BENGALURU: Apple unveiled its much-anticipated iPhone 16 series, which comprises the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, alongside the Watch Series 10, a new Watch Ultra, and an updated AirPods lineup at its Apple Glowtime Event 2024..
The launch marks a significant milestone in Apple’s trajectory, as superior technological advancements have been incorporated, likely influencing consumer purchasing decisions.
The iPhone 16 series, available for pre-order from September 13 and set for official sale on September 20, is poised to dominate the market.
The standard models, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, have received notable upgrades that enhance their appeal. Both devices feature an elegant design crafted from “aerospace-grade aluminum” and are adorned with a new colour-infused backglass, available in shades of ultramarine, teal, pink, white, and black.
The iPhone 16 boasts a 6.1-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Plus sports a substantial 6.7-inch screen. With exceptional peak brightness of 2000 nits and the capability to dim to as low as 1 nit in shadowy environments, these models promise a visually impressive experience.
The iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch display while the iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts a 6.9-inch screen, the largest ever on an iPhone.
Both models have thinner borders and always-on 120Hz ProMotion displays. The Pro models are available in Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and a new Desert Titanium colour.
Both models are powered by the advanced A18 Pro chipset, built on 2nd-gen 3nm transistors. Apple claims the new chip features a 6-core GPU, running 20 per cent faster than the A17 Pro.
It has 2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, delivering up to 15 per cent faster performance while using 20 per cent less power. The A18 Pro also includes next-gen machine learning accelerators, faster USB 3 speeds, and ProRes video recording support.
A groundbreaking addition to the standard iPhone 16 models is the Action Button, which grants users rapid access to various functions such as recording voice memos, identifying songs, or translating phrases.
The customisable nature of this feature allows for shortcuts and in-app functionalities like car locking via the FordPass app. Furthermore, the introduction of an innovative camera control button provides enhanced photography capabilities, allowing users to capture images and videos with an unprecedented level of ease and precision.
This button, protected by sapphire glass, supports advanced touch gestures that facilitate an intuitive user experience.
Powerful chipset
Underpinning the performance of the iPhone 16 is Apple’s latest A18 chip, constructed using second-generation 3nm technology.
The powerful chipset, featuring a 6-core CPU with a combination of efficiency and performance cores, promises a notable 30 percent increase in performance over its predecessor, the A16 Bionic. Alongside this upgrade, the iPhone 16 series is equipped with a robust camera system.
The 48-megapixel main camera integrates both 48MP and 12MP photographs into clearer 24MP images. Additionally, a new 12MP ultra-wide camera, with larger apertures and improved light sensitivity, ensures sharper imagery.
Among the highlights of the iPhone 16 series is the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) functionality, designed to generate and comprehend languages and visuals seamlessly. Apple assures consumers that this data is processed within a framework focused on user privacy, utilizing private cloud computing and verifiable privacy protocols.
Pricing for the iPhone 16 series reflects Apple’s positioning in the premium smartphone market. The iPhone 16 is offered at a starting price of $799 (approximately Rs67,000), with the iPhone 16 Plus priced at $899 (around Rs75,500).
The Pro models, reflecting their advanced features, commence at $999 (or about Rs83,870 for the iPhone 16 Pro) and can reach up to Rs1,44,900 for the iPhone 16 Pro Max in India.
AirPods 4
The AirPods 4, equipped with the cutting-edge H2 chip, represent a significant advancement in Apple’s auditory offerings. This new chip empowers the AirPods 4 to deliver superior audio quality with enhanced low-end bass and clearer treble.
Such improvements cater to audiophiles and casual listeners alike, ensuring an immersive listening experience that transcends previous models. A standout feature of the AirPods 4 is the inclusion of Personalised Spatial Audio, which allows users to enjoy a more three-dimensional soundstage tailored to their hearing preferences.
The feature is emblematic of Apple’s ongoing focus on personalization, catering to individual user experiences in a way that is both innovative and accessible.
Moreover, the AirPods 4 are presented in a compact USB-C case, reflecting a broader industry shift towards this universal charging standard. Priced at $129, with a noise−cancelling variant available $179, these earbuds offer a compelling balance of quality and affordability.
In conjunction with these new releases, Apple has also updated its AirPods Max line, now available in eye-catching colours such as midnight, blue, purple, orange, and starlight. Priced at $549, the AirPods Max continue to cater to premium segment consumers while enhancing their aesthetic appeal.
Apple Watch Series 10
On the wearable technology front, the Apple Watch Series 10 emerges as a paradigm of innovation and practicality.
Featuring a larger and brighter OLED display that is 40 per cent brighter and 10 per cent thinner, this new iteration emphasises visibility and design refinement, making it more user-friendly in diverse lighting conditions.
The Series 10 introduces polished Titanium, transitioning from stainless steel, thereby elevating both the look and feel of the device. This adaptation not only enhances aesthetics but also aligns with Apple’s sustainability initiatives by incorporating more durable materials.
Furthermore, the Series 10 is powered by the new S10 chipset, which includes a 4-core Neural Engine, augmenting the device’s processing capabilities and overall performance. Significantly, this model incorporates advanced health-tracking features, most notably sleep apnea detection.
The innovative functionality is a crucial addition, as it leverages the enhanced ECG capabilities of the smartwatch to provide critically needed health insights for users, reflecting a growing trend in wearables towards comprehensive health monitoring.
Interestingly, these health-focused capabilities are not limited to Series 10; the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 will also adopt sleep apnea tracking, thus expanding the health frontier across Apple’s smartwatch ecosystem.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2, while remaining largely unchanged in terms of function, is now available in a new Satin Black Titanium colorway, adding to the allure of this high-performance device. The subtle refinement caters to consumers who value aesthetics alongside functionality, reinforcing Apple’s core philosophy of combining beauty with utility.
