Everything that Apple Revealed at their Glowtime Event: Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4, iPhone 16/16 Pro, and Apple Intelligence

Apple’s biggest event of the year has arrived, and with it, the iPhone 16 lineup and a slew of AI-related updates for iOS 18. Apple Intelligence was the star of the Apple event this year like it was at WWDC in June, and Apple’s lineup of announcements echoed many of the anticipated hardware reveals, including the new iPhone 16, AirPods 4, the Apple Watch Series 10, and more. Broadcasting live from its headquarters in Cupertino, Apple’s “Glowtime” event kicked off at 10 a.m. PT.

Apple Unveils Apple Watch Series 10 With Slimmer Design, Largest Display Yet.

The 46mm model of the Apple Watch Series 10 will have the largest display yet found in an Apple Watch—it is even somewhat bigger than the displays found in the Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2. The 42mm model will be released first. The Apple Watch Series 10 will have 30% more display real estate than the Series 4 or Series 5. You'll get 9% more display if you're switching from Series 7, Series 8, or Series 9.

The new wide-angle OLED display on the Apple Watch Series 10 makes the display brighter as well. According to Apple, the new display is 40% brighter at an angle than the Series 9, which makes it much simpler to read quickly. Additionally, Apple was able to provide a quicker refresh rate when the watch was in always-on mode since the new display uses less battery. This implies that even when the watch display is darkened, you will be able to view second-by-second updates, much like a moving secondhand.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is available for $399. The new timepieces are on sale on September 20 and are available for preorder starting today.

Thinnest and Lightest Apple Watch Yet

Apple claims that the Series 10 is the lightest and thinnest Apple Watch ever, thanks to the new S10 SiP processor. Along with being larger on both versions, the revised case design replaces the 45mm and 41mm sizes with 42mm and 46mm, respectively. This implies that the 42mm little Apple Watch is now the same size as the large model that was previously available. Apple claims that the Series 10 watches feature a wider aspect ratio and a more rounded shape than earlier models, even though this is a minor distinction.

Series 10 Replaces Stainless Steel With Titanium, Adds New Polished Jet Black Aluminum Option

The colors and materials of the Series 10 cases represent yet another significant lineup adjustment. Due to titanium's strength and lighter weight than steel, Apple has switched out stainless steel for titanium on its high-end Apple Watch Series 10 models, much as it did with the iPhone series. But unlike the matte finish on iPhone Pro models, the titanium on Apple Watch will be polished. However, the new Jet Black appearance of the Apple Watch Series 10 is probably the most striking to most people. This aluminum finish is priced at the cheaper end of the selection, but it is a reflective polish that will probably appeal to a large number of people.

Faster Charging Finally

Regrettably, Apple has not enhanced the battery life of the Series 10. The latest models continue to offer 18 hours of usage per charge. Nevertheless, to encourage users to wear the watch more frequently for sleep-tracking purposes, the charging speed has significantly improved in the Series 10. Users can now achieve up to 80% charge in just 30 minutes.

Additionally, Apple has introduced a compelling reason to wear the watch during sleep with the new sleep apnea detection feature.

“Sleep apnea is a potentially serious condition characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. This condition affects an estimated 1 billion individuals globally, yet it remains undiagnosed in many cases,” Apple states. “If not addressed, sleep apnea can lead to serious health issues, including a heightened risk of hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular problems.”

While users are asleep, the watch will monitor breathing irregularities and alert them if the data suggests persistent signs of sleep apnea.

Another noteworthy feature added to the Series 10, which was previously exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra, includes water temperature and depth gauges. These enhancements facilitate improved tracking for water sports and activities such as snorkeling and open-water swimming.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Updates?

Oddly enough, Apple has chosen not to update the internals or design of Apple Watch Ultra with the Series 10 models. It seems like the thinking is that the new metrics, vitals, and training load measurements in WatchOS 11 provide all the updates needed to the Ultra lineup at this point.

However, there will be a new color option: satin black.

Plus, Apple has introduced a new band designed for Ultra: the titanium Milanese Loop. This new band differs from the magnetic Milanese loop for the regular models with a thicker mesh and a locking clip mechanism to keep the band securely on your wrist. It will come in natural and satin black finishes.

