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  • You Will Soon Connect on WhatsApp Without Exchanging Numbers

    You Will Soon Connect on WhatsApp Without Exchanging Numbers

    WhatsApp is rolling out a major new feature that will allow users to connect and chat with unique usernames, eliminating the long-standing requirement of exchanging phone numbers.

    According to reports from WABetaInfo, the update has been spotted in the Android beta version 2.25.24.22 and is currently in advanced development. The change, which mirrors a model used by rival platforms like Telegram, is set to offer a significant boost to user privacy and control.

    How it Works: A New Way to Connect

    The new system fundamentally changes how users discover and connect with one another, all while retaining WhatsApp’s signature end-to-end encryption. Here’s how it will go:

    • Create a Username: Users will be able to choose a unique identifier, subject to specific rules (e.g., must include at least one letter, be between 3 and 30 characters, and avoid certain symbols).
    • Search Directly: A new search function in the “Chats” tab will enable users to find others by their username, even if they aren’t in their contact list.
    • Hide Your Number: With this feature, only your username and profile picture will be visible. Your personal phone number remains hidden unless you choose to share it.
    • Seamless Chatting: All conversations initiated via usernames will function just like normal chats, supporting media, voice notes, and documents while remaining fully end-to-end encrypted.
    • Extra Layer of Security: Even if someone discovers your username, they will be unable to send you a message without the corresponding key.
    • Control over Connections: This acts as a clear gatekeeper, offering users more control over their inbox and a defense against unsolicited messages.
    • Built-In Spam Protection: To combat abuse, WhatsApp will also use behavior detection systems to flag and remove users involved in spam, helping to enforce its terms of service.

    Broader Impact and Significance

    The introduction of usernames is a major move that addresses several long-standing privacy concerns for WhatsApp users. This update will be particularly beneficial for users who previously had to share their phone numbers in large group chats or with new contacts, exposing them to potential misuse across other apps or scams.

    The new system is optional. Users can opt in and set their username at any time, or continue to use WhatsApp with their phone number just as they always have. The feature is expected to be rolled out to all users in the coming months, following the beta testing period.

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  • Aston Martin Valkyrie arrives in the Lone Star state for the FIA World Endurance Championship –

    Aston Martin Valkyrie arrives in the Lone Star state for the FIA World Endurance Championship –

    • Aston Martin Valkyrie set to make Circuit of the Americas debut
    • Aston Martin THOR Team building competitiveness with spectacular and unique V12-powered British hypercar
    • Valkyrie targets first top ten finish in FIA World Endurance Championship
    • All-British line-up, Harry Tincknell and Tom Gamble to race Valkyrie #007
    • Three-time FIA WEC GT champion Marco Sørensen and Alex Riberas return to Valkyrie #009 for COTA
    • Valkyrie the only ‘Hypercar’ to contest the world’s two premier sportscar series, IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship
    • Aston Martin THOR Team returns to scene of maiden WEC GT class win

     

    2 September, 2025, Austin (TX), USA: The spectacular new Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar makes its debut at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) this weekend, as the ultra-luxury performance brand celebrates its 75th anniversary in the Americas in 2025.

     

    The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) arrives in Texas, for the six-hour Lone Star Le Mans, as momentum continues to build through the trail-blazing debut season of the unique 6.5-litre, V12-powered British hypercar. Valkyrie is the first ‘Le Mans Hypercar’ (LMH) to be produced by Aston Martin. Raced by the works Aston Martin THOR Team, Valkyrie is also the only car in WEC’s premier category derived from a road-legal hypercar.

     

    Many US-based motorsport fans are familiar with Valkyrie, which is the only LMH to compete in both the FIA WEC and in North America’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA) and has scored top-10 finishes in every race it has contested in the USA – including Road America most recently, where the US-based version of the Aston Martin THOR Team finished in an encouraging sixth place.

     

    In WEC, where Aston Martin competes against seven of the world’s most prominent endurance sportscar manufacturers, Valkyrie is also growing in competitiveness. This was evidenced by its combined best qualifying performance (11th and 12th) in the most recent Rolex 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, in July. The car also raced deep into the top ten in the early hours of the event. This follows an encouraging 24 Hours of Le Mans (in June) where both Valkyrie hypercars completed their maiden twice-around-the-clock event without issue, finishing 12th and 14th, and the UK-based ‘WEC’ arm of the Aston Martin THOR Team registered the cars’, and Aston Martin’s first Manufacturer’s World Championship points in the Hypercar Class.

