Apple event 2025: Live updates as iPhone 17, new Watches, AirPods Pro 3 and more are unveiled

That's all from us, for now. You can browse all the news on our frontpage or in our show wrapup. Big thanks to managing editor Cherlynn Low and senior reporters Sam Rutherford and Billy Steele for all of their live coverage from Apple Park today. Stay tuned to Engadget for tons more Apple coverage in the coming days, including reviews of all of the new iPhones, watches and AirPods once they're ready!

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

Obligatory Cherlynn selfie.

Apple's new wireless chips give it even more control of the iPhone

Apple / Engadget

Illustrations of Apple's new C1X and N1 chips featured in the iPhone Air.

Apple introduced two new wireless chips in the iPhone Air, a preview of a world where all the key components of the company's products are custom-designed. The C1X and N1 chips enable wireless features like 5G connectivity and Wi-Fi 7, building on the original C1 modem the company introduced in the iPhone 16e.

At least one reason Apple was able to pull off the thin design of the iPhone Air was the power-efficiency these new chips offer. The C1X modem supports sub-6Ghz 5G and 4G LTE and is up to two times faster than the C1 modem, according to Apple. It's also faster than the Qualcomm-designed modem in the iPhone 16 Pro "for the same cellular technologies." Apple says the chip is able to achieve these performance improvements while "using 30 percent less energy overall," which seems key for a phone with a smaller battery than normal.

Read more: Apple's new wireless chips give it even more control of the iPhone

Apple Watch Ultra 3 has satellite connectivity and a larger display

Apple

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 gets a slightly larger screen and satellite connectivity.

Apple skipped a proper Ultra upgrade last year, opting for just a new color for the Apple Watch Ultra 2. But the Ultra 3 has finally arrived, albeit with an iterative upgrade. Per Engadget's Daniel Cooper:

Watch Ultra 3 is equipped with a 5G modem, matching the change to both the Watch Series 11 and SE Series 3. But those other timepieces do not get the built-in, two-way satellite communication offering Emergency SOS and Find My, letting you share your location if you're in trouble in a remote area. With the Watch's existing fall detection capabilities, it'll also raise the alarm on your behalf if you're not able to respond to it in time. Find My will share your location once every 15 minutes, and users can even send and receive texts and tapbacks with contacts via satellites.

The Watch Ultra 3's new 3D printed case has had its display bezels shrunk to accommodate the "largest screen of any Apple Watch ever." More importantly, the display technology has been tweaked (LTPO3) with wide-angle OLEDs to improve off-angle viewing. So, if you want to check the time without making it obvious that you're checking the time, you won't be faced with an illegible screen any more. LTPO3 also is efficient enough that even in always-on mode, you'll be able to see a ticking seconds hand without activating the display.

An even more welcome improvement (at least, for me) is in battery life, with Apple claiming Ultra 3 will survive for 42 hours on a single charge. Put the device into Low Power Mode and you will apparently be able to eke its life to 72 hours, which is unprecedented for an Apple Watch. The company says that the greater efficiency of its display, system-on-chip and new 5G modem has also helped improve the watch's longevity.

Thankfully, those somewhat modest updates are coming without a price increase. It's still starts at $799.

Read more: Apple Watch Ultra 3 has satellite connectivity and a larger display

Apple iPhone 17 hands-on: No Plus, no problem

Billy Steele for Engadget

The new iPhone 17.

The iPhone Air may get most of the attention at today's Apple event, but the "regular" iPhone 17 is the one a lot of the iOS faithful will buy. This year's new model may not look like a massive overhaul since the design is mostly the same, but don't let that fool you. The company has massively upgraded the display to include ProMotion and a 120Hz refresh rate. There's more power under the hood, ready to harness all of the features that Apple Intelligence and iOS 26 provide. Plus, there's eight more hours of battery life and faster charging when you need it. And I haven't even mentioned the camera updates yet, which are highlighted by the Center Stage front camera.

With the introduction of the iPhone Air, Apple nixed the iPhone 17 Plus. Now you're left to decide between the 6.3-inch iPhone 17, 6.5-inch iPhone Air or the 6.9-inch iPhone 17 Pro Max (and 6.3-inch Pro) — if you're primarily concerned with size. I was worried the company would leave us with a 6.1-inch base iPhone, a handset that feels incredibly small after I finally got used to the iPhone 16 Plus. I'm happy to report that the iPhone 17 bridges the gap nicely, and I don't think the smaller "regular" model will be a strain on my delicate sensibilities.

Read more: Apple iPhone 17 hands-on: No Plus, no problem

Apple AirPods Pro 3 hands-on: Impressive ANC improvements

Billy Steele for Engadget

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Apple's "pro" AirPods were due for an update. Despite continuously upgrading the AirPods Pro 2 with new features since their introduction in 2022, Apple hadn't produced another robust overhaul of its priciest earbuds yet. At today's iPhone 17 event (or iPhone Air event, depending on who you ask), the company unveiled the latest model: the AirPods Pro 3. Apple has refined the design, added heart rate sensing, improved active noise cancellation (ANC), delivered live translation and more. And most importantly, it did so without increasing the price.

