iPhone 15 event recap: All the specs, prices, release info and post-show analysis

And we're off! Gerald Lynch (Editor in Chief) and Stephen Warwick (News Editor) here enjoying a balmy, late summer run into what is fittingly expected to be the hottest iPhone launch event in some years. Those disappointed with the iPhone 14's modest showing last year can expect, according to pre-show rumors, a far more exciting event this year, with a host of improvements headed to Apple's entry-level iPhone. From a redesigned chassis to the potential introduction of the Dynamic Island across the range, you'll get more bang for buck this year than last. And that's before the quality-of-life improvement that's the essentially-guaranteed USB-C introduction to the range. 

Want to know everything that's going to be launched tomorrow? The ever-prolific Mark Gurman of Bloomberg leaked all the devices that we're going to see on the day — and we gathered them all up with what might be coming to give you a sneaky peek into what the event is going to look like.

Apple iPhone events are a bit like clockwork, really. First up, we'll get a 'state of the company' update — some chat about download rates or green credentials or accessibility advances, usually. Then we'll run straight into the iPhone 15 key specs, and then the 15 Pro, and both device's various screen sizes. After that you'll get the watches, likely starting with the Series 9 and then the Apple Watch Ultra 2. If we're lucky we might get a surprise in the form of a call back to Apple king Steve Jobs's iconic 'one more thing...' reveals. But for the most part, it's a tightly scripted event, the run-through of which we can probably guess right away.

... which makes it a great candidate for a game of Apple Bingo! Dylan McDonald of Sun Apps has already had a bit of fun with a 'Wonderlust Bingo' card, which you can see above. Fingers crossed for a 'Hair Force One' appearance from the delightful Craig Federighi!

The end of a short era:

Even just hours before the event, we're still hearing leaks and rumors about what could happen tomorrow at the iPhone 15 event, and in the following days. As is always the case, Apple will unveil a new iPhone at the expense of some older models, which it will no longer sell. Rumors right now indicate Apple will stop selling the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 mini when the iPhone 15 arrives. That would mean an existing lineup of the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15, and the iPhone 14. 

"Something's different..."

Top case manufacturer Spigen is trying to generate some hype on Twitter, with a sneak peek of one of its new iPhone 15 Pro cases. Of course, we can see that the mute switch that has adorned the iPhone since its inception in 2007 is no more. Instead, we're expecting it to be replaced by an all-new Action Button, just like the Apple Watch Ultra.

No Apple silicon treatment for the 5G modem...

Rumors abound that Apple is planning to ditch Qualcomm's 5G modems in favor of its own in-house model. This would save costs and possibly bring improvements to users, however, Qualcomm has today announced an extension of its deal with Apple to supply its modems to Apple in 2024, 2025, and 2026. That means the iPhone 16, 17, and 18 will all feature Qualcomm 5G tech.  

The elephant in the room...

As well know, USB-C is coming to the iPhone 15 this year. Even though nearly everyone already uses USB-C, and you likely have at least one good cable and plug in your house, Apple store employees are being drilled on the benefits of USB-C and pushing customers to buy new accessories.

There's no way... is there?

Don't forget about docks...

This hotel is no doubt extremely excited about upgrading its aging docks to Lightning models so that guests can enjoy the latest and greatest connectivity that Apple's iPhones have to offer. If so, we have some bad news... 

A good point...

One feature that isn't going anywhere in the iPhone this year is the 60Hz display on the regular iPhone 15. Neil Sargeant asks the valid question, is that acceptable in 2023? Most (if not all) Android phones offer better than this for the same price or less, abut lots of users probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Once you've gone to 120Hz and ProMotion, however, there's no going back. 

Ever wondered what an Apple event invite looks like in real-life?

Well here's your answer, a very simple Apple Wallet card with the guest's name, date, venue, and a minimalist "Apple Events" logo. Just perfect. 

Here come the fakes...

A major iPhone change like the introduction of USB-C opens the floodgates to a whole host of new accessories to hit the market — but with them too will come some pitfalls to avoid.

Straight out of the blocks, there's a new breed of counterfeit products to avoid — namely rip-off MagSafe charging bricks. They'll look like Apple's ones, have the newly-upgraded port, and will likely cost a fraction of the price of any eventual official one. But they'll be potentially dangerous too, and likely harmful to the overall health of your device's battery long-term. AVOID! 

How to watch Apple's iPhone 15 Wonderlust event live at home

We can't all be at Apple Park to see the iPhone 15 in all its glory tomorrow — but that doesn't mean you can't still enjoy the action from the comfort of your home. While it may not include the absolutely delightful asides, memes and commentary that our live blog will offer, you can stream the iPhone 15 Wonderlust event from anywhere in the world, whether you're sitting back on the sofa with an Apple TV box, or just catching up on your iPhone's YouTube app in the bathroom. Here's how to watch the iPhone 15 event.

