Everything announced at Apple's fall event: iPhone 15, USB-C, Apple Watch Series 9 and more

Apple's 2023 iPhone event came and went almost in the blink of an eye. As always, the company had a bunch of new devices to show off during the "Wonderlust" showcase but thanks to long-standing rumors, there weren't too many major surprises. 

On the phone front, we have the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. There's no new iPhone SE just yet, unfortunately, while the rumored iPhone Ultra may join the lineup next year. Though it was widely expected, the biggest news is that Apple has ditched the Lightning port across the entire iPhone 15 lineup. USB-C is the way of things now. 

Elsewhere, we have an Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, along with AirPods that have a USB-C port in the charging case. In addition, we learned just when iOS 17, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17, watchOS 10 and macOS Sonoma will arrive. 

iPhone 15 and 15 Plus

Apple

As mentioned, Apple is sending the Lightning port sailing into the sunset. After gradually phasing out the port in favor of USB-C on iPad over the last few years, the company is making a more immediate switch with the iPhone 15 lineup. The European Union has forced Apple's hand here, due to legislation that requires mobile devices sold in the bloc to have a USB-C charging port. 

On the downside, that means the collection of Lightning cables, dongles and accessories you've amassed over the years will become less useful. On the other hand, there should be far greater compatibility of cables and other devices with the latest iPhones. It'll probably be easier for you to find a charging cable when you need one — the same cable can power up your Mac, iPad, iPhone or new AirPods Pro case. Those who still plug their phones into computers may be pleased, since USB-C data transfer rates are far faster than what Lightning cables are capable of. In a pinch, you can also charge your AirPods case or Apple Watch from your phone.

Apple hasn't changed the screen sizes of this year's iPhones. The base iPhone 15 and the Pro have 6.1-inch displays, while the Plus and Pro Max have 6.7-inch screens. 

The iPhone 15 has an all-new design with rounded edges, Apple said. The most obvious consequence of that is the dynamic island that debuted in the iPhone 14 Pro is coming to this year's entire lineup. There's a 2,000-nit Super Retina XDR display in the iPhone 15 that's twice as bright as the one on the iPhone 14. You'll get up to 1,600 nits of brightness while viewing Dolby Vision video and other HDR photos and videos.

Apple has introduced a new camera system to the iPhone 15 that includes a 48MP main camera, an ultrawide lens and TrueDepth front camera. With the rear cameras, you'll be able to take more details "next-generation portraits," Apple says. You won't have to manually switch to portrait mode either, since the phone's machine leaning capabilities will be able to tell when you're focusing on a person, according to Apple. You can even switch the focus to a different person after the fact when you're editing the image.

The iPhone 15 runs on the same A16 chip as the iPhone 14 Pro and it has a second-gen ultra wideband chip. Apple says the latter can help you find your friends' exact location when you're looking for them in a crowded place. The company also claims that the latest iPhone does a better job of filtering out background noise on calls.

If you're in a remote location and need roadside assistance, satellite connectivity can help you contact who you need to. You'll be able to use satellite connectivity to contact first responders in an emergency too.

The iPhone 15 is available in pink, yellow, green, blue and black. It starts at $799 and the iPhone 15 Plus starts at $899. Pre-orders start on September 15. Both phones will arrive in stores on September 22.

iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max

Apple

Apple has a significant change in store with the iPhone 15 Pro designs this year too: a titanium body for durability. That also makes these the lightest iPhone Pro models to date. Apple says the iPhone 15 Pro has the thinnest screen borders of any iPhone as well. Another interesting thing to note is that Apple says an updated internal architecture makes the device more repairable. 

Perhaps of more interest to many folks, however, is the introduction of an Action button on an iPhone for the first time. You can think of it as an upgraded mute switch. While you can still use it to put your phone in silent mode, you simply hold it down to activate Action button mode. 

As is the case on the Apple Watch Ultra, you can customize the Action button. You might set it to launch the camera app instantly, activate a voice recording, turn on an accessibility function or even trigger a shortcut. 