My brief demo with the AirPods Pro 3 focused entirely on the refined ANC. I wasn't able to try any sustained heart rate tracking or live translation just yet, but I hope to have other opportunities for that later this week.

Read more: Apple AirPods Pro 3 hands-on: Impressive ANC improvements

iPhone Air hands-on: The super sleek precursor to Apple's upcoming foldable

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

The new iPhone Air being admired by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

Apple might not admit it (at least not yet), but the iPhone Air is more than just a slimmed-down version of the company's latest handset or a more sophisticated take on its usual Plus model. It's a super sleek preview of its upcoming foldable.

Now this might seem like a stretch and there's something to be said about the difference between a traditional OLED display and one that's meant to be bent. However, the arrival of a foldable iPhone has become one of the tech world's worst-kept secrets. Still not convinced? Well, consider this. If you were in charge at Apple and were faced with the task of figuring out how to engineer and design the company's first phone with a flexible display, how would you do it? Would you try to re-invent the wheel? No, you'd check out your competitors to see if there was a formula that you could re-purpose for your needs. Enter Samsung, which is not only one of Apple's biggest rivals but also a foldable phone maker that's already seven generations deep.

Read more: iPhone Air is the super sleek precursor to Apple's upcoming foldable

Apple Watch SE 3 has an S10 chip and always-on display

Apple

Full specs for the new Apple Watch SE 3.

It's been several years since Apple's entry-level smartwatch has received a proper update, so if the new feature list pictured above feels overstuffed, that's probably why. While the pricier new Series 11 and Ultra 3 retain the more cutting-edge features, the so-called SE 3 gets the long overdue addition of an always-on display. It also adds sleep apnea notifications, wrist temperature sensing and enhanced ovulation tracking.

Under the hood, the SE 3 gets an upgrade from the S8 to S10 chip along with full 5G cellular capability (in select models). It also gains some additional feature niceties previously limited to its step-up models: fast-charging capability, wrist flick and double tap gesture controls.

While the SE 3 retains the same screen size and basic look as its predecessor, it also keeps the same starting price: Just $249 for the 40mm model.

Read more: Apple Watch SE 3 has an S10 chip and always-on display

Here's a view from Apple's hands-on area, which looks like a nightmare for anyone who values their personal space:

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

An awful lot of people trying to get their hands on some shiny new products at the iPhone hands-on area at Apple Park.

The iPhone Air is Apple's thinnest phone yet

Apple

The iPhone Air family.

The worst kept secret of 2025 is official. At its Awe Dropping event on Tuesday, Apple announced the iPhone Air, its thinnest iPhone to date.

Just how thin is the iPhone Air? At its thinnest point, the new model is 5.6mm thick. To put those measurements in perspective, the iPhone 16 Pro is 8.25mm thick, making the Air over 2mm thinner than Apple's 2024 flagship. Prior to today, the 6.9mm thick iPhone 6 was the company's thinnest smartphone to date. Since then, newer iPhones have been thicker to accommodate larger batteries, Face ID, multi-camera arrays and other components. The iPhone Air reverses that trend.

At the same time, Apple claims the Air is its most durable phone yet, with a frame made from recycled titanium. Additionally, the Air is encased in the company's Ceramic Shield material, which on the front Apple says is now 3x more scratch resistant than previous iterations. As for the display, it's a 6.5-inch screen with ProMotion support up to 120Hz and always-on functionality.

Read more: The iPhone Air is Apple's thinnest phone yet

Apple Watch Series 11 includes 5G and a hypertension tracking feature

Apple

The new Apple Watch Series 11.

Apple announced three new smartwatches at its "Awe Dropping" event today. Along with new iPhone 17 models, we now have the Apple Watch Series 11 as the rumors predicted. The Apple Watch Series 11 is available for pre-order today with a starting price of $399 and will ship out September 19. Key new features include hypertension alerts, a more scratch-resistant display, sleep scores and 5G connectivity.

Read more: Apple Watch Series 11 includes 5G and a hypertension tracking feature

The iPhone 17 boasts a larger display with ProMotion support and a 120Hz refresh rate

Apple

The iPhone 17 comes in five colors.

First up, here's Kris Holt on the new iPhone 17:

In an absolute shocker, an early September Apple event included the official reveal of the iPhone 17. Who could have seen that coming? Arguably the biggest change this time around — in the most literal sense — concerns the display. At 6.3 inches, it's larger than the iPhone 16's 6.1-inch screen. Sorry to iPhone users with smaller hands and anyone else who is fed up of every phone becoming more of a phablet. The bezels are thinner too.

Not only is the iPhone 17 screen larger than the one on its predecessor, it boasts a ProMotion Super Retina XDR display with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling (you can perhaps thank my colleague Igor Bonifacic for making that happen). It's an always-on screen and when you aren't using your iPhone 17, the refresh rate dips to 1Hz to help optimize battery life.

Read more: The iPhone 17 boasts a larger display with ProMotion support and a 120Hz refresh rate

While we're waiting for the ground team's first impressions of all the new iPhones and watches, let's recap some of the biggest announcements.

iPhone 17 lineup prices. (Apple)

We're wrapping up here. Stay tuned for coverage from the demo area!

The iPhone 16e rounds out the line at the same $599. Tim Cook is back (at night time now) to recap the news. I think it's time to say goodbye?

Geez, I like storage, but 2TB on a phone is A LOT.

I don't know how I feel about that plateau yet. How about you all? All new iPhone 17 models start with 256GB of storage. The iPhone 17 starts at $799, the iPhone Air at $999 and the iPhone 17 Pro at $1,099. A 2TB configuration will be available for the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

This new tech woven case seems like a response to some of Apple's previous options like Fine Woven, which didn't quite live up to their premium billing.

iPhone 17 Pro specs. (Apple)

Filmmaking tools coming to iPhone. (Apple)

As a reminder, the iPhone 17 Pro will still come in 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch models. We're seeing a video now that... might have been shot on iPhone 17 Pro and also features it being used.

iPhone 17 Pro has a range of new accessories like a new TechWoven case that "uses multiple yarn colors to create a sophisticated look" while having a protective coating. Joz is going on to talk about new colors and cases and bringing up the crossbody strap again. We're recapping the iPhone 17 Pro now.

Apple is also adding support for Genlock for video syncing, which should be useful for content creators and streamers who use multiple cameras at once.

Up to 8x zoom on iPhone 17 Pro. (Apple)

Joz is back to talk about video recording and says "we're even filming this event with iPhone 17 Pro." There's support for a lot of different formats and standards, too. Features coming to the iPhone 17 Pro include ProRes RAW capture (a video codec developed by Apple).

"Deep learning models" were applied to improve de-mosaicing in the camera algorithms, and now digital zooms go up to 40x. The iPhone 17 Pro has "the equivalent of 8 pro lenses in your pocket," Carroll said. Now we're being shown some more camera samples from photographers Apple worked with.

With the iPhone 17 Pro now supporting an 8x zoom, I have to wonder if Samsung is regretting dropping the 10x optical zoom it used on older Galaxy Ultra models.

All three rear cameras are 48MP. (Apple)

The telephoto cameras are 48MP 4x and a 12MP 8x "optical quality" zoom.

Up front is the 18-megapixel Centerstage camera, with a wider field of view and higher resolution. On the back are three 48MP cameras and all three are Fusion cameras with updated imaging pipelines for more detail.

Ceramic shield back. (Apple)

That last screenshot that show the thermal signature of the iPhone 17 Pro is very reminiscent of the image that accompanied the invites to this event by the way. Joz is handing off now for us to learn more about the cameras from Patrick Carroll.

So it looks like we're getting anti-reflective screens across the entire new iPhone family.

Like the iPhone Air the iPhone 17 Pro will use the A19 Pro and has Ceramic Shield on both the front and back. The Ceramic Shield back is 4x more resistant than the previous back glass.

Apple claims the vapor chamber helps deliver 40 percent better sustained performance.

Vapor chamber in the iPhone 17 Pro. (Apple)

There's a vapor chamber that directs heat "strategically through the system" and the aluminum unibody, Joz said.

Oh hey, the iPhone Pros are finally getting a vapor chamber, that's nice.

The iPhone 17 Pro. (Apple)

The new iPhone 17 Pro. (Apple)

Cook is passing on to Greg Joswiak "Joz" to tell us more about the iPhone 17 Pros. It's the "most powerful iPhone ever — by far." Joz is starting with thermal management.

Small tangent here, but the aerial transitions to various locations in this presentation are very slick.

The video is showing slow-mo footage of the iPhone being pushed into... coins? and exploding glassware? Very strong, very rigid.

So the camera plateau isn't just for the Air. But I have to point out that this module on the iPhone 17 Pros looks a lot like the camera bars/visors we've seen on recent Pixel phones.

"Designed for the biggest battery in any iPhone." and it has a "camera plateau" like the iPhone Air too.

Apple

Apple is introducing a new bumper case for the iPhone Air.

Just a reminder that "all-day battery life" could be as little as eight hours. Apple used the same phrasing on AirPods Pro 3. I think iPhone Air will last longer than that, but as Cherlynn said, it's telling they didn't give us a number there.

Another video now, talking about a custom extusion? Anyway, this thing has a unibody design, according to the video.

I'm very curious to see who will be tempted by the thinness of the Air.

"Our goal was simple, to build the most Pro iPhone yet — by a lot." Cook says. Introducing the iPhone 17 Pro.

Back to Tim Cook, ostensibly to talk about the iPhone 17 Pro. I'm tired and itching to go look at the iPhone Air myself.

Lots of cheers for the iPhone Air cross-body strap. Yay?!?

Ok, that new slim MagSafe battery is cool, but it's sort of telling that Apple didn't give us a battery life figure for just the phone on its own.

Add a bit of bulk to your phone to get more battery life! Interesting. There's also a new pair of translucent cases and a "lightweight bumper" that "perfectly frames iPhone Air." All that can be paired with a new "crossbody strap" — that got some cheers from the audience. Now Ternus is for real recapping the iPhone Air.

That MagSafe battery looked thicker than the camera "plateau."

Apple

Apple provided a deep dive into the iPhone Air's camera system.

The iPhone Air's internal design was completely rethought to maximize battery space. There are also new features like adaptive power modes to intelligently manage power to help you reach all-day runtimes, Ternus said. "This is incredible, all-day battery life in our thinnest iPhone ever." he added. There's new accessories too, including a new low-profile MagSafe battery. This is fairly intriguing.

Apple taking trash about physical SIM cards. And while the US has largely shifted over to eSIMs, that may be a harder sell overseas, especially with the iPhone Air being eSIM only for every market.

Apple

The iPhone Air is getting a new Center Stage front camera.

"Compared to that decades old piece of plastic," Ternus said eSIM is better in many ways and convenient for travel. He's going over the convenience of not having to change physical SIM cards and that eSIM coverage is available globally. "Because of this, we designed iPhone Air to be eSIM only, worldwide." It maximizes internal space for battery life.

We're hearing about new photographic styles and seeing some other camera samples that seem really nice. Though, in good light most pictures look really good. Ternus said the iPhone Air also has the Centerstage camera we learned about just now, and it'll support dual-camera recording so you can capture scenes from the front and back cameras at once. Ternus is recapping the iPhone Air and talking about eSIM.

So despite only having a single camera, Apple is trying to pack in a ton of features, including sensor-shift OIS and a 2x telephoto zoon. But it's not entirely clear if that's a true optical zoom or digital.

iPhone Air has a 48MP Fusion camera. (Apple)

The iPhone Air has a 48MP Fusion camera system, with a 2x telephoto setup. It sounds very similar to the one on the iPhone 16e. Ternus is saying it has a f/1.6 aperture and supports a 2x telephoto "optical quality" camera. Again, like the one on the iPhone 16e and the iPhone 17.

The iPhone Air will have Apple's C1X modem that is faster and more energy efficient than the one in the iPhone 16 Pro, Millet said. The iPhone Air is the most power efficient smartphone Apple has ever made, Millet said, before passing back to Ternus.

With the addition of A19 Pro, improved power efficiency and this new N1 chip, it feels like Apple is trying to have the iPhone Air better span the gap between a base iPhone and the Pro models.

Millet says this is Macbook-level processing power in an iPhone. Millet is talking about wireless connectivity now, introducing the N1. It's an Apple-designed chip that supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread. These were based on experience building similar chips for smaller devices like Apple Watch and AirPods.

iPhone Air runs the A19 Pro. (Apple)

Interesting, the iPhone Air is getting an upgraded A19 Pro chip instead of a base A19 like in the iPhone 17. It also has a second-gen dynamic caching system.

The GPU also received a bump, with a second-generation Dynamic Caching architecture, improved image compression and neural accelerators built into each GPU core.

iPhone Air colors. (Apple)

Millet says that it's the fastest CPU in any smartphone.

Millet says "iPhone Air demands the most efficient, high performance chip we've ever built for iPhone." That is the A19 Pro, which has a 6-core CPU.

That single camera is throwing iPod Touch vibes for me. It's weird.

The hump at the back of the device houses a lot of important components, ostensibly freeing up space elsewhere in the frame. Ternus called it a "plateau," which I guess is Apple's name for the camera hump on the iPhone Air. Ternus is handing off to Tim Millet to talk more about the Apple Silicon in the iPhone Air.

The thinnest iPhone ever made: Introducing the iPhone Air. (Apple)

Glad to see the iPhone Air is still getting a ProMotion screen. Also, don't call it a camera mound, it's a "plateau."

On to John Ternus, the SVP of hardware engineering, on the iPhone Air. It's 5.6mm thin and "unlike anything you've ever held before." It has a 6.5-inch display with ProMotion support up to 120Hz. It also supports Always On Display and is 3x more scratch resistant than the previous ceramic shield.

Could this be the iPhone 17 Air? (Apple)

This is the thinnest iPhone yet, the iPhone Air.

Oooh, I'm not sure I love the new camera mound. But the real sticking point might be that single rear camera.

