Tim Cook walked onto the stage at Apple Park this past September, and honestly, the vibe was just... different. For months, we’d been seeing those "Awe Dropping" invitations everywhere. Some people thought it was a pun about the new ultra-thin iPhone Air. Others joked it meant our bank accounts were about to drop to zero.
Whatever the case, the Apple Awe Dropping event 2025 actually lived up to the hype in a way the last few years haven't.
We saw the death of the "Plus" model. We saw a "Pro" display finally hit the base model iPhone. And yeah, we saw a watch that can basically call for help from the middle of the Pacific Ocean without a cell signal.
The iPhone 17 Air: Thinner Than Your Wallet?
The absolute star of the Apple Awe Dropping event 2025 was the iPhone Air. It’s the phone nobody asked for but everyone is talking about. Basically, Apple took the iPhone 17 and ran it over with a steamroller.
It’s about 5.5mm thin. To put that in perspective, the iPhone 16 was 7.8mm. This thing is so thin it almost feels fragile, even though it’s wrapped in that new "Ceramic Shield 2."
But there’s a catch. Or a few catches.
To get it that thin, Apple had to make some trade-offs. You only get one camera on the back. Granted, it’s a 48MP monster, but if you love your telephoto or ultra-wide lenses, the Air isn't for you. Also, the battery life is... well, it’s fine. Apple claims it’ll last a full day, but let’s be real: when you’re cramming a battery into a 5mm chassis, physics usually wins.
They even released a special one-millimeter-thick clear case just for this phone. Because what's the point of buying the world's thinnest phone if you're going to put a bulky OtterBox on it?
Finally, 120Hz for the Rest of Us
If the Air was the showstopper, the standard iPhone 17 was the "thank you, finally" moment.
For years, Apple has gatekept the 120Hz ProMotion display behind the Pro price tag. If you bought the base model, you were stuck with 60Hz. In 2025? No more. The standard iPhone 17 now has a 6.3-inch display with ProMotion.
It makes everything feel so much faster. Scrolling through Reddit or Instagram is liquid smooth.
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Under the hood, it’s rocking the A19 chip. It’s fast. Like, "I don't even know what to do with this much power" fast. Plus, they upped the base storage to 256GB. It’s about time, right?
The Pro Models Went "Cosmic Orange"
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max didn't change the design much, but they did go all-in on internal cooling. They added a vapor chamber system because, apparently, Apple Intelligence and the A19 Pro chip generate a lot of heat.
They also introduced a new color called Cosmic Orange. It’s sort of a muted, metallic copper that looks way better in person than in the renders.
But the biggest news for the Pros was the camera hardware. Every single lens—main, ultra-wide, and telephoto—is now 48MP.
- iPhone 17 Pro: Starts at $1,099.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Starts at $1,199.
Your Wrist Just Got a Massive Upgrade
The Apple Awe Dropping event 2025 wasn't just about phones. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is officially a beast.
The bezels are almost gone. The screen is the largest they’ve ever put on a watch. But the real "awe" moment was the two-way satellite communication. You can now send and receive texts via satellite directly from your watch. No iPhone needed. If you’re hiking in the backcountry and get lost, your watch can basically talk to the sky to get you home.
Battery life on the Ultra 3 is now hitting 42 hours on a single charge. If you’re a marathon runner or just someone who forgets to charge their watch every night, this is huge.
We also saw the Apple Watch Series 11, which added a hypertension tracking feature. It’s not a full-blown blood pressure cuff, but it’ll alert you if your trends look dangerous.
AirPods Pro 3 and the "Live Translate" Dream
Apple's new AirPods Pro 3 look almost the same, but the tech inside is totally different. The new H3 chip makes the active noise cancellation (ANC) twice as effective. I tried them in a crowded terminal, and it was like someone hit a "mute" button on the entire world.
They also added heart rate sensing. It feels a bit redundant if you have an Apple Watch, but for people who only wear a watch for the time, it’s a nice health perk.
The "wow" feature, though? Live translation. If you’re talking to someone in Spanish, the AirPods can translate it into English in your ear in near real-time. It’s very Star Trek.
What Most People Got Wrong About This Event
A lot of the pre-event rumors said we were going to see a foldable iPhone.
Spoiler: We didn't.
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Apple seems to be taking its sweet time with foldables. Instead, they doubled down on the "Air" concept—ultra-thin and ultra-portable. It’s a gamble. History shows that people usually prefer battery life over thinness, but Apple has a way of making us want things we didn't think we needed.
Another misconception was that the Apple Watch SE 3 would be "plastic." It's not. It's still aluminum, though they did use more recycled materials than ever.
Actionable Next Steps for You
If you’re sitting on an iPhone 14 or older, this is probably the year to upgrade. The jump to 120Hz on the base model alone makes it worth it.
If you're eyeing that iPhone Air, wait for the reviews. The 5.5mm thickness is cool, but make sure the battery life can actually survive your commute before you drop $999 on it.
For the hikers and travelers, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the clear winner. That satellite messaging isn't just a gimmick; it’s a literal lifesaver.
Check the Apple Store app for trade-in values. Apple bumped up the trade-in prices for the iPhone 15 and 16 recently, so you might get a better deal than you'd expect. Pre-orders are open, and most of these devices started shipping on September 19.