     

    Valkyrie made its global debut in the Qatar 1812km in February. The British machine has subsequently demonstrated outstanding reliability, having finished 14 times from 15 starts in all competitions.

     

    The Aston Martin THOR Team will keep to its two regular WEC Valkyrie line-ups for the Lone Star Le Mans, with the #007 driven by Tom Gamble (GBR) and Harry Tincknell (GBR) and the #009 by Alex Riberas (ESP) and Marco Sørensen (DEN).

     

    Developed from the Valkyrie production car by Aston Martin and THOR, the competition version blends a race-optimised carbon fibre chassis with a modified 6.5-litre V12 powerplant that revs to 11,000rpm and produces over 1000bhp in standard form, but adheres to a strict 500kw (680bhp) power limit as per hypercar regulations.

     

    Tom Gamble, driver #007 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “This will be my first time racing at COTA, so I’m really looking forward to going there and discovering the circuit. We’ve improved every time we have raced with Valkyrie and I’m very excited to see how we get on in Austin. Hopefully we can get ourselves into the top 10 this weekend which would represent a great result for the programme.”

     

    Harry Tincknell, driver #007 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “I’m looking forward to COTA. It’s hopefully a track that suits us more than Sao Paulo. They’ve got some big, long straights in Austin and we were very quick in Sector 1 and Sector 3 in Brazil. That race was another step forward for us where we were just 0.05s off Hyperpole, and that is a good target for us to achieve this weekend. We are still learning about our tyre strategies, and this is also a good focus for us. Coming off the summer break the team is feeling fresh and positive. It will be super-hot, so we need to do our best to keep our tyres cool, keep our heads cool and ourselves cool because it will be a tough event.”

     

    Alex Riberas, driver #009 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “I’m extremely excited to go back to Austin, which used to be my home town for a couple of years, so for me personally it feels like going back home. Regarding COTA, it is probably my favourite track in the entire world so I’m also very excited about that. We have had plenty of success there in the past, and of course last year we won our first WEC race with the Heart of Racing in LMGT3. So, with it being a home race for us, and with the success we’ve had there before and with how much we improved the car in Brazil, I think everybody is just very enthusiastic and pumped about Austin. It cannot come soon enough.”

     

    Marco Sørensen, driver #009 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “After strong results in Sao Paulo and Le Mans, coming into the Lone Star Le Mans we’re determined to keep that momentum rolling. It’s a track with its own unique challenges – fast-flowing sections, big braking zones, and relentless heat. The team has been operating at a high level all season, and if we stay sharp and execute, there’s no reason we can’t be fighting for a result there.”

     

    Ian James, Team Principal, Aston Martin THOR Team: “We arrive at our home race in WEC with a lot of optimism. I say this a lot, but the focus within the programme is about incremental progress and using what we learn to build a more competitive package. We’ve been testing since the last race, and the understanding we gain from each new outing with the car gives us more reason to believe we are heading in the right direction. Last year’s event marked the first victory for THOR in WEC, and it would be nice to get a top ten finish in the Hypercar Class there this year. To achieve that we need to execute and perform to the maximum and that is the target this weekend.”

     

    Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport: “Valkyrie is beginning to show the world glimpses of the potential we believe it is capable of, but we are still in the early days of this programme. Our understanding of the car has exponentially increased since its debut in Qatar and there were occasions during the most race in Brazil where the car was able to demonstrate its capability to compete for points positions on track. WEC is a tough environment to conquer, and that is precisely why we are competing in it, and at COTA this weekend we aim to take another step towards that goal.”

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  • Newly discovered bus-size asteroid will zoom close past Earth tomorrow — and will not return for exactly 100 years

    Newly discovered bus-size asteroid will zoom close past Earth tomorrow — and will not return for exactly 100 years

    A bus-size asteroid, first spotted just over a week ago, will zoom past Earth tomorrow (Sept. 3). The space rock will not get this close to us again until Sept. 4, 2125 — almost 100 years to the day.

    The asteroid, dubbed 2025 QV5, was first spotted on Aug. 24. It is approximately 35 feet (11 meters) across, or around the same width as a school bus is long, and is hurtling toward us at more than 13,900 mph (22,400 km/h), according to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Asteroid Watch.

