Techtember 2021: All the tech product releases you missed

September — or as it’s known to the tech community Techtember — marks the first of the fall hardware months; the time of year when tech companies big and small release their “latest and greatest” to entice consumers as we prepare for the holiday shopping season.

Apple is perhaps the most well-known for its fall hardware events, but everyone from tech conglomerates like Amazon and Google to camera companies like Canon and GoPro join in the fun.

As someone who has covered multiple Techtembers, it can often get a bit hard to keep track of all the releases and upcoming events.

Hence the creation of this daily-updated page to keep track of everything that’s been released as well as everything still to come for Techtember 2021.

Past Events

Sept. 1

Bose QuietComfort 45 Wireless ANC Headphones

After launching the expensive and boldly futuristic-looking Bose Headphones 700 last year, Bose has gone back to its popular QuietComfort noise-canceling headphone line with the new Bose QC45s.

Available starting September 21, the QC45s look very similar to the QC35 II headphones they replace but offer improved battery life, clearer hands-free calls, and a new Aware Mode that lets you interact with others without needing to remove your headphones.

With a price of $329 ($50 less than the Headphones 700) you can bet the QC45s will be a popular gift this holiday season.

Sept. 2

FujiFilm September X Summit event

Fujifilm made a splash ahead of expected releases from the bigger camera manufacturers coming later this fall, announcing a slew of new hardware at its September X Summit event including several cameras and lenses for both the GFX and X systems

Leading the way is the new GFX 50S II, the company’s latest medium format camera, which despite its eye-watering $4000 price for the body only is actually the cheapest medium format digital camera ever to come to market.

Standout specs of the GFX 50S II include: a 51.4MP sensor that’s 1.7x larger than what you’d get in a full-frame camera, 5-axis in-body image stabilization good for 6.5 stops, improved autofocus (compared to the 50S), and a body that’s the same size as the GFX 100S.

To go with the GFX 50S II, Fuji introduced the new GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR lens for its medium format cameras which will be offered for $1000 seperately or bundled with the 50S II for $4500.

Fujifilm is also introducing the new X-T30 II, which is a very modest update over the X-T30 that mostly brings the benefit of updated firmware and software features as well as two new f/1.4 primes for its APS-C sensor line of cameras — the XF33mm R LM WR and XF23mm R LM WR at $800 and $900 respectively.

Sept. 8

DJI OM5 launched

The DJI OM5 — short for Osmo Mobile 5 — is DJI’s newest smartphone gimbal, and while it is $10 more than the OM4 it still is the most affordable entry point into the DJI ecosystem.

Though the OM5 looks very similar to its predecessor it features a new built-in 215mm extendable handle for selfies and getting closer to the action, a smaller/lighter design, and upgraded ActiveTrack 4.0 software for keeping your subject-centered.

Available for $159 starting September 17, the DJI OM5 works with both Android and iOS smartphones.

Sept. 14

Apple “California Streaming” iPhone 13 Event

The release of a new iPhone each fall has become a tentpole for the smartphone industry, and after a delay to October last year due to Covid, Apple was back with its familiar mid-September event.

Unsurprisingly, this event centered around the new iPhone 13 Series — with the Mini and iPhone 13 incorporating many features previously reserved for the Pro lineup and the 13 Pro and Pro Max continuing to push the limits with 120hz ProMotion display, macro photo mode with the ultrawide camera, and new Sierra Blue color.

Alongside the new iPhones, Apple also announced: its slightly upgraded Apple Watch 7, completely redesigned iPad Mini starting at $499 & refreshed entry-level iPad 9.

Both of the new iPad models are available to preorder right away but in typical Apple fashion the iPhone 13 preorders don’t open up until Friday at 6AM PDT.

There’s no word when the new Apple Watch will be available.

Canon R3 Official Unveiling

After months of teasing us with images and a small smattering of specs, Canon finally took the wraps completely off its newest mirrorless camera — the Canon R3.

Positioned between the high-resolution EOS R5 mirrorless body and the professional-grade EOS-1D X Mark III, the R3 is certainly not cheap at a penny under $6000.

However, for that price, you are getting a 24MP Full-Frame stacked BSI CMOS sensor, Canon’s dual-pixel Auto Focus with new Eye Control AF, 6K60 Raw, 4K120 10-Bit Internal Video, and a built-in vertical grip.

No word on availability but it’s available to preorder now through B&H.

Canon also took the time to announce two new RF lenses — the 16mm f/2.8 STM wide-angle prime for $300 and the 100-400mm f/5.6-8 telephoto zoom for $650.

Sept. 15

Xiaomi “Let The Magic Begin” new products launch event

Xiaomi used its “Let The Magic Begin” to unveil new phones, alongside a new fitness band and tablet.

The phones — the Xiaomi 11T, Xiaomi 11T Pro, and Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE — offer a variety of new features in each device ranging from gimmicky 5mp macro cameras to actually helpful HyperCharge tech which allows the 11T Pro to 100% in as little as 17min.

Read the full rundown on these three phones from CNET

Rounding out the event was the $412 Xiaomi Pad 5 tablet with Dolby Atmos audio and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 processor as well as the $65 Mi Smart Band 6 NFC which adds NFC payment support to the already popular budget Mi Smart Band 5.

Sept. 16

GoPro HERO 10 launch

Literally, one year after they announced the GoPro 9, the company that is synonymous with action cams is back again with the tenth iteration of its flagship camera.

Thanks to GoPro’s brand new GP2 processor, the HERO 10 — though it may look very similar to its predecessor — is packing a whole new level of video filming capabilities.

Most notably is the increased frame rates across all resolutions and the increase of max resolution from 5K to 5.3K.

5.3K is upped to 60fps, 4K can now do 120fps and at 2.7K the Gopro 10 can capture an insane 240fps.

The other major change is the improved Hypersmooth 4.0 which GoPro claims is their “most advanced stabilization” with increased horizon leveling from 27° to 45°

Like the GoPro 9, the HERO 10 is priced to incentivize purchasing through GoPro.com, with essentially $100 off your purchase if you also buy one year of GoPro subscription.