I'm getting my hopes up for 3 possible surprises at the Apple Event, including new AirTags

Continuing our coverage of the upcoming Apple Event 2025, we now have a pretty clear picture of what to expect from the “Awe Dropping” Sept. 9 reveal. Front and center will be the iPhone 17 lineup — including the brand-new iPhone 17 Air — alongside the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and a showcase of the experiences coming with Liquid Glass and iOS 26.

But what about the surprises? According to top Apple insider Mark Gurman, this won’t be a revolutionary year for Apple hardware.

Instead, it’s shaping up to be a stepping stone toward bigger changes, with major iPhone redesigns expected in 2026 and 2027. Still, a few Apple products are long overdue for updates, and if the rumors are right, some of them could finally make an appearance next week.

Let’s break down three potential surprises in store for the Sept. 9 iPhone launch event.

Apple AirTag 2

It’s been four years since Apple first introduced the AirTag, and we may finally see an update alongside the iPhone 17. According to credible sources cited by 9to5Mac, the rumored second-gen tracker will feature a next-generation ultra-wideband chip capable of tracking up to three times farther than the current model.

Other upgrades reportedly include a tamper-proof speaker, “very low” battery life alerts, and some form of integration with Apple Vision Pro — though details on that are sparse at the moment.

Apple TV 4K with A17 Pro

As mentioned earlier, Apple appears focused on quietly upgrading some of its more neglected products — not with sweeping overhauls, but with incremental boosts. One of those could be the Apple TV, which is rumored to finally get a long-overdue refresh this fall with the addition of an A17 chip.

The current Apple TV runs on the A15, which is perfectly serviceable, but the A17 — the same chip powering the iPhone 15 lineup — is strong enough to support Apple Intelligence and even console-quality gaming. Beyond the processor bump, there’s also chatter about Apple testing its own in-house Bluetooth and WiFi chip for the device.

That said, the rumors around the Apple TV aren’t as strong as those for the AirTag 2. It might make an appearance at the Sept. 9 event, but if not, expect it to be revealed later in the year alongside new MacBooks.

Apple Watch SE 3

We’ve already explored the rumors surrounding the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3, but what about the Watch SE? Apple hasn’t refreshed its budget-friendly smartwatch since 2022, and with the Ultra 3 making a return (the last SE was unveiled alongside the Ultra 2), it only makes sense for the SE 3 to show up as well.

Like the rest of the lineup, the new Apple Watch SE is expected to get a new S11 chip. While rumor has it that the S11 shares the same basic architecture as the S9 and S10, it should still bring a meaningful bump in power for the SE, which currently runs on the older S8. A larger display and a shift to the same energy-efficient screen tech as the flagship models are also rumored — and maybe even a name change.

Apple has been on a rebranding streak lately, with iOS 17 jumping straight to iOS 26 and the iPhone SE becoming the iPhone 16e. That trend has fueled speculation that the SE line is on its way out. If so, this year’s Watch SE could arrive under a new name: the Apple Watch Series 11e, perhaps? We definitely don't expect Apple to call it the Apple Watch SE 3.

For now, though, it’s all rumors and whispers. Check back next week as we cover all the big reveals from the Apple Event 2025 as they happen.