A new A17 Pro chip powers the latest iPhone Pro models. It's a 3nm chipset that has 19 billion transistors. It has a six-core CPU with two high-performances cores and four high-efficiency cores, along with a six-core GPU that supports hardware-accelerated ray-tracing that's four times faster than before, Apple claims. 

There's also a 16-core neural engine on the A17 Pro, along with dedicated ProRes engines, support for an always-on display. Video streaming should get an upgrade too, thanks to an AV1 video decoder. All of that power means that the iPhone 15 Pro can natively run modern AAA games such as Assassin's Creed Mirage, Death Stranding and Resident Evil Village.

As for the iPhone 15 Pro's camera system, that can capture 3D spatial videos that will be compatible with Apple Vision Pro headsets. What's more, if you opt for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, you'll get a 5x telephoto zoom lens with a 120mm focal length equivalent.

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max start at $999 and $1,199, respectively. Pre-orders open this Friday (September 15), and the phones will ship on September 22. We'll have a full review soon, but for now you can read some first impressions from Engadget's Deputy Reviews Editor, Cherlynn Low, who was on the ground in Cupertino on Tuesday.

Apple Watch Series 9

Apple

The major change in the Apple Watch Series 9 is an upgraded chipset. The S9 chip has 5.6 billion transistors and a GPU that Apple says is 30 percent faster than before. There's a four-core neural engine and machine learning capabilities that are up to twice as fast on those seen in the Series 8. 

These power more advanced Siri experiences, Apple says. Siri requests are now processed on-device, which should make them faster as Apple won't need to send them to the cloud and back. You'll be able to log and ask for health data with Siri too.

There's a second-gen ultra wideband chip to help you find a misplaced iPhone with more precision (as long as the phone has that chip too). The display reaches 2,000 nits, making it twice as bright as the Series 8 and as bright as the Apple Watch Ultra. The brightness can also drop as low as one nit, which should be useful for when you're at the movies and don't want to bother other people with the always-on display.

On top of that, Apple is introducing a new gesture called Double Tap. By tapping your thumb and index finger together twice, you'll carry out the primary action in an app — answering or ending a call, playing or pausing a song, stopping a timer and so on. The S9 chip's neural engine powers Double Tap (so don't expect to see it on earlier models) and the feature will be available in October. This builds on accessibility features that have been available on Apple Watch for some time.

The Apple Watch Series 9 starts at $399 for a GPS model and $499 if you want cellular connectivity. You can pre-order the new wearable today. It will ship on September 22. Cherlynn got hands-on with the two new watches, too — read her preview here.

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Apple

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has the same S9 SIP, Double Tap, on-device Siri and ultra wideband features as the Series 9. It has the same battery life as the first Ultra (up to 36 hours and 72 on low-power mode). That's despite having a far brighter display.

The screen is 50 percent brighter than the previous model at 3,000 nits. An ambient light sensor will be able to automatically switch the display to night mode.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 starts at $799 for GPS and cellular connectivity. Pre-orders go live today and it will ship on September 22.

Software

Apple

Those of you who aren't convinced about getting the latest iPhone or Apple Watch won't miss out on all the new stuff entirely. More features are coming to recent iPhones and Watches thanks to iOS 17 and watchOS 10, both of which will drop on September 18. 

That's not all, though. Apple has announced that iPadOS 17 and tvOS 17 will arrive on September 18 as well. As for those of you with an Apple desktop or laptop, you can upgrade your operating system to macOS Sonoma on September 26.

Follow all of the news live from Apple's 'Wonderlust' event right here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/everything-announced-apple-event-2023-iphone-15-usb-c-apple-watch-series-9-200111503.html?src=rss

Everything announced at today's Apple event: iPhone 15, USB-C, Apple Watch Series 9 and more

Apple's 2023 iPhone event came and went almost in the blink of an eye. As always, the company had a bunch of new devices to show off during the "Wonderlust" showcase but thanks to long-standing rumors, there weren't too many major surprises. 

