September 20th marks the launch day for all the latest and greatest hardware from Apple.
Note, I said hardware since the highly anticipated AI feature, Apple Intelligence, doesn't make its way to the new iPhone 16s until later this fall.
Apple Intellegience or not, the new iPhone 16s have a few features worth getting excited for (Camera Control, new colours, and the largest iPhone screen ever). But are they enough to make you upgrade?
Get a better idea with this quick overview as we unbox all of the new Apple devices!
iPhone 16
With iPhone 16, there are four new models hitting store shelves. iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are basically the same phone but with different sized screens (6.1 and 7.7 inches). If you want the cool colours, you'll have to stick with iPhone 16. After seeing them all in person at the iPhone 16 launch event, Ultramarine (the new blue) is my fav.
With the different sized phones, you get slightly different battery performance (the Plus gets you five extra hours of video playback, which, for some reason, has become our benchmark for measuring battery life). Otherwise, they both have the same camera setup (now capable of capturing spatial photos and videos for playback on Vision Pro), new Camera Control feature (access and manipulate camera settings for zoom, depth of field, brightness, and more) and the same A18 chip (which helps extend battery life while maintaining high performance and supports video games that were not playable on iPhone 15).
iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, unfortunatley, don't have the same pizazz when it comes to colours, but you are getting some pretty powerful new features (though they're most relevant for people who are using iPhone for shooting professional photos and videos). iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max allow you to shoot in 4K at 120 frames per second (giving you buttery smooth video and amazing slow motion shots), plus there's a new audio mixing feature that can do some pretty impressive voice isolation.
You'll also get larger storage options than you'll find in the base iPhone 16 models (up to 1TB). The largest iPhone display (6.9 inches on the iPhone 16 Pro Max) and a more powerful camera array compared to the iPhone 16 (though not super different from iPhone 15 Pro/Max, except that now iPhone 16 Pro has a 5x Zoom for video).
While there are some physical changes that might inspire an upgrade from previous iPhone models (the new colours, the camera module, and - depending on the model of iPhone you have - possible camera upgrade), the BIG change for the iPhone 16 lineup is the addition of AI, which isn't here yet (Apple says it will be coming this fall and the localized version of Siri with Apple Intelligence for Canada won't be here until December). Because that main feature is missing, you may not feel the same urgency as with previous iPhone models for a Day-One upgrade.
AirPods 4
The new AirPods may have been eclipsed on announce day by all the iPhone and Apple Watch news, but listen up (see what I did there?): the new AirPods are REALLY good.
There is now more choice in the AirPods lineup than ever. There's still the Gen to AirPods Pro (which will have a new professional-grade test to monitor hearing loss over time), and those remain unchanged.
AirPods Max got new colours and USB charging, but are otherwise unchanged.
The base AirPods got a major revamp, and now the gap between regular AirPods and AirPods Pro is even smaller. There's a lot to say about AirPods 4 vs. AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (read all about it), but the short version is audio quality and overall comfort from Apple's base wireless earbuds is better than ever and very impressive!
Apple Watch Series 10
The Apple Watch Series 10, at first glance, seems very similar to Series 9 (and 8 and 7, for that matter), but after some hands-on time and direct comparison between models, you can see a lot of refinement with the latest edition of the watch.
This is Apple's thinnest watch ever (about a milimetre sleeker than the Series 9), which makes it that much more comfortable to wear and less likely to clonk into desks, counters, and tables as you go through your daily routine.
It also has the largest display ever on an Apple Watch. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is larger overall, but the display on the Series 10 is bigger and is more easily viewed at an angle, thanks to a revamped OLED display system.
They also revamped the speakers, and the difference is noticable in-person, comparing between the Series 9 and Series 10. I don't use my speaker very often on Apple Watch (the occasional phone call), but I suppose if you're in a short listening scenario (finishing the last few minutes of a podcast as you walk from your car into your house), then you might take advantage of this improved speaker.
There are a few feature changes as well (you can now see depth and water temperature information when in a pool or lake) and more colour choices between titanium and aluminum models (including the all new Jet Black aluminum finish). If you're a few generations behind on Apple Watch, then you'll likely notice and appreciate the differences if you decide to upgrade to the Apple Watch Series 10.
What do you think?
From all the things launching with Apple's first fall event, what are you most excited for? Do any features of any of the devices have you eager for an upgrade, or is this a generation you're planning on skipping? You can let me know in the comments or reach out to me on Instagram and let me know your thoughts!
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