Apple held its annual iPhone launch event at its headquarters in Cupertino, California, unveiling several new products and updates:
- iPhone 15 Series: Apple announced the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, starting at $799, featuring USB-C charging. Additionally, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, starting at $999, were introduced. The Pro Max offers a storage bump of 256 gigabytes.
- New Apple Watch: Apple revealed a brand-new Apple Watch with a 95% titanium build and 72 hours of battery life.
- Updated AirPods: Apple introduced updated AirPods with USB-C connectivity.
- Camera Upgrades: The iPhone 15 Pro models feature 48-megapixel cameras capable of 48MP HEIF and super high-resolution photos. The iPhone 15 Pro Max includes a 3X telephoto camera, with the Pro Max boasting a 5X zoom.
- USB-C Transition: The iPhone 15 series adopts USB-C charging, replacing the Lightning connector. Users will need new cables for charging.
- Titanium Build: The iPhone 15 Pro models come with a titanium case, making them lighter and more durable compared to previous aluminum models.
- Satellite Roadside Assistance: The iPhone 15 will have the ability to call roadside assistance via satellite, ensuring help even without cell service for two years.
- Pricing: The base iPhone 15 starts at $799, while the iPhone 15 Plus begins at $899. Pricing remains unchanged for the lower-end models.
- Action Button: The iPhone 15 Pro features an “action button” in place of the mute switch, allowing users to perform various actions beyond just switching between ringer and silence.
- A17 Pro Chip: The new A17 Pro chip, featuring a 3-nanometer design and 19 billion transistors, powers the iPhone 15 series, offering improved performance.
- Apple Watch Ultra 2: The high-end Apple Watch Ultra 2 includes the new S9 chip, precision finding through ultra-wideband technology, a display capable of 3,000 nits, and 95% recycled titanium. It also introduces a new watch face called “Modular Ultra.”
- Environmental Commitment: Apple’s top environmental executive, Lisa Jackson, discussed the company’s efforts to reduce Scope 3 emissions and reiterated its commitment to clean energy.
- “Double Tap” Feature: Apple Watch users can now interact with their devices by tapping their index finger and thumb together, enabling a one-handed user experience.
- Find My iPhone Enhancement: The new Apple Watch offers an improved “Find My iPhone” feature that can pinpoint the exact location of a lost iPhone.
- Vision Pro Mention: Apple briefly mentioned its upcoming mixed reality headset, the Vision Pro, without revealing additional details.
- Opening Ad: The event began with an ad highlighting how the Apple Watch aids in health monitoring and emergency situations.
- Tim Cook’s Introduction: Apple CEO Tim Cook emphasized the company’s mission to make the world a better place and introduced the event.
- Website Downtime: The Apple Store website temporarily went offline before the event, a tradition before product launches.
