Apple Watch Series 10 and Updated Apple Watch Ultra 2
Incredibly, the Apple Watch has celebrated its ten-year milestone. The latest Apple Watch Series 10 features a larger screen and a more streamlined design. Its OLED display is now 40% brighter compared to previous models and is 10% thinner and lighter. To commemorate this anniversary, a sleek jet-black variant has been introduced alongside rose gold and silver aluminum options. For the first time, Series 10 offers titanium finishes in natural, slate, and gold, replacing the traditional stainless steel models.
The new watch is available in 42mm and 46mm sizes, and it is powered by a new S10 chipset, which includes a 4-core Neural Engine aimed at improving performance, efficiency, and overall functionality. The Apple Watch continues to provide impressive battery life, sustaining up to 18 hours with a single charge.
Health tracking remains a prominent focus, with new features including sleep apnea detection, a significant boon for the millions affected by the condition—80% of whom are unaware they have it. This innovative capability will also be offered on the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
In contrast, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is not receiving a complete overhaul but is instead getting a slight refresh with the addition of a new Black Titanium color option. The existing Natural Titanium model remains available, and an Hermès version has also been introduced this year.
Customers can now place orders for the new Apple Watches, with initial shipments anticipated to arrive on September 20.
AirPods
The latest AirPods 4 are now available and come packed with features driven by the new H2 chip. These earbuds promise enhanced bass, improved treble, and the addition of Personalized Spatial Audio, all while being housed in the smallest USB-C charging case yet.
Additionally, a new version with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) has been launched, mirroring the original design but now including noise-canceling capabilities. Features such as Transparency mode and adaptive audio have also been included.
Battery life remains strong, offering up to 30 hours when combining the earbuds and charging case. The new standard AirPods 4 retail for $129, while the ANC version is priced at $179, with pre-orders now open and shipping set for September 20.
Moreover, the upgraded AirPods Pro 2 are expected to introduce a hearing aid functionality, along with a new hearing test designed to customize the listening experience for those with hearing difficulties. The recently launched Media Assist feature is designed to enhance clarity for speech and musical instruments during calls or music playback.
Although the AirPods Max will not receive any design changes or internal upgrades, they will be available in exciting new colors, namely midnight, blue, purple, orange, and starlight, while retaining their original price of $549. USB-C charging will also be a new feature for these headphones.
Pre-orders for the new AirPods models are available now, with deliveries commencing on September 20.
iPhone 16 Series
As anticipated, Apple revealed the iPhone 16 line, which includes the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Much of the discussion centered around Apple Intelligence and its new capabilities.
The standard iPhone 16 models are available in five fresh colors and now feature a customizable Action Button similar to what was introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro line. Additionally, there’s a Camera Control button for enhanced photography options.
This Action Button allows quick access to a range of functions, such as instantly activating the camera or flashlight, transitioning between Ring and Silent modes, identifying music using Shazam, initiating Voice Memos, or accessing accessibility tools like Magnifier. Users can also utilize Shortcuts for an expanded array of features.
The new Camera Control button is particularly noteworthy, debuting on the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models. According to Apple, it is set to significantly improve the camera usage experience. This button incorporates a tactile switch for satisfying engagement, a high-precision force sensor for light press actions, and a capacitive sensor for touch-based interactions.
Designated functions for the Camera Control include quick access to the camera and starting video recordings, complemented by a new camera preview to help with shot framing and other control options. Moreover, developers can integrate Camera Control into third-party applications.
The iPhone 16 models feature a state-of-the-art A18 chipset, boasting double the machine learning capabilities and a CPU that is 30% faster and more efficient than the previous generation.
Camera enhancements are also prominent in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, featuring a new 48MP main camera that captures 24MP images through pixel binning. The 12MP telephoto lens now offers 2X zoom alongside a new ultrawide camera with autofocus.
The iPhone 16 starts at $799, with the 16 Plus at $899. They come in colors including black, white, pink, teal, and ultramarine, with pre-orders beginning on September 13 and availability from September 20.
iPhone 16 Pro Max
The final announcements included the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, both showcasing larger screens measuring 6.3 and 6.9 inches, respectively. The Pro Max is the most significant model to date, featuring thinner bezels for a more expansive display.
This year, a new Desert Titanium color option has been added, alongside Natural, White, and Black Titanium. Both models are powered by the new A18 Pro chipset known for improved speed and efficiency, featuring a 6-Core GPU that is 20% quicker than its predecessor, the A17 Pro, while the CPU is 15% faster with reduced power consumption.
The cameras on the Pro versions have benefited from both hardware and software upgrades. They now include a 48MP Fusion Camera, a 48MP Ultra Wide lens, and a 12MP 5X Telephoto Camera. The addition of the Camera Control button is anticipated to enhance photography significantly for users of this series.
The most exciting new camera enhancement relates to Camera Control coupled with visual intelligence. This technology allows users to gather information about surrounding objects and locations using their phone’s camera system.
For example, by pressing and holding the Camera Control, users can view a restaurant’s hours and ratings or automatically input event details from flyers into their Calendar app. This system can even identify dog breeds in the vicinity.
With Camera Control, users can also access specialized third-party tools that facilitate searches, such as finding where to purchase a specific item online.
The video capabilities of the iPhone 16 Pro series have seen significant improvements. The new 48MP Fusion camera, featuring a quad-pixel sensor and the Apple Camera Interface, can now record videos in Dolby Vision at an incredible 4K120 frames per second, marking a milestone as the highest resolution and frame rate combination ever offered on an iPhone and unparalleled among smartphones.
The enhanced 48MP Ultra Wide camera similarly boasts a quad-pixel sensor and autofocus, enabling users to capture high-resolution 48MP ProRAW and HEIF images, making it perfect for macro photography and wider shots.
The iPhone 16 Pro’s 5x Telephoto camera offers enhanced capabilities for photographing distant subjects. This feature was previously exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and it is now also included on the iPhone 16 Pro.
Pre-orders for both the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max commence on Friday, with the first units shipping out on September 20. The iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999, while the Pro Max begins at $1,199.
Apple Intelligence
During the “It’s Glowtime” event, Apple introduced Apple Intelligence, a new technology first revealed in June. Some features are already available to developers, with more to come. All models in the iPhone 16 lineup, as well as users of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, will be able to utilize Apple Intelligence.
Among the highlights presented was the Private Cloud Compute feature, which securely manages user data. Camera Control boasts AI-enhanced features for more effective photography.
Apple Intelligence also includes fresh tools for writing, image handling, Siri, and much more. The rollout of these features is expected to begin in the U.S. and other locations in the coming months, eventually reaching a broader audience next year. Apple Intelligence will be free and initially available in English, with plans for additional language support in the future.
What Wasn’t Announced
Notably absent from this event were any announcements regarding new Macs or iPads, which suggests that Apple may host another special event in the near future. During that expected gathering, we may see new models of the iPad and iPad mini, updates to MacBook Pro and iMac, and potentially revised versions of the Mac mini. While it’s less likely, there are also whispers of a possible fourth-generation iPhone SE reveal.