On the phone front, we have the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. There's no new iPhone SE just yet, unfortunately, while the rumored iPhone Ultra may join the lineup next year. Though it was widely expected, the biggest news is that Apple has ditched the Lightning port across the entire iPhone 15 lineup. USB-C is the way of things now.

Elsewhere, we have an Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, along with AirPods that have a USB-C port in the charging case. In addition, we learned just when iOS 17, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17, watchOS 10 and macOS Sonoma will arrive. 

iPhone 15 and 15 Plus

Apple

As mentioned, Apple is sending the Lightning port sailing into the sunset. After gradually phasing out the port in favor of USB-C on iPad over the last few years, the company is making a more immediate switch with the iPhone 15 lineup. The European Union has forced Apple's hand here, due to legislation that requires mobile devices sold in the bloc to have a USB-C charging port. 

On the downside, that means the collection of Lightning cables, dongles and accessories you've amassed over the years will become less useful. On the other hand, there should be far greater compatibility of cables and other devices with the latest iPhones. It'll probably be easier for you to find a charging cable when you need one — the same cable can power up your Mac, iPad, iPhone or new AirPods Pro case. Those who still plug their phones into computers may be pleased, since USB-C data transfer rates are far faster than what Lightning cables are capable of. In a pinch, you can also charge your AirPods case of Apple Watch from your phone.

Apple hasn't changed the screen sizes of this year's iPhones. The base iPhone 15 and the Pro have 6.1-inch displays, while the Plus and Pro Max have 6.7-inch screens. 

The iPhone 15 has an all-new design with rounded edges, Apple said. The most obvious consequence of that is the dynamic island that debuted in the iPhone 14 Pro is coming to this year's entire lineup. There's a 2,000-nit Super Retina XDR display in the iPhone 15 that's twice as bright as the one on the iPhone 14. You'll get up to 1,600 nits of brightness while viewing Dolby Vision video and other HDR photos and videos.

Apple has introduced a new camera system to the iPhone 15 that includes a 48MP main camera, an ultrawide lens and TrueDepth front camera. With the rear cameras, you'll be able to take more details "next-generation portraits," Apple says. You won't have to manually switch to portrait mode either, since the phone's machine leaning capabilities will be able to tell when you're focusing on a person, according to Apple. You can even switch the focus to a different person after the fact when you're editing the image.

The iPhone 15 runs on the same A16 chip as the iPhone 14 Pro and it has a second-gen ultra wideband chip. Apple says the latter can help you find your friends' exact location when you're looking for them in a crowded place. The company also claims that the latest iPhone does a better job of filtering out background noise on calls.

If you're in a remote location and need roadside assistance, satellite connectivity can help you contact who you need to. You'll be able to use satellite connectivity to contact first responders in an emergency too.

The iPhone 15 is available in pink, yellow, green, blue and black. It starts at $799 and the iPhone 15 Plus starts at $899. Pre-orders start on September 15. Both phones will arrive in stores on September 22.

iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max

Apple

Apple has a significant change in store with the iPhone 15 Pro designs this year too: a titanium body for durability. That also makes these the lightest iPhone Pro models to date. Apple says the iPhone 15 Pro has the thinnest screen borders of any iPhone as well. Another interesting thing to note is that Apple says an updated internal architecture makes the device more repairable. 

Perhaps of more interest to many folks, however, is the introduction of an Action button on an iPhone for the first time. You can think of it as an upgraded mute switch. While you can still use it to put your phone in silent mode, you simply hold it down to activate Action button mode. 

As is the case on the Apple Watch Ultra, you can customize the Action button. You might set it to launch the camera app instantly, activate a voice recording, turn on an accessibility function or even trigger a shortcut. 

A new A17 Pro chip powers the latest iPhone Pro models. It's a 3nm chipset that has 19 billion transistors. It has a six-core CPU with two high-performances cores and four high-efficiency cores, along with a six-core GPU that supports hardware-accelerated ray-tracing that's four times faster than before, Apple claims. 