The new satin black Apple Watch Ultra and both new titanium Milanese loop bands can be ordered today and will hit stores on September 20.

AirPods 4 and new AirPods Pro 2 Features

It looks like Apple heard many complaints about the fit of the previous-generation AirPods 3, as the newly-announced AirPods Pro 4 features an all-new design and what Apple says is an improved fit.

The AirPods 4 features enhanced sound quality, attributed to a completely new acoustic architecture and the incorporation of the H2 chip, which is also present in the AirPods Pro 2. Additionally, they include a force sensor button on the stem, akin to that of the AirPods Pro. The charging case for the AirPods 4 is more compact and supports USB-C charging.

For the first time, the open-ear AirPods 4 will offer a variant equipped with active noise cancellation (ANC). I am particularly curious to evaluate the effectiveness of ANC in this model, as I have not had the opportunity to use AirPods Pro extensively due to the silicone ear tips frequently dislodging from my ears.

The starting price for the AirPods 4 is $129, while the variant with ANC is priced at $179. Pre-orders are currently available, with in-store availability commencing on September 20.

AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Health Updates

Apple has also announced a few impressive new features aimed at aiding users who are hard of hearing and helping all users keep track of and protect their hearing.

For starters, AirPods Pro 2 will be receiving a new feature called hearing protection which provides passive noise reduction. This allows you to essentially use AirPods Pro 2 as earplugs while in an augmented transparency mode that actively reduces louder noises. Use cases would include live events like concerts or sporting events and Apple says because of the power of the H2 chip, AirPods Pro are able to protect your hearing while preserving the dynamic range of what’s around you.

Apple is also introducing a new clinical Hearing Test for AirPods Pro 2. Upon taking this test, Apple can create a profile of your overall hearing health that it then builds into how AirPods Pro 2 presents sound to you.

Plus, AirPods Pro 2 is now considered a clinical-grade hearing aid. “Using the personalized hearing profile from the Hearing Test…the feature enables personalized dynamic adjustments so users have the sounds around them boosted in real time,” Apple explains. “This helps users better engage in conversation and keeps them connected to the people and environment around them. With the incredible audio quality of AirPods Pro, the user’s personalized hearing profile is automatically applied to music, movies, games, and phone calls across their devices without needing to adjust any settings.”

All of the new hearing health features will be available for AirPods Pro 2 in a free software update when paired with iPhone or iPad running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18.

AirPods Max Gets New Colors, USB-C Charging

A series of incremental updates came to AirPods Max during the Apple Event, with USB-C added in, and a series of new colors coming to the updated headphones on September 20 for the same price of $549.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus

The latest iPhone 16 models are characterized by a range of new features, including vibrant color options, enhanced durability with tougher glass, redesigned buttons, the advanced A18 chip, improved battery performance, and upgrades to the primary camera.

A particularly striking new color introduced for the iPhone 16 is ultramarine, which beautifully blends shades of blue and purple. Additional color choices will include teal, pink, white, and black.

These new models will also feature an upgraded Ceramic Shield display glass, which Apple claims is twice as resilient as the glass found on any other smartphone.

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are equipped with the innovative A18 chip, specifically designed to support the new artificial intelligence capabilities associated with Apple Intelligence and iOS 18.1. The A18 chip boasts a 16-core neural engine, 17% increased memory bandwidth, a 6-core CPU, and a 5-core GPU. Importantly, this new chip facilitates hardware-accelerated ray tracing in gaming and offers enhanced energy efficiency.

According to Apple, the combination of the A18 chip and a larger battery in the iPhone 16 results in a significant enhancement in battery life.

One other notable new feature is the addition of the Action Button. Previously exclusive to the Pro models, the Action Button allows for quick access to a wide variety of functions and even custom shortcuts.

Upgraded Main Camera, New Camera Control Button

But the Action Button is the only new button on iPhone 16. There’s also a new Camera Control button. A press of this button opens the camera, but once the camera is open, the real magic of this button begins.

You may easily switch between being able to change different camera settings with a light tap of your finger. Pressing the light twice lets you change the settings that are accessible. You can glide your finger along the button to zoom in and out once you've located the setting you want to adjust, such as zoom. The button functions as a dedicated shutter button and can also be fully pressed to take a picture or begin a movie.

