Apple introduced its latest iPhones and Apple Watch models on Sept. 12 confirming most of the rumors that have circulated in recent weeks, including an anticipated 10th anniversary iPhone X, new iPhone 8 and 8 Plus models, several new Apple Watch models and a new Apple TV unit.
The highlight of the announcement event, which was held in Apple’s Steve Jobs Theater at its new Cupertino, Calif., headquarters, was likely the new iPhone X smartphone that celebrates the iPhone’s 10-year legacy which essentially changed the global smartphone marketplace.
The iPhone X, which Apple is officially pronouncing as the “iPhone 10,” has plenty of new features, from an all-new 5.8-inch OLED Super Retina display, a new A11 Bionic processor, Face ID facial recognition, wireless charging capabilities and an improved main rear TrueDepth camera.
The smartphone, which drops the physical home button of past iPhone models in exchange for an upward swipe from the bottom of the screen, is covered with glass on both sides. The handset will come in silver or space gray and will start at $999 with 64GB of onboard storage when preorders start on Oct. 27. It’s expected to be in stores and available for purchase online on Nov. 3. A 256GB model will cost $1,149.
The iPhone X marks the first Apple smartphone to include an OLED display, which had been one of the main rumors in the news for months.
“For more than a decade, our intention has been to create an iPhone that is all display,” Jonny Ive, Apple’s chief design officer, said in a statement. “The iPhone X is the realization of that vision. With the introduction of iPhone ten years ago, we revolutionized the mobile phone with Multi-Touch. iPhone X marks a new era for iPhone—one in which the device disappears into the experience.”
The new Super Retina screen is an HDR display that supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 for improved video and visuals. The display is also water and dust resistant.
The A11 Bionic processor in the iPhone X has six cores, with two cores that are 25 percent faster and four cores that are 70 percent faster than the A10 Fusion processor, according to Apple.
The processors delivers that is up to 70 percent better performance compared to previous chips for multi-threaded workloads while saving enough power to provide up to two extra hours of battery life compared to the processors in the iPhone 7.
The graphics processor in the new handset uses an Apple-designed GPU with a three-core design that delivers up to 30 percent faster graphics performance than the previous generation.
iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus
Featuring the same A11 processors as found in the new iPhone X, the upcoming iPhone 8 and 8 Plus models include new 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch Retina HD displays, a single 12-megapixel rear camera on the iPhone 8, dual 12-megapixel rear main cameras on the 8 Plus, front and rear glass panels, aluminum bezels along with water and dust resistant cases.
The iPhone 8 starts at $699 with 64GB of onboard storage, while the iPhone 8 Plus starts at $799 with 64GB of storage. Preorders for the phones will start Sept. 15 and they will be available in stores and online on Sept. 22. Both models will be available with space gray, silver or gold finishes.
Both models have also been designed for augmented reality features with built-in calibration, new gyroscopes and accelerometers to deliver accurate motion tracking all supported by the performance of the A11 processor.
The new cameras include a larger and faster sensor, new color filter, deeper pixels and OIS for capturing vibrant photos and videos with more detail, according to Apple.
Wireless charging capabilities are also included in the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, with a new Apple-designed AirPower mat coming in 2018 that can charge iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously.
Apple Watch Now Can Be Used Without an iPhone
The Apple Watch Series 3, can now be purchased with built-in cellular capabilities and no longer must be used solely in conjunction with an iPhone.
The new Apple Watches come in two models—with GPS and cellular connectivity or with just GPS services. Both models include dual-core processors that are 70 percent faster than the previous generation and new wireless chips.
The Apple Watch models will be available for preorder on Sept. 15 and in stores and online on Sept. 22. The Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) starts at $399 and the Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS) model starts at $329.
Apple TV
The latest Apple TV 4K device gets 4K video for greatly improved video quality for viewing content from iTunes, Netflix and other video streaming services. The devices also support HDR video. Also included with the Apple TV 4K models is a redesigned Siri Remote.
Apple TV 4K starts at $179 for a 32GB model or $199 for a 64GB model. The Apple TV 4th generation model with 32GB of storage will remain in the lineup for $149. The new models will be available for preorder Sept. 15 and for purchase in stores or online starting Sept. 22.