Apple fans only have a few more days to wait for the Apple Event 2025, aka the official launch of the iPhone 17, which is slated for Sept. 9. Typically, Apple also uses this event to launch other products as well. For instance, last year’s event featured the iPhone 16, the Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4, and more. That will likely remain true this year as well, but not everything in Apple’s rumored pipeline is set to make its debut next week.
Before we get started, let’s recap the stuff we expect to see at Apple’s release event this year. That includes the iPhone 17, the Apple Watch Series 11, the Apple Watch Ultra 3, the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, and likely the AirPods Pro 3. For these Apple September launch events, the company typically sticks to the iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch, but there are a few other products expected in 2025 that could sneak their way into the event.
However, there are even more new Apple products we’re not expecting to see at the event, either because Apple will have a separate event for them later in 2025 or because they won’t be available until 2026.
The next iPhone ‘e’ model
Apple replaced the iPhone SE with the iPhone ‘e’ model phones starting with the iPhone 16e. While it is nice to see Apple treating its affordable iPhone with the same deference as the main models, we don't think Apple will launch the next ‘e’ iPhone alongside the iPhone 17. There are several reasons for this, but in short, the next affordable iPhone will almost certainly be in absentia come Sept. 9.
The main reason for this is that Apple typically saves those releases for spring, and this dates back to the iPhone SE models. Apple’s first SE model was launched in March 2016, and the second and third generations were launched in April 2020 and March 2022, respectively. Apple continued this trend with the iPhone 16e, which was launched in February 2025. It seems likely that an iPhone 17e is coming next year, per Mark Gurman of Bloomberg.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
New Mac products
Apple is reportedly working on several new Mac products, including an M4 Mac Pro and, of course, Mac computers with the upcoming M5 chip that Apple is no doubt working on. Generally speaking, Apple saves its Mac announcements for a separate event that usually takes place in either October or May, depending on the product and the launch. So, if you need a new MacBook laptop, you still have some time to wait.
Those announcements may even have to wait until 2026. The upcoming MacBook Pro with an M5 chip is rumored to be delayed until 2026, along with several other products. Thus, in short, we won’t see any new Mac products at the iPhone launch next week, and we may not see some of them until 2026 at all. The M4 Mac Pro might still come out before the end of 2026, though.
New iPads
Much like the Mac products, Apple generally saves new iPad announcements for other events, usually alongside the Mac products. In the recent past, Apple has saved iPad announcements for springtime, and we have no reason to believe Apple will stray from tradition and announce any early with the iPhone 17.
Per Gurman, Apple is definitely saving its iPad announcements for early 2026. The products may include a new low-end iPad, new iPads with M4 chips, and the aforementioned iPhone 17e as part of a “flurry of new products” landing in the first half of next year. In any case, don’t expect any iPads at the September Apple Event 2025.
New AirPods Max
The AirPods Pro 3 are on the docket for an announcement (we think), but the AirPods Max aren’t. The first generation is already pretty old, at around five years, and it seems the next generation of the AirPods Max is still pretty far out. Apple is keeping the next generation under wraps until 2027, per MacRumors, which is very, very far away from next week.
The update will be a welcome one. Rumor suggests that the next generation will be lighter, introduce new technology like heart rate monitoring, and updated internals. Apple did refresh the AirPods Max last year, but the refresh only added new color options and a USB-C port, so they’re still widely considered a first-generation product.
Any HomePod products
Apple has a couple of these in the works, including a HomePad smart home hub and the HomePod mini 2. It’s improbable that we’ll see either at the September Apple event, although not impossible. Apple is expected to release the HomePod mini and a new Apple TV 4K device by the end of 2025, and they’re small enough products that they may sneak into the iPhone event. However, it’s more likely that Apple will announce these at a separate event along with the new Macs.
The HomePod smart home hub may have to wait even longer for a launch date. Reports claim that Apple has delayed its Google Nest Hub competitor until 2026. Initially, the launch was pushed back to the end of 2025, but more recent reports indicate that Apple wants to wait until 2026 to better prepare Apple Intelligence. So, it’s unlikely that we’ll see any HomePod products on September 9.
The next Apple Vision Pro
Rumors about the Apple Vision Pro have been ramping up in recent months as Apple aims to release a refreshed model of the Vision Pro before the end of 2025. This refresh will include the M5 chip and improved comfort. That coincides with the upcoming VisionOS 26 update, which should be released in autumn 2025. Apple is reportedly also working on the Vision Air, but we don't think that's coming until 2027 at the earliest.
It is highly unlikely that this piece of tech will launch with the iPhone lineup. Since the refresh is coming with an M5 chip, it’s much more likely that it’ll launch with the rest of the M5 products that Apple has coming down the pipeline. Since those aren’t launching with the iPhone, we’ll likely see the refreshed Vision Pro later in 2025.
Still, if we're lucky, Apple may tease some of these products next week.
The launch event is mostly about the mobile stuff
Apple usually keeps its products grouped up, and as we said earlier, the iPhone event usually only includes the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods products (and this year, probably the AirTag 2). So, if it’s not in the mobile product category, chances are that you won’t see it launch next week.
