Apple 'Surprise and shine' event confirmed—we're expecting these wearables
New CEO John Ternus is expected to unveil new Apple Watch and AirPods generations at 9 September showcase
Apple has officially issued save-the-dates for its annual autumn hardware showcase, with the 'Surprise and Shine' event set to take place on September 9th at 10am PT / 1pm EDT / 6pm BST.
The keynote will mark the start of a new era, with new Apple CEO John Ternus set to take over from outgoing Tim Cook on September 1 and headline his first major hardware refresh.
The format for product reveals is expected to remain the same—meaning the Cupertino giant will keep all details under wraps until the big day—but the timing leaves little doubt that Apple's next generation of smartwatches will feature alongside the next series of iPhones.
After all, the brand has given us at least one new smartwatch every September since the very first Apple Watch reveal in 2014. And this year, rumors indicate we could be set for an Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Series 12.
A tough act to follow
Tim Cook's "Good Morning" will be a difficult catchphrase to top, but these potential new smartwatches also face a tough task.
Last year, we gave excellent grades to both the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch Series 11, so it's no surprise to see only minor upgrades being tipped for this year's refresh.
In that sense, it would be no surprise to see even more focus on the AirPods line, which could see a new Pro edition join the expected AirPods 5.
Last year's AirPods Pro 3 delivered some of the most accurate workout heart rate monitoring we've ever tested on a wearable—and industry hints suggest that potential next-generation AirPods will see Apple debut even more sensing capabilities in its earbuds.
In fact, it's been rumored for much of 2026 that the company is preparing AirPods with infrared sensors for improved gesture control and more.
As ever, though, it's all just professional hearsay at this stage. Wareable will cover all the announcements live as they happen, so stay tuned for the exact feature specifications, pricing, and shipping dates.
