Apple event 2021: When is California Streaming date, start time and what to expect
APPLE'S annual September tech showcase is TODAY – and it's being livestreamed online.
Apple is about unveil a slew of new gadgets, potentially including a new iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods.
When is the Apple event 2021? California Streaming date
Apple has confirmed that its next big event will take place on Tuesday, September 14.
It's an entirely virtual event, highlighted by this year's tagline: "California streaming."
Based on launches in previous years, we'd expect pre-orders to go live on Friday, September 17.
And the actual release date for new products will mostly likely land on Friday, September 24.
Of course, these dates could change for myriad reasons – so don't mark you calendars just yet.
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All we know for sure is that Apple is hosting a major event on September 14, and we'll learn much more during it.
How to watch Apple California Streaming event – 2021 livestream
As always, the Apple event is being livestreamed as it happens.
In fact it's an entirely virtual event this year – just like in 2020.
📱 Read our Apple iPhone 13 event blog for the latest updates
You'll be able to tune in to the event at 10am California time on September 14 – or 6pm in the UK.
The best place to watch is the offical Apple website.
Follow this link:
Read all the latest news, prices and rumours:
Apple event 2021 news and rumours – iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and more
The Apple event is a major showcase for new gadgets.
And we'll potentially see several different product lines updated with fresh gear.
Here's what we could see...
iPhone 13
We don't know much about the iPhone 13 for certain.
But as the launch draws near, the quality and quantity of leaks increases.
And we can already make some educated guesses about the handset too.
It's extremely likely to support 5G – like last year's roster of iPhones.
You can also expect to see a new A15 Apple processor, and even the possible return of Touch ID.
The firm abandoned Touch ID in favour of the mug-scanning Face ID with the iPhone X back in 2017.
It meant that Apple could fit bigger screens to the iPhone – by removing the Home button.
But now the wearing of face masks is so widespread, Face ID is less useful than it used to be.
More expensive versions of the iPhone could get a souped-up fingerprint scanner later this year.
However, it's looking more likely that this will be featured in 2022 rather than 2021.
Importantly, this new version of Touch ID wouldn't require a Home button.
Instead it would be built into the screen, hidden below the display.
This means Apple could still fit a giant screen to the iPhone – just like all iPhone X-style handsets to date.
Apple wouldn't be the first to do this of course: rival firms Samsung and Huawei have both offered in-screen fingerprint scanners for a while now.
We've also heard rumours that we'll get brand new colours – including pink and orange.
Apple Watch 7
Some things about the Apple Watch 7 are a given.
For a start, it will run on the new watchOS 7 software.
This includes Portrait-style photos on your watch screen, access to smart home security cameras, a virtual car key, a redesigned Music app, a Focus mode to shut out the world, a Mindfulness app and better sleep tracking.
There's plenty more to chew over in watchOS 7, and we'll inevitably hear about even more features during Apple's big event.
We'll probably see the new Apple Watch 7 upgraded with a faster processor too.
But new features based on hardware upgrades are still unclear.
According to , the iPhone-maker is the largest customer of UK firm Rockley Photonics, which is developing "Doctor on a wrist" sensors.
Those sensors beam infrared light through the skin to take readings of blood-related health metrics, including sugar and alcohol content.
Currently, the only way to accurately take these measurements is through blood samples.
Coupled with the pricey Apple Watch, the technology could allow users to track how sloshed they are in real-time.
Existing sensors on Apple's wearable devices use infrared to measure heart rate and blood oxygen levels through the wrist.
Rockley has previously said that its next-generation technology could make its way into smartwatches as early as 2022.
That would line up with the release of the Apple Watch Series 8, which is slated for release next summer.
As well as blood sugar and alcohol, Rockley sensors can take readings of blood pressure, according to the company.
Combined with the advice of a medical professional, keeping track of blood pressure could help users spot the early signs of heart disease.
Regular blood glucose readings, on the other hands, could assist in the diagnosis of diabetes.
Apple has not confirmed that it intends to incorporate Rockley's technology into its smartwatch range.
The world's most valuable company's involvement with the UK start-up was revealed by legal filings unearthed by The Telegraph.
Rockley, which has offices in Oxford, Cardiff and Silicon Valley, is preparing to become a publicly traded company.
The company called Apple its biggest customer in listing documents filed in New York.
The Apple Watch 6 - launched last year - can read blood oxygen levels and check your heart rhythm and heart rate.
The latest smartwatches from Samsung, the Galaxy Watch3 and Galaxy Watch Active2, can monitor your blood pressure.
However, to do so they must be calibrated with a traditional blood pressure measuring cuff.
New iPad
Apple first launched the iPad in 2010, and hasn't stopped since.
There are now myriad devices with different screen sizes, power levels and price tags.
According to several key experts (including 9to5Mac and Bloomberg), the new iPad will be a 9th generation model.
This would replace last year's 8th-gen model – a core entry to the series.
That means it would be both cheaper and less powerful than the iPad Air and iPad Pro models.
Apple is reportedly upgrading the device with a faster A13 chip.
And it's tipped to feature a slimmed-down design too.
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