Apple event recap — iPhone 14, Apple Watch 8, new AirPods Pro and more
Forget the rumors — we've now seen the iPhone 14, Apple Watch 8 and AirPods Pro 2 in the flesh
After month after month of rumors, we now know the official details for Apple's latest smartphones, smartwatches and wireless earbuds. In a 90-minute presentation, Apple detailed a series of product updates, including the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models, the new Apple Watch 8 and two other additions to its smartwatch lineup and the updated AirPods Pro 2.
That's plenty of product news for one afternoon, and if there was a common theme to all the new features, it's that Apple wants to make its devices as indispensable as ever. The new iPhones and Apple Watches have a crash detection feature, for example, and your iPhone will be able to send emergency messages via satellite connectivity.
All those additions are on top of the normal enhancements you'd expect from Apple product updates — a new chipset for the iPhones (or at least the iPhone 14 Pro models), camera improvements across the iPhone lineup, a temperature sensor and low-power mode for the Apple Watch and improved audio features in the AirPods Pro 2.
In addition, Apple introduced an entirely new kind of smart watch, the Apple Watch Ultra, which is targeting athletes, adventurers and other people who work and play in extreme conditions. The Apple Watch Ultra boasts an impressive feature set along with an equally impressive price tag (though not as high a price as had been rumored.)
Here's a closer look at everything Apple announced at its September 7 Far Out event.
APPLE EVENT PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENTS
iPhone 14: The iPhone 14 isn't a big leap from the iPhone 13, and that includes the new phone's $799 (AU$1,399) price tag. It runs on an A15 system-on-chip as before, but Apple has turned to a 5-core GPU for improved performance over last year's phone. While the main camera is still 12MP, there's a bigger sensor for improved low-light photos.
iPhone 14 Plus: Think of the iPhone 14 Plus as a larger version of the iPhone 14 (or a cheaper, not-as-fully-featured version of the iPhone 14 Pro Max). It's got a 6.7-inch screen and a bigger battery than the 6.1-inch iPhone 14, but otherwise, features are the same.
iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max: Easily the biggest surprise of the day is the fact that iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max aren't getting the rumored $100 price increase. Instead, they'll cost $999 (AU$1,749) and $1,099 (AU$1,899), respectively. That's very impressive, considering the 4-nanometer A16 Bionic chipset that powers both phones and significant camera improvements, including a 48MP main shooter. The notch is gone, too, replaced by a cutout named Dynamic Island that incorporates animations and notifications.
Apple Watch 8: Evolution not revolution is truly the aim with this watch, which starts at $399 (AU$649) for the GPS-only version. Big changes include a new temperature sensor, geared toward helping women with reproductive planning, and a low-power mode that doubles the battery life.
Apple Watch SE (2022): Apple seems to be following the iPhone SE's naming structure by slapping a year rather than a number at the end of its less expensive entry-level device. The latest Apple Watch SE gets the crash detection and low-battery mode features found in the Apple Watch 8; its starting price also drops to $249 (AU$399).
Apple Watch Ultra: Apple is opting for a different name than the rumored Apple Watch 8 Pro moniker that had been suggested for its rugged smartwatch. But the other expected features are in place, from a 49mm size to twice the baseline battery life. Apple is promising more precise GPS tracking as well. Apple Watch Ultra starts at $799 (AU$1,299), which is less than the rumored $999 price we were expecting.
AirPods Pro 2: The $249 (AU$399) wireless earbuds get a new H2 chip along with a low-distortion audio driver and custom amplifier for improved sound. You'll be able to use the front camera on your iPhone to create a customized spatial audio profile, while other features like active noise cancellation have been improved. Battery life is now 6 hours of playback.
WATCH THE APPLE EVENT REPLAY
You can find a rebroadcast of the Far Out Apple event at Apple.com as well as YouTube. We have embedded the YouTube feed below.