Another glimpse at Vision?

WWDC 2023 was all about Apple Vision Pro, the company's first foray into head-mounted wearables, so-called 'Spatial Computing, and an arena currently dominated by Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Quest headsets.

We loved what we saw of the headset, but others tech critics were less convinced. While the September event stage has usually been dominated by the iPhone, will tomorrow see Tim Cook dedicate some time to the company's next-big-thing? Here's hoping — it'd be a great opportunity to see, perhaps, what third-party app developers have been cooking up since the product's soft-launch in June. Even if it doesn't make an appearance during the iPhone event, it'll be interesting to see where Apple positions Vision Pro news going forward — is it Mac-adjacent? An iPhone partner? Or deserving of its own solo regular events? Time (and, likely, sales figures) will ultimately tell.

• 50 things you need to know about Apple Vision Pro

Here's a 'vision' of iPhone 15 we certainly won't get...

Even if the Apple Vision Pro does make an appearance during the iPhone 15 launch event, one thing you can be certain of — it won't look like this Vision Pro x iPhone concept handset designed by ADR Studio Design.

With its rear screen and 'waterfall' design, it's a drastic re-imagining of what the iPhone of the future could look like, inspired by Apple's upcoming headset.

But even this never-to-be-real handset includes some features that will be likely additions for tomorrow's handset range, such as USB-C connectivity and the iPhone 15 Pro Max's rumored Periscope photography lens.

Ultra 2 vs Series 9...

Now I have to admit to being caught a bit off guard when the rumors of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 started heating up. Just a year after the launch of a seriously premium device, what could Apple have done with the timepiece to lift it above its predecessor? There's still a chance it won't appear tomorrow, but it's looking one of the more likely rumors ahead of the event.

Maybe it's that reason why there's more room to be excited about the Series 9 than its top-tier counterpart.

Here's how our buddy, and Apple Watch aficionado Lloyd Coombes puts it...

"The balancing act for Apple is keeping the Ultra feeling like the bigger, badder, Apple Watch, while still innovating on the base model - with one eye on the reported revamp for the Apple Watch X.

"For that reason, there’s a good chance the Apple Watch Series 9 will be a little more reserved in terms of big updates, teeing up next year’s overhaul to wow us.

"And yet, there’s plenty the Series 9 could borrow from the Ultra. I’ve written at length about the Action Button, but improved battery length should be forefront in Apple’s mind - especially if reports are correct that the chassis is about to get much slimmer in next year’s revamp."

Read the full piece — This is why I'm more excited about the Apple Watch Series 9 than an Ultra 2...

iOS 17 is an upgrade for (almost) everyone...

Even if you decide not to upgrade to iPhone 15 or 15 Pro after tomorrow, nearly everyone will be getting an iPhone upgrade — of a sort — in the coming weeks. We're expecting the public, full release of iOS 17, the underlying iPhone operating system's latest upgrade, to land the week of September 18. And so long as you've got an iPhone XR or newer, you'll get all the cool new features it brings to the table.

We've written extensively about iOS 17 since its debut at WWDC 2023. Here's a few of my favorite guides and tutorials that the team has put together through the iOS 17 beta period, ready for its full launch in the coming weeks. Enjoy!

• How to create a grocery list in Reminders on iOS 17
• How to use iOS 17’s new Siri features and upgrades
• How to make iOS 17 Contact Posters
• How to download and use offline Apple Maps in iOS 17

Loose lips sink launch ships, Spigen!

One of the most controversial and long-standing rumors surrounding the iPhone 15 Pro model is a change coming to its mute switch — it's likely to get the chop, and it's now all-but been confirmed by case maker Spigen.

In a social post shared on Twitter / X today, it revealed a tease shot of the company's new cases, revealing a spot for a button where you'd normally expect to find an iPhone's mute switch. That button is expected to be an 'Action Button' like the one you'd find on an Apple Watch Ultra. Whereas the mute switch had only one function — dialling sound on or off, naturally — the Action Button will be fully customizable, letting you add shortcuts of your own choosing to its press. Looks like Spigen has beat Tim Cook to the punch with that one!

Aaaaaannd... We're back! After a short break (a guy's gotta sleep, right?) we're here for the big day itself. IT'S iPHONE 15 LAUNCH DAY! Woooow! Gerald here to see you through the day. Bring snacks...

What to expect: iPhone 15

So it's the best-selling iPhone 15 that gets top billing at the show (even if the Pro and Pro Max devices are the ones that are really most exciting). Here's the key specs we're expecting to see for this year's device.