The video is fairly reminiscent of Steve Jobs taking a MacBook out of a manilla envelope in that the image of it floating on top of a fingertip was quite impressive. The video is describing the physical attributes of the iPhone 17 Air, and how its ceramic shield covers the entire frame for the first time. There are mentions of an "impossibly thin profile" that "allowed us to stretch the display without adding any extra bulk.

And it's getting a titanium frame, just like on the Galaxy S25 Edge.

iPhone 17 features. (Apple)

Hello, camera bump!

Back to Cook, who's surely about to tee up the iPhone 17 Air. He's teeing up "advancements" in Apple Silicon making it possible for "breakthroughs." We're seeing a video of a very thin phone now. A lot of cheers in the audience and scattered applause.

Here it comes... the iPhone Air!

You don't have to rotate your phone to take landscape photos anymore. (Apple)

Wow, the switch to a square camera sensor is bound to have impact on the industry. This feels like a tacit admission about how social media is changing photography.

The announcement of this feature has gotten the most applause by from from attendees thus far.

The iPhone 17's front camera will also have video stabilization for your selfie videos and FaceTime calls. Back to Drance, who is recapping the iPhone 17's features.

New center stage front camera. (Apple)

The iPhone 17 front camera can adjust the photo's orientation between landscape and portrait if it detects more people in your shot, for example, and the images will be 18-megapixels sharp.

Center Stage is getting a lot of whoops and applause during the video demo. Plenty of selfie takers in the crowd today.

This allows for selfies to be in any orientation without having to physically rotate your phone. That got a lot of cheers and applause at the event.

Cherlynn's iPhone testing selfies are about to get a big upgrade.

The second is a 48MP Fusion Ultrawide camera. Nash is talking now about the Centerstage front camera that has a much larger sensor than "our previous front camera." For the first time, Nash said, the sensor is square instead of rectangular.

The new iPhone 17 camera specs. (Apple)

I remain confused about the Fusion camera setup here but there do seem to be two separate sensors. The main has a telephoto setup which produces a 12MP 2x "optical quality" telephoto and each has its own pipeline, Nash said.

These claims about improved energy efficiency from the A19 chip and the new Pro Motion display seem like foreshadowing to the iPhone 17 Air.

According to Drance, the ProMotion and A19 allow for up to 8 more hours of video playback on the iPhone 17 as compared to the iPhone 16. Drance is handing off to Megan Nash to talk more about the iPhone 17's 48MP dual fusion camera system.

Drance is shouting out features coming to iOS 26, and showing us the Visual Intelligence, Live Translation tools of Apple Intelligence.

The iPhone 17 display. (Apple)

Gaming on the iPhone 17 should be better with ProMotion's adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz.

It's interesting see the shift to anti-reflective coatings on phone screens instead of super glossy panels. It's becoming a bit of a trend, as we've seen this on phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra as well.

In addition to better performance and efficiency, there's increased memory bandwidth to support on-device large language model processing. There's also a 5-core GPU for graphics intensive tasks.

As usual, the iPhone 17 will have Ceramic Shield, and this time gets a lot 7-layer antiglare coating for better readability. In the iPhone 17 is the A19 processor with a 3nm design.

Another look at the iPhone 17. (Apple)

The new iPhone 17. (Apple)

The iPhone 17 display has Pro Motion, with 120Hz refresh rate. When you aren't using the phone, the display powers down to 1Hz.

The iPhone 17 is getting a slightly larger 6.3-inch screen. But that's not all, its getting Pro Motion support too! Finally!

We're now watching a video of the new iPhones. And it looks like the base iPhone still has only dual rear cameras.

You can pre-order the Apple Watch lineup today. (Apple)

And we're on to iPhone.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 specs. (Apple)

The Watch SE 3 will start at $249, the Series 11 at $399 and the Watch Ultra 3 at $799. All are available for pre-order today and will be available on September 19.

Back to Stan Ng to tell us, probably, about pricing and availability of the devices.

See, 42 hours of battery life, that's what I'm talking about. The dream is to be able to go on a two or three-day weekend trip without needing to bring a charging puck imo.

Kim is listing new colors and band options as well, including the Hermes collections' new rubber band. We're recapping Apple Watch Ultra 3's updates and seem to be done with smartwatches.

Emergency SOS via satellite is included with Watch Ultra 3 for two years and you can use Messages and Find My via satellite as well. The Watch Ultra 3 will last for up to 42 hours, Kim said.

It seems like Apple saved the most interesting updated for Apple Watch Ultra.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3. (Apple)

The addition of satellite connectivity to the Apple Watch Ultra got some claps too.

Workout Buddy, which comes with watchOS 26, is also there on Ultra 3. The new watch also supports 5G and Satellite connectivity, making the Watch Ultra 3 the second known smartwatch to support that type of communications. The Pixel Watch 4 was the first, to my knowledge.

Apple

Full specs for the new Apple Watch SE 3.

There were some low-ley enthusiastic murmurs from the crowd here in the theater when they announced the new Apple Watch Ultra.

Kim is telling us how the Ultra 3's display uses wide angle OLEDs and LTPO 3. It has the largest display ever in an Apple Watch and refershes more quickly in Always On mode.

Apple

Apple is introducing a third-gen version of its entry-level Watch.

Santangelo is recapping Watch SE 3 and reminding us it supports 5G as well. Now, on to Eugene Kim to talk about Apple Watch Ultra 3, which got some cheers from the audience.

Reality check, how many people want to listen music using their smartwatch on a regular basis? That said, it's a nice feature to have in a pinch I suppose.

Apple has packed a lot of updates into Apple Watch and Apple Watch SE, but I agree with Cherlynn, nothing it truly groundbreaking yet. The company is adding more convenience for sure, but we're not talking anything "wow" worthy.

The SE 3 will also offer wrist temperature sensing and sleep apnea notifications and sleep score. It also has an onboard speaker to play some music and podcasts in a pinch. Santangelo is saying the SE 3 will last all day and support fast charging, which is good because the older model was abysmally slow. The SE 3 will charge twice as fast as the SE 2, they added.

Apple

Full specs on Apple Watch Series 11.

The Apple Watch SE 3 is here, and it has the S10 smartwatch processor. It also gets an Always On Display for the first time in an SE model. The SE 3 will also support gestures like wrist flick.

I have to say, the Apple Watch announcements are happening at a break neck pace, but nothing has felt super outstanding. Ng is talking about new bands and straps and colors. He's wrapping Series 11 with a quick recap. Next, Amanda Santangelo is here to tell us about the next Apple Watch SE.

Wait what, Apple is touting 24 hours of battery life for the Apple Watch Series 11 as a major improvement? I mean that's fine, but I truly believe companies should be striving for multi-day longevity.

Ng is back and telling us about Series 11's reengineered battery and that it can provide up to 24 hours battery life now. Sam Rutherford next to me was shocked.

Apple is also adding a new Sleep Score feature to the Apple Watch, which is very similar to what competitors like Fitbit, Google and Samsung have already done. This basically calculate your hours in rest and various sleep stages and get at-a-glance understanding of your bedtime performance.

The new Apple Watch can detect possible hypertension. (Apple)

The continual expansion of heart health features on Apple Watch is a big deal, but I wish Apple would figure out the diabetes tools we've been hearing rumors about for years.

The Series 11 comes equipped with Liquid Glass, among other new features. (Apple)

Though it won't catch all instances of hypertension, Apple is expecting to warn around 1 million people of possible hypertension and is anticipating FDA clearance soon with release slated ƒor 150 countries.

Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure is a major health issue. The Series 11 uses data from the optical heart rate sensor and has a new algorithm to help detect patterns that could indicate "possible hypertension."

I must say, Apple's collection of watch faces really separates its smartwatch from most of its rivals.

Ng lists a few other health-related features that have been on Apple Watch and passes on to Dr Sumbul Ahmad Desai, VP at Apple Health, to tell us more about high blood pressure features.

The new Apple Watch Series 11. (Apple)

I'll be honest, Liquid Glass looks a lot better on Apple Watch than any other device.

Watch Series 11 will support 5G and will be more power-efficient. At launch, carriers like Verizon, AT&T and more will support the cellular connectivity. There's also a new Flow watch face that matches the Liquid Glass aesthetic across Apple's other products.

AirPods Pro 3 offer live translation and heart rate monitoring

Today's Apple event isn't just about iPhones and smartwatches. The company also announced the long-anticipated refresh of the AirPods Pro earbuds. The AirPods Pro 3 arrive a full three years after the company released the second-gen earbuds.

This is a serious upgrade with updated audio drivers and plenty of high-tech bells whistles, like active ANC and the ability to play spatial audio. Apple says these earbuds offer the best ANC of any in-ear headphones.

There's a heart-rate sensor built right into the earbuds, which is pretty nifty for workouts. I'm loving this effort to stuff health sensors into earbuds.

Read more: AirPods Pro 3 offer live translation and heart rate monitoring

Now on to Stan Ng, VP of Apple Watch and Health product marketing, to tell us about Apple Watch Series 11. It starts with the company's proprietary IonX glass — "the toughest in the industry". Ng continues to tell us how the Series 11 is 2 times more scratch resistant than the Series 10.

This video is certainly impactful, with the testimonials and somber, rising music, but I also think it's true of not just Apple Watches but most smartwatches these days. Still, Apple Watch is the most popular and recognizable of the category. Cook is back reminding us of the device's popularity and improvements.

We're learning about someone who discovered they had a collapsed lung thanks to their Apple Watch. Another person fell and got an alert on their watch that they might need help. "It didn't dawn on me that I had been having a stroke." Some people lost their phones in the snow, and one of them is saying their Watch saved their lives there by using the SOS feature to get in touch with rescue teams. I'll say, I once fell off a Citibike and the Apple Watch I was wearing did notice I had a hard fall.