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  • Too Many Eggs in the Basket? Navigating Flu Vaccine Choices – Medscape

    1. Too Many Eggs in the Basket? Navigating Flu Vaccine Choices  Medscape
    2. Everything You Need to Know About Flu Shots This Fall  The New York Times
    3. Verify: Is it too early to get your flu shot in September?  13newsnow.com
    4. Health Matters: Flu  WVUA 23
    5. Dr. Murray talks prep for flu season  13wham.com

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  • « HORSES IN THE CITY », Place de la Concorde. A unique Event in Europe. It’s free and everyone is welcome – France Galop

    1. « HORSES IN THE CITY », Place de la Concorde. A unique Event in Europe. It’s free and everyone is welcome  France Galop
    2. Fête du Cheval 2025 at the Hippodrome Paris-Vincennes: free entertainment for the whole family.  Sortir à Paris
    3. Horse racing in Paris: when the Place de la Concorde becomes a racecourse  Paris Select Book
    4. Les Chevaux dans la Ville: free equestrian parades and events on Place de la Concorde  Sortir à Paris
    5. La Fête du Cheval: free entertainment and trotting races at the Paris-Vincennes racecourse  Sortir à Paris

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  • Kathryn Bigelow Talks Netflix Thriller ‘A House Of Dynamite’

    Kathryn Bigelow Talks Netflix Thriller ‘A House Of Dynamite’

    Veteran filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow debuts A House of Dynamite, her first feature in eight years, this evening in Venice. 

    The film has been described as a nuclear thriller and opens as an unattributed missile is launched at the United States. As a result, a race begins to determine who is responsible and how to respond.

    A House of Dynamite was written by Noah Oppenheim, and during this afternoon’s presser for the film, Bigelow said she took the project on as a way to promote immediate discussion about nuclear disarmament across the globe. 

    “Hopefully the film is an invitation to decide what to do about all these weapons,” Bigelow told journalists in the room. 

    “My answer would be to initiate a reduction in the nuclear stockpile. How is annihilating the world a good defensive measure? I mean, what are you defending?”

    Bigelow added: “Hope against hope maybe we reduce the global stockpile someday, but in the meantime we are really living in a house of dynamite.”

    The movie stars Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabe Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Jonah Hauer-King, with Greta Lee and Jason Clarke. Co-starring are Malachi Beasley, Brian Tee, Brittany O’Grady, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Willa Fitzgerald, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Kyle Allen and Kaitlyn Dever. 

    Producers are Greg Shapiro, Bigelow, and Oppenheim. EPs are Brian Bell and Sarah Bremner

    The project marks Bigelow’s first movie since the 2017 thriller Detroit, which was produced and distributed by Annapurna Pictures.

    Bigelow’s 2009 pic The Hurt Locker won six Oscars, including Best Picture, Director, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Original Screenplay for Mark Boal, and Film Editing. Her 2012 movie, Zero Dark Thirty, about the hunt for Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks, won Best Sound Editing and grossed $132.8 at the global box office.

    Venice runs until September 6. 

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  • Roborock Saros Z70 on sale: $1,000 off the robot vacuum with an arm

    Roborock Saros Z70 on sale: $1,000 off the robot vacuum with an arm

    SAVE $1,000: Through Sept. 4, the Roborock Saros Z70 robot vacuum with an arm is $1,000 off for Roborock’s anniversary sale, bringing the cost down to $1,599.

    The Roborock Saros Z70 has been the last robot vacuum I’ve been telling people to buy since it came out in May. The allure of the arm alone (and its quirks, as I found out in testing) just couldn’t justify the $2,599 price tag. But Roborock is having an anniversary sale through Sept. 4, and during it, I might judge you a little less hard for taking the plunge on the robot vacuum with an arm — because it’s a whole $1,000 off.

    Yes, the Saros Z70 is on sale for $1,599, which is a much more digestible amount that we’re used to seeing from Roborock. $1,599 is the normal asking price for the rest of the Saros trilogy, the Saros 10 and Saros 10R, that I’ve been vouching for hard after testing and comparing them both. They’re both $300 cheaper for the sale, now both $1,299 each. Oddly enough, the Saros Z70 is the only of the three deals that’s strictly available at Roborock’s website, not at Amazon.

    Mashable Trend Report

    SEE ALSO:

    Dreame’s summer vacuum launch is the biggest vacuum drop of 2025 so far

    To give credit where it’s due, the Roborock Saros Z70 is actually a good robot vacuum and mop combo. (It was just overpriced, especially with erratic arm functionality.) With 22,000 Pa of suction power and hinged spinning mopping pads that scrub right up against edges and corners, it’s a real cleaning powerhouse that competes with (or beats) most other premium robot vacuums on the market. Everything gets dumped into the sleek automatic self-empty dock.

