We’ve known for quite some time now that Apple had to delay the announcement of its newest iPhones. But now it’s October and the time is (almost) over.

Today, Apple sent out invitations for its latest event. And it’s finally time for the newest iPhones to get unveiled. While Apple’s invitation doesn’t explicitly tell us what’s on the program for next week’s virtual event, it’s a safe bet (this time) that the iPhone will be the star of the show. Apple introduced the new iPad Air, the eighth-generation iPad, the Apple Watch Series 6, and the Apple Watch SE at last month’s event.

Apple confirmed the event will take place on Tuesday, October 13. It will start at 10:00 AM PDT/1:00 PM EDT.

And yes, if you thought Apple would include another AR teaser for this event like it did the last one, the company did just that:

If you want to check out the AR experience on your iPhone or iPad, just head to Apple’s official landing page for the event and click on the Apple icon. You’ll then get to see the animated reveal date in augmented reality.

So what can we expect to see next week? We turn to the rumor mill for that answer.

What to expect at Apple’s October special event

The iPhone 12

There are probably going to be four new iPhone models introduced this year. Two of them will share screen sizes, but the differences are in the features. We also know the iPhone 12 lineup will boast the A14 Bionic processor, more than likely. Apple introduced its latest processor back in September with the new iPad Air.

But, here’s how the new iPhone lineup will probably shake out:

• The iPhone 12 (mini): This will be the smallest of the bunch, featuring a 5.4-inch display. It will reportedly feature an OLED screen, though, so don’t expect to see an LCD panel on this one. There will be a pair of cameras on the back, along with the standard front-facing camera. It will share the same design as the higher-end models, with squared edges and a more iPad Pro-like design. It will reportedly boast Face ID and not Touch ID. It’s expected to feature some form of 5G connectivity as well, either sub-6 and/or mmWave, or just sub-6.
• The iPhone 12: This is a slightly larger version of the standard iPhone 12. It will reportedly boast a 6.1-inch OLED display. Otherwise, it will feature the same design as the iPhone 12, along with a pair of cameras on the back. Face ID will be Apple’s biometric security measure of choice on this phone, too, as we don’t expect to see Touch ID on any iPhone 12 variant. This phone will also feature 5G, but it’s possible it could only be sub-6 connectivity, and it may not feature the faster mmWave.
• The iPhone 12 Pro: This model will be the first of the Pro variants, but it will reportedly have a 6.1-inch OLED screen, too. The primary difference will be the camera setup, with the iPhone 12 Pro boasting three cameras on the back, rather than two. It may also feature a LiDAR Scanner, the same feature that Apple introduced with the new iPad Pro models earlier this year. This will help with things like augmented reality and more. This Pro model is expected to feature support for both sub-6 and the faster mmWave 5G technologies.
• The iPhone 12 Pro Max: This is the biggest of the iPhone 12 lineup, reportedly featuring an OLED screen measuring in at 6.7 inches. This phone will be the pinnacle of Apple’s screen size to date, but it will share the same features as the smaller iPhone 12 Pro. That means the same processor, probably the same amount of RAM (whatever that turns out to be), and the same triple camera setup on the back of the phone. It, too, will probably boast a LiDAR Scanner for improved AR experiences. Like it’s smaller brethren, the largest Pro model will probably support both 5G technologies. It’s also possible the Pro models feature a new blue color.

So, that’s the brief on the iPhone 12 lineup. Some things may pan out, other rumors may not. Either way, we finally don’t have long to wait to find out from Apple itself.

But that’s probably not all the company will show off next week.

AirPods Studio

It has been rumored for quite some time that Apple has been working on over-ear headphones without the Beats brand. These headphones were initially expected to arrive earlier this year, but with the coronavirus pandemic hitting full force across the globe, they were reportedly delayed to this fall. That means it’s perfectly possible Apple will debut its first over-ear headphones, and they may be called AirPods Studio.

As far as what we’ve heard from the rumor mill so far, there’s quite a bit. The headphones have been rumored since at least February of 2018, in one capacity or another. In March of that same year we heard that the headphones will feature Apple’s Active Noise Cancellation feature, and they will be high-end in price point and design.

After that, it was about features. In August of last year, for instance, we heard the headphones could feature orientation detection and a foldable head band. Since then we’ve heard the headphones could cost upwards of $349 — and potentially more expensive, depending on model options. Earlier this year we reportedly saw the “Sport” variant of the AirPods Studio, which could start at the $349 price point.

As for a potential sign that Apple may be on the cusp of announcing these headphones? Just yesterday there was a report that Apple had abruptly stopped selling audio accessories from companies like Sonos, Bose, and Logitech. That includes speakers and headphones.

But, that’s not all.

AirTags

One more accessory that has been rumored for months now is the tracking device known as AirTags. These small tracking devices will reportedly feature a removable battery, and even Apple itself has referenced the unannounced AirTags accessory in an official support video. The AirTags accessory may rely on Apple’s Find My app, and use the R1 chip as well.

Of course, not everyone is happy about the potential existence of AirTags.

Will there be even more at next week’s event? It’s possible! But these are the relatively safe bets at this point. Of course, Apple may decide to only announce the iPhones 12 lineup and call it good. We’ll have to wait and see. Luckily we don’t have long to do just that.

What about the event invite itself?

There’s always speculation regarding the event invite, and this time is no different. We’ve got some concentric circles, and a design that looks very HomePod-esque. Could that means we may see a new smart speaker unveiled at the event next week? That’s certainly possible. A new, smaller HomePod has been rumored for quite some time.

And what about the colors? There’s that eye-catching orange, but also the definitive dark blue that dominates most of the event invite. As mentioned above, the iPhone 12 is rumored to introduce a new blue color option this year. It may even replace the Midnight Green color option Apple launched last year with the iPhone 11.

But, what do you think? Any hints you can see in this event invite?

Which new devices are you most excited about?