There's also a 16-core neural engine on the A17 Pro, along with dedicated ProRes engines, support for an always-on display. Video streaming should get an upgrade too, thanks to an AV1 video decoder. All of that power means that the iPhone 15 Pro can natively run modern AAA games such as Assassin's Creed Mirage, Death Stranding and Resident Evil Village.

As for the iPhone 15 Pro's camera system, that can capture 3D spatial videos that will be compatible with Apple Vision Pro headsets. What's more, if you opt for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, you'll get a 5x telephoto zoom lens with a 120mm focal length equivalent.

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max start at $999 and $1,199, respectively. Pre-orders open this Friday (September 15), and the phones will ship on September 22.

Apple Watch Series 9

Apple

The major change in the Apple Watch Series 9 is an upgraded chipset. The S9 chip has 5.6 billion transistors and a GPU that Apple says is 30 percent faster than before. There's a four-core neural engine and machine learning capabilities that are up to twice as fast on those seen in the Series 8. 

These power more advanced Siri experiences, Apple says. Siri requests are now processed on-devicem which should make them faster as Apple doesn't need to send them to the cloud and back. You'll be able to log and ask for health data with Siri too.

There's a second-gen ultra wideband chip to help you find a misplaced iPhone with more precision (as long as the phone has that chip too). The display reaches 2,000 nits, making it twice as bright as the Series 8 and as bright as the Apple Watch Ultra. The brightness can also drop as low as one nit, which should be useful for when you're at the movies and don't want to bother other people with the always-on display.

On top of that, Apple is introducing a new gesture called Double Tap. By tapping your thumb and index finger together twice, you'll carry out the primary action in an app — answering or ending a call, playing or pausing a song, stopping a timer and so on. The S9 chip's neural engine powers Double Tap (so don't expect to see it on earlier models) and the feature will be available in October. This builds on accessibility features that have been available on Apple Watch for some time.

The Apple Watch Series 9 starts at $399 for a GPS model and $499 if you want cellular connectivity. You can pre-order the new wearable today. It will ship on September 22.

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Apple

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has the same S9 SIP, Double Tap, on-device Siri and ultra wideband features as the Series 9. It has the same battery life as the first Ultra (up to 36 hours and 72 on low-power mode). That's despite having a far brighter display.

The screen is 50 percent brighter than the previous model at 3,000 nits. An ambient light sensor will be able to automatically switch the display to night mode.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 starts at $799 for GPS and cellular connectivity. Pre-orders go live today and it will ship on September 22.

Software

Apple

Those of you who aren't convinced about getting the latest iPhone or Apple Watch won't miss out on all the new stuff entirely. More features are coming to recent iPhones and Watches thanks to iOS 17 and watchOS 10, both of which will drop on September 18. 

That's not all, though. Apple has announced that iPadOS 17 and tvOS 17 will arrive on September 18 as well. As for those of you with an Apple desktop or laptop, you can upgrade your operating system to macOS Sonoma on September 26.

Follow all of the news live from Apple's 'Wonderlust' event right here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/everything-announced-at-todays-apple-event-iphone-15-usb-c-apple-watch-series-9-and-more-200111613.html?src=rss

Apple used 'tetraprisms' to cram a 120mm lens into the iPhone 15 Pro Max

One of the main benefits of Apple's "pro" iPhones is the camera rig, which somehow gets pretty significant improvements every year. The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are no exception. As they've done for several years now, both phones sport three-lens arrays, but there are a handful of noteworthy details this year, particularly for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. 

For the first time, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a "5X" optical zoom, with a 120mm focal length equivalent. That's significantly longer than the 3X 77mm focal length that you find on the standard iPhone 15 Pro (as well as both of last year's 14 Pro phones). It has a 25 percent larger sensor than the 3X camera in the 14 Pro Max while keeping an f/2.8 aperture, which Apple says is the largest of any smartphone in this optical range. 