The Camera Capture button is set to incorporate an AI feature in the near future: by performing a long press, users will be able to access Visual Intelligence. This innovative Apple Intelligence capability enables users to take a photographs to obtain additional information regarding the subject in view. Furthermore, Visual Intelligence is expected to integrate with third-party AI services, including ChatGPT. During the keynote presentation, Apple demonstrated this functionality by showing how a long press on the Camera Capture button could facilitate assistance from ChatGPT for solving a math problem found in a textbook. It is anticipated that Visual Intelligence will be launched concurrently with other Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1.

In addition, Apple has enhanced the camera systems in the iPhone 16. The primary camera now features a 48MP "Fusion Camera." This upgraded 48MP sensor allows the iPhone 16 to reintroduce a 2X telephoto option through sensor cropping, which provides high-quality digital zoom. This technique is also utilized in the pro models, enabling the main camera to function at various focal lengths.

The ultrawide camera has also seen significant improvements in the iPhone 16. The 12MP sensor is now capable of capturing 2.6 times more light, and for the first time on non-Pro iPhones, the ultrawide camera supports close-up macro photography through Macro Mode.

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are priced starting at $799, with trade-in offers available up to $1,000. Pre-orders will commence at 5 a.m. PDT/8 a.m. EDT on Friday, September 13, with the devices becoming available on September 20.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max

The big news with Apple’s Pro iPhones this year is related to screen size, battery life, camera sensor upgrades, and new camera features.

The hardware specifications of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max remain consistent with those of the previous year's iPhone 15 models. However, due to the reduced bezels surrounding the display, the screen dimensions have expanded to 6.3 inches for the iPhone 16 Pro and 6.9 inches for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Similar to the standard iPhone 16 models, the Pro variants are equipped with the enhanced Ceramic Shield glass on the display, which is now twice as resilient.

In contrast to the non-Pro models that utilize the A18 chip, the iPhone 16 Pro models are powered by the more advanced A18 Pro chip. This second-generation 3nm chip features a 16-core Neural Engine, a 6-core GPU, and a 6-core CPU. The new chip offers a 17% improvement in overall system memory bandwidth and a 20% increase in GPU performance. Additionally, hardware-accelerated ray tracing is now twice as fast, allowing gamers to experience more stable frame rates. Apple claims that the A18 Pro CPU is 15% quicker than its predecessor while consuming 20% less power.

Like the iPhone 16 models, the new chip enhances battery longevity, with Apple stating that the iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts the longest battery life of any iPhone to date.

The starting price for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max is $999, with trade-in offers available up to $1,000. Pre-orders will commence at 5 a.m. PDT/8 a.m. EDT on Friday, September 13, with the devices becoming available on September 20.

Camera enhancements introduce additional professional features to the Pro models.

In line with the iPhone 16 models, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature a new Camera Control button, providing users with greater convenience and precision during photography.

Moreover, the Pro models are equipped with a new 48MP Fusion Camera as their primary lens. While the previous year's iPhone 15 Pro models also included a 48MP sensor, the new Fusion Camera delivers significant performance enhancements and innovative features.

To begin with, Apple asserts that the new quad-pixel sensor is both more powerful and efficient, capable of processing data at twice the speed of its predecessor, thus enabling remarkable zero shutter lag for 48MP ProRAW images.

The newly introduced sensor facilitates 4K video recording at 120 frames per second with Dolby Vision HDR. This combination represents the highest resolution and frame rate ever achieved on an iPhone and marks a significant milestone for smartphones. Additionally, this feature permits users to select frame rates post-capture, eliminating the need to preset the camera to 4K120 prior to recording.

The capability to shoot in 4K120 significantly elevates the already exceptional video quality offered by Apple’s iPhone Pro models. Users will still have the option to record video to external storage solutions, such as the cage-compatible, high-speed OWC Envoy Elektron, which offers capacities of up to 4TB, or the efficient and cost-effective OWC Envoy.

The advanced image signal processor integrated into the A18 Pro chip has also made frame-by-frame color grading in 4K120 possible.

