Apple WWDC 2018 launch LIVE - iPhone SE 2, iOS 12, Apple Watch and MacBook update TODAY

There’s a major afternoon of Apple news ahead as the US technology giant opens its doors to the WWDC 2018 Developers Conference.

The big event takes place in San Jose, California with things getting underway at 10am local time (6pm BST).

Apple CEO Tim Cook is expected to kickstart the keynote, which will see the iPhone manufacturer preview some of its upcoming software updates for iOS, watchOS, tvOS and macOS.

There’s also plenty of rumours to suggest that some new hardware will be unveiled during the event with some predicting a new iPhone SE is set to be revealed.

This entry-level device hasn’t been updated since it was first released in 2016 and an update would make a huge amount of sense considering the amount of budget Android rivals that are flooding the market on an almost weekly basis.

Some reports are also speculating that Apple will finally reveal a launch date for its AirPower charger which can refill numerous devices at the same time using wireless technology.

The AirPower pad was announced late last year but Apple has since been quiet about an official release date.

Other hardware rumours include updated AirPods and the possibility of a refreshed MacBook Air which would bring new features, such as a Retina display, to this popular laptop.

Although there will be a huge amount of excitement around any new devices from Apple, the main feature of today’s event is likely to be software.

And the headline announcement could be iOS 12 which will bring a swathe of upgrades to Apple’s iPhones.

There’s no official word on what’s coming to this new operating system although some reports are suggesting Apple is concentrating on making major improvements to security and stability rather than adding a plethora of extra features.

It’s worth remembering that today’s announcement won’t mean your iPhone is getting this upgrade straight away as a public release of iOS 12 is unlikely until later in the year.

We’ll find out more in a few hours time but the iPhone isn’t the only device that will see some changes.

WWDC 2018 could also see the Apple Watch get a range of improvements with health likely to top of Apple’s agenda.

The Apple Watch is already considered to be one of the best wearables for monitoring daily health and exercise but it’s thought that in-depth sleep tracking could be next for this device.

If you own a Mac there’s could be some new features coming to your desktop with macOS almost certain to get a refresh.

Finally, there’s Apple TV which may be about to get support for Dolby Atmos and a host of new applications and content.

If you want to follow all the latest news from Apple, Express.co.uk will be bringing you live updates from WWDC from 6pm tonight.