Apple to unveil iPhone 12 next week after announcing launch event

The invitation Apple sent on Tuesday

Chief executive Tim Cook said in June that the company will this year release its first Mac computers that use Apple’s own processors, rather than the Intel chips the company has often relied on. The “Apple Silicon” chips, which run on architecture developed by Britain’s Arm, are likely to offer longer battery life, although the company has said it will still use Intel chips in some Macs for a few years.

The company could also use the event to announce its first set of over-ear headphones, an attempt to build on the success of its AirPods line. This week, it removed headphones from rivals such as Bose and Ultimate Ears from its store, a potential sign it plans to push its own product.

Apple will be relatively late in releasing a 5G iPhone, with manufacturers such as Samsung having had compatible handsets for over a year. The company reached a deal with Qualcomm, the dominant maker of smartphone modems, last year after a legal battle, paving the way for it to release 5G devices.