New colours. Deep AI integration. And headphones galore!
On September 9th, 2024, Apple's iPhone 16 lineup was revealed. With new colours, a new way to control your camera, and the iPhone's largest-display ever, there was lots for the company to show alongside innovations to the AirPods family and a new version of Apple Watch.
Apple announced so many new products and features, here are the highlights.
After attending in person, I can tell you firsthand that there were quite a few oohs and ahhs inside of the Steve Jobs Theatre as new features rolled out over the course of the keynote.
Here's a quick recap of some of the biggest things from Apple's fall launch event.
iPhone 16
The iPhone 16 models have changes you'll notice at a glance, and others that aren't obvious until you go hands-on with the devices.
The fresh colour palette introduces new tones to the iPhone family. An additional control surface along the side of the phone allows you to control your camera (more on that later), and comes with a 6.1 inch display or, if you upgrade to the Plus model, 6.7 inch display.
Camera Control
This new feature is available on all iPhone 16 models (including Pro and Pro Max) and is the biggest physical change to this iPhone compared to the 15 (and 14 and 13 for that matter).
This touch sensitive panel allows you to tap, click, and swipe your way through various camera controls like zoom and focus. Developers will be able to integrate it into their apps as well (in the keynote they demonstrated how Snapchat users could scroll through photo sharing options).
The fact that this feature is available on all iPhone 16 models (and not just on Pro models) is a nice touch and, I think, a really helpful innovation for one of your phone's most used functions.
iPhone 16 Pro & Pro Max
The iPhone Pro and Pro Max models have always been big, but with the latest model we get the biggest display we've ever had on an iPhone.
The 16 Pro Max is a whopping 6.9 inches (the Pro is 6.3). The camera hardware isn't much different from the iPhone 15 pro setup, but by tapping into the more powerful A18 pro chip, new functions will be available (shooting 4K vids at 120 fps), and pairing that with a redesigned microphone array, this will be such a powerful tool for content creators and anyone who is a major photo or video enthusiast.
Apple Watch Series 10
Apple's newest watch is now its slimmest model but also has the largest screen (even bigger than the Ultra 2). While some features are inspired by the Ultra (adding depth and temperature info while swimming) they're not quite as robust as the Ultra versions, however, more than sufficient for everyday use.
There isn't a new Apple Watch Ultra, but there is a new black titanium finish for the Ultra 2 which looks gorgeous in person.
Apple Watch New Features
Aside from trimming down the formfactor, Apple has introduced some unique features to the Series 10 watch.
The most attention getting is sleep apnea detection. Your watch will monitor for breathing interruptions, averaged out over the course of a month, and alert you if your metrics are consistent with people who have sleep apnea. This could help flag a condition that might be going undetected.
Aside from that, the newest Apple Watch charges faster (80 percent charge in just 30 mins) making it more likely you'll keep it on all night without the lingering fear of running low on battery the following day.
AirPods
The AirPods lineup has a new entry, a revised model, and some new features. If you're due for an upgrade, or have never tried AirPods before, you've got some options!
AirPods 4
The fourth generation of AirPods actually comes in two versions - one with and one without active noise canceling. The open-ear design has a more tapered shape to fit more comfortably in a person's ears.
Both versions of AirPods 4 have the same H2 chip for sound quality, same battery life, and personalized spatial audio.
There are a few perks if you upgrade to the version with Active Noise Canceling.
You'll gain conversation awareness (your earbuds automatically turn down the volume if you start talking to someone while listening to music) plus the various ANC modes and the case is improved with wireless charging support and a built-in speaker to work with Find My.
AirPods Max
Apple's over-ear headphones come in five new colour combos and gain USB C charging. Aside from that, the audio quality, chip, and fit remain the same.
AirPods Pro 2 - New Feature
We didn't get a new model of AirPods Pro but we did get a really interesting new feature.
A clinically validated hearing test will be available for anyone curious about the health of their hearing. With AirPods Pro 2 inserted, your iPhone (or iPad) will guide you through a series of tests, assessing both ears and creating a hearing profile indicating if you're experiencing hearing loss and to what degree.
This feature doesn't have a firm launch date, but is slated for fall of 2024.
Apple Fall Event Wrap
The fall Apple event brings some new hardware options and features to the gadgets that people use daily. With the addition of Apple Intelligence (still to come later this fall) it will be interesting to experience how much more helpful Siri can become when supported by Apple's AI, and will be a major differentiator between the experience on iPhone 16 and previous models.
Of all the new products and features revealed, which one are you most interested in? Let me know in the comments if you have any specific questions so I can keep them in mind as I work on more detailed articles.
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