Furthermore, Apple has enhanced the microphones on the new Pro models to support Spatial Audio capture and integrated audio mixing. Utilizing only the microphones on the camera, Apple claims that users can produce a professional-quality audio mix, allowing for a focus on on-camera subjects while minimizing distracting background noises. Vocal tracks can be positioned in the front channel, while ambient sounds can be directed to the surround channels. It is noteworthy that these audio mixing capabilities are entirely device-based, enabling quick adjustments within the Photos app after recording. The audio mixing functionalities are further refined through machine learning algorithms designed to mitigate unwanted sounds, such as wind noise.

In addition to its professional-grade features, Apple has enhanced and broadened the capabilities of its Photographic Styles function. The existing version of this feature is somewhat constrained, allowing users to adjust color temperature and contrast to create more dynamic appearances than a basic color filter, yet it lacks the extensive fine-tuning options that a Lightroom profile provides.

The updated Photographic Styles feature will enable iPhone photographers to make localized adjustments to color, highlights, and shadows in real-time. Apple has introduced a new control pad for modifying styles, along with an intensity slider for tone and color adjustments. Since these modifications are visible during the live preview, users can observe the effect of the style on their image before proceeding to edit. Once the photo is captured, the grading is fully applied but can be entirely reversed later if a different style or appearance is desired.

The ultrawide camera now boasts a 48MP sensor and the 5X zoom feature has been introduced to the iPhone 16 Pro. Although I had anticipated the 48MP sensor being integrated into the 5X zoom lens for the Pro models, Apple has opted to first implement the larger sensor in the ultrawide lens. This new ultrawide sensor incorporates quad-pixel technology with autofocus and improved low-light capabilities.

Moreover, enthusiasts of the smaller Pro models will appreciate that the 5X zoom feature is now available on both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max this year, rather than being exclusive to the Max model.

A Guided Tour of iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Pro By APPLE

Apple Intelligence

Initially unveiled at WWDC, Apple Intelligence is primarily characterized as a more private large language model that operates discreetly to enhance existing applications and functionalities. Reiterating several announcements from WWDC, Apple emphasized Intelligence's capability to analyze inboxes, providing summaries for emails and adjusting notifications to include summaries, with priority alerts positioned at the forefront. Declaring a "new era for Siri," Apple highlighted that the enhancements brought by Intelligence enable Siri to comprehend requests that may not be articulated clearly, guide users through specific tasks on the iPhone, and gain contextual awareness of activities occurring on the device.

Apple Intelligence is set to launch in beta in the United States this fall, with localized English versions expected in various markets by December. Additional languages, including Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish, are planned for release in 2025.

Furthermore, Apple introduced visual search, which is driven by Apple Intelligence. This feature merges reverse image search capabilities with text recognition, allowing users to add event details to their calendars from a photograph or retrieve information about a restaurant directly from an image of it.

Ultimately, a significant question arising from Apple's assertions regarding Intelligence's ability to enhance user experiences across various product lines is straightforward: Is Siri currently effective?

iOS 18 launching September 16

Through its beta release earlier this year, iOS 18 gave us a sneak peek at what to expect, however, its original launch without Apple Intelligence's capabilities wasn't all that great. Many of the most anticipated AI features, as previously mentioned, will not be available until later in 2024. However, iOS 18 still has some messaging and control center updates that you can review in detail here before its officially announced September 16 launch date. All iPhone models, including and excluding the iPhone XR and SE (second generation), are eligible for the update. A more thorough overview of your device's compatibility with iOS 18 can be found here.

Voice Memos with background music

Apple showed off a new feature for the Voice Memos app, which allows vocal tracks to be layered on top of pre-recorded music or instrumentals.

New macOS Sequoia launching September 16

In an untraditionally swift launch for its macOS updates, Apple announced that the update first showcased at WWDC 2024 will launch in a week.

Cheaper iPhones (in India) This is a surprise

Those who follow Apple in the United States are familiar with the pricing of the iPhone 16 lineup; however, in India, followers of the company will be able to take advantage of a reduction from the iPhone 15 lineup of around 15,000 rupees, or roughly $178. The price was previously influenced by a reduction for the 15 models in the nation, but it has since increased in tandem with Apple's development of local manufacture and India's removal of import levies on electronics.

If you want to check the full event please check this video.