November 8, 2024

Apple events are like Charlie Bucket’s visit to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. The event was professionally and impeccably produced. However, without the Oompa Loompas, there would have been no major announcements.

Apple has done its best to make its iPhone and Watch appealing and relevant in the sluggish smartphone industry.

New iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Models

Apple’s keynote September 2 September 2, titled “Wonderlust,” introduced the iPhone 15 and other important changes.

Apple confirmed the industry rumor that the iPhone 15 would be the first to use USB-C charging instead of the Lightning connector. The new Apple Watch Series 9 smartwatches were also unveiled, featuring several new features and colors.

This year’s USB-C announcement is the biggest change in the iPhone design since 2011. The annual iPhone event, which has become more mechanical, often consists of minor changes to screen, battery, and camera systems. This long-awaited change simplifies charging for various devices and manufacturers that were standardized years ago using USB-C.

The announcement was met with a round of anticlimactic applause in the Steve Jobs Theater. This is probably because business travelers who were present knew that this would make their accessory bag lighter and easier from a cable organization standpoint.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro will be available in four new finishes: black titanium, natural titanium, white titanium, and blue titanium.

Like much of the technology industry, Apple faces a challenging revenue environment. Apple’s sales decreased for the third consecutive fiscal quarter, which ended in July. Due to fewer device updates, iPhone revenue for the quarter came in at $39.7 billion, representing a 2% year-over-year reduction.

Apple has announced that the iPhone 15 Series will not be increased in price. This should encourage more people to upgrade. Apple should be commended for not raising prices in the current inflationary climate.

Apple likes to introduce new features to its base phones when it announces new high-end smartphone models. Apple unveiled its next-generation iPhone 15 entry-level model, which ditches the notch for an enhanced “Dynamic island” utility, which delivers alerts and notifications.

Apple Doubles down on Computational photography

The iPhone 14 Pro, released in early 2015, is the only iPhone with improved image stabilization, enhanced portraits, richer colors, and better low-light performance.

The Pro models have even more advanced camera features, including a 48MP camera with a larger sensor than the iPhone 15

Apple claims that the iPhone 15 has the same A16 Bionic chip as the iPhone 14 Pro. This processor includes a neural engine to handle more complex tasks.

The iPhone 15 has an upgraded ultra-wideband chip (UWB), which connects to neighboring devices. This makes it easier (and more precise) to find people who broadcast their locations in crowded places.

Prices for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 start at $799 and $999, respectively. The iPhone 15 will be available for pre-order on Friday. It will then go Septemberr22 September 22.

USB-C is finally coming to the iPhone!

It is hard to deny that the new iPhone 15 models’ switch from Apple’s Lightning connector to the USB-C cable marks a major shift.

Apple was pushed to make the change by the European Union over the last few years. This move will simplify the task of finding the right charger for every gadget, as they can now charge their Mac computers and iPhones or iPads using the same USB-C charging cables.

Over the next few years, millions of Lightning cables that are no longer in use will end up in landfills.

A dedicated USB-C controller will also enable up to a 20-fold faster transfer rate than USB-2. This is a much bigger deal than Apple claimed during its announcement. Transferring large files (especially videos) via Lightning cables can take a long time.

Apple Watch Series 9 Iterative Releasing

Apple Watch Series 9 has an upgraded silicon chip and ultrawideband connectivity.

Apple Watch Series 9 allows users to voice-log health information, share contact info by touching another Apple Watch, and automatically brighten their display by raising their arms. The Series 9 comes in pink, navy blue, red, gold, silver, and graphite.

Apple has also introduced a revised S9 dual-core processor and a UWB in the second edition of its Ultra smartwatches. More data is displayed on the screen for more detailed tracking.

Both the Series 9 Apple Watch and Ultra will be on September 22 from September 22.

Apple claims that users can snooze or answer phone calls, play and pause music, and snooze their alarms by double-taping the index and thumb of the Watch Series 9 with its new “double-tap” gesture control. The hand gesture, like spinning the Digital Crown, can also be used to browse widgets.

According to the company, double tap is now possible. This is due to an improved neural engine that processes sensor data using machine learning. This feature will be available starting next month.

The Vision Pro mixed-reality headset, which is expected to be released in early 2024, will also use a similar tap.

Apple’s obsession with sustainability

Lisa Jackson claims that Apple Watch Series 9 is the “first ever carbon-neutral” product. She cites efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, offset emissions, and validate carbon buybacks.

Jackson said that Apple will stop using leather for future accessories, including watch bands. This is in line with Apple’s ongoing sustainability initiatives. Apple will switch to a fabric called FineWoven, which is composed of 68% recycled post-consumer material and has a lower carbon footprint than leather.

Final Thoughts

No new iPads or MacBooks have been released. Apple was expected to release an “M3” chip, but the company is likely to make no announcements until later in the year.

Apple also did not unveil new AirPods or the old AirPods Max, as some had predicted. Apple announced that an older model of AirPods Pro Second Generation with a USB charging connector would be released.

Double Tap and Action Button were two features that caught my eye. Double Tap is particularly compelling because it allows for convenience when using both an iPhone and a Watch simultaneously, such as taking a photo or answering or terminating a call. This video from the event demonstrates this.

It is also a feature with real potential to attract people’s interest. Apple has done an excellent job with discoverability and usability. Users can use the button to perform a wide range of functions, such as taking photos, turning on the iPhone light, recording voice memos, or creating shortcuts for other tasks.

Apple’s latest refresh is likely to solidify its leadership in the premium smartphone segment.

The Pro models’ camera upgrades, especially the 5X zoom, will further advance computational photography in smartphones. Apple has also added spatial video recording to its Pro models. This will be important for Vision Pro when it is released, and users can see 3D content right away.

Apple deserves credit for its continued efforts to create new ways to make the iPhone line compelling and convincing in a tough smartphone market. These latest announcements should at least keep Apple’s ecosystem populated by users who might otherwise be lured away by “bright and shiny objects” such as foldable phones.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *