Earlier today, Apple hosted its annual iPhone event and this year’s edition was packed full of new announcements. Luckily, we’ve gathered up everything you need to know in one easy-to-read roundup.
Apple Unveils Apple Watch Series 10 With Slimmer Design, Largest Display Yet
While rumors about the Apple Watch Series 10 really played up how much thinner it would be, the biggest difference with Apple’s latest wearable will be with the display.
Apple Watch Series 10 will be available in 42mm and 46mm sizes, with the 46mm housing the largest display yet in any Apple Watch—even very slightly larger than the display on Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2. If you’re coming from an Apple Watch Series 4, or Series 5, you can expect 30% more display area on Series 10. If you’re coming from Series 7, Series 8, or Series 9, you’ll get 9% more display.
The new display on Apple Watch Series 10 is also brighter thanks to the new wide-angle OLED display. Apple says the new display is 40% brighter than Series 9 when viewed from an angle, making it much easier to read at a glance. The new display is also more power efficient, allowing Apple to enable a faster refresh rate when the watch is in always-on-mode. This means that you’ll be able to see second-by-second updates—like a moving second hand—even while the watch display is dimmed.
Apple Watch Series 10 starts at $399. Pre-orders start today and the new watches will hit stores September 20.
Thinnest and Lightest Apple Watch Yet
Apple says it used the new S10 SiP processor to make Series 10 the thinnest and lightest Apple Watch yet. The new case design is also larger on both models, replacing the 41mm with a 42mm size and the 45mm with a new 46mm size. This means that the smallest Apple Watch you can buy is now the same size as the large version used to be at 42mm.
And though this one is a subtle difference, Apple says the Series 10 watches have a more rounded design with a wider aspect ratio than previous versions.
Series 10 Replaces Stainless Steel With Titanium, Adds New Polished Jet Black Aluminum Option
Another important change to the Series 10 lineup has to do with case materials and colors.
Just as it did on the iPhone lineup, Apple has replaced stainless steel with titanium on its high-end Apple Watch Series 10 models thanks to titanium being stronger and lighter weight than steel. However, the titanium on Apple Watch will be polished as opposed to the matte finish on iPhone Pro models.
But the most eye-catching new design for Apple Watch Series 10 for most will likely be the new Jet Black. Even though this is an aluminum finish priced at the lower end of the lineup, it is a reflective polish that’s likely to have a lot of fans.
Faster Charging and Other Additions
Unfortunately, Apple hasn’t improved battery life on Series 10. The new watches still get 18 hours per charge. However, in an effort to allow people to wear the watch more of the time to ensure they can use it for sleep tracking, charging is meaningfully faster on Series 10. With the new watches, you’ll be able to charge up to 80% in as little as 30 minutes.
And Apple is also giving you more reason to wear the watch while you sleep with the new sleep apnea detection feature.
“Sleep apnea is a potentially serious condition where breathing stops repeatedly during sleep. The condition, which is estimated to impact more than 1 billion people worldwide, goes undiagnosed in most cases,” Apple explains. “If left untreated, sleep apnea can have important consequences on health, including an increased risk of hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiac issues.”
While you sleep, Apple will track breathing disturbances and will notify users if the data indicates consistent signs of sleep apnea.
Another nice new addition to Series 10 was previously an Apple Watch Ultra exclusive: water temperature and depth gauges. These open up better tracking for water sports and activities like snorkeling and open water swimming.
Apple Watch Ultra Updates
Oddly enough, Apple has chosen not to update the internals or design of Apple Watch Ultra with the Series 10 models. It seems like the thinking is that the new metrics, vitals, and training load measurements in WatchOS 11 provide all the update needed to the Ultra lineup at this point.
However, there will be a new color option: satin black.
Plus, Apple has introduced a new band designed for Ultra: the titanium Milanese Loop. This new band differs from the magnetic Milanese loop for the regular models with a thicker mesh and a locking clip mechanism to keep the band securely on your wrist. It will come in natural and satin black finishes.
The new satin black Apple Watch Ultra and both new titanium Milanese loop bands can be ordered today and will hit stores September 20.
AirPods 4 and new AirPods Pro 2 Features
It looks like Apple heard the many complaints about the fit of the previous gen AirPods 3, as the newly-announced AirPods Pro 4 feature an all-new design and what Apple says is an improved fit.
AirPods 4 also boast improved sound quality thanks to “an entirely new acoustic architecture,” and the addition of the H2 chip found inside the AirPods Pro 2. They also feature a force sensor button on the stem similar to AirPods Pro. The AirPods 4 charging case is smaller and offers USB-C charging.
Plus, for the first time, the open-ear AirPods 4 model will have a variant that provides noise cancelation. (I’m interested to see how well ANC works on this model as I’ve never worn AirPods Pro as much as I would like as the silicone eartips always fall out of my ears.)
AirPods 4 start at $129 while AirPods 4 with ANC will cost $179. Pre-orders are open now with availability in stores starting September 20.
AirPods Max Gets New Colors, USB-C Charging
While Apple isn’t doing a full refresh of its AirPods Max headphones, the company has announced five new colors and the removal of the Lightning jack in favor of USB-C for a charging. The updated USB-C model is still $549 and available for pre-order today with availability beginning September 20.
AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Health Updates
Apple has also announced a few impressive new features aimed at aiding users who are hard of hearing and helping all users keep track of and protect their hearing.
For starters, AirPods Pro 2 will be receiving a new feature called hearing protection which provides passive noise reduction. This allows you to essentially use AirPods Pro 2 as earplugs while in an augmented transparency mode that actively reduces louder noises. Use cases would include live events like concerts or sporting events and Apple says because of the power of the H2 chip, AirPods Pro are able to protect your hearing while preserving the dynamic range of what’s around you.
Apple is also introducing a new clinical Hearing Test for AirPods Pro 2. Upon taking this test, Apple is able to create a profile of your overall hearing health that it then builds into how AirPods Pro 2 present sound to you.
Plus, AirPods Pro 2 are now considered a clinical-grade hearing aid. “Using the personalized hearing profile from the Hearing Test…the feature enables personalized dynamic adjustments so users have the sounds around them boosted in real time,” Apple explains. “This helps users better engage in conversation and keeps them connected to the people and environment around them. With the incredible audio quality of AirPods Pro, the user’s personalized hearing profile is automatically applied to music, movies, games, and phone calls across their devices without needing to adjust any settings.”
All of the new hearing health features will be available for AirPods Pro 2 in a free software update when paired with iPhone or iPad running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus
The new iPhone 16 models are primarily defined by new colors, tougher glass, new buttons, the new A18 chip, better battery life and an improvement to the main camera.
The standout new color for iPhone 16 is called ultramarine, a stunning combination of blue and purple. Teal, pink, white, and black will also be available.
The new models will also offer an improved Ceramic Shield display glass that Apple says is 2x tougher than glass on any other smartphone.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are powered by the new A18 chip, primarily engineered to enable all of the new AI features coming with Apple Intelligence and iOS 18.1. A18 has a 16-core neural engine, 17% more memory bandwidth, a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU. Notably, the new chip enables hardware-accelerated ray tracing on games and and is more power efficient.
The implementation of A18 combined with a larger battery inside iPhone 16, add up to a “big boost in battery life,” according to Apple.
One other notable new feature is the addition of the Action Button. Previously exclusive to the Pro models, the Action Button allows for quick access to a wide variety of functions and even custom shortcuts.
Upgraded Main Camera, New Camera Control Button
But the Action Button is the only new button on iPhone 16. There’s also a new Camera Control button. A press of this button opens the camera, but once the camera is open is where the real magic of this button begins.
With a light press, you can quickly toggle the ability to adjust various camera settings with the tip of your finger. A double light press allows you to switch between available settings. Once you’ve found the setting you’d like to tweak—say zoom, for example,—you can swipe your finger along the button to zoom in and out. The button also allows you to make a full press to take a photo or start a video, acting like a dedicated shutter button.
Finally, the Camera Capture button will also (eventually) have an AI tie in: with a long press, you can open Visual Intelligence. This new Apple Intelligence feature allows you to take a photo to get more information about what you’re looking at. Visual Intellgience will also be able to tie-in to third-party AI services such as ChatGPT. One example Apple showed during the keynote was long-pressing the Camera Capture button to ask ChatGPT for help with a math problem in a textbook. (Visual Intelligence will likely launch alongside of the rest of the Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1.)
Apple has also made improvements to the cameras in iPhone 16. The main camera is now a 48MP “Fusion Camera.” Thanks to that larger 48MP sensor, iPhone 16 sees the return of a 2X telephoto option thanks to the magic of sensor cropping (high quality digital zoom). (This is the same method that allows the main camera on the pro models to act as different focal lengths as well.)
The ultrawide camera has also been upgraded in iPhone 16. The 12MP sensor can now capture 2.6x more light and, for the first time on the non-Pro iPhones, the ultrawide camera allows you to do close-up macrophotography with Macro Mode.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus start at $799 with trade-in deals available up to $1,000. Pre-orders will start 5 a.m. PDT/8 a.m. EDT, Friday September 13 with availability beginning September 20.
iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max
The big news with Apple’s Pro iPhones this year is related to screen size, battery life, camera sensor upgrades and new camera features.
While the hardware dimensions of the new iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are the same as last year’s 15 models, thanks to thinner borders around the display the screen size on the new models has increased to 6.3 inches on the iPhone 16 Pro and 6.9 inches on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Like the non-Pro iPhone 16 models, the new Pro models also get the new and improved Ceramic Shield glass atop the display that is 2x tougher.
While the non-Pro models are powered by the A18 chip, the new iPhone 16 Pro models are powered by the more powerful A18 Pro. This is a second-generation 3nm chip with a 16-core Neural Engine, 6-core GPU, and 6-core CPU. The new chip provides a 17% increase in total system memory bandwidth along with GPU performance that is 20% faster than before. Hardware-accelerated ray tracing is now 2x faster with Apple saying gamers can expect more consistent frame rates. Apple says the A18 Pro CPU is 15% faster than the previous generation while using 20% less power.
Similar to the iPhone 16 models, the new chip has unlocked more battery life, with Apple saying the iPhone 16 Pro Max has the highest battery life of any iPhone to date.
iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max start at $999 with trade-in deals available up to $1,000. Pre-orders will start 5 a.m. PDT/8 a.m. EDT, Friday September 13 with availability beginning September 20.
Camera Updates Bring More Pro Features to the Pro Models
Like the iPhone 16 models, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be getting the new Camera Control button, giving you more convenient and more precise control of the camera during operation.
Plus, the Pro models also have the new 48MP Fusion Camera as their main shooter. And while last year’s iPhone 15 Pro models also had a 48MP sensor, the new Fusion Camera unlocks some impressive performance improvements and new features.
For starters, Apple says the new quad-pixel sensor is more powerful and more efficient, reading data twice as fast as before and enabling an impressive zero shutter lag for 48MP ProRAW and HEIF images.
Plus, the new sensor unlocks 4K, 120 fps video recording with Dolby Vision HDR. This combo is the highest resolution and frame-rate combination ever on iPhone and a first for smartphones. The new feature also allows you to choose frame rates after you shoot, meaning you don’t have to set the camera to 4K120 beforehand.
The addition of 4K120 shooting greatly enhances the already professional quality video capabilities of Apple’s iPhone Pro models. Of course, you’ll still be able to record video to remote storage like the cage-friendly, ultra-fast OWC Envoy Elektron in capacities up to 4TB or the speedy, compact, and affordable OWC Envoy.
The new image signal processor on the A18 Pro chip has also enabled frame-by-frame color grading in 4K120.
Apple has also updated the microphones on the new Pro phones to allow for Spatial Audio capture and built-in audio mixing. Using just the microphones on the camera, Apple says you can create a professional-sounding audio mix with the ability to focus the mix on on-camera subjects while eliminating other distracting noises or voices. You’ll also be able to position vocal tracks so that they are in the front channel while environmental noises are moved to the surround channels. It’s important to note that these audio mixing features are all on the device and allow you to make quick adjustments within the Photos app after capture. The audio mixing features are further enhanced through machine learning algorithms that can reduce unwanted noise like wind noise.
Rounding out the pro-focused features, Apple has made improvements and expanded upon its Photographic Styles feature. The current implementation of this feature is fairly limited, giving you the ability to mix and match color temperature and contrast to create looks that are definitely more dynamic than a simple color-based filter, while not offering nearly the same fine tuning capability as a Lightroom profile might.
But the new Photographic Styles feature will allow iPhone photographers to locally adjust color, highlights, and shadows in real time. Apple has also included a new control pad for making adjustments to styles along with an intensity slider for adjustments that span tone and color. Because these adjustments are rendered during live preview, you get to see the impact the style has on your shot before you start to edit. After the shot is taken, the grade is fully rendered but can be completely reversed later for a different style or look if you choose.
Ultrawide Camera Now 48MP, 5X Zoom Comes to iPhone 16 Pro
While I was personally hoping to see the 48MP sensor come to the 5X zoom lens on the Pro models, Apple has brought that larger sensor first to the ultrawide lens. The new ultrawide sensor features quad-pixel with autofocus and better low light performance.
Plus, fans of the smaller Pro models will like the fact that the 5X zoom will now be available on both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models this year as opposed to that being a Max exclusive feature.
