Apple started their 2023 keynote strong with several stories of people rescued in various situations and scenarios through Apple’s SOS & heart rate notification features. The tear-jerking theme seeped through the introduction and into their environmental impact skit (though those tears may have been from laughter). But let’s jump out of the emotional pool and dive into the tech sea of new Apple releases.
iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus Debut
As Apple CEO Tim Cook noted, “iPhone impacts just about everything we do.” With this in mind, they decided to take a huge leap forward for iPhone 15 and its design:
- Color-infused nanocrystalline back glass with contoured edge
- Screen brightness increased to 2,000 nits
- The Dynamic Island is now available for non-Pro iPhone 15 models
- 48MP Main camera with 2x Telephoto
- USB-C charging input (!)
Although the 15 and 15 Plus sizes and display will stay the same as its predecessors (6.1 & 6.7” Super Retina XDR, respectively), they’ve added Pink and Green to their color lineup, with updates to their yellow and blue shades, as well as keeping the alway-popular Black option.
iPhone 15 starts at $799 and iPhone 15 Plus starts at $899.
iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus Performance
Upgraded from the A15 Bionic chip, the iPhone 15’s A16 Bionic chip flaunts a 5-core GPU, and features a 6-core CPU that uses 20% less power and is faster than the previous generation. The 16-core Neural Engine is capable of computing nearly 17 trillion operations per second, enabling even faster machine learning for new iOS 17 features and third-party app experiences.
iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus Camera
The powerful 48MP main camera upgrade takes super-high-resolution photos, a major upgrade from the iPhone 14’s 12 MP main camera. It’s also well-equipped with a new 2x Telephoto option, giving users three total optical zoom levels (0.5x, 1x, and 2x).
Focus and Depth Control and automatic portrait recognition offer sharper detail, more vivid colors, and improved low-light performance — without having to switch to Portrait mode.
Smart HDR is also introduced to the next generation iPhone, allowing base model users to capture moments with true-to-life color renderings.
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max Debut
Featuring an even stronger and lighter design made out of the same material used in spacecraft, the introduction of the Action Button, powerful camera enhancements, and a massively upgraded processor, this update won’t disappoint:
- Customizable Action Button — Taking the place of the single-function switch, the Action Button allows you to personalize your iPhone experience by choosing a quick action, like accessing your camera or flashlight, activating Voice Memos, or using accessibility features like Magnifier.
- USB-C charging — Supercharged with USB3 speeds that are up to 20x faster than USB2
- Camera enhancements — Keep reading for a more in-depth look at these upgrades!
- Dynamic Island & Always On Display — These loved features make a comeback for this year’s iPhone lineup.
Although the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max sizes and display will stay the same as its predecessors (6.1 & 6.7” Super Retina XDR, respectively), the color lineup has almost completely updated with the introduction of Grade 5 titanium encasing:
- Black titanium
- White titanium
- Blue titanium
- Natural titanium
iPhone15 Pro starts at $999, and iPhone15 Pro Max starts at $1,199.
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max Performance
Upgraded from the A16 Bionic chip, the iPhone 15 Pro’s A17 Pro chip — and the industry’s first 3nm transistor chip — flaunts a massive 6-core GPU redesign that’s 20% faster, and unlocks a new level of mobile gaming experiences and pro performance. The new CPU is 10% faster, and the 16-core Neural Engine is 2x faster and capable of computing nearly 17 trillion operations per second, enabling even faster machine learning for new iOS 17 features and third-party app experiences.
Now with hardware-accelerated ray tracing making it 4x faster and offering smoother graphics and more immersive AR gaming experiences. Now, games like Resident Evil 4 and Assassin’s Creed Mirage can be brought to life in the palm of your hand.
The emphasis on mobile gaming with the iPhone 15 Pro lineup was heard loud and clear. Are they trying to place themselves in the same category as other on-the-go gaming devices, like the Nintendo Switch? Either way, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are emerging as a new mobile gaming device with this type of performance.
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 5 Pro Max Camera
Powerful camera upgrades enable the equivalent of seven pro lenses with incredible image quality, including a 48MP main camera that supports a new super-high-resolution 24MP default, enabling incredible image quality at a practical file size for sharing and storing.
With Focus and Depth Control, iPhone 15 Pro lets you experience the next-generation of portraits, which sharpen details, create even more vivid colors, and perform even better in low-light than before thanks to night mode powered by Photonic Engine. Additionally, Smart HDR improvements capture subjects and backgrounds with more true-to-life renderings of skin tones, brighter highlights, richer midtones, and deeper shadows.
Spatial video will be added later this year as a new dimension for 3D video viewing on Vision Pro (which is ready for early 2024 deployment).
Lastly, iPhone 15 Pro Max users can also enjoy a 5x Telephoto camera.
Complete iPhone 15 Lineup Connectivity
Expanding on Apple’s existing satellite infrastructure comes the non-emergency roadside assistance via satellite. This allows users to AAA if they have car issues off-grid, which will be included for free for two years. For those with an AAA membership, this service is covered. Awesome deal for all parties involved.
Apple has also adopted universal charging capabilities across various devices, and brands, with USB-C. Now, the same cable can be used for Mac, iPad, and AirPods Pro 2nd gen. More streamlined simplification from the master creators of a flawless ecosystem.
