Apple’s September 9, 2025 Keynote: What’s New?

iPhone Lineup: iPhone Air, 17, 17 Pro & Pro Max

• iPhone Air

  • Tagline: The thinnest iPhone ever at just 5.6 mm thick, crafted from titanium with breakthrough durability.

  • Includes Ceramic Shield on both front and back—with the front using Ceramic Shield 2—offering up to 3× better scratch resistance.

  • Priced at $999, available for preorder now with shipping starting September 19.

• iPhone 17 (Base Model)

  • Features a 6.3″ ProMotion 120 Hz Super Retina XDR display, A19 chip, and 48 MP Dual Fusion rear camera plus a new Center Stage front camera.

  • Starts at $799, begins at 256 GB storage, includes a 512 GB option.

• iPhone 17 Pro & Pro Max

  • Powered by the new A19 Pro chip and a vapor chamber cooling system for better performance and battery life.

  • Triple 48 MP Fusion cameras, including an 8× optical-quality telephoto lens and 18 MP Center Stage front cam; ceramic shield front and back.

  • Price points: $1,099 for Pro; $1,199 for Pro Max. Preorders open September 12; shipping begins September 19.

AirPods Pro 3

• Making its debut after three years of waiting, these AirPods Pro 3 are priced at $249 and ship starting September 19. s

• Standout features:

  • “World’s best” Active Noise Cancellation with foam-infused tips.

  • Built-in photoplethysmography (PPG) heart-rate sensor.

  • Live translation—real-time language transcription.

  • Enhanced water/sweat resistance (IP57) and five ear-tip sizes.

Apple Watch Lineup: Series 11, SE 3, Ultra 3

• Apple Watch SE 3 – entry-level model, $249, preorder now, ships September 19.

  • Features: S10 chip, always-on display, wrist-flick and double-tap gestures, sleep apnea detection, retrospective ovulation tracking, 5G support, better battery and charging, watchOS 26 with Liquid Glass UI.

• Apple Watch Series 11 – $399, preorder available, shipping September 19.

  • Highlights: Thinnest yet, hypertension alerts, AI-powered sleep insights, 24-hour battery life, 5G.

• Apple Watch Ultra 3 – rugged $799 model with satellite connectivity for emergency texting, bright LTPO3 display, 72-hour battery in low power mode, and health upgrades.

⏬ Software & Availability

• watchOS 26 arrives September 15, 2025, bringing Liquid Glass design, wrist-flick gesture, Smart Stack suggestions, Apple Intelligence Workout Buddy, auto-volume, two-way translations, and Notes app on the wrist. The Verge

• All hardware unveiled—iPhones, Watches, AirPods—are available for preorder now (or start preorder within the week) with shipments beginning September 19.

Final Summary

Apple’s September 9, 2025 event unveiled a wave of exciting upgrades and new designs—from the ultra-slim iPhone Air starting at $999, to the powerhouse iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max, refreshed smartwatches across all tiers, and feature-packed AirPods Pro 3 at $249. With watchOS 26 arriving mid-September, this lineup delivers across innovation, health, and design.

What Is the N1 Chip?

Apple’s newly announced N1 wireless networking chip brings together the latest standards in local connectivity, including:

• Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) — Offers lightning-fast throughput, low latency, and support for Multi-Link Operation (MLO), enabling use across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands simultaneously for more robust connections. WccftechThe VergeWIRED

• Bluetooth 6 — Delivers ultra-low latency (under 20 ms), longer range, improved power efficiency, and enhanced security. Great for lag-free audio (e.g., AirPods) and faster device pairing. WccftechThe Verge

• Thread protocol — Enables smarter, more reliable HomeKit and smart-home integration by allowing devices to communicate directly on a low-power, mesh-based network. The VergeWIRED

This marks a significant shift away from relying on third-party suppliers like Broadcom for wireless hardware. With the N1, Apple gains tighter integration and more consistent performance for features like AirDrop and Personal Hotspot. The VergeWccftech

N1 + C1X: Mobile and Local Networking—Split Priority

All iPhone 17 models—including the iPhone 17, 17 Pro/Pro Max, and the new ultra-thin iPhone Air—use the N1 chip for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread

However, only the iPhone Air features Apple’s in-house cellular modem, the C1X. Other models continue using Qualcomm modems.

Why the Air gets C1X—but others don’t?

According to coverage in Wired, it’s likely because C1X lacks support for mmWave 5G—it only supports sub-6 GHz 5G, not the faster, short-range mmWave bands. The iPhone Air’s slim design may prioritize power efficiency and compact form over top-tier 5G speeds, whereas the Pro models retain Qualcomm modems to fully support both sub-6 and mmWave.

What It Means for You

• Faster, more reliable Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7 brings higher throughput, lower latency, and superior connections, especially in congested environments or multi-device households.

• Improved local experiences: Bluetooth 6 enhances AirDrop, wireless gaming, and accessory pairing with snappy performance and better energy efficiency.

• Smarter home connectivity: Thread support ramps up smart-home responsiveness and mesh-based device reliability—great for HomeKit setups.

• Strategic modem placement: The iPhone Air favors energy efficiency and design compactness with the C1X (sub-6 only), while iPhone 17 Pro models maintain mmWave 5G thanks to Qualcomm modems—tuned for maximum connectivity.