From iPhone 16 series to AirPods 4: Highlights from Apple’s ‘It’s Glowtime’ event | Gadgets

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus

The iPhone 16 series comes in two sizes: the standard 6.1-inch iPhone 16 and the 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus. Both models feature a refreshed aluminum design with a vibrant glass back. The devices are water and dust resistant and feature a ceramic glass display, which offers protection and enhanced durability.

The display has a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, though it can also be dimmed down to as low as 1 nit for low-light situations. New hardware includes an action button and a camera control button with integrated Google Lens and ChatGPT for the new Visual Intelligence feature, which will be available at a later date.

Performance is driven by the Apple A18 chip, built on a second-generation 3nm process, with a 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU. With 17 percent more memory bandwidth, this new architecture enables advanced machine learning tasks and large generative AI models, utilizing a 16-core Neural Engine for optimized performance. Apple claims it delivers 30 percent faster processing and 40 percent faster graphics compared to its predecessor, all while being 30 percent more power efficient.

Camera advancements include a 48MP main camera with sensor-shift optical image stabilization (OIS), an Ultra Wide camera with autofocus, and a 2x Telephoto option enabled by the main sensor. iPhone 16 supports 4K video at 60 fps in Dolby Vision and introduces Spatial Capture, which lets users record immersive video and photos designed for use with Apple Vision Pro.

Prices start at $799 for the iPhone 16 and $899 for the iPhone 16 Plus.

iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max

The premium iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models (6.3-inch and 6.9-inch, respectively) feature innovations both inside and out, according to Apple. Most notably, they have thinner display borders, offer ProMotion technology with a 120Hz refresh rate, and are protected by Ceramic Shield glass. These models use Grade 5 titanium for the chassis, offering a durable yet lightweight design, complemented by a micro-polished texture and a new Desert Titanium color scheme.

At the heart of these Pro models is the A18 Pro chip, which powers 35 trillion operations per second with its 16-core Neural Engine. The 6-core GPU supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing, improving graphics rendering in games and apps. The 6-core CPU has two performance cores and four efficiency cores, improving overall efficiency.

On the camera front, both Pro models come equipped with a 48MP main camera, a 48MP ultra-wide camera with autofocus, and an improved 5x telephoto lens. They feature new photo styles and the ability to record 4K slow motion at 120fps with Dolby Vision, ProRes, and LOG formats. The Pro models also offer studio-quality microphones for better audio capture, as well as a new audio mixing feature for more dynamic sound recording.

With faster MagSafe charging and support for Qi2 wireless charging, these Pro models are designed for users looking for a premium experience. Apple also highlighted upcoming features for the camera control button, which will be updated later this year to offer improved functionality.

Apple Intelligence

A central theme of the event was Apple’s new Apple Intelligence system, which integrates generative AI across the entire iPhone 16 series. This new system enables Personal Intelligence, running multiple Apple generative models on the device, with privacy as a key consideration. Apple Intelligence introduces Private Cloud Compute, which enables users to take advantage of more advanced AI models privately.

Additionally, the new camera control system, which will be launched later this year, will incorporate visual intelligence. This innovation allows for greater precision with a smooth press and full-click function for refined control.

Siri has also seen a major upgrade, with better language understanding and enhanced generative AI capabilities. The first wave of Apple Intelligence features will be available in select English regions and the US starting next month.

Apple Watch Series 10

The Apple Watch Series 10 was another highlight of the event, featuring a refreshed design and improved display. This new watch features a 30 percent larger display than previous models, with rounded corners and a wide-angle OLED display. The display is also up to 40 percent brighter when viewed from an angle.

At 9.7 mm thick, Apple Watch Series 10 is 30 percent thinner than its predecessor. New finishes include polished aluminum cases in jet black, rose gold, and silver. Notably, Apple has replaced stainless steel with polished titanium options, available in natural, gold, and dark slate gray finishes.

Powered by the new S10 SIP (system in package) with a 4-core Neural Engine, Series 10 features WatchOS 11, which introduces sleep apnea detection — a feature also coming to Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2. Apple Watch Ultra 2 is now available in a new satin black titanium finish.

AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 (ANC)

Apple introduced AirPods 4 (4th generation), powered by the H2 chip and featuring an open-ear design. These AirPods offer personalized spatial audio, a USB-C charging case, and up to 30 hours of total battery life. A standout feature is support for head nod gestures for Siri, which improves hands-free control.

The new AirPods with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature improved microphones, Transparency mode, and Adaptive Audio. They introduce Conversation Awareness, which lowers the volume when AirPods detect you’re speaking and automatically raises the volume when the conversation ends.

Apple’s premium AirPods Max now support custom spatial audio and come with a USB-C charging case for faster, more versatile charging.

First published: September 10, 2024 | 12:45 am IS