• Dynamic Island makes it to the standard 15 and 15 Plus (no more notch!)
• 6.1 and 6.7-inch screen sizes
• USB-C port introduced
• Modem chip from Qualcomm
• A16 chipset
• Aluminium frame returns
• A more prominent curve to the edges
• RAM stays at 6GB

What to expect: iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max

If iPhone 15 is the baby of the range, iPhone 15 Pro is the cool older brother that gets all the neat new toys to play with, and the Pro Max is the rich kid from the big house down the block who has it all. Here's what we expect Tim's been cooking for the Pro models...

• 6.1 and 6.7-inch screen sizes (Pro and Max)
• USB-C port introduced
• Modem chip from Qualcomm
• New A17 chip
• Periscope photography lens in Pro Max for advanced zoom
• Thinner and curvier than iPhone 14 Pro models
• Titanium chassis replaces stainless steel
• Programmable 'Action Button' replaces mute switch for custom shortcuts
• Faster Wi-Fi 6E
• A jump to 8GB RAM
• A potential price jump — as much as $200 for Pro Max

What to expect: Apple Watch Series 9 / Ultra 2

It's not all about the iPhones though! Apple is expected to make annual updates to its Apple Watch line too, introducing a Series 9 model, and an Apple Watch Ultra 2. That premium device refresh is slightly surprising, given just the few short months its been since the original's release. So what can we expect from this year's wearables? A modest upgrade, it seems, with the smart-looking watchOS 10 update doing the heavy lifting...

• A new S9 chipset — a major improvement over the S7, which was essentially the same as the S6 we've had since the Series 6.
• A small battery life improvement.
• U2 Ultra Wideband chip for better location accuracy.
• New optical heart rate sensor.

What we want to see: Tammy goes for AirPods Max refresh

"What do I want to see? Stuff your iPhones, Apple Watches and USB-C ports, I’m holding out for a surprise upgrade to the AirPods Max — however entirely unlikey that may be. I am no great lover of the first model of Apple’s premium over ear headphones, but with some work I do think they have the potential to be incredible. Proper hi-res support over a wire, a more neutral sound signature and a slight weight reduction could go a long way to them being a pair I use to watch movies to a pair I do everything with.

"Oh, and that case. No more nappy please; a nice hardcase, no matter how bulky is going to do me a lot better than the sorry excuse for a ‘case’ we got with the first version.”

What we want to see: Gerald on USB-C and the e-waste conundrum...

"Here's a thought. The iPhone 15 and 15 Pro line-up is almost definitely going to introduce USB-C as its main charging and hard-wired data port. In the long term, this is definitely a good thing for the environment — a shared common standard between PCs, Android devices and Macs, it'll mean you can use one charging and data cable for all manner of devices, compared to the proprietary Lightning connection. It's a jump Apple's already made for some of its iPads.

"But in the short term — which you can actually read as the very long term, when it comes to the environment — we've got more than ten year's worth of Lightning connector accessories that overnight are going to become useless to those that upgrade. They're not built to decompose safely or efficiently, and so landfill is going to be full of charging bricks, cables and other accessories that won't work going forwards.

"It's not Apple's fault, given the well-meaning push from EU regulators to standardise charging properties across the industry (though you could argue it's a problem Apple created by introducing a proprietary port in the first place). But it's a problem that needs addressing. I hope Apple also announces tonight some sort of recycling program for all the old gear to make sure the now-obsolete stuff is disposed of and repurposed safely."

What we want to see: John-Anthony wants a lighter iPhone...

"Every year, I try and temper my expectations only to get far too amped up on the day of the iPhone event. I didn't enjoy my iPhone 14 Pro over the last 12 months because battery issues plagued my device. This year, I'm ready for Apple to surprise us with a lighter and more comfortable iPhone to hold and a first-class battery life that solves my biggest qualms. 

"The iPhone 15 lineup has more or less completely leaked in the build-up to 'Wonderlust', but I'm hoping for Apple to pull the cat out of the bag and give us a game-changing feature that makes the next iPhone a must-buy.”

BREAKING: Apple's new FineWoven watch band leaked ahead of iPhone 15 event and it looks... meh

"Apple's rumored new FineWoven band for Apple Watch appears to have leaked in all its glory ahead of the iPhone 15 event later today. 

"Twitter leaker Kosutami shared images depicting the band in situ and on a wrist attached to an Apple Watch Ultra, which appears to reveal the new material." 

READ MORE HERE...

BREAKING: Apple's online store is down ahead of the iPhone 15 launch

"As is the custom, Apple has taken its online store down ahead of the iPhone 15 launch later today. 

"The store is currently down as Apple prepares to unveil the new iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and new Apple Watch models. Apple always takes down its online store in a move that some people have come to view as a bit primitive and performative, but it always helps in building the hype ahead of a new iPhone reveal."

READ MORE HERE...

What we want to see: A smaller Apple Watch for James and a Vision Pro tease...

