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Here for AirPods Pro 3? OK but don't sleep on Beats' just-teased buds
So if you're into Apple earbuds you're probably here for AirPods Pro 3, but there's a set of Made by Apple wireless in-ears that probably won't make an appearance, but that you should still know about – the unreleased Beats Powerbeats Fit.
We're pretty sure Apple's own-brand ice-white earbuds will take center stage on September 9, but look, if anyone near you mentions an unreleased Beats set of buds (not long after the Powerbeats Pro 2 for the more sporty music-lover, you can now nod sagely and go 'The Powerbeats Fit? Yeah we won't see them here I think… hopefully they'll also have heart-rate monitoring though'.
AirPods Max 2? Don't hold your breath
I think it'd be remiss of me not to mention that if you were hoping for a fresh set of Apple over-ears a mere five years after the originals launched in December 2020, don't cancel your plans…
The AirPods Max 2 are one of the most requested products among Apple's devoted fanbase, but despite adding USB-C Lossless audio to the OG set in March 2025 (which I adore) Apple isn't rushing a second-gen. set.
Why? Well, according to a recent Bloomberg report the issue is simple: AirPods Max are "too popular for Apple to stop selling them, and not popular enough for the company to invest a ton of time and money into creating a new version" – and after all, there's the AirPods Pro 3 to focus on, this coming Tuesday…
Disappointed? I think given the length of time between iterations – which is, let me be clear, an awfully long time in audio tech terms – you've every right to be.
What not to expect from the AirPods Pro 3
What should we not expect? Live translation, which is a biggie. And dare I say it, that might leave the tech giant looking a little second-best (hello Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE with real-time translation) against its biggest rival.
Also reportedly off the menu is the rumored IR camera feature. While that was never expected in this set (it's more of a long-term goal for Apple and one I truly cannot wait for) it does leave me wondering if AirPods Pro 3 will still wow viewers if and when they do indeed make their big reveal…
If AirPods Pro 3 arrive without the one thing we all want, is it still good news?
Becky Scarrott, your friendly Audio Editor here, and I've got thoughts on Apple's impending 'Awe Inspiring' event as far as the Cupertino's ice-white earbuds output goes.
The case has been leaked (see above) and most noted tipsters agree: AirPods Pro 3 are a dead cert for Apple's big shindig – but there's a catch.
While the latest leak claims two oft-requested perks will arrive with the new Pro-suffixed AirPods iteration – namely heart-rate monitoring to match the Beats PowerBeats Pro 2 and also a temperature sensor – two will not.
Time to talk AirPods Pro 3 and other Apple audio
I'm going to hit pause on the iPhone 17 updates for now and draw upon the thought of Audio Editor Becky Scarrott for what we can expect from the AirPods Pro 3 and other audio products from Apple.
With 'golden ears' Becky Scarrott is a pro at all things audio. And she's well versed Apple's audio suite too.
What do you want to see from the iPhone 17?
So let me throw this out to you: I want to know what upgrades you'd like to see from the iPhone 17, specifically that standard model.
Some upgrades have been tipped while others are wishful thinking. From my point of view, I'm after 120Hz display and perhaps a better main camera in terms of the photos it outputs rather than a big dose of extra megapixels.
So take a look at the poll below and get voting!
iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro release date
So putting the price aside, when might you be able to get your hands on the new iPhones?
Well James Rogerson predicts pre-orders will go live on September 12, with a full release happening a on September 19.
This is based on rumors and past form from Apple. And I tend to agree. Apple usually works on a two week cycle post its new phone announcements.
For more check out Rogerson's When can we expect the iPhone 17 to be released? Here are my expert predictions article.
iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro pricing
The rumors on iPhone 17 prices have been a bit scatty recently, with some expecting no change over the iPhone 16 prices, while a more recent iPhone 17 price tip has a hike in price on the cards.
I tend to think the former, with the prices will likely start at $799 / £799 / AU$1,399 for the standard iPhones, and $999 / £999 / AU$1,849 for the Pro models.
But I do think there's scope for a price jump for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. I just hope that doesn't come to pass.
iPhone 17 camera upgrade
On the standard iPhone 17 side there's not a lot pointing to a major camera upgrade.