Usually, longer telephoto lenses are literally longer in physical space, as well. To get around this, Apple is using what it calls a "tetraprism" design. Light rays are reflected four times through the glass which lets the light travel for longer without needing a physically larger design. There's a more advanced image stabilization system on board as well, something necessary when shooting at longer focal lengths. Of course, we're going to want to try this camera out to see how it performs, but it sounds like an impressive upgrade for anyone buying the iPhone 15 Pro Max — if you're an avid smartphone photographer, these changes alone might make the Max worth buying over the smaller model.

A number of other updates are coming to both Pro-level iPhones. The "main" camera is 48 megapixels again, but advances in using that resolution will allow you to shoot with that main lens at your choice of three effective focal lengths: 24mm, 28mm and 35mm. You can choose your preferred setting and set it as your default. You won't typically output photos at the full 48-megapixel resolution — Apple combines pixels to improve low-light performances and the default output will be 24 megapixels. But if you'd rather use the full resolution, you can shoot in 48-megapixel ProRAW format, or in HEIF for a file that's smaller and more easily shareable. 

As with last year's cameras, the "main" shooter can also use the center of that 48-megapixel sensor to give you effective 2X zoom photos at 12 megapixels. And the smaller iPhone 13 Pro retains the 3X optical lens. 

Naturally, there are software improvements all throughout the iPhone's photo processing system, which Apple calls the Photonic Engine. That includes things like better low-light performance, improved HDR, continuous zoom when shooting portraits, the ability adjust portrait focus after the photo has been shot, improved dynamic range and more. But one of the ones that'll be immediately obvious is the iPhone automatically switches into Portrait mode when focusing on a human or pet, saving you the step of having to decide to activate it. 

While most of the camera improvements this year focused on photos, there is a big video change directly tied to a future Apple device. Later this year, the iPhone 15 Pro lineup will be able to shoot spatial video that can be viewed on the upcoming Vision Pro headset. These are essentially 3D videos shot using both the ultra-wide and main camera sensors to give a more immersive experience when using Apple's headset. Obviously, very few of us have had the chance to see how this works, but it's a smart way for Apple to get people shooting videos that'll presumably look compelling on the Vision Pro. 

While the standard iPhone 15 received a more modest set of upgrades, there's still a few things worth noting. The main camera sensor has been upgraded to 48 megapixels. This means that you can get a 2X zoom on the standard iPhone 15 for the first time, as it can crop into the center of the sensor and produce a 12-megapixel image without the degradation you get from digital zoom. You'll also get 24-megapixel images that combine pixels to improve low light and detail while still offering manageable file sizes. These are good improvements for people who don't want to think too much about the finer points of iPhone photography — but if you want more control over your images, the Pro models remain the best choice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-used-tetraprisms-to-cram-a-120mm-lens-into-the-iphone-15-pro-max-195545915.html?src=rss

iCloud+ adds new 6TB and 12TB storage tiers

Apple snuck in a significant change to iCloud data storage near the end of its “Wonderlust” iPhone 15 event. The company added two new iCloud+ storage tiers: 6TB ($30 / month) and 12TB ($60 / month).

The 6TB and 12TB cloud storage tiers join the existing 50GB, 200GB and 2TB plans currently available. Greg Joswiak, the company’s marketing VP, said during the keynote that the higher-capacity options will provide “even more room to keep your photos and videos safe,” as Apple targets professional photographers and filmmakers who need extra space.

“The new plans are great for users with large photo and video libraries or those using Family Sharing, and will provide access to premium features, including Private Relay, Hide My Email, Custom Email Domains, and HomeKit Secure Video support,” the iPhone maker wrote today.

Apple says the plans will arrive next week, and they aren’t yet available to purchase on the iOS 17 betas. The current iCloud+ monthly payment options are $0.99 for 50GB, $2.99 for 200GB and $9.99 for 2TB. (Free users get 5GB with their account.) The monthly cost for Google’s 5TB and 10TB plans cost $25 and $50, respectively, putting them in the same echelon as Apple’s. Meanwhile, Dropbox’s per-month pricing is more aggressive at $15 for 5TB and $24 for 15TB.

Follow all of the news live from Apple's 'Wonderlust' event right here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/icloud-adds-new-6tb-and-12tb-storage-tiers-194853580.html?src=rss

The most common oral decongestant in the US does not work, FDA finds

An FDA medical advisory panel ruled that phenylephrine (PE), a key ingredient in many over-the-counter cold medications, does not actually work to treat nasal congestion when taken orally at the recommended 10 mg dose every 4 hours. Phenylephrine was last evaluated for over-the-counter use as an oral and intranasal decongestant in 1976, according to the panel. If you're keeping score at home, that means many of the OTC decongestants consumers in the US have been buying for nearly the last 50 years were, according to the FDA, "failed to provide any benefit over [a] placebo."

This determination will impact drug makers that use PE as an active ingredient, which can be found in Sudafed, Vicks Sinex, and Benadryl Allergy Plus Congestion, for example.

As part of the panel’s review, the FDA reported that in 2022, an estimated 242 million packages of OTC cough and allergy oral products containing PE were sold in retail stores, which raked in about $1.8 billion in sales. It even notes that the true extent of use of PE-containing cold products is likely underestimated because retail sales data does not “capture sales activity from Costco, convenience stores, specialty stores, internet sales, phone sales, or kiosks.”

The FDA will now need to determine if it will revoke PE’s oral OTC designation as “safe and effective.” Without that designation, drug makers may see their products removed from stores.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-most-common-oral-decongestant-in-the-us-does-not-work-fda-finds-193003406.html?src=rss

Apple iPhone 15 vs the competition: Goodbye Lightning, hello USB-C

After the usual flurry of rumors, we now know exactly what Apple is packing into the new iPhone 15. We also know models start at $799 and are up for pre-order starting this Friday with availability on September 22. The headline feature is the charging port: now all iPhone 15 models have USB-C instead of the old Lightning port (thanks, European Union). Other changes include the introduction of the Dynamic Island, previously reserved for Apple's Pro-level handsets only. Around back, the dual cameras incorporate a 48MP lens and a 12MP telephoto cam with a 2x optical zoom. And now Portrait Mode is enabled automatically, letting you apply the effect later, or not at all. It's all powered by the A16 Bionic chip, previously found in the iPhone 14 Pro models of the previous generation. 

If you're intrigued by that USB-C port and are in the market for a new iPhone, you may want to compare Apple's newest handset to the latest, most similar models: Samsung's Galaxy S23 and Google's Pixel 7. Here's a side-by-side comparison of all three of the major flagship phones: 

Apple iPhone 15 vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Google Pixel 7 

Apple iPhone 15

Samsung Galaxy S23

Google Pixel 7

Pricing

Starts at $799

Starts at $700

Starts at $599

Release date

September 22, 2023

Feb 17, 2023

October 13, 2022

Dimensions

5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 in

(147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm)

5.76 x 2.79 x 0.30 in

(146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm)

6.13 x 2.88 x 0.34 in

(155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7 mm)

Weight

6.02 oz

(171 g)

5.93 oz

(168 g)

6.95 oz

(197 g)

Operating system

iOS

Android

Android

Screen size

6.1 in

6.1 in

6.3 in

Screen resolution

2556 x 1179 at 460ppi

2340 x 1080 at 425ppi

2400 x 1080 at 416ppi

Screen type (refresh rate)

Super Retina XDR display

Dynamic AMOLED 2X (120Hz)

OLED (90Hz)

Processor

A16 Bionic chip

Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

Tensor G2

Water and dust resistance

IP68

IP68

IP68

Battery

not listed

3900mAh

4355mAh

RAM

not listed

8GB

8GB

Internal storage

128GB / 256GB / 512GB

128GB / 256GB

128GB / 256GB

Rear camera(s)

Two cameras:

Main: 48MP, ƒ/1.6 aperture

Wide, 2x optical zoom: 12MP, ƒ/2.