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Key Product Announcements From Apple’s iPhone 16 Event
If you missed the event yesterday, here are all the major details about Apple’s latest smartphones, watches, and earbuds.
It’s September already, which means it’s that time of year when Apple fans get ready for the Cupertino firm’s latest mouthwatering releases. This year, fans saw the unveiling of the iPhone 16 series of handsets, as well as the introduction of the Apple Watch Series 10, and new AirPods models.
iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Plus
The newly announced iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus feature a water and dust-resistant design, along with fresh color options like ultramarine, teal, and pink. The iPhone 16 sports a 6.1-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Plus has a larger 6.7-inch screen. Both devices offer a peak brightness of up to 2,000 nits, dropping as low as 1 nit in dark environments.
The Action button, first introduced in last year’s Pro models, has now been included in the regular versions of the iPhone, and remains highly customizable. The big news, however, was the announcement of a new haptic camera control interface that lets users adjust settings (such as zoom and focus) with a simple tap or swipe. Integrated with Visual Intelligence — a key feature of iOS 18 — this button also allows users to gather information about whatever the camera is pointed at, such as event dates on concert posters that can then be auto-added to the calendar.
Speaking of photos, both iPhone 16 models now come equipped with a 48-megapixel main Fusion camera, a 12MP telephoto lens, and a new ultrawide camera with autofocus. These are capable of capturing Spatial Photos, designed for viewing on Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
Both iPhone 16 models are powered by the new A18 chip, featuring a 16-core neural engine optimized for AI-driven tasks. Apple also claims that the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have larger batteries than their predecessors, resulting in improved battery life when combined with the efficiency of the A18 chip and iOS 18 optimization tweaks.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have already gone live, with prices starting at $799 and $899, respectively. Both models will be available from September 20.
iPhone 16 Pro
This year’s iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max feature slightly larger ProMotion, always-on displays, measuring 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches. Built with Titanium, the Pro phones are lighter than their stainless-steel counterparts. Both are available in black, white, natural and a new desert color (resembling muted gold).
Both models are equipped with the new A18 Pro chip, offering enhanced speed and efficiency over the standard A18 chip. The rear camera array features a 48MP Fusion camera, a 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens. Improvements in video capture include the ability to record 4K video at 120fps, as well as slow-motion recording.
The Pro models also come with four built-in studio-quality microphones, enabling Spatial Audio capture and also support Qi2 wireless charging.
Pre-orders begin on September 13, with prices starting at $999 for the Pro and $1,199 for the Pro Max. Both handsets will be available from September 20.
AirPods 4
As predicted, Apple launched the AirPods 4 at today’s event. The earbuds feature a redesigned shape for better comfort and a more universal fit. Powered by the H2 chip, they promise improved audio quality and support Personalized Spatial Audio. The charging case now has a USB-C port and is the smallest AirPods case Apple has released to date.
Alongside the standard AirPods 4, there’s a model that includes Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency mode. A feature called Conversation Awareness will automatically lower the media volume when you start speaking.
The standard AirPods 4 are priced at $129, while the ANC model will cost $179. Both can be pre-ordered today, with availability starting September 20.
New AirPods Max Colors
While the AirPods Max didn’t get a design overhaul, Apple did introduce new color options, including midnight, blue, purple, orange, and starlight. The new models will also support USB-C charging. The updated AirPods Max can be pre-ordered today for $549, with wide availability on September 20.
Apple Watch Series 10
The Apple Watch Series 10 made its debut at the event, boasting Apple’s largest and thinnest display to date. The wide-angle OLED screen and rounded corners provide more room for viewing graphics and text. Additionally, the watch face is now 40% brighter when viewed at an angle.
Powered by the new S10 SiP chip, the Series 10 is optimized for performance, power efficiency, and intelligence-driven features. The watch will include a new Photos watch face, which automatically curates top images from your photo library.
Also Read: How To Clean Your Apple Watch Like A Pro
On the health and fitness front, the Series 10 will be able to detect signs of sleep apnea (pending FDA approval), with the feature expected to roll out in over 150 countries. Other new functions include scuba tracking and support for the Tides app in the upcoming watchOS 11. The Series 10 can also play audio directly from its speaker — a handy feature if you don’t have earbuds available.
The Apple Watch Series 10 will come in polished jet-black aluminum and polished titanium finishes. Pre-orders are available today, and it will be widely available on September 20.
News
Oura’s Fourth-Generation Ring Becomes Sleeker And Smarter
The Finnish tech company’s fourth-gen Ring offers a sleeker design, improved sensors, and smarter health insights, along with a revamped app.
Oura, the Finnish company known for pioneering smart rings, has just revealed its fourth-generation Ring. The updated version features a refined design, improved battery life, and upgraded sensors that provide more detailed health insights.
One of the biggest changes in the Ring 4 are the sensors, which now sit flush with the surface, making it smoother and sleeker. The improvements go beyond just aesthetics, with Oura stating that the Ring 4 now has 18 signal pathways, a significant increase from the 8 found in the previous generation.
The company claims that the updated sensors improve blood oxygen data accuracy by 30%, while gaps in nighttime heart rate are reduced by 31%, and daytime gaps are cut by 7%. Although the exact battery capacity hasn’t been revealed, the sensor optimizations should also allow the Ring 4 to last up to eight days on a single charge.
The Ring 4 is available in 12 sizes (4-15) and six colors: Silver, Brushed Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, Stealth, and Black. All options except Stealth are coated in titanium with a physical vapor deposition finish, while Stealth features a diamond-like carbon coating.
The Ring is also water-resistant up to 100 meters, making it suitable for swimming and sauna use, though not for dedicated deep-sea divers.
In addition to hardware upgrades, Oura is rolling out a redesigned mobile app. The app organizes health data into three sections: Today, Vitals, and My Health. These sections help wearers monitor their daily vital signs and long-term health metrics, such as cardiovascular age and sleep patterns. The app update is available for all users, regardless of which generation of Ring they own.
Also Read: Meta Reveals Orion AR Glasses, Offering A Glimpse Into The Future
As with the previous model, Oura continues to offer some features behind a membership paywall, priced at $5.99 per month or $70 per year. New to the Ring 4 are automatic activity and heart-rate detection for up to 40 different activities. The app will also now provide better insights for menstrual tracking, specifically around fertility windows.
The Oura Ring 4 is available for pre-order starting today, with prices beginning at $349. Shipping is expected to start on October 15, 2024.
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