"Though the new iPhone line is intriguing to me, what I really want to see is a little more variety in the Apple Watch sizes. The watch face has only gotten bigger over the last few years (here's looking at you, Ultra) and this has left people like my partner looking for smaller competitors. A bigger variety of sizes would go a long way, especially for those with smaller wrists, even if I personally like them as big as I can get them.

"As a sucker for anything AR/VR, I'm also hoping for some sort of tease for the Vision Pro. I need a justification to start saving up for the launch."

What we want to see: Daryl on 15 Pro Max (or Ultra!) and AirPods USB-C changes...

"I've already decided that I'm buying a Pro Max. Or Ultra. Or whatever it turns out to be called. It's a done deal. 

"I've not owned a bigger-sized iPhone since the iPhone 8 Plus, so I'm excited to see how I'm going to benefit from this. And that's before I see how the Dynamic Island, bigger battery, and new rumored features like the exclusive Periscope lens will enhance the experience.

"If Apple also brings out an AirPods Pro 2 case with USB-C, I'll be buying that too. I've loved mine since I bought them on Prime Day in July, so to use my USB-C charger with these, and my new iPhone, means that I'll finally have a backpack that will be free of lightning cables. Finally!"

Thoughts on that rumored Action Button...

So that iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max Action Button is looking like a dead-cert for inclusion, given the case leaks we've seen so far. And that's a good thing! While I'll miss the super-simplicity of the mute switch, the Apple Watch Ultra has shown the potential for a dedicated, programmable button on Apple's devices.

While there are obvious use cases, such as opening the camera app or flashlight or, indeed, muting the phone, I think its potential when combined with Apple's Shortcuts is the most exciting possibility here.

Imagine programming a Shortcut to the button that turns of all the smart lights in your house with a single press? Or starts an instant FaceTime call with your four closest buddies? Or fires up the iMore homepage...?

The never-ending capabilities of the iPhone make a Shortcut/hardware button combo very exciting. I can never fire up Shazam fast enough to grab a recording of a tune I like for identification, so that'll definitely be something I think about programming in. How about you?

This could be the first leather-free year for official iPhone cases...

It's long been rumored that the iPhone will be getting a complete refresh this year in its cases, with no authentic leather options available, like, at all. Instead, you'll be able to buy a case that Apple is calling 'FineWoven', a kind of suede-looking leather-like that is going to come in some slightly different colors.

Will it come with that lovely patina that develops over the course of a leather iPhone case's life? Who knows — but Apple never does anything by halves, so it's likely these new cases are going to feel super premium.

A new camera coming to the Pro...

So if you've been doing any amount of reading about the new iPhone 15 Pro Max, then you've probably not been able to avoid all that talk about a 'Periscope' camera. No, this doesn't mean that your new iPhone is going to be a kind of submarine, with a periscope to see above the waves, but it does mean that it will take even better shots when zoomed in.

Using some very cool lens tech, it will be able to hardware zoom (rather than software zoom, which just crops a part of an image and makes it bigger) 3X more than the previous camera. That's gonna be pretty great for all those iPhone photographers out there, and it's going to make even the simplest of Instagram snaps look great — but only if you zoom in on a fry, or something.

This is rumored to only come to the Pro Max model, making this the first time in a while that the Max model has a different feature to the standard Pro version.

There could be a snazzy update to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max's displays...

In the form of slimmer bezels. That means more screen space in devices that will remain largely the same size as last year's models — and larger screens are nothing to sniff at. The bezels are slimming down as Apple is using a kind of technology to make the screens that narrows the air gap between the touch surface on the top of the display, and the display itself. That means as well the display could look a little crisper, and perform even better in bright light.

More colors for the Apple Watch Ultra 2...

And by more colors, we mean one more color — a potentially darker titanium finish. Compared to the many colors that its smaller sibling the Series 9 is likely coming in, which could be considered a disappointment, but it's still one more color than it launched with.

Which is always a bonus.

What we want to see: Stephen on the Foo Fighters

I am deadly serious here folks, all I want from an Apple iPhone event is something genuinely interesting and exciting to happen, like when the Foo Fighters played at the iPhone 5 launch event. Why can't we have a DJ set from Scooter, or maybe a Red Panda performance? Literally, anything to break the monotony of slightly increased specs across the board. Don't get me wrong, Apple's hybrid events which are now largely pre-recorded are super slick and fun to watch, but please can we just have one year where something WILD happens?

He's awake... 

The esteemed CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, has posted a glorious shot of the mountains over Apple Park in the sunrise. This was definitely taken this morning, probably by Lisa Jackson, who lives on the roof of Apple Park. "It's almost Time" clearly indicates Apple Watch upgrades are on the way. 

Guests are arriving...

Attendees are starting to arrive at Apple Park ahead of the big event, including our friend Lance from TechRadar!

Faster wireless charging...

