Gear News of the Week: iPhone 17 May Be a Month Away, and Sonos to Raise Prices

If rumors are correct, Apple's annual iPhone event will take place exactly a month from today, on September 9. That's according to a German website citing internal documents from German mobile phone providers, but the date was also previously suggested by Bloomberg's Apple whisperer, Mark Gurman.

Leaks about Apple's upcoming smartphone lineup have heated up in recent weeks. Apple is expected to debut four iPhones as usual, with one key distinction. The “Plus” iPhone no longer exists, replaced by an ultra-thin iPhone, dubbed iPhone 17 Air, not unlike the svelte Galaxy S25 Edge that Samsung unwrapped a few months ago.

Apple has always offered a standard iPhone and two iPhone Pro models, but the fourth iPhone hasn't stayed consistent for more than a few years—there was the Mini, the Plus, and now the Air. Leaked renders and images suggest an all-new design, with a horizontal camera bar on the Air that resembles Google's Nexus 6P.

The iPhone 17 Pro models may also see a similar horizontal camera redesign, and there's a chance Apple will switch to aluminum instead of titanium. They may sport a half-aluminum and half-glass rear design for improved durability. Other changes include Apple's ProMotion technology on all iPhone 17 models, finally bringing a 120-Hz screen refresh rate to the cheaper devices; an improved 24-MP selfie camera; and a 48-MP telephoto camera on the Pro iPhones.

Prices are expected to rise due to tariffs, though we'll have to wait to find out exactly how much you'll have to cough up to Apple for a new iPhone this fall. That is, unless you've lost your appetite for the fruit.

Seiko unveiled a pair of bubbly creations in partnership with Pepsi, creating what are sure to be two of the most popular novelty watches of the year. Both models are variants of existing Seiko 5 Sports watches, one with a white on silver colorway for the dive-style SRPL99, and the other dark charcoal for the GMT-style SSK047. Both have covetable implementations of classic Pepsi red and blue on the bezel, with the dive watch using the motif as a timer, while the GMT deploys the colors for day and night in world time mode.

Watch enthusiasts will no doubt get the joke Seiko and Pepsi are making together here: the Rolex GMT Master II, originally made in Pan Am colors, is called the “Pepsi” in the watch community for its similarity to the soda brand's logo. It has been an iconic collector’s watch for decades. By partnering with Pepsi officially, and going with a dark color, Seiko has created the Dark Pepsi GMT, and Pepsi finally has an official say in the matter. Both pieces are limited to 7,000 units and will be released in September. The SRPL99 will retail for $395 on a stainless steel strap, and the SSK047 will cost $550 on a custom-printed Pepsi rubber strap. The bad news? If you didn't get on the pre-order list fast, chances are you'll have to wait for these to resurface on reseller sites. —Parker Hall

As President Trump's wide-ranging (and fast-changing) tariff plan rolls out, we’re starting to get confirmation that higher prices on imported goods do, in fact, pass down to the consumer, with the latest coming from recently appointed Sonos CEO, Tom Conrad. As reported by Bloomberg, Conrad touched on Sonos’ forthcoming price increases during his first quarterly earnings report.

Telling investors that the brand has worked to “minimize the downstream impact” to Sonos customers, Conrad explained that most of Sonos’ products are manufactured in Vietnam and Malaysia, which he said will be subject to new 20 percent and 19 percent tariff rates, respectively, under Trump’s plan.

For context, other electronics brands have been less explicit about the tariff increases directly, with JBL blaming a $50 price increase on its new Tour One M3 headphones months after launch on “global industry pressures.” Just how much Sonos plans to raise prices and which products will be affected remains to be seen. —Ryan Waniata

Remember bedazzling your Razr? You can relive those days with Motorola's Brilliant Collection, which includes the latest Razr 2025 and Moto Buds Loop, in a new Pantone Ice Melt color, complete with Swarovski crystals. Motorola first announced a partnership with Swarovski in April when it debuted its latest Razr phones, though the original collaboration began with the new Moto Buds Loop wireless earbuds in a French Oak color.

Now, the base Razr 2025 model is getting the dazzling upgrade with 35 Swarovski crystals on the leather-inspired finish. The Moto Buds Loop is getting the same treatment as its original debut, just in the new Ice Melt color. The company says limited quantities are available and “more curated device collections” are on the way.

How much does a bedazzled Razr cost? The same as the normal model, apparently. The Brilliant Collection retails for $1,000, and it includes the phone and the wireless earbuds. That's the same amount you'd pay if you bought the Moto Buds Loop and Razr 2025 at MSRP. Not too bad for anyone desperately trying to recreate their rhinestone-rich 2005 wardrobe.