What to expect from Apple launch event: new iPhone features?

The rumour mill is buzzing, with Apple gearing up to launch four new iPhones this week and maybe even a virtual reality headset – here’s what to expect.

Four new iPhone variants and new Apple watches are on the agenda for the company’s “Far Out” event taking place early Thursday.

Apple might launch new AirPod Pros or even show off an early version of its virtual and augmented reality headset. They are longer shots.

While Apple hasn’t announced its product line, the rumour mill is buzzing as much as ever.

iPhone 14 is the centre stage item.

The iPhone mini version is out due to poor sales which has given Apple the opportunity to completely revamp its line-up.

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Instead there are four variants expected. Two, iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro will be standard sized handsets with 6.1-inch displays. Another two, iPhone 14 Max and iPhone 14 Max Pro, will have big 6.7-inch screens.

In 2022, ‘Pro’ means premium and ‘Max’ means big and you can buy any combination of them. Some claim ‘Max’ will be ‘Plus’, we’ll have to see.

The standard versions are tipped to have Apple’s A15 chip found in premium iPhones in 2021, a kind of hand-me-down, whereas the premium models will have a new A16 Bionic chip.

Much attention will focus on features on premium models. Instead of 12 megapixels, the main wide camera is tipped to be 48MP.

Sadly Apple is not expected to address its main camera weakness, a lack of optical zoom beyond 3x and limited hybrid zoom. Android phones offer great shots at higher magnification.

Pro models are expected to have always-on-displays that make use of Apple’s ProMotion feature that winds down the screen refresh rate and saves power for non-intensive tasks.

There has been commentary around Apple’s cryptic event name “Far Out”. Macworld, for example, sees it as hinting at Apple finally offering astrophotography, as previously rumoured for iPhone 13, or providing satellite connectivity for texting in emergencies.

There’s been discussion about the iPhone connecting through Elon Musk’s SpaceX low orbiting satellites, as the US carrier T-Mobile said it would do. The term might also hint at the iPhone getting a periscope zoom lens, but nothing is expected on that front in 2022.

There are other rumours such as a higher capacity battery inside the Max models and eSim only iPhones.

It’s also strongly rumoured Apple will announce an Apple Watch Series 8 model and an up-market Apple Watch Pro. The Series 8 watch is tipped to have a larger screen framed by a smaller bezel.

There’s a persistent rumour that it will carry a temperature sensor that can detect if you are unwell, in case you don’t notice.

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks on-stage during a product launch event at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California. Picture: Josh Edelson/AFP

Not much is known about the extra features in the Pro. It’s rumoured to target athletes, and is bigger and sturdier. It might aim at taking on the likes of Garmin and Google’s Fitbit.

As for AirPods Pro 2: there’s been a view that any new AirPod Pro model might support new LE Audio technology, which not only allows for higher quality and more power efficient streaming of music from, say, an iPhone to AirPods.

As Macrumors explains, LE Audio would also allow one iPhone to stream music to several sets of AirPods, and for separate streams of audio between an iPhone and the left and right AirPod.

MacRumours said at least two Apple employees were listed as participants in the development of LE Audio.

Thursday morning AEST will reveal all.

Chris Griffith is attending Apple’s launch event courtesy of Apple.