A throwaway comment in a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today appears to confirm rumors we might get faster wireless charging with iPhone 15. On "embracing USB-C" Gurman remarked, "All of the phones will gain faster wireless charging." 

The only other rumor we've heard about this is a report from May stating that Apple could adopt the Qi2 wireless charging standard. 

The only true Apple leaker

There's only one account you should be following if you want all the latest Apple leaks from a reputable source:

Apple's chargers, ranked

A lot of ink is going to be spilled over USB-C and e-waste in the coming days. Apple is no stranger to proprietary chargers and cables. In fact, it's had so many we've taken the time to rank them ahead of the event later. 

Apple's proprietary charging cables...RANKED: Lightning and 30-pin fisticuffs as USB-C arrives on iPhone

If you were ever in any doubt as to the popularity of iPhone launches...

We're more than an hour out from the kick off of the iPhone 15 keynote presentation, and already there is more than 100,000 people queuing to watch the YouTube stream. Go get a snack folks — it'll still be there when you get back!

That's an interesting time to announce Thunderbolt 5, Intel...

How about that — on the day Apple's expected to add USB-C to its iPhone line-up, Intel announces a new Thunderbolt 5 standard, which uses the USB-C connection as its delivery method. 

Call me crazy, but that's mighty coincidental, huh?

Headline specs for Thunderbolt 5 include max data transfer speeds of 120Gbps, support for 540Hz gaming monitors and 240W charging capabilities. That'd make for quite the upgrade from Lightning specs if it could be squeezed into an iPhone, but I'd imagine it'd make for a prohibitively expensive upgrade over less feature-rich USB-C implementations.

T-minus 50 minutes to go...

... and I'm starting to feel emotional for Lightning cables the world over. They've served us well all these years. I'll never forget your reversible joys, little guy!

Looks like the Steve Jobs Theater is in use today...

That's according to our TechRadar buddy Lance Ulanoff, who is at the Apple Park rotunda. The theater, named in memory of the legendary Apple founder, hasn't seen much use in recent years, with COVID-19 fears forcing the few Apple events that have happened in person to take place on the open-air Apple Park lawn. Nice to see normality increasingly returning! 

It's such a pretty space...

You can see the big video screen that dominates the back of the stage reflecting the dust-blowing animation of the event's invite here.

YOUR FIVE MINUTE COUNTDOWN WARNING!

Just five minutes to go folks. Any last-minute predictions? I'm still holding out hope for the Apple Pippin 2. We can dream, right?

And that's the stream now live! That song playing? That's Magic In U by Cub Sport.

And we're off! Things are starting with a pre-recorded clip of families using their iPhones to interact around the world.

It's all about the memories and the families at the end of everything, right? And Apple wants its iPhones to be at the center of that. This video is highlighting all the times iPhones and Apple Watches have helped save lives through their heart-rate monitoring and SOS features. A bit of an early tearjerker from Apple here.

The birthdays these folks never thought they'd have. A very sweet sentiment.

And here's the big guy himself. It's CEO Tim Cook taking to the stage. "Good morning! Welcome to Apple Park!"

Just two devices today folks, Tim confirms early on  — just Apple Watch and iPhone.

A quick rundown of this year's Mac launches though — the M2 Mac Studio and 15-inch MacBook Air have been roaring successes according to Cook. And a reminder that Apple Vision Pro is coming. There's a little more b-roll footage of the headset shared there, which is "on track to ship early next year."

Now let's get to the launches, Tim!

First up, Apple Watch, and Jeff Williams, COO, up next to talk about Apple Watch Series 9. And it's pink!

"Apple Watch is the world's most popular watch, and Series 9 takes it to the next level with amazing new Apple Silicon and new features that you'll use every day."

A new S9 chip headlines the specs, with 5.6 billion transistors (60 percent more transistors), a 4-core neural engine, and efficiency that enables 18 hour battery life.

Siri requests are now handled on device in the Series 9, with Siri able to integrate with and access Health data. You'll be able to check medications and health stats on Watch via a simple Siri voice request.

WatchOS 10 features touted here too — you'll be able to ping an iPhone thanks to a second-gen Ultra Wide Band chip, use NameDrop to share contact into, and better integrations with HomePod. Stand near your HomePod, and your watch will automatically update to suggest media playback.

It's a much brighter screen too — 2000 nits for bright outside viewing, dropping to 1 nit for night time battery saving.

They're very excited about a new gesture too, when you've got only one hand free. They're introducing Double Tap -- tap your thumb and index finger together twice and you can answer a call or reply to notifications. It controls the primary button in an app, so that'll snooze alarms, play or pause music, or launch the smart stack from the home screen.

It uses the neural engine in the S9 chip with gyro and accelerometer, as well as monitoring blood flow. It's quite crazy, and looks similar to what Apple's got planned for controlling Vision Pro, too.

