The wait is over: Apple announces date of 2021's biggest event

Apple has sent out invites for a special event on September 14. Just like last year, the event will be an online-only affair and streamed from Apple Park, Cupertino.

The invite comes with the tagline “California steaming.” It is expected that Apple will unveil the all-new iPhone 13 at the event.

The last event from Apple was the "Spring Loaded" event in April where the company unveiled the new iPad Pro lineup, and with the California Streaming event, we can expect new iPhones, but also potentially the Apple Watch Series 7, and the AirPods 3.

If you have an iPhone, you can see the AR effect of the iPhone event invite. To experience the AR effects, open the September 14 event page on your iPhone, and it opens up to show the Apple logo floating over a lake. Once you tap on the Apple logo and that opens up an augmented reality experience for you. It's an excellent integration and one that one can expect from Apple.

Your iPhone camera app will become the default ARKit viewer, something Apple has showcased during its various events in the past. You can zoom in to the Apple logo, which will reveal the 9.14 date of the upcoming event. A very neat experience.

The event will be held at 10 am PT (around 10.30 pm IST).

How to watch Apple event.

The event will be live-streamed on Apple’s website, its official YouTube channel and via the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.

What to expect: iPhone 13, Watch Series 7 and more.

As is the case with the annual September event, the headline grabber will be new iPhones. It is expected that Apple will launch four new iPhones, likely to be called iPhone 13. Rumours suggest that iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max will be announced. The iPhone 13 series is expected to boast new display features, better battery performance and upgrades to the camera.

For starters, the device is expected to sport a smaller notch than that we’ve been seeing on the iPhones with a new placement of earpiece.

This display is also expected to sport a 120Hz refresh rate -- a much-needed upgrade since several Android counterparts -- even budget ones -- offer them. The display is also expected to sport an always-on display.

Even the camera layout is changing for iPhone 13 and 13 Mini, with the lenses oriented diagonally instead of vertically. The optics are also going to be revamped for better image quality as well as a bunch of software features such as ProRes Video as well as Portrait Video modes. As usual we’ll see iPhone 13 sport a new A-series processor, which could be named A15 Bionic.

Apart from the iPhone, Apple Watch Series 7 is also expected to be launched at the event. The Watch Series 7 is expected to come with a redesign as the company is said to move away from the soft rounded corners of the edges to feature squared-off edges and flat display.

Apple is also expected to unveil new AirPods, rumoured to be called AirPods 3. AirPods 3 are expected to feature an all-new design and processor.

The iPad lineup is also expected to see a refresh. For the last few years, Apple has been launching a new entry-level iPad at the September event. It is rumored that an all-new iPad mini might arrive this year at the event.

In a separate report, Bloomberg said the feature would be dubbed “Emergency Message via Satellite” and integrated into the iMessage app as a third protocol. This feature will show grey bubbles as opposed to green and blue for SMS and iMessage texts.

While Apple annually releases the upgraded iPhone in September, the launch event for iPhone 12 was pushed to October last year due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A possibility exists that Apple may, along with iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch, announce new versions of MacBook Pro and iPad. However, reports indicate that the new models may be released this fall, if the company sticks to its annual schedule.

Notably, iPhone will be the most-watched-out gadget which Apple is expected to release at the September 14 event. Some iPhone 13 specifications have been leaked online, and if reports are to be believed, the biggest of them all is that iPhone 13 will include support for satellite communication.