At a new keynote from Apple on September 7th, three products in particular were in focus: the iPhone, the AirPods and the Apple Watch. After a brief welcome from Apple boss Tim Cook (61), things quickly got down to business.
First, the tech company showed a new line-up of the Apple Watch. According to Cook, the smartwatch has become an “essential companion” for many. Among other things, the Apple Watch Series 8 has fresh health features to offer – including a temperature sensor. This should be able to estimate when users have ovulated. The tech giant assures that the data collected remains encrypted on the device.
There are also safety functions such as “accident detection”. Thanks to new motion sensors and a new accelerometer, the watch should be able to determine if the user has been involved in a car accident. In this case, the Apple Watch automatically sends a call for help to emergency services. Meanwhile, the battery should last up to 18 hours – with a new power-saving mode even up to 36 hours. The Apple Watch Series 8 is available to pre-order now and will be available starting September 16, starting at $499. Also on September 16 will be the second generation of the cheaper Apple Watch SE, which will be available from 299 euros.
With the Apple Watch Ultra, the company is also introducing a variant with a titanium case that offers a larger display. The smartwatch is designed for outdoor adventures, endurance and water sports or generally more extreme conditions. A battery charge should last up to 36 hours. With a new power-saving setting, which will be available in autumn, the whole thing can even be extended to up to 60 hours. But that also has its price: The Ultra version costs 999 euros and will be available from September 23rd.
The keynote was followed by the presentation of a new generation of AirPods Pro. A fresh H2 chip is installed, which enables, among other things, personalized 3D audio in the wireless headphones, in which the sound is to be personally tailored to the user. The active noise cancellation is said to be twice as effective as the previous model.
A new touch control should also make it possible, among other things, to easily adjust the volume. A battery charge lasts up to six hours, while a charging case provides power for up to 30 hours. The new AirPods Pro can be pre-ordered from September 9th. They will then be available in stores from September 23 for a price of 299 euros.
The new iPhone 14 comes in five colors and two alternatives. It offers a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, while the iPhone 14 Plus has a larger 6.7-inch variant. An A15 bionic chip is installed and the battery should last all day. According to the manufacturer, the Plus model enables video playback of up to 26 hours, with the iPhone 14 it is up to 20 hours. Thanks to 5G support, streams should not be a problem and apps, for example, are downloaded quickly.
A new two-camera system consists of a main camera with 12 megapixels and a 12-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera. There is also a “TrueDepth” front camera. The so-called “Photonic Engine” should also allow photos to be taken with more details and better colors, especially in poor lighting conditions.
The “accident detection” is also possible with the new iPhones. In addition, emergency calls can be made via satellite in remote areas. Customers can pre-order one of the devices from September 9th. The iPhone 14 is available from September 16 from 999 euros. The iPhone 14 Plus will be released on October 7th and will cost from 1,149 euros.
The star of the keynote, however, were two new Pro models in four colors, which are also being added – the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max. These have a Super Retina XDR display with 6.1 inches (Pro) and 6.1 inches .7 inches (Pro Max) and rely on a new A16 bionic chip.
The focus of the user experience with the new always-on displays is the “Dynamic Island” at the top of the screen, which replaces the notch. There is an area around the front camera that dynamically adjusts. Depending on the situation, timers, notifications or call functions are also displayed here. For example, users can pause music or end a call without having to leave the page they are browsing. Apple describes the whole thing on its homepage as “innovation that is hardware, software and everything in between”.
A revised lock screen, which can be adjusted, enables a better overview of a wide variety of information. A new camera system is also installed in these models. In addition to a main camera with 48 megapixels, there is also a new ultra wide-angle camera and an improved telephoto lens on the back. In addition, 5G support or functions such as emergency calls via satellite are also offered. Customers can pre-order from September 9th, the iPhone 14 Pro (from 1,299 euros) and iPhone 14 Pro Max (from 1,449 euros) will be in stores on September 16th.
