This week in Apple: Hardware event on for next week, but don't expect iPhones

This week in Apple news we saw the company confirm that it will host a livestream hardware event next week. However, it’s very unlikely that we’ll see the iPhone 12 lineup at this event. Instead, Apple will likely launch some other products and save iPhones for October.

In other Apple news, we heard a lot about the new iPhone lineup. Allegedly, the phones are entering production, but only two models will likely launch whenever Apple holds its iPhone event.

See the Apple news roundup below for all the latest.

The top Apple news stories of the past week:

• Hardware launch scheduled for September 15: This coming Tuesday, Apple will hold a hardware launch event. The company sent out press invites earlier this week. As with the company’s big event earlier this year, the launch won’t have members of the press in physical attendance.
• Don’t expect iPhones next week, though: It is highly unlikely that Apple will launch any iPhones at next week’s event. Instead, we expect some new iPads, the sixth-edition of the Apple Watch, and possibly Apple AirTags — the company’s answer to Tile trackers. Devices in the iPhone 12 lineup will likely launch in October.
• Only some iPhones might launch whenever they land: There are multiple rumors floating around that Apple doesn’t plan to launch the entire iPhone 12 lineup in October (or whenever it decides to hold its event). Instead, rumors suggest Apple could launch the iPhone 12 Max and iPhone 12 Pro first, and then launch the iPhone 12 (the smallest/cheapest variant) and the iPhone 12 Pro Max at a later date. Or, it’s also possible that Apple will announce all four phones but delay the on-sale dates of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Max Pro. Either way, it’s a safe bet that you won’t see all iPhones in stores at once, at least at the beginning.
• iPhone mass production hasn’t even started, allegedly: According to Nikkei Asian Review, the iPhone 12 lineup isn’t even cooking yet as far as manufacturing goes. Nikkei claims that the iPhone 12 series won’t enter mass production until the end of this month. AirTags, however, are likely ready to go (which is why we expect them to launch next week).
• Apple wins patent for in-display Touch ID: There’s yet another rumor to suggest that Apple could be working on phones with in-display fingerprint sensors. Obviously, this is something Android users have had for years now, but Apple went all-in on Face ID instead (that didn’t work out so well with the pandemic and all). According to the patent filing, Apple’s version of the sensor could cover much of the display, which would be a big difference between it and Android counterparts.
• Apple now has its own face mask: A report from Bloomberg shows how Apple has created its own face mask to help protect its corporate and retail employees from the spread of COVID-19. All in all, the mask looks like every other mask, but it’s called Apple Face Mask, which makes it better.

Thinking about making the switch?

If you are reading this Apple news article on an iOS device and thinking about making the switch to Android, we have multiple articles and guides that can help you with that process. Despite how it might seem, moving from iOS to Android is easier than ever, and many of the services and systems on iOS have similar or even the same counterparts on Android.

The best place to start would be our guide on how to switch from iPhone to Android, which goes over all the basics. We also have more specific guides, such as how to transfer your calendar from iPhone to Android. We also have app guides that will give you the best alternatives to iOS staples, such as our list of best alternatives to FaceTime on Android.

If you’re looking for a great Android device to replace your iPhone, consult our list of the best Android smartphones available now.