Apple has announced it will be holding a virtual event next week to launch the iPhone 13.
Rumour has it the tech giant is preparing four new iPhone 13 models to debut on Tuesday, September 14.
These will include the Max and mini sizes we first saw last year at the iPhone 12 event, along with the regular and Pro versions of the handset.
Although Apple will likely reveal the phones and tell us all about the cool new features, we won’t be able to get our hands on them straight away.
Instead, Apple is likely to open up pre-orders for a later date that could still be a few weeks off.
Last year, the iPhone 12 was announced on Tuesday, October 13 and by that Friday the pre-orders were open for people to reserve one. The phone itself then came out a few weeks later on October 23.
That means we may see the actual iPhone 13 release date set at around October 1, 2021, providing there are no issues with chip shortages or other Covid-related delays.
How can you pre-order the iPhone 13?
When it comes to the release of a new blockbuster gadget, the good news is there’s no shortage of ways to get hold of it.
Even with the supply chain issues currently disrupting the tech industry, Apple is a titan that will make sure pre-orders are up and running promptly.
The traditional route is, of course, Apple’s own online store. Which usually goes down for a spell during the event as it’s updated with all the new goodies.
You can find the iPhone section right here – which is where you should look first to pre-order the new iPhone 13. This is providing you want to buy the phones unlocked and SIM-free to pair them with a separate SIM-only contract.
But of course all the various UK providers will make it very easy to find and pre-order the new iPhone.
For convenience, here’s all the major UK networks, find your provider and click through to find the option to pre-order when it goes live.
iPhone 13 event: what else is going to be announced?
Alongside the new phones, Apple is tipped to reveal a new version of the Apple Watch.
The high-tech wearable is tipped to feature more health-tracking features (body temperature, perhaps?) and a new design.
Apple hasn’t updated the look of the Apple Watch much since it debuted in 2015, but the rumoured Apple Watch Series 7 will feature a flatter, boxier design to compliment the new iPhone models as well as the iPad Pro.
Gadget fans are also speculating that Apple may reveal a new set of AirPods and possibly a redesigned version of the iPad mini – although these are thin rumours at best.
But Apple is also expected to spend a lot of time discussing its streaming services.
The likes of Apple TV+ and Apple Music will get a mention but we could also hear about updates from gaming service Apple Arcade and fitness platform Apple Fitness+.
Here are all the details you need on how to watch the Apple virtual event happening next week.
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