Here’s What Lifehacker Readers Think Apple Will Announce on Wednesday.
On Wednesday , Apple will finally hold its big fall event , and we’ll likely get our first look at the Apple Watch Series 12, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone Ultra—Apple’s first foldable iPhone. Ahead of the event, Lifehacker held the third and final round of our “Big Guessing Game,” asking readers to make predictions about what Apple will announce this week. While we won’t know the answers to these questions until Apple officially confirms them during the event, here’s what readers think will happen.
Question 1: Which Apple product will be discussed first?
Rumors persist that Apple will announce new iPhones and a new Apple Watch on Wednesday, but there’s always the possibility of other devices. Apple could release new AirPods—with or without built-in cameras—and while there’s a chance they’ll announce new Macs, I’m skeptical, given Apple’s surprising Mac news last week .
My first question in Round 3 of the “Great Guessing Game” asked which of these products Apple would announce first. (For clarity, we published the quiz before Apple’s surprise Mac announcements.) The majority of respondents (49%) believe Apple will open with iPhone news, while 23% believe the company will begin with the Apple Watch. A smaller percentage believe Apple will focus on other products first: 16% think they’ll announce the new Macs first (sorry!), while 12% think AirPods will be mentioned first.
Question 2: Will former Apple CEO Tim Cook attend?
Wednesday’s event will be Apple’s first with a new CEO since the iPhone 4S unveiling in 2011. Tim Cook is no longer leading Apple, so new Apple CEO John Ternus will headline this week’s event. However, Apple events are often attended by many employees, and since Tim Cook is still Apple’s executive chairman, it’s logical that he might appear on Wednesday.
Lifehacker readers were divided on this issue, though a clear majority did have their say. 55% of respondents believed Cook would appear, while 45% believed he wouldn’t. The logic behind both opinions is clear: perhaps it would be logical for Cook to “pass the baton” to Ternus. On the other hand, Apple may be looking to usher in a new era of “Ternus,” and Cook’s appearance could complicate matters.
Question 3: When will pre-orders for the foldable iPhone Ultra begin?
On Wednesday, all eyes will likely be on the iPhone Ultra. It will be Apple’s first foldable iPhone, likely priced above $2,000, and its release may be delayed. So, I asked Lifehacker readers when pre-orders for the iPhone Ultra will actually open. Most are optimistic: 43% said they expect pre-orders for the iPhone Ultra to open this month. Another 33% believe Apple will open pre-orders in October, while 15% think the Ultra won’t be available until November. Finally, 9% believe Apple will open pre-orders in a different month entirely.
Question 4: How long will Apple’s presentation last?
Apple presentations are rarely short. The company typically has many announcements to make, and although these presentations are now pre-recorded, they can be as long as a feature-length film. However, there is no set length for Apple presentations, making this question perfect for a guessing game.
The majority (51%) of Lifehacker readers believe Apple’s keynote will last between 90 and 120 minutes; 41% believe the event will be slightly shorter, between 60 and 90 minutes; and a small portion of respondents (8%) believe Apple’s event will be long , over two hours. I don’t think this is likely, but it’s not impossible—perhaps Apple will go into considerable detail about the foldable iPhone.
Question 5: Will new Apple CEO John Ternus bring back “One More Thing”?
“One More Thing” is a long-standing signature tagline for Apple events, made famous by then-CEO Steve Jobs. The company would save a major announcement for the end of the show and introduce it with the phrase, “One More Thing.” It would be funny if Ternus brought the tagline back, but then again, perhaps the new CEO wants to forge his own path. However, most Lifehacker readers think he will: 61% think “One More Thing” will return this year, compared to 39% who don’t. Personally, I hope he does, and I hope whatever is announced is truly a surprise, not something that’s already leaked.