It's available... next month. An oddly un-pecific date for the feature. Or was that the Watch itself? Uncharacteristically vague there.

As for colors, you're getting midnight, silver, starlight, pink and red Apple Watch Series 9 shades.

Octavia Spencer in a quick skit featuring Tim Cook here now. She's Mother Nature, and taking the team to task about its green credentials. They've, of course, got an answer for everything, as Apple speaks up its carbon neutral offices and 100% renewable electric buildings, among other initiatives. Apple ships 95% of its products by ocean now, which is much greener than other forms of shipping.

By 2030 all Apple devices will have a net-zero climate impact, says Tim Cook in this clip, as he stares down Mother Nature. The man has nerve!

Lisa Jackson, Apple's environmental VP up next, talking about that 2030 carbon neutral plan. 

Part of that is bringing product carbon production down too. Maximising recycled and renewable materials is a big part of the Watch story this year, including 100% recycled cobalt in the battery, while the sport loop strap now makes use of 82 percent recycled yarn. All Apple Watch manufacturing is powered by 100% clean energy.

Smaller packaging is now 100% fibre based, and smaller, to allow for more items shipped per delivery, removing emissions from unnecessary shipping trips.

Apple Watch is now a carbon neutral product. That's great news, well done Apple! A carbon neutral badge like the one above will be on the box.

Apple will no longer use leather in its Watch bands either. Good news for animal lovers as Apple introduces its FineWoven band. Made of 68% recycled content with a suede like feel. Hermes will bring four new bands to this range based on this principles: two woven, one knitted, and one sporty rubber, with a new Hermes watch face called Radial.

There will be new Nike bands too, following similar green principles, with a new Nike Watch face.

That's it for Apple Watch Series 9. No release date or price yet — maybe after Apple Watch Ultra 2?

Which we're on to next! Here we go on Apple Watch Ultra 2. A sequel a year after its original debut.

Daniela Deschamps, Apple's Watch product lead, talks us through it. There's new on-device Siri features, precision finding with that Ultra Wideband 2 chip, a whopping 3000 nits display, and a new face called Modular Ultra.

It shows realtime data, is modular (of course) and uses an advanced night mode with an ambient light sensor.

It looks pretty much the same so far externally...

Action button remains, Bluetooth connectivity is improved,  and the S9 chip is also there, bringing battery up to 36 hours.

95% recycled titanium in the build, significantly up on the all-virgin titanium from last year. That's another carbon neutral device, so long as you're using a Trail Loop or Alpine loop.

And that's it...?

Yep, that's Apple Watch Ultra 2.

As expected it's a minor update for the Watches then, with WatchOS 10 doing the heavy lifting.

$399 for Series 9, $499 with cellular. It's $799 for Apple Watch Ultra 2, pre orders today, on sale September 22.

Now it's iPhone 15 time. And it's going heavy on the pink! Hello Barbie, let's go party!

Dynamic Island, as expected, makes it to iPhone 15, with a Super Retina XDR OLED display. Thinner bezels on the handset, Dolby Vision support and peak HDR brightness of 1600nits. In the sun, it'll hit 2000 nits, twice as bright as iPhone 14.

6.1-inches for iPhone 15, 6.7-inches for iPhone 15 Plus. Aerospace-grade aluminum enclosure has smoother edges for a nicer feeling in the hands — particularly noticeable for that larger phone.

Ceramic shield makes its screen glass tougher, with the phones being water resistant and dust resistant. 75% recycled aluminum used here, along with 100% recycled cobalt in the battery.

Onto the iPhone 15 camera! 48MP main camera has 26mm focal length, a quad-pixel sensor and 100% focus pixels for fast auto-focus. Computational photography will group every four pixels together into a two-micron single pixel, using the photonic engine to mix two images together with better light, detail and practical file-size — having the 48MP output to 24MP, without loss in detail. Will be interesting to see what photographers make of these claims!

Continuous zoom for framing in 4K cinematic mode too, while portrait mode has richer colors and great low light support. 0 shutter lag will allow for a better bokeh effect, too.

Lots of talk about how machine learning will make your pictures of dogs and cats better. Features editor Daryl on iMore will be very pleased! Didn't get a snap of the great dogs Apple shared here though. Sorry folks, I have failed you.

TrueDepth front selfie camera makes use of smart HDR features to bring brighter highlights and deeper mid-tones. It's looking like a great camera — genuine improvements over the iPhone 14 it seems.

Onto the chip -- it's that A16 Bionic that we saw in the iPhone 14 Pro. It has a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core neural engine and 50 percent more memory bandwidth. A bigger battery that takes advantage of better efficiency should extend battery life, too.

The 2nd-gen Ultrawide Band chip in the Apple Watch Series 9 makes an appearance here too. It can connect with and find devices three times further away than the last generation, and is built into the Find My system to keep privacy protections in place.

