iPhone 14 launch LIVE: New phone boasts ‘best battery life EVER’ and huge makeover

OCTOBER SURPRISE?

September is always the big Apple event that everyone looks forward to.

But Apple has a habit of sometimes chucking in a special October event too.

This splits up some of the news – given that Apple has such a vast array of products and services now.

So we might see some new gadgets launching next month instead.

Popular contenders for an October event include new iPads and Mac products.

FAR OUT

Apple’s tagline for today’s event is “Far Out” set against a starry sky background – but what does it mean?

It could be some new astrophotography features for the iPhone.

Or it could be linked to a powerful new camera zoom.

Maybe we’ll see a starry new colour option.

Or is it something else entirely? There’s no way to know!

30 AND COUNTING...

There's just half an hour to wait until Apple's Far Out event begins.

Expect iPhones aplenty...as well as a few surprises.

TECH BUSY-NESS

Gone are the days when Apple would show off an iPhone and not much else.

Apple now operates across a huge array of product categories.

When it comes to devices, we’ve got iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, Macs (including iMacs and MacBooks), Apple TV, HomePod speakers and more.

And don’t forget they all have their own operating systems, all regularly updated with new features.

Apple is, of course, flogging services now too.

So we could hear more about Apple Fitness+, Apple News+, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, iCloud, the Apple One subscription and more.

TIME TO GO

If you're just joining us, you'll be glad to know events are due to begin shortly.

Today’s proceedings kick off at 10am local time here in Cupertino, California.

If you’re tuning in on the east coast of America, you’re looking at a 1pm start.

And anyone in the UK will want to watch from 6pm.

We don’t know exactly how long it will last, but 90 minutes is as good a guess as any.

HOT IN HERE

It’s a scorcher of a day in California, as least for a humble Brit.

We’re looking at highs of 34C – or around 93F.

That’s very toasty for a pale tech journalist like myself, so I’ll be lathering on the sun cream.

But I’ll be back in rainy Britain soon enough – hopefully with an iPhone 14 in tow.

BUY, BUY, BUY!

So the iPhone 14 will likely be unveiled today, but that doesn’t mean you can buy it.

In fact you probably won’t get a chance to plonk down some cash until Friday, September 9 at the earliest.

This is when we’d expect pre-orders to go live globally.

We’ll likely see product reviews from the world’s gadget media coming in on Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

And that will probably be followed by an iPhone 14 release date of Friday, September 16.

That’s the day you’ll likely be able to walk into an Apple Store and pick up your very own iPhone 14.

DOWN AND OUT

The Apple Store (the website, not the physical shop) is now offline.

Don’t panic! That’s what always happens just before a major Apple event.

It’ll be back up shortly, once all of the announcements are over.

And the Apple Store will be packed with all the latest wares.

HOUR WE GO!

There’s an hour left on the clock until Apple’s big event begins.

We’ve heard months of rumour and speculation, but nothing is certain until…well, it is.

There’s plenty of excitement here at Apple Park. Excitement and sweat. It’s hot here!

SWEET 16

So what’s new in iOS 16?

By far the biggest change is around the Lock Screen.

Apple is completely revamping your iPhone’s “front of house”, giving you much more control over how it looks.

You’ll be able to adjust the time and date, add Portrait-style wallpapers where the time appears behind the foreground subject, and even add widgets.

Expect to see plenty of quirky Lock Screens conjured up by creative iPhone fans.

iOS, OH YES!

While most of Apple’s work is shrouded in mystery, we do have a good idea about one key announcement: iOS 16.

This is Apple’s next big free software update for iPhone.

It’s likely out on Monday, and will introduce loads of new features to your device.

Apple actually detailed much of what’s inside iOS 16 back in June at its WWDC 2022 showcase.

And Apple fans have been testing the iOS 16 beta on iPhone for months.

VIRTUALLY REAL

The big curveball that Apple might throw at us is some kind of metaverse news.

Apple has long been rumoured to have a top-secret VR headset in development.

This gadget is poised as a rival to Facebook’s Meta Quest 2.

We’re not expecting to see the new headset today.

But there’s much talk around whether Apple will announce a metaverse operating system at the event.

Like iOS, this would be software that a VR headset could run off.

Supporting that theory was Apple’s international trademarking of the name “realityOS” earlier this year.

Stay tuned.

LET’S GET PHYSICAL

This is the first big public iPhone launch Apple has held since the pandemic began.

Apple returned to physical events back in June with WWDC after a multi-year hiatus.

The last in-person iPhone launch took place in 2019 – that was the iPhone 11!

It’s a big deal for Apple, so expect much fanfare in today’s keynote.

BIG 90!

We're now exactly 90 minutes from the big event.

Tech media – including myself – are making their way to Apple Park for the big show.

Somewhere nearby, a top-secret iPhone is hiding in a box, waiting to be revealed.

The tension is palpable.

PARK IT!

The Far Out event is taking place at Apple Park in Cupertino, California.

That’s Apple’s main corporate HQ – but it hasn’t been for long, given it only recently opened in April 2017.

It’s a sight to behold: the main building is actually nicknamed “the spaceship” because it’s a giant circular “groundscraper”.

Late Apple founder Steve Jobs envisioned the campus to look like a nature refuge.

And it really does: 80% of the site is green space, with lots of trees and even an orchard.

Apple’s events typically take place at the Steve Jobs Theatre on the campus. That’s where we’ll hear about all of today’s iPhone news.

The project is estimated to have cost at least $5billion, houses 12,000 staff, and has walls made of curved glass.

And all of the interior wood was harvested from a single species of maple. Wood you believe it?

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

In some ways, the iPhone 14 name is confusing.

After all, it’s not the 14th iPhone ever made.

It’s not the 14th year of iPhones either. We’re actually in the 15th anniversary year of iPhone – Steve Jobs launched the original model in 2007.

But we’re following directly on from last year’s iPhone 13, which makes enough sense.

We’ll probably see four different models: iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus or Max, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

SERIES-OUSLY!

The iPhone will attract most of the attention from today’s event – but it’s not likely to be the only gadget on the roster.

We’re also expecting to see the Apple Watch Series 8.

That’s the next entry into the Apple Watch line-up, following on from last year’s Series 7.

While we think we know plenty about the iPhone 14, the new Apple Watch is less certain.

We’ve heard talk of a redesigned body that could mark the biggest design change for Apple Watch in years.

We might even see three new models: Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Pro and a refreshed Apple Watch SE.

STREAMING AHEAD

As always, Apple is livestreaming its entire gadget showcase.

So you’ll be able to tune in and watch all the action from home.

It’s completely free to watch, and you can join via web browsers – or an Apple TV box, if you have one.

If you want to follow along live, go to the official Apple website.

But you’ll get the best live updates, analysis and first-hand news right here on The Sun’s Apple event blog.

I-TIME

Today’s event kicks off at 10am local time here in Cupertino, California.

If you’re tuning in on the east coast of America, you’re looking at a 1pm start.

And anyone in the UK will want to watch from 6pm.

We don’t know exactly how long it will last, but 90 minutes is as good a guess as any.