Apple’s “Awe Dropping” Event Unveils Biggest Lineup Yet

Apple’s annual fall showcase, aptly branded the “Awe Dropping” event, unveiled a slew of highly anticipated products, including the ultra-thin iPhone Air, the expanded iPhone 17 series, upgrades to AirPods Pro, and a full refresh of the Apple Watch lineup.

Here’s a breakdown of everything announced:

iPhones: Sleeker, Powerful, and More Diverse

> iPhone Air: The headline mid-range star, the thinnest iPhone ever at just 5.6 mm, housed in a titanium frame and priced starting at $999. It boasts a 6.5″ Retina XDR display (ProMotion 120 Hz), A19 Pro chip, 48 MP Fusion Main camera, 18 MP Center Stage front camera, and is eSIM-only.

> iPhone 17: Starting at $799 (256 GB), it features a 6.3″ OLED ProMotion display, A19 chip with N1 networking, 48 MP Dual Fusion rear cameras, and a Center Stage front camera that intelligently adjusts the frame.

> iPhone 17 Pro & Pro Max: High-end variants powered by the A19 Pro chip; the Pro starts at $1,099. Highlights include an advanced cooling vapour chamber, ceramic and crack-resistant back, and a triple 48 MP rear camera system with up to 8× telephoto zoom, plus a front 18 MP Center Stage camera.

AirPods Pro 3: Smarter & Health-Conscious

Apple’s third-gen AirPods Pro arrive with improved ANC (marketed as the “world’s best”), foam-infused tips, live translation, and an ultra-compact heart rate sensor using photoplethysmography, integrating with a new “Workout Buddy” in iOS 26. They start at $249, and both preorders and shipments begin September 19.

Apple Watch Series 11, SE 3 & Ultra 3: Smarter Health Tracking

> Watch Series 11: Introduces hypertension detection, sleep scoring, enhanced scratch resistance, and up to 24-hour battery life.

> Watch SE 3: Gains features like wrist temperature sensing, sleep apnea alerts, fast charging, S10 chip, always-on display, and gesture control.

> Ultra 3: Built for endurance, featuring satellite and 5G connectivity, a massive battery for up to 42 hours, advanced metrics, and a premium design in titanium.

Software and Release Highlights

> iOS 26 is scheduled to ship on September 15, bringing upgrades across Apple’s ecosystem.

> All newly announced products, from iPhones to watches and AirPods, will become available starting September 19, with preorders beginning immediately.

Product Curation and Discontinuations

Apple cleaned house, discontinuing older models like the iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max, iPhone 15/15 Plus, Apple Watch Series 10, Ultra 2, SE 2, and AirPods Pro 2, but all will remain supported.

Balancing Hardware and Strategy

The titanium iPhone Air drew particular attention for its sleek design amid rising U.S.-China tariffs; Apple is partially offsetting costs via additional production shifts to India. Notably, AI and Siri enhancements took a backseat in the hardware-heavy presentation, continuing a trend of cautious software rollout.

This lineup underscores Apple’s commitment to pushing industrial design, health-focused innovation, and ecosystem integration, while strategically managing global supply and pricing amid broader economic pressures.