Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Apple AirPods 3 to launch alongside iPhone 13 at ‘California Streaming’ event

Apple will be announcing its third and latest generation of AirPods during tomorrow’s California Streaming event, which will also see the launch of the iPhone 13, according to Ming-Chi Kuo, a Taiwanese tech analyst. You’ll be able to watch the event live starting at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET on Tuesday, September 14, on Apple-TV compatible devices and YouTube. 

Last updated March 2019, the AirPods 2 have been woefully due for an upgrade. Interestingly enough, Apple is reportedly going to continue to keep the AirPods 2 on the market. This could mean one of two things: The AirPods 2 could potentially drop in price alongside this announcement offering a more budget-friendly true wireless earbud option for iPhone users or the upcoming AirPods 3 could be sold at a higher price point. To put it in perspective, the AirPods 2 with the charging case will currently set you back $159, which is competitive with some of the nicer options you get from Jabra and Samsung. 

Recommended Videos

Rumors about the AirPods 3 have been rampant in recent months. Most notably, the new AirPods are not expected to feature noise-canceling. While we would have loved to have seen that feature on this model, Apple will most likely keep noise-canceling an exclusive feature of the AirPods Pro and Airpods Max lines, at least for the foreseeable future. 

Please enable Javascript to view this content

According to Bloomberg, the AirPods 3 may have a shorter stem for a more comfortable ear fit, similar to the AirPods Pro.  They may also come with fitness-tracking sensors for a more customized fitness experience that also ties into the Apple Watch, which is also expected to get a new model, the Series 7, at the event. 

We’ll be covering “California Streaming” in detail, so be sure to keep an eye on what gets announced on September 14.

Rebecca Isaacs
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Rebecca Isaacs began writing for Digital Trends in September 2021. She has been involved in tech space since 2019 and has…
The iPhone 16e is crucial to the iPhone’s future, here’s why
Rear and front profile of the iPhone 16e

Apple has finally unveiled the new iPhone SE. Scratch that, the SE lineup is presumably dead and the latest member of the iPhone family is dubbed the iPhone 16e.

Designed to offer the best of the iPhone 16 series at a slightly more affordable price, the iPhone 16e brings a host of features found on its sibling devices, but it also brings something entirely new: it’s the first iPhone with the Apple C1 modem.

Read more
Does the iPhone 16e have a microSD card slot?
iPhone 16e in white.

Apple has unveiled the all-new iPhone 16e, a new $599 replacement for the iPhone SE line. The spiritual successor to the iPhone SE introduces several changes to the iPhone SE, including an OLED panel and Face ID, while jettisoning the Touch ID Home button and more prominent bezels.
Apple has long resisted certain hardware trends in the smartphone industry, and one of the most consistent omissions in its devices is expandable storage. Whether you’re considering a high-end iPhone or an entry-level model like the iPhone SE, your storage options consistently remain limited to what Apple provides out of the box. So, does the iPhone 16e break this trend and offer a microSD card slot?

Is there a microSD slot in the iPhone 16e?
If you were hoping to expand the storage of the iPhone 16e with a microSD card, you’re out of luck. Just like every iPhone before it, the iPhone 16e does not include a microSD card slot. Apple has never included expandable storage in any of its smartphones, and the iPhone 16e is no exception.

Read more
Does the iPhone 16e have a 120Hz screen?
The iPhone SE 4 leaks via Prosser.

Apple's best iPhones don't come cheap. That said, it's been better about launching affordable versions of its flagship phones in the past few years. The iPhone 16e is the latest iteration of the cheaper SE series, which opens the gates for those of us who don't have as much money to spare. It succeeds the iPhone SE 3, a "small in size, big in value" phone that's been waiting for an upgrade for over two years.

Apple has stepped forward in some aspects, like adding premium features like Apple Intelligence and face recognition to the iPhone 16e, but it still might be a while until we see an increase in iPhone refresh rates. Here's everything we know about the iPhone 16e refresh rate and why a 120Hz rate is so appealing.
Does the iPhone 16e have a 120Hz refresh rate?
The iPhone 16e does not have a 120Hz refresh rate. At its launch event, Apple confirmed it would come with a 60Hz display, which matches the trend with its latest iPhones. The iPhone 16e is a budget iPhone, and not even the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have a 120Hz refresh rate. That's a privilege reserved for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. For reference, both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have a 60Hz refresh rate. The iPhone SE 3 also had the same refresh rate.

Read more