made its debut on the iPhone X in 2017.

The Pro models are expected to ship with Apple’s new three-nanometer A17 chips, while the base and Plus models are expected to ship with the A16 chip that was used in last year’s Pro models. The Pro models also have titanium frames, slimmer bezels and some other minor design changes, according to MacRumors.

At the event, Apple is also expected to launch a new version of its mobile operating system, iOS 17. Already in preview, iOS 17 promises “new features to enhance the things you do every day,” according to Apple.

Finally, Apple may also launch new Apple Watches at the event, including the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The Ultra 2 is reported to be getting new colors and possibly a titanium finish.

Image: Apple