New Apple Watch incoming as 'Time Flies' launch event set for September 15
Apple is to host an online event called Time Flies on September 15, during which it is expected to reveal a new Watch, and potentially a new model of iPad too. It was first thought Apple would use the event to announce the new 5G iPhone, but excitement soon subsided when the name of the event, Time Flies, was discovered.
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As such, it sounds like Apple will reveal a new smartwatch, likely called the Watch Series 6. The company traditionally reveals new models of Watch and iPhone at launch events in September, however for 2020 it has been widely reported – and addressed by Apple itself – that the iPhone has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It is now likely that the new iPhone, Apple's first device to support 5G, will arrive at its own launch event later in the year, potentially in October. Apple's invitation, which was emailed out on September 8, states: "Please join us for a special Apple Event from Apple Park. Watch it online at apple.com."
Hype for the event was kicked up a gear hours before the invitation landed, as a new emoji appeared on Twitter whenever "#AppleEvent" appeared in a tweet. It was then discovered that the emoji went live today and will expire on September 28.
Because of Covid-19 social distancing measures, it isn't currently possible for Apple, or any company, to fill a theater with reporters and analysts, as would be normal for such a product launch. Instead, just as it did with its annual WWDC keynote address in June, the Time Flies event will be broadcast on Apple's website, and likely via Apple TV too.
Very little is known about the new Apple Watch, leading us to believe it will represent a relatively small upgrade over the year-old Watch Series 5. It will undoubtedly have a focus on health, fitness and wellbeing, and we are keen to see if any new medically-certified functions join the heart rate monitor and ECG app of the Series 5.
It has also been claimed that Apple will announce a new model of iPad Air, its basic model, during the September 15 event. The current iPad Air was released back in March 2019, and tends to get updated every couple of years. The current iPad Pro, a more robust model of Apple's tablet, was released in March 2020.
Apple is also expected to announce a smaller, cheaper version of its HomePod smart speaker before the end of 2020, along with a Tile-like tracking device known as AirTag. It isn't clear for now if these will arrive alongside the Watch Series 6, or be held back for the iPhone 12 event later in the fall.
