iPhones and watches: What to expect at the Apple release

The yearly hyped-up iPhone launch is almost here. Leaks and reports have already given us a good idea about what to expect during the launches of  the next generation of iPhones and Apple Watch

On September 12, the world's most valuable company will reportedly launch three new iPhone models - a 5.8-inch iPhone Xs, a 6.5-inch iPhone Xs Max and a 6.1-inch iPhone 9/Xc/Xr that will be a successor to the iPhone 8.  Last year, Apple skipped one generation to introduce iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X (the 10th anniversary special edition).

This year, reports reveal that the larger iPhone will be named iPhone Xs Max, which is expected to come with an OLED display, dual-rear cameras with support for portrait mode, 2x zoom, and dual-OIS on both sensors.

All the three new iPhones may feature an updated FaceID. According to reports, Apple might skip the convenient fingerprint sensor (TouchID) yet again and the new iPhones will rely solely on Face ID for biometric authentication.

According to reports, one of the new 2018 iPhone models could have a rear-facing camera with a triple-lens array. Experts feel such a camera would enhance the iPhone's rear zoom capacity and improve picture quality in dim light environments.

The iPhones will support an "iPen" device. The stylus first debuted in 2015. The new 2018 iPad is also expected to add an Apple Pencil functionality.

As for the prices, the 6.5-inch OLED iPhone is expected to be priced in the range of $900-$999 for the base variant. The 5.8-inch device is expected to sell within a price range of $800 to $899. The cheapest of the lot, with a 6.1-inch LCD display, is expected to fall in the range of $600 to $699.

The iPhones are also expected to new USB-C chargers. The phones won't feature the 3D Touch technology Apple first introduced on the iPhone 6s as it hasn't proven particularly popular.

According to 9to5Mac, the smartwatch will feature a 15% larger display and have a thinner design with smaller bezels compared to the current-generation model. It would be powered by S4 and W3 chipsets with 18GB of storage. Like the Series 3, the Apple Watch Series 4 would also have cellular connectivity, along with advanced heart rate tracking.

Recent leaks suggest that a new, more angular iPad Pro, with a larger screen and no home button, could be on the cards. It apparently will feature the same FaceID unlock feature and lack a fingerprint scanner, much like the iPhone X.