    The Saros Z70’s mops can flex out past the circular edge of the vacuum.
    Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

    Hand showing water tanks in Roborock Saros Z70 dock

    The Saros Z70 washes and dries its own mopping pads automatically.
    Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

    Its smart mapping room to room is highly accurate, just as I’ve grown to expect from Roborock. It’s the accuracy of the obstacle-dodging capabilities within those rooms that isn’t so spot on. Yes, the arm can successfully pick select items up from time to time, but its consistency is a little iffy, and so is the vacuum’s small obstacle avoidance tech. (Don’t worry, it was spot on with fake pet waste.) Still, the livestream camera is an awesome tool for pet parents to have, even if it’s not super helpful when trying to pick up a sock or pet toy claw machine style. I documented my experience at home on video, so you can see for yourself before buying.

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  • Nature Microbiology: How Bacteria Rebound Post-Antibiotics

    Nature Microbiology: How Bacteria Rebound Post-Antibiotics

    A groundbreaking study by researchers from Wuhan University, York University (UK), and Peking University has uncovered how Escherichia coli (E. coli) persister bacteria survive antibiotics by protecting their genetic instructions. The work, published in Nature Microbiology, offers new hope for tackling chronic, recurring infections.

    Persister bacteria, which enter a dormant state to survive antibiotics that target active cells, are linked to over 20% of chronic infections and resist current treatments. Understanding their survival mechanisms could lead to new ways to combat recurring infections. This study utilized E. coli bacteria as a model and found that prolonged stress leads to the increased formation of aggresomes (membraneless droplets) and the enrichment of mRNA (molecules that carry instructions for making proteins) within them, which enhances the ability of E. coli to survive and recover from stress.

    Key Findings

    They used multiple approaches, including imaging, modelling, and transcriptomics, to show that prolonged stress leading to ATP(fuel for all living cells) depletion in Escherichia coli results in increased aggresome formation, their compaction, and enrichment of mRNA within aggresomes compared to the cytosol(the liquid inside of cells). Transcript length was longer in aggresomes compared to the cytosol. Mass spectrometry showed exclusion of mRNA ribonuclease(an enzyme that breaks down RNA) from aggresomes, which was due to negative charge repulsion. Experiments with fluorescent reporters and disruption of aggresome formation showed that mRNA storage within aggresomes promoted translation and was associated with reduced lag phases during growth after stress removal. These findings suggest that mRNA storage within aggresomes confers an advantage for bacterial survival and recovery from stress.

    Future Implications

    This breakthrough illuminates how persister cells survive and revive after antibiotic treatment. By targeting aggresomes, new drugs could disrupt this protective mechanism, preventing bacteria from storing mRNA and making them more vulnerable to elimination, thus reducing the risk of infection relapse.

    *This article is featured in PKU News “Why It Matters” series. More from this series.

    /Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.

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  • Zongertinib Earns Chinese Approval for Unresectable, Locally Advanced, HER2-Mutant NSCLC

    Zongertinib Earns Chinese Approval for Unresectable, Locally Advanced, HER2-Mutant NSCLC

    Zongertinib for Unresectable, Locally

    Advanced, HER2-Mutant NSCLC |

    Image Credit: © Ashling Wahner &

    MJH Life Sciences Using AI

    China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved zongertinib tablets (Hernexeos) as a monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have activating HER2 mutations and who have been treated with at least 1 previous line of systemic therapy.1

    Of note, this accelerated approval of zongertinib follows a breakthrough therapy designation and a priority review in China. The approval was supported by data from the phase 1b Beamion LUNG-1 trial (NCT04886804).

    “The absence of a well-tolerated oral drug targeting HER2 has been a longstanding challenge in the treatment of NSCLC. The approval of zongertinib will change this landscape, setting a new treatment benchmark for HER2-mutant advanced NSCLC,” Yilong Wu, FACS, of Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital and chairman of the Chinese Thoracic Oncology Group in China, stated in a news release. “This innovative drug provides a highly effective, targeted, oral treatment option for this patient population, which has an extremely poor prognosis and very limited treatment choices.”

    Notably, on August 8, 2025, the FDA granted accelerated approval to zongertinib for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC whose tumors harbor HER2 tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) activating mutations, as detected by an FDA-approved test, and who have been treated with prior therapy.2 This regulatory decision was also based on data from Beamion LUNG-1.