You can pre-order the AirPods Pro 3 today. They'll be $249. (Apple)

One last note on AirPods Pro 3 heart rate sensing: It's interesting that Apple put the tech in a pair of Beats earbuds first. It certainly works well there, so I have no concerns that the company hasn't worked it out for AirPods Pro.

We're watching a video now of how the Watch has "touched people's lives" and it's opening with animated scenes of people writing letters or messages to Apple about how the Watch has helped them. Voices narrate over scenes of people using the watch now.

All the features of the AirPods Pro 3. (Apple)

Tim Cook is back and teeing up some Apple Watch news, saying what he loves about its ability to save lives by wearing a watch on your wrist. He's reminding us of features like fall detection and high heart rate alerts.

Apple saying the AirPods Pro 3 have the world's best ANC of any wireless in-ear buds is quite a claim.

AirPods Pro 3 will still be available for $249, available for preorder today and arriving September 19th.

Kate says Apple improved battery life from six to eight hours with ANC on. For hearing aid users, you'll get up to 10 hours of use.

The new AirPods have a heart rate sensor. (Apple)

I can't remember if I've seen Julz Arney, Apple's senior director of fitness technologies on these keynotes before, but I'm certainly reminded of the absence of Jay Blahnik, who according to a New York Times report was recently accused of fostering a hostile work environment.

Of course, you'll get coaching piped into those earbuds too.

There's on-device AI for heart rate tracking and fitness so you can see all of your stats in the Fitness app. The software will allow you to track up to 50 different workout types.

New ear tips in five sizes to fit ears of all sizes. (Apple)

I wonder why Apple stopped short of going full IP68?

Heart rate sensing in AirPods got a lot of applause and cheers here at the Steve Jobs Theater.

Heart rate sensing for workouts is coming to AirPods Pro 3 too!

Apple also refined the shape and size of the AirPods Pro 3. They're smaller and should stay in place better. They're IP57 rated for sweat and water resistance too.

Advanced computational models on AirPods Pro work with Apple Intelligence on an iPhone for live translation.

Live Translation is coming to AirPods. (Apple)

ANC will lower the volume of the speaker so you can hear the translation clearly in the AirPods Pro 3. iPhone provides a text component if you need it.

New foam-infused tips in the AirPods Pro 3. (Apple)

Kate says Apple improved transparency mode now sound more natural, which will be great for the new live translation feature powered by Apple Intelligence.

Apple is promising 2x ANC performance over the AirPods Pro 2, thanks to improved tech and new foam ear tips.

The new AirPods Pro 3. (Apple)

Cherlynn, I didn't know you were a cyborg!?

VP of hardware Kate Bergeron is giving us the details on the new acoustic architecture, which improves audio with better bass and a wider soundstage.

That sound of a heartbeat in the darkened Steve Jobs Theater felt somewhat like I was back in a womb... A time I have fond memories of of course.

The new AirPods Pro look slightly different, and Tim just confirmed they're called AirPods Pro.

He's running down all the recently added AirPods Pro features, including hearing health and hearing aid.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is kicking off the iPhone event. (Apple)

Here come the AirPods Pro 3.

It's weird having just seen Cook in person on stage and now in a video we're watching. Cook says today we're starting with AirPods but will be covering Apple Watches and a big leap for iPhones.

First mention of Liquid Glass. Surprisingly, no groans from the audience.

And now Tim is outside of Apple Park giving us a rundown of Apple's design philosophy. "It's more than how it feels, it's how it works."

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Tim Cook takes the stage ahead of the presentation.

Lots of Apple device cameos. They're literally covering everything in this intro reel, even the chargers.

We're getting started with a design video, complete with quote from Steve Jobs.

"We'll be introducing some breakthrough technologes and product design that are the result of so much passion and innovation"

Cook is wishing us all good morning. This is him, a real person, on stage. He's saying people are here from all over the world, gathering for what "promises to be a very special day."

The lights just dimmed but there are three minutes to go! The animation onscreen has changed and is moving about now. People at Apple kept pointing out the blue and purple gradient on our passes this morning, I wonder if that was a clue. Tim Cook has just stepped out.

The staff here just closed the doors to the auditorium!

Cherlyn brought a giant 20,000 battery pack for her laptop and she can't stop talking about how much she loves the built-in cables and onboard display.

Hi everyone! We're just four minutes away from things kicking off, I'm plugged in to an Anker portable charger for my laptop and feeling somewhat hydrated. Let's go! I'm ready!

If there is an iPhone Air today, Sam is in prime seating position to be among the first to see it in person. Thankfully, he wore decent running shoes today.

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

The auditorium inside SJT

It was a bit hectic getting our seats, but now we're all set up and ready for the keynote.

I know iPhones are going to get top billing today, followed by Apple Watch, but there should also be a significant overhaul to the AirPods Pro as well. I'm also thinking there's a possibility of a HomePod Mini update, too.

The Engadget team on the ground is seated in the Steve Jobs Theater. Just over 15 minutes until we get started with all of today's news. Per usual, Apple is giving us a pulsing mix of electronic music to set the mood.

And if you haven't been following the last few days, weeks and months, you can catch up on all the iPhone event rumors and expectations to date.

Less than 30 minutes until game time. A good time to remind everyone that your best bet for 360 coverage is split-screening between this liveblog and watching Apple's livestream.

It's starting to get packed as people lineup to go downstairs to the theater.

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

The crowd to get into the SJT

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Steve Wozniak

Just caught Apple OG Steve Wozniak walking by

The crowds are starting to gather at the entrance to the auditorium downstairs and my anxiety has kicked right up. We're going to head down in about 24 minutes, which is when I think Apple will be letting us in

It's still a bit odd to me that Apple crowds everyone into the theater to watch... the exact same pre-taped video that we're streaming at home. I wonder if they'll ever go back to IRL events, like Google has done.

I just took a bite of the Apple Danish — Billy was right, it's very good. Also, have I mentioned it's Sam's first Apple event? Sam, I'd love to know what you think about attending an iPhone launch in person versus watching the keynote from home. What are the differences? For our readers back home, you know.

I'm running on pure caffeine until after the keynote lol.

But I'm also very curious about pricing, especially with rumors suggesting that the iPhone 17 Air may be more expensive than a traditional Plus model.

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Steve Jobs Theater

The entrance to the SJT is starting to get crowded, but we probably won't be able to go downstairs to the auditorium for another half an hour.

Hello everyone! We're just about an hour away from the presentation kicking off and myself, Billy and Sam have been getting ready right outside the Steve Jobs Theater. I'll admit, I've mostly focused on getting food in my face. My favorite so far is the overnight oats bowl. We'll definitely have to rigorously review them later. Billy's favorite so far is the Apple Danish, while Sam has simply not eaten.

I'm really curious about the pricing we'll get on the new iPhones and Apple Watches. We've seen game consoles and cameras (among other items) creep up thanks to tariff-induced inflation. But recent reports suggest Apple may keep iPhone pricing in a similar range to last year — or pair increases with storage upgrades to make them (theoretically) easier to swallow.

Apple CEO Tim Cook posted this teaser earlier on X. A lovely picture of the venue, but no real hints of what's to come today.

Days like today are some of the most exciting moments at Apple. #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/NWdOtNQVYH

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) September 9, 2025

It's just past 8:30AM PT in California. Apple is sharing a tasty breakfast spread with the media as folks gear up for the event.

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

Don't call it iBreakfast.

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Breakfast

There's no apple juice though...

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Breakfast at Steve Jobs theater

It probably won't come as a surprise, but Billy says the apple danishes are very good.

Not gonna lie, I'm kind of excited to see this new iPhone 17 Air, even if it is just a super thin iPhone. The reason being is that this kind of device can be a showcase for a company's engineering skills, but more importantly, I'm betting that the iPhone 17 Air is also a preview for what a foldable iPhone might look like.

If you'd like to prepare for the upcoming announcements (maybe you are very serious about a game of Apple event bingo you've got planned), you can catch up on what we expect to be unveiled at the iPhone 17 event today. It's not the Powerball, but hey, it's fun to try and predict what's coming, right?

This year, we're expecting new iPhones and Apple Watches, of course. And in addition to the presumed iPhone 17 series, rumors are rife there will be an "Air" model of the flagship phone. This will be a super thin handset that could be for the iPhone 17 line what the Galaxy S25 Edge is for Samsung's S-series family this year.

Once more unto the breach! Cherlynn and the team have checked in at Apple Park.

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

Badges acquired.

The keynote will be kicking off at 10AM PT / 1PM ET today, and we'll be bringing you all the news as it's announced, but also before that. In fact, I think the pre-show content is usually our best. We'll have pictures of seats, snacks and... sets? But most importantly, snacks. We should be getting to Apple Park bright and early at 8AM PT, and will get to Steve Jobs Theater... whenever Apple lets us after that, really.

Speaking of logistics: Here's the on-site Engadget team en route to Apple Park as we speak. "Our ETA is 5 minutes," Cherlynn tells me.

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

The team in motion.

While our colleagues in Cupertino get their on-site logistics in order, popping in to note that Apple's online store is down. This is the usual ritual before an event — it will return this afternoon with all of today's new products on display.

Apple

The Apple Store is prepping for new products.

Hello everyone and welcome to our liveblog of Apple's "Awe dropping" event. This year, our on-the-ground team includes myself, senior editor Billy Steele and senior reporter Sam Rutherford. It's Sam's first event here at Apple Park! If you see him around here, say hi!