New iOS 17 Feature Updates
With the release of iPhone operating system 17, the complete iPhone 15 lineup will be even more personal and intuitive:
- Contact Posters — Customize how you appear to your contacts
- Live Voicemail — Real-time on-device transcription
- Messages — Stickers, search, and audio message enhancements
- NameDrop — AirDrop contact information
- StandBy Mode — Customizable horizontal full-screen experience
For an in-depth review of the iOS 17 updates, check out our WWDC 23 Review Blog.
Apple Watch Series 9 Features
Breaththrough advancements in the world’s most popular watch will not disappoint those who are ready for an upgrade in their journey to stay healthy, active, and connected:
- Powerful New S9 SiP — 4-core Neural Engine that can process machine learning tasks up to twice as fast as Apple Watch 8, with power efficiency that allows Apple Watch Series 9 to maintain all-day 18-hour battery life.
- Brighter display — With a max of 2,000 nits, the Apple Watch Series 9 display is double that of Apple Watch Series 8.
- Modular watch face — The outermost edge is now utilized for real-time data, such as seconds, altitude, or depth.
- Expanded altitude range — From 500 meters below sea level to 9,000 meters above, this watch is tested for extremes.
- Faster on-device Siri — Ask how many hours of sleep you got last night, your progress on closing Activity rings, or log health data like your weight or body temperature, even without Wi-Fi connectivity.
- Precision Finding for iPhone — Provides distance and direction, as well as visual, haptic, and audio guidance to a misplaced iPhone, even if it’s in a different room.
- Enhanced Ultra Wideband integration — When an Apple Watch user gets within 4 meters of a HomePod, Apple Watch Series 9 will launch media suggestions at the top of the Smart Stack.
- Double tap gesture — Tap your index finger and thumb of your watch hand to quickly and conveniently perform common actions, such as scrolling through widgets and pausing or playing music.
Apple Watch Series 9 is available in the same 41mm and 45mm sizes, with a new Pink aluminum in their color lineup, as well as keeping the classic starlight, midnight, silver, and (PRODUCT)RED colors.
WatchOS 10 Features
This milestone update includes exciting user experience updates:
- Smart Stack — View relevant widgets right when they’re needed
- New watch faces — Including a new Nike watch face, Nike Globe, that lights up the lines on the globe with each passing second.
- Bluetooth connectivity — For power meters, speed sensors, and cadence sensors.
- Mindfulness app — Support your mental health with state of mind logging.
- Ambient light sensor — Measure time spent in daylight to reduce the risk of myopia.
Apple Watch Series 9 starts at $399 and is available in-store Friday, September 22nd.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Apple Watch Ultra is Apple’s, and perhaps the world’s, most rugged and capable watch. And somehow, Apple made it even more rugged and capable with the Apple Watch Ultra 2’s performance updates and new feature introductions:
- Powered by S9 SiP — 4-core Neural Engine that can process machine learning tasks up to twice as fast as its predecessor, with power efficiency that allows Apple Watch Series Ultra 2 to maintain a whopping 36 hours on a single charge (or 72 hours on low power mode).
- Double tap gesture — Tap your index finger and thumb of your watch hand to quickly and conveniently perform common actions, such as stopping a timer, snoozing an alarm, take a photo with the Camera Remote, or answer and end a phone call.
- Brightest display ever — With a max of 3,000 nits, this is 50% brighter than the first generation of Apple Watch Ultra.
- Modular watch face — The outermost edge is now utilized for real-time data, such as seconds, altitude, or depth.
- Expanded altitude range — From 500 meters below sea level to 9,000 meters above, this watch is tested for extremes.
- On-device Siri — Ask how many hours of sleep you got last night, your progress on closing Activity rings, or log health data like your weight or body temperature, even without Wi-Fi connectivity.
- Precision Finding for iPhone — Provides distance and direction, as well as visual, haptic, and audio guidance to a misplaced iPhone, even if it’s in a different room.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 is available in the same 49mm size,is made from 95% recycled aluminum, and will be available in-store Friday, September 22nd.
WatchOS 10 Features
This milestone update includes exciting user experience updates:
- Smart Stack — View relevant widgets right when they’re needed
- Night Mode — Automatically activates in the dark using the ambient light sensor
- Compass app — This update now displays current elevation in real time and includes a 3D view of waypoints and relative elevation
- Topographic maps — Now shows details like points of interests, elevation, and Emergency SOS waypoints.
- Ambient light sensor — Measure time spent in daylight to reduce the risk of myopia.
To sum up the 2nd generation of the beast that is Apple Watch Ultra, Apple’s Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams says, “It’s perfect for anyone who wants our biggest, brightest display, longest battery life, and best GPS of any Apple Watch, all in a stunning design.”
Apple Watch Ultra 2 starts at $799 and is available in-store Friday, September 22nd.
AirPods Pro 2nd Generation Updates
AirPods Pro 2nd Generation is the world’s most popular headphones, and they just got better:
- Up to double the Active Noise Cancellation of their predecessor
- Advanced Transparency mode
- More immersive Spatial Audio experience
- An expanded range of ear tip sizes for an even better fit
- Improved IP54 dust resistance rating
- USB-C charging capabilities
- Lossless Audio (for Apple Vision Pro)
AirPods Pro 2nd Generation with MagSafe USB-C Charging Case will be available in-store Friday, September 22nd.
Wrap-Up
Apple offers the best in class experience with their most capable drop to date. Enhancements to connectivity, performance, and accessibility are unmatched to any other technology brand in the industry. We can’t wait to get our hands on these new products, and to share them with you!
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