The sensor may get changed to a better one, but not on that goes beyond 48 megapixels.
I suspect the camera improvements will come more on the software side and an improvement in image signal processing via an upgraded A-series chip.
iPhone 17 Pro telephoto camera upgrade
A lot of rumors are pointing towards a big telephoto camera upgrade for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The idea is that the telephoto camera will not only get a boost ot 48-megapixels, up from 12MP, but also have a system of moving components that could allow for continuous optical zoom between an as-yet unknown range of focal lengths. Mixed reports have the camera system able to move between 5x and 8x optical zoom without sensor cropping.
I don't know if I fully buy into that, as I can still see Apple opt for advanced sensors cropping techniques and camera fusion to bring in high-quality zoomed photos even when using a digital zoom.
Check out Jame Richards' thoughts on the iPhone 17 Pro telephoto camera upgrades.
iPhone 17 Pro could be super-charged for gaming
A spec rumor that's stood out to me is how the iPhone 17 Pro could come with a vapor chamber.
Let me first note that vapor chamber cooling works by using a liquid-filled metal chamber, where in the coolant changes into a gas as it absorbs heat. This vapor then condenses on a cooler metal side, thereby dissipating heat away from sensitive components like the chipset. It’s a way to better cool CPU and GPU components without taking up much space; you’ll find vapor chamber cooling in the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
For the iPhone series this should mean improved cooling that enables the chipset to run art peak performance for longer, And that should be a boon for gaming, especially for some of the more demanding console-quality games you can now get on iOS.
iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Display: | 6.1-inch OLED | 6.7-inch OLED | 6.3-inch OLED | 6.9-inch OLED |
Resolution: | 1179 x 2556 | 1290 x 2796 | 1206 x 2622 | 1320 x 2868 |
Refresh rate: | 120Hz | 120Hz | 120Hz | 120Hz |
Chipset: | A19 | A19 Pro | A19 Pro | A19 Pro |
Rear cameras: | 48MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide | 48MP wide | 48MP wide, 48MP ultra-wide, 48MP telephoto (5x zoom) | 48MP wide, 48MP ultra-wide, 48MP telephoto (5x zoom) |
Front camera: | 24MP | 24MP | 24MP | 24MP |
RAM: | 8GB | 8GB | 12GB | 12GB |
Storage: | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
Battery: | 3,561mAh+ | Under 3,000mAh | 3,582mAh+ | ~5,000mAh |
I'll be keeping things focused on the iPhone 17 series for a while, so let's talk specs.
I don't expect there to be dramatic changes for the iPhone 17 lineup as a whole, but the addition of new chips for both vanillar and Pro phones, should see more performance, more energy efficiency and snappier responses for AI workloads. The rumored 12GB for the Pro phones should also aid in getting quick results from Apple Intelligence.
Recent iPhones have never been slouches when it comes to performance, so I don't expect the iPhone 17 to be a vast upgrade in raw power over the iPhone 16, but there's potential for improved gaming performance.
iPhone 17 colors: big, bold pastels
Right then, straight off the bat let's talk iPhone 17 colors. Freelancer and iPhone expert James Rogerson has a rundown on all the colors will the iPhone 17 series be available in from his predictions and rumors.
it looks like pastel greens, blues, and pink will make a splash for the standard iPhone 17; my eye is on the green one, if the image above is legit.
And the iPhone 17 Pro models look ot have a more muted selection of hues, in grey and blue variants. But there's a bright orange models to mix things up; not to my taste but pretty bold.
Get ready for the big Apple event
Roland has been covering Apple products for years so is well versed to take you through the run-up to the Apple event on September 9.
Well hello there, I'm Managing Editor of Mobile Computing, Roland Moore-Colyer here to take you through the run-up to the Apple event on September 9;.
I've been covering Apple and iPhones for years, alongside the occasional flirt with iPads, Apple Watches and Airpods, so I'm well versed in the way of Cupertino.
Of course, nothing is official here as Apple keeps very tight-lipped over its upcoming products. But there are enough rumors and leaks to chew over and give us a good idea of what to expect.
2025-09-04T18:04:43.919Z
Hello and welcome to our Apple iPhone 17 event coverage.
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