Apple’s September Event 2025 has wrapped, unveiling a wave of new hardware and updates across the board. The event, led by the iPhone 17 lineup, also introduced new Apple Watch models, fresh features in iOS 26, and a few surprises. Whether you missed the livestream or simply want the highlights, here’s a recap of everything Apple announced.
iPhone 17 Lineup 📱
iPhone 17
- Larger 6.3″ display with slimmer borders
- ProMotion comes to the iPhone 17 lineup adding support for Always On display on the standard model
- 3000 nits peak brightness, the highest ever on iPhone
- 7 layer antireflective coating for much better readability in outdoors condition
- Adds the new A19 chip based on 3nm technology with 16 core neural engine and increased memory bandwidth for improved LLM performance
- A 6 core CPU and next generation 5 core GPU. Around 20% faster than iPhone 16
- Up to 8 hours additional video playback and faster wired charging, up to 50% in just 20 minutes
- 48MP ultra wide camera, offering 4x the resolution of the iPhone 16
- A new 18mp centre stage front facing camera with a much wider field of view that is almost twice the size of the previous generation. It’s also a new square sensor enabling much higher resolution images in any orientation. You can also rotate to landscape selfies even while holding the phone vertically.
- Front facing videos are stabilised and this applies to FaceTime video calls too
- Adds the camera control from last years iPhone Pro models
iPhone 17 Air
- 6.5 inch display, 3000 nits with Ceramic Shield 2, 3x better scratch resistance with antireflective coating
- Ceramic Shield also comes to the rear glass with a new camera plateau
- A titanium frame in a polished finish, providing the most durable design of any iPhone and the thinnest at 5.6mm
- Features the new A19 Pro chip with 6 core CPU. It’s the latest CPU in any smartphone with a new performant energy core
- The GPU offerings a second generation dynamic caching architecture and AI acceleration in every core
- All new N1 chip made by Apple that combines Wi-Fi and Bluetooth into a single chip offering better performance, range and efficiency
- Introduces the new C1X modem that is up to twice as fast as the iPhone 16e modem. It’s a modem that is even twice as fast as the modem in iPhone 16 Pro
- 48MP single rear camera system and a new generation of photographic styles. It offers four focal lengths up to 52mm, the equivalent to 2x zoom
- The ability to do dual capture video with both the rear and front facing camera
iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max
- All new unibody design with a full width camera plateau all milled out of light weight aluminium offering 20x better thermal dissipation compared to titanium
- Antennas are located around the perimeter of the camera module for enhanced cellular performance
- Brings the centre stage camera to the front from iPhone Air
- The best battery life ever in an iPhone with up to 39 hours of video playback. In the eSIM only model, battery life is even better using more of the available space
- A brand new cooling system using vapour technology, enhanced by Ceramic Shield on the back for wireless charging
- All three camera are 48mp fusion camera with new image pipelines for better resolving power
- The new telephoto camera offers up to 8x optical zoom, the longest ever in an iPhone and 3D sensor shift stabilisation. It’s 56% larger than the sensor in the previous model. It also offers a 4x optical zoom range.
- Machine learning is integrated into the image pipeline using quad pixels for digital zoom up to 40x
- Support for Gen Lock via a camera dock and advanced film making tools like ACES and ProRes Raw
- Up to 2TB of storage now available
Apple Watch Lineup ⌚️
Series 11
- 2x more scratch resistant than Series 10 thanks to a new ceramic coated display
- 5G support on Apple Watch enabling faster and more reliable connections to cellular data providers
- New watch faces including one specially designed to take advantage of liquid glass
- Hypertension detection using the optical heart rate sensor paired with a special algorithm and advanced machine learning. FDA clearance expected soon and available in 150+ countries this month
- Sleep quality tracking arriving with a new feature called Sleep Score. It analyses your sleep data and provides a classification of sleep quality with a custom algorithm
- Up 24 hours of battery, a 25% increase over the series 10
- Brand new range of colours in the aluminium cases
- New band colour options and new band styles for Hermés models
Ultra 3
- An all new display that uses LTPO 3. It’s brighter, larger with smaller bezels and makes for the largest screen on an Apple Watch
- 1hz refresh rate enabling the seconds hands to tick even in always on mode
- There’s an exclusive new watch face called Way Point
- 5G cellular support comes to Apple Watch Ultra 3
- For the first time in Apple Watch, Satellite connectivity comes the Ultra 3 enabling features like Find My, Emergency SOS and messages
- A larger battery that offers 42 hours of battery life in the standard power mode
- A new range of band colours including the use of reflective yarn
- Support for the new hypertension notifications introduced with Series 11
SE 3rd Gen
- S10 chip for faster performance, bringing always on display to the Apple Watch SE for the first time
- Wrist temperature sensing now supported in the vitals and supports sleep apnea and sleep score
- Support for 5G cellular connectivity like the Series 11
- Adds the ability to play audio directly through the speaker
- 18 hours of battery life with support for fast charging
- Charging is 2x as fast as the previous model
- Available in two colours, starlight and midnight
AirPods 🎧
AirPods Pro 3
- Custom multiport acoustic architecture for improved bass, widened sound stage, enhanced vocals
- Ultra low noise microphones, new foam ear-tips enabling twice the active noise cancelling. 4x more effective than the original AirPods Pro. Apple claims they offer the best ANC of any wireless earbuds.
- Live translation with Apple Intelligence, activated via a new gesture. The meaning of each phrase is translated for you.
- iPhone displays your words in the other persons language. And if two people are wearing AirPods Pro 3, they can translate a live, two way conversation
- A smaller, more secure design that fits the natural shape of the ear canal. With 5 new ear tip sizes designed to git a wider range of people.
- IP57 sweat and water resistance
- Heart rate sensing built in via a custom sensor, on device AI calorie tracking algorithm and an enhanced accelerometer
- Activity tracking can be completed just using AirPods Pro 3 including step tracking and calorie, even without an Apple Watch. And there’s support for the new workout buddy feature.
- They work with Apple Fitness+ with support for the burn bar and there’s a developer API for fitness tracking in third party apps
- 8 hours on a single charge with ANC and 10 hours use when in transparency mode
Accessories ✨
First up is a new, low profile mag-safe battery for the iPhone Air. It offers up to 40 hours of video playback when attached to the new ultra thin phone.
Next is a clear case and an all new bumper case for the iPhone Air. The bumper case can also be used with the new cross body strap.
And Apple has introduced a new case material this year called TechWoven, featuring an innovative, highly durable weave that is scratch and water resistant. Returning are Apple’s silicone cases in a range of colours.
Software & Services 🖥️
At WWDC25, Apple announced many key features of its new software platforms,Here’s a TL;DR of new For a full recap of all the features that Apple previously announced for iOS 26, check out my Ultimate Feature Recap
That’s a wrap! 🌯
Apple’s September 2025 event has come to a close. From the iPhone 17 lineup to new Apple Watch updates and the latest software features, Apple focussed on refining the hardware lineup while pushing into new territory with its software stack. What stood out to you the most, and will you be upgrading?
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