It helps improve voice isolation in calls too. There's a clip of near-silence background noise when calling in a busy market.

Onto Emergency SOS over satellite. It's coming to three new countries, including Spain and Switzerland, this month. Roadside assistance via satellite is a new feature being added. Text roadside assistance, it'll connect via satellite to a responder (launching with AAA) and it'll get you the help you need. Satellite services are free for two years.

The big one -- USB-C confirmed for iPhone 15! Farwell Lightning. MagSafe returning, too, while FineWoven case and AirTag accessories will replace leather options here, too.

And that's it for iPhone 15! A solid showing I'd say, if lacking in surprises. It's basically an iPhone 14 Pro.

iPhone 15 starts at $799, iPhone 15 Plus starts at $899. Up to $800 for trade-in (which is probably if you sell the iPhone 14 Pro you bought last week, ha!).

Onto the Pro...

Tim's introducing the iPhone 15 Pro now. Here's where the real innovation sits, hopefully.

So first up, a new Titanium design for the enclosure. "Incredibly strong and durable" but lighter than any Pro model thus far.

New contoured edges allow for the thinnest borders ever, making for a smaller device despite the same screen sizes of 6.1-inches for Pro, and 6.7-inches for Pro Max.

Grade 5 Titanium used here — an alloy stronger than standard titanium. They use that stuff in the Mars rover! "I'm sorry Dave, I can't unlock the Face ID pod bay door."

This is a very pretty-looking phone. Four finishes coming to the Pro line — black, white, blue or natural titanium.

And there it is — say goodbye to the Mute Switch, and hello to a customizable Action Button.

It defaults to a mute switch (a long press, with a haptic feedback response), but you can use it for loads of things — whether that's launching the camera or voice notes, or your own custom setting from the Shortcuts app.

It's an always-on display again, handy for the new Standby mode in iOS 17.

The chip jumps to the A17 Pro. It features a new 3nm processor, including a 'breakthrough' new GPU.

It's the mobile industry's first 3nm chip, with 19 billion transistors, and a 6-core CPU. It allows for the fastest single-thread performance seen in ANY smartphone, "challenging desktop CPU performance".

A 16-core neural engine uses on-device machine learning, allowing for 35 trillion operations per-second.

Ah, here's a stickler. A "new USB controller" for A17 Pro. 10Gbps second transfer speeds with USB-3. Let's hope that's not locked down to certified products.

GPU sounds good though, with improved efficiency allowing for 20% faster performance, including hardware-accelerated ray tracing, the fastest on any smartphone, according to Apple. 4x faster ray tracing down to the hardware implementation compared to software based implementations. Metal FX upscaling will take advantage of the 6-cores on offer in the GPU. 

Some gaming news now to complement that GPU — Ubisoft's The Division is coming to iPhone, with The Division Resurgence. I think this debuted at GamesCom actually...

Honkai Star Rail and Genshin Impact getting upgraded graphics for the new handset, too.

Oh cool! Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 4 Remake look like they're coming to iPhone 15 Pro too. That's quite an achievement.

And Assassin's Creed Mirage is coming to iPhone next year too! That's crazy — we're talking the first time a console version of an Assassin's Creed game gets a native iPhone port.

Onto the camera! 48MP main camera, with the lenses protected by a new nano scale coating.

4x higher resolution images are possible though using a new super-high resolution shooting mode in 24, 28 and 35mm focal lengths. 

2x better low-light performance for the portrait mode, with night mode improvements via the Photonic engine and LiDAR scanner.

Smart HDR brings better dynamic range. And there's that Periscope camera, with 120mm focal length, allowing for a 5x optical zoom at 12MP. Apple isn't calling it periscope though, instead its a 'Tetraprism' design.

Ultra Wide camera is back with an anti-reflective coating, and improved night mode, allowing for better macro photograpghy.

A bit of chat on USB-3 transfer speeds now, which will be good for high-end media transfer. You can record with it direct to external storage drives in ProRes. 4K ProRes now supports 4K at 60fps too.

Apple Vision Pro support is here now too — you'll be able to capture Spatial Videos for Apple's headset, using the main and ultrawide cameras to create 3D videos. A much needed feature if spatial video is ever going to take off.

And that's it for iPhone 15 Pro! iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999, same as last year, while iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1199. That's a $100 jump for the Pro Max, BUT! It now starts with 256GB, and that's the same price that 256GB on Pro Max cost last year. So make of that what you will...

(Oh, and before we miss it, iCloud+ is getting 6TB and 12TB subscription options).

And over to Tim for the closing commentary. "These are our best and most innovative iPhones ever."

You'll be able to pre-order from September 15, and buy them from September 22.

And that's a wrap! A long showcase for an event that lacked a 'one more thing' surprise at the end. And all the leaks and rumors proved more or less true. Maybe it's the gamer in me, but the biggest surprises there were the console-grade AAA gaming titles in the works for iPhone 15 Pro. That's not to be sniffed at!

So! Recap time! Let's get those 'bento box' spec sheet slides in here...

Right! Click the following images to blow them up nice and big for easy reading. Here's iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max key specs:

Here's iPhone 15 and 15 Plus key specs and pricing:

Here's Apple Watch Series 9 key specs and pricing:

And here's Apple Watch Ultra 2 key specs and pricing:

OK, fresh from a quick rehydration break (no beer was harmed in the making of this liveblog), let's see what the reaction from around the web has been...

...But first! Something that didn't make the cut in the presentation itself! AirPods Pro 2 now comes with a USB-C case. It also soups up the H2 chip to include a new "wireless audio protocol, unlock[ing] powerful 20-bit, 48 kHz Lossless Audio with a massive reduction in audio latency."

That's not quite lossless audio to the general understanding of the definition, but a welcome audio and charging improvement all the same. Order now, get them September 22 for $249.

And now back to the internet's finest jokers. First off the bat, the inevitable new Apple dongle arrival! Lightning to USB FTW! A mere $29.

Software release date updates!

A couple off other snippets that skipped the showcase itself:

• Apple confirms iOS 17 will be released on September 18
• macOS Sonoma lands on September 26
• iPhone 13 mini is now discontinued, killing off Apple's last good relatively small phone
• The game Death Stranding is also coming to iPhone

Here come the accessories...

A new iPhone port means a new wave of accessories for developers to tap into. First out of the blocks is BackBone, the makers of the BackBone One, one of the best gaming grips for iPhone. It's announced that its USB-C version of its controller, originally intended for Android phones, will work just dandy with the new iPhone 15 USB-C port.

Stephen made a promise...

Our News Editor Stephen Warwick, iMore's beating heart... might be about to have a heart attack when he reads this. Back in 2021, he promised to shave his head and eyebrows if Apple ever launched a USB-C iPhone.

Two years and an EU intervention later, it might be one of the more... regrettable tweets he's ever sent.

Just saying...

UK iPhone 15 range prices incoming...

If you're wondering what all these new devices are going to cost in the UK, we've got you covered!

iPhone 15 starts at £799
iPhone 15 Plus starts at £899
iPhone 15 Pro starts at £999
iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at £1,199

Meanwhile in France...

In "headlines I did not expect to be sharing today" news...

'France Orders Apple iPhone 12 sales halted over radiation'

Catch up on our iPhone 15 launch day coverage!

Deep breath, there's a lot coming here...

• Everything Apple announced at its iPhone 15 Wonderlust event
• Everything you may have missed from Apple's Wonderlust iPhone 15 event
• What's new in iPhone 15 Pro: Why you'll want Apple's premium iPhone
• The USB-C iPhone 15 is here, and yes, there's a $29 dongle
• Apple has reduced the price of its UK iPhone Upgrade Program for iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Pro colors compared: which is right for you?
• Apple stealth-launched a 2-meter 240W USB-C cable for all your charging needs
• Five best features coming to Apple Watch Series 9 that we can't wait for
• Confirmed: Apple's macOS Sonoma comes to Macs on September 26
• iPhone 15 Pro's native ray-tracing will power the console version of Assassin's Creed Mirage next year
• Intel upstages iPhone 15 with Thunderbolt 5, and it could transform Macs of the future

...you folks all sleep well? Here's some accessories to kick off the day with

We slept like babies. That was some show, eh? But the fun doesn't stop there. We've got guides and analysis a'plenty as we enter into the pre-order period for iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.

So, let's start with some accessories first. If you're looking to pick up a protective case for your new iPhone, we've already got a selection of top choices from out favorite brands to tempt you with.

• Best iPhone 15 cases
• Best iPhone 15 Pro cases
• Best iPhone 15 Pro Max cases
• Best iPhone 15 Plus cases

Onto the Watch accessories!

If you're looking for watch bands, loops and straps to go with your new Apple Watch Series 9 order or Apple Watch Ultra 2 purchase, we've got you covered too. Here's a selection of stylish, comfortable picks from some of our favorite accessory makers:

• Best Apple Watch Ultra 2 bands
• Best Apple Watch Series 9 bands

Get your pre-order details here!

You've seen the specs, you've seen the prices, you've read our thoughts on all of Apple's new products. Ready to splash the cash? We've put together a host of handy guides to help you get a preorder in for iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Plus, so you've got a new phone in your hand on release day. Take your pick below:

• iPhone 15 Pro Max pre-orders
• iPhone 15 Pro pre-orders
• iPhone 15 Plus pre-orders
• iPhone 15 preorders