Apple’s September presentation had a tonne of new hardware, most of which we weren’t overly surprised to see. The brand-new Apple Watch Ultra, the more advanced Apple Watch Series 8, and a new Apple Watch SE were all anticipated products that the rumour mill accurately predicted. Additionally, the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro mainly lived up to expectations, despite the tragic demise of the iPhone mini. Even though we’d categorise this as yet another incremental tweak, the AirPods Pro have also received a long-awaited update.
The 14 and 14 Pro iPhone
No one was surprised when Apple unveiled four new iPhones today in two different lines. This year’s iPhone 14 is joined by a larger iPhone 14 Plus with a 6.7-inch screen rather than a smaller tiny variant. With the exception of the larger screen, the design is nearly identical to the iPhone 13 from the previous year. The camera, as usual, received some of the largest improvements. According to Apple, both the front-facing TrueDepth camera and the primary back camera are brand-new, and they work together with a new photo processing pipeline called the Photonic Engine to increase low-light performance. Additionally, the True Tone flash has been enhanced. Additionally, a new “activity mode” for video cameras should lessen shaking and vibration when you move around while filming.
Additionally, this has a number of noteworthy new safety measures. Similar to the new Apple Watch models, the iPhone 14 has crash detection, which employs a new accelerometer and gyroscope as well as machine learning models to identify catastrophic car crashes; if a user is unable to reach or use their phone, it will immediately notify emergency services. In areas without cellular service, the new iPhone also features a satellite connection for contacting emergency services. As per usual, Apple claims that the battery life of the iPhone 14 will be better than ever before. This is especially true with the iPhone 14 Plus, which can accommodate a larger battery due to its larger size.
The iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max have the same two screen sizes as the iPhone 14 and have all the same functionality in addition to some noticeable upgrades. For the first time, the iPhone 14 Pro has a “always-on” screen. Similar to what happens on the always-on display of the Apple Watch, the refresh rate decreases to 1Hz and the screen dims. This enables you to always see widgets and notifications from iOS 16’s redesigned Lock Screen.
The Dynamic Island, which Apple refers to as the notch’s replacement, is another notable improvement to the iPhone 14 Pro’s display. This section will work with iOS 16 to provide a fast glimpse at background operations occurring on your phone, including as timers, directions, Face ID, or music playback, rather than merely leaving this space as a blank hole to house the front-facing camera and face detection algorithms. Although we haven’t yet witnessed it in action, it appears to be a significant improvement over the fixed and quite sizable notch that has been a feature of the iPhone for years.
This year’s iPhone Pro series continues to have some notable photographic benefits over previous models. The primary camera lens on the iPhone 14 Pro sports a brand-new 48-megapixel, quad-pixel sensor. The iPhone 14 Pro often merges four pixels into a single ultra-sized pixel, maintaining an image size of about 12MP but enabling noticeably enhanced low-light performance. Additionally, 2x telephoto zoom can be used without sacrificing image quality because it only utilises the centre 12 megapixels of the sensor for full-sized photographs. Additionally new are the ultra-wide camera and front-facing camera, and the iPhone 14 Pro naturally makes use of the new Photonic Engine to further enhance images.
On Friday, September 9th, pre-orders will be accepted for every iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro model. The $699 iPhone 14 will be on sale in large quantities on September 16; the $799 iPhone 14 Plus will follow on October 7. Beginning at $999 and $1,099, respectively, the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max will also be available for purchase on September 16.
Series 8, Ultra, and SE models of the Apple Watch
As anticipated, Apple Watch Series 8 only makes a small adjustment to the basic Apple Watch design. The Watch’s temperature sensor and two additional accelerometers, together with its other sensors, work together to detect auto accidents as the key new hardware features. Women can also get predictions of when they should ovulate if they use the temperature sensor overnight. A brand-new software function dubbed low power mode is also coming to the Series 8. Apple claims that by turning off features like the always-on display and capabilities like automated workout recognition while leaving important tools like activity tracking on, this could increase battery life from the typical 18 hours to 36 hours. Thankfully, since the Series 4, this capability is available on all Apple Watch models.
But the $799 Apple Watch Ultra is a totally different animal. Similar to the first Apple Watch, but with a 49mm display that is significantly larger with a flat front crystal that is designed to protect the screen from side impacts. There is a new “action” button on the left side of the Watch, and the Digital Crown and side button are integrated into a new protruding area that helps protect the crown. You can programme that button to start any feature or application you like, such as a workout or an integrated dive computer.
Speaking of dives, the Ultra boasts a larger battery with a 36-hour usage rating and twice the water resistance of the standard Apple Watch. With the help of the new battery saver feature, it can be increased to 60 hours. The Apple Watch Ultra requires new bands because it is larger than its predecessors. Apple created three completely new options: Trail Loop, Alpine Loop, and Ocean Band. Those bands are each intended for a specific activity. The Apple Watch Ultra is now available for pre-order; it will go on sale on September 16th.
The entry-level Apple Watch SE received an update from Apple. It boasts a larger screen, the same crash detection features as the Series 8, a 20 percent faster S8 chip, and health features like AFib history and heart rate notifications. It costs $249 and starts out with these features. This thankfully means that Apple has discontinued selling the outdated Apple Watch Series 3; the SE is now the least expensive model.
Pro AirPods
The new AirPods Pro have a similar appearance to the old model, but they have a number of great additional features. The most important feature—and a really useful addition for times when you don’t want to ask Siri for assistance—are touch-sensitive regions on the headphone stems that you can swipe to change volume. The new H2 chip, on the other hand, enhances overall sound quality and transparency mode while providing up to two times the noise cancellation capabilities of the original AirPods Pro. The battery life has also been enhanced; with the charging case, you should get 30 hours of use overall or around 6 hours each change.
Along with the little Apple Watch charging disc, the MagSafe charger, and any other Qi-compatible wireless chargers, the charging case has also seen some positive upgrades. Additionally, it has a lanyard attachment and a built-in speaker that you may use to locate it if you misplace it. The new AirPods Pro will be available for pre-order on September 9 and will be ready for purchase on September 23 for the same $249 price as the previous generation.