    Data from the study revealed that among patients in cohort 1 treated with zongertinib at 120 mg daily (n = 75), the objective response rate (ORR) was 71% at the data cutoff date of November 29, 2024 (95% CI, 60%-80%).3 Specifically, 7% of patients achieved a complete response, and 96% of patients (95% CI, 89%-99%) achieved disease control. The median duration of response (DOR) was 14.1 months (95% CI, 6.9-not evaluable [NE]), and the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 12.4 months (95% CI, 8.2-NE). Furthermore, zongertinib had a low discontinuation rate of 3%.

    Regarding safety, grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse effects (TRAEs) were observed in 17% of patients in cohort 1.

    Beamion LUNG-1 Study Design

    The open-label study is evaluating the efficacy and safety of zongertinib for the treatment of patients 18 years of age or older with a histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of an advanced, unresectable and/or metastatic nonhematologic malignancy, with the presence of at least 1 measurable lesion per RECIST 1.1 criteria.4 Patients enrolled on the study are also required to be able to and willing to provide a sample of tumor for confirmation of HER2 status, and willing to comply with the protocol requirements for tumor biopsies. Other eligibility criteria include having an ECOG performance status of 0 to 2, adequate organ function, and having recovered from toxicities associated with previous therapy.

    Notably, the phase 1b portion of the study includes 8 cohorts, with cohorts 6 and 8 only located in the United States, and cohort 7 only located in Japan. All patients receive zongertinib, regardless of cohort. In particular, patients in cohort 1 have tumors that harbor a HER2 mutation in the tyrosine kinase domain (TKD), cohort 5 includes patients with tumors that harbor a HER2 mutation in the TKD who were previously treated with a HER2-directed antibody-drug conjugate, and cohort 3 includes those with tumors harboring a non-TKD HER2 mutation.3 Moreover, patients in cohort 1 were initially randomly assigned to receive zongertinib at 120 mg or 240 mg once daily. In cohorts 5 and 3, patients initially received 240 mg of zongertinib once daily. Following the interim analysis data from cohort 1, all patients subsequently enrolled on the study received zongertinib at 120 mg daily.5

    The primary end point was ORR by blinded independent central review in cohorts 1 and 5 or by investigator review in cohort 3. Secondary end points included DOR and PFS.

    References

    1. Boehringer’s Hernexeos approved in China as first oral targeted therapy for previously treated patients with HER2-mutant advanced NSCLC. News release. Boehringer Ingelheim. September 1, 2025. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/human-health/cancer/lung-cancer/hernexeos-approved-china-targeted-therapy-nsclc
    2. FDA grants accelerated approval to zongertinib for non-squamous NSCLC with HER2 TKD activating mutations. FDA. August 8, 2025. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-grants-accelerated-approval-zongertinib-non-squamous-nsclc-her2-tkd-activating-mutations
    3. Heymach JV, Ruiter G, Ahn M-J, et al. Zongertinib in patients with pretreated HER2-mutant advanced NSCLC: Beamion LUNG-1. Presented at: 2025 AACR Annual Meeting; April 25-30, 2025; Chicago, IL. Abstract CT050.
    4. Beamion LUNG-1: a study to test different doses of zongertinib in people with different types of advanced cancer (solid tumors with changes in the HER2 gene). ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated July 28, 2025. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04886804
    5. Heymach JV, Ruiter G, Ahn MJ, et al. Zongertinib in previously treated HER2-mutant non–small-cell lung cancer. N Eng J Med. 2025;392(23):2321-2333. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2503704

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  • Apple’s iPhone 17 ‘Awe dropping’ event is next week — Here’s what we expect on September 9

    Apple’s iPhone 17 ‘Awe dropping’ event is next week — Here’s what we expect on September 9

    We’re now just about a week away from the Apple’s “Awe dropping” event, where the company is likely to unveil the iPhone 17. This year’s theme of “Awe dropping,” which was featured in Apple’s invitations to the media sent on August 26 doesn’t reveal much by way of clues, but maybe the “dropping” is in reference to lightweight devices dropping somehow? Anyway, the keynote will be livestreamed on YouTube September 9 at 1PM ET from Cupertino. We’ll have three Engadget team members reporting and liveblogging from Apple Park, as well as to give their hands-on impressions, so make sure you come back here for the latest coverage.

    This year is shaping up to be a departure from recent September product rollouts, with the strong possibility of an all-new superthin iPhone expected to join the company’s lineup. Also on tap could be new Apple Watch models — including the first truly new Ultra model in two years — and (maybe) the long-awaited AirPods Pro 3.

    We got a full rundown of what to expect at the event from the best possible source: Bloomberg Apple reporter Mark Gurman. During his recent guest appearance on the Engadget Podcast, Gurman shared his analysis of what we expect to see, including the expected battery and camera compromises of that rumored thin iPhone (which everyone already calls the iPhone Air).

    Expected to be roughly 5.55 mm thick, the iPhone Air would be the thinnest iPhone yet, besting 2014’s iPhone 6 which, at 6.9 mm, was the previous svelteness champ. And they’ve only gotten chunkier since then. (The iPhone 16 Pro has a depth of 8.25 mm.) The Air would also give Apple a direct rival to Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge, which we found to be more than a gimmick.

    But the iPhone Air’s thin design will likely lead to some compromises. It’s rumored to have only a single 48 MP camera and a smaller battery. So, expect a stylish phone that… won’t be for everyone.

    The Pro lineup could offer some design tweaks and performance improvements. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are rumored to switch from titanium to aluminum. They could also see the rear camera array expand to an entire “island” that extends across most of the phone’s backside. It’s expected to house three cameras (as before), but multiple rumors have suggested it will have an improved telephoto one. The zoom lens could jump to 48MP, which would strengthen its digital zooming / cropping chops. The phones may also add an anti-glare coating, similar to those found on iPads.

    The standard iPhone 17 could see some welcome display upgrades. At least one supply chain source claimed it will add a 120Hz variable refresh rate (ProMotion) display, which the Pro series has used since 2021.

    Apple's iOS 26 Liquid Glass design language. Closeup of the bottom of an iPhone, showing Apple Music's new translucent controls.

    One thing we know without a doubt is that the new iPhones will launch with iOS 26, which brings Apple’s biggest design refresh in years. It’s easy to imagine the company highlighting the new model’s displays as the best way to experience the new Liquid Glass visual language. As for the naming scheme, there haven’t been any leaks pointing to a similar hardware rebranding (“iPhone 26,” “iPhone 26 Pro,” etc.). But hey, Apple does like surprises.

    Engadget’s iPhone 17 rumor roundup gives you a deeper dive into what to expect from the new models.

    Two Apple Watch Ultra 2 models, propped up on a demo table. Blurred background.
    Cherlynn Low for Engadget

    Apple’s fall event isn’t just for iPhones. The company is also expected to roll out new Apple Watch models. 5G and a processor upgrade are expected for the Apple Watch Ultra 3. It may also let you send texts via satellite, handy for those who use it out in the wilderness. Regardless of the details, Apple hasn’t launched a new rugged and premium model since 2023 (apart from a new color), so it’s due for an upgrade.

    The Series 11 model is unlikely to depart dramatically from the Series 10. After all, that model introduced a new design, with a thinner body and larger screen. (And Apple has historically kept those around in three-year cycles.). But a faster chip also seems logical. Perhaps we’ll see 5G arrive on the standard wearable, too.

    The Apple Watch lineup and the company’s Fitness team has been in the news of late too. In addition to ongoing legal battles over the wearable’s blood oxygen monitoring feature, Apple’s vice president of fitness technologies Jay Blahnik has been accused of creating a toxic workplace environment, according to a New York Times report. It’s unlikely that the company even mentions either of these situations at its event on September 9, but it is interesting background information for the fitness and wearable portions of its presentation.

    We may also see the AirPods Pro 3 at the event. It’s been about three years since Apple last upgraded its premium earbuds. The new model could also bring some biometric sensors to the earphones: an in-ear heart-rate monitor and (maybe) temperature sensing. Live translation is also rumored, although that may not be exclusive to the third-gen model. But don’t expect major design changes, if the latest reports from leaker Majin Bu (via MacRumors) are to be believed: In addition to a “slight reduction in size,” Bu notes the case will lose the physical pairing button, while gaining capacitive controls.

    Will there be other announcements? Time will tell, but now we know we won’t have to wait long to find out. The official countdown clock has begun, and the answers are just days away.

    Update, September 2, 2025, 11:15AM ET: Tweaked the intro to accurately reflect how far we are from the event at this point in time, and added a paragraph on recent happenings around Apple’s Watch and Fitness products.

    Update, August 29, 2025, 2:32PM ET: Added insights from Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman based on his appearance on the Engadget Podcast.

    Update, August 28, 2025, 10:45AM ET: Added new report on AirPods 3 case details.

    Update, August 26, 2025, 5:41PM ET: Added confirmation of official event invitation, date and time.

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