I deciphered Apple’s iPhone 17 event invite – my 3 biggest theories for what’s expected

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Apple has confirmed its next iPhone launch event will take place on Tuesday, September 9.
• The invitation graphic hints at the possibility of new iPhone 17 colors and improved thermal cooling.
• A deeper look suggests temperature-related features to the AirPods and Apple Watches.

Apple’s biggest event of the year is just weeks away, with new iPhones, Apple Watches, AirPods — and maybe a few surprises — set to debut at its annual September hardware showcase.

While rumors of the upcoming products have been swirling over the past year, no preview is more official than Apple’s event invitation graphic, filled with enough Easter eggs to keep fans excited and journalists engaged. 

Also: Apple’s iPhone 17 event launch date is official – here’s everything we expect

This year, we’re seeing an Apple logo shimmering in blue, orange, red, and yellow, followed by the words “Awe dropping.” Here are my three biggest theories about what it could mean, ranging from the most grounded to the most surprising.

1. iPhone 17 Pro colors

Apple’s played a rather safe game when it comes to iPhone Pro colors over the years, but that may change in 2025. The latest rumors and renders, gathered by supply chain analysts, have suggested that the iPhone 17 Pro series will feature a new Orange finish on top of the more traditional Black, Silver, and Dark Blue.

Also: 9 iPhone 17 Air rumors I’m tracking – and why Apple’s ultra-thin model is set to kill the Plus

That tracks with the Apple invitation graphic, which features an orangish glow that follows your cursor or finger as you move within the logo (you can try it here). If true, this would be one of the most polarizing iPhone Pro colors we’ve seen in recent years, succeeding the iPhone 14 Pro in Deep Purple and iPhone 11 Pro’s Midnight Green for me.

2. A more effective way to cool your iPhone

For all the mobile computing our smartphones now handle, better cooling and heat dissipation have become essential. iPhones, in particular, have struggled with overheating during demanding tasks like outdoor video recording, high-resolution editing, or intensive gaming.

Beyond the design implications, this year’s Apple event invitation also resembles a heat map — reds and oranges hint at warmth, while the cooler blues suggest temperature regulation. That could be a subtle nod to upcoming thermal improvements.

Also: 7 AI features I’d like to see the iPhone 17 embrace from Google, OpenAI, and others

My money is on a new vapor chamber cooling system, similar to what we’ve seen on flagship Android phones. This type of system helps dissipate heat more efficiently by spreading it across a wider surface area, reducing the risk of thermal throttling and keeping performance consistent under heavy loads.

A vapor chamber cooling system would be especially useful on the rumored iPhone 17 Air, where the thinner design likely limits the size of the battery. By pairing a smaller battery with more efficient thermal management, Apple could extend battery life beyond what the raw numbers might suggest.

3. Other temperature features

The thermal implications extend to Apple’s other hardware products — namely, the AirPods Pro and Apple Watch. It’s been rumored that the earbuds’ successor will feature an upgraded chipset capable of monitoring biometrics and tracking body temperature. That would be a reasonable next step after Apple’s push for hearing aid assistance over the past year.

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The infrared depiction can also be traced to the Apple Watch. While such wearables have traditionally used infrared lights to track heart rate and blood oxygen saturation, the technology may be extended to glucose and blood pressure monitoring — not necessarily to a degree to which users can fully replace medical-grade equipment, but enough to get a pulse of their health condition. 

Considering Apple’s track record of normalizing advanced health tracking, bringing once-specialized features to the wrists of millions, this could very well be the next big thing. We’ll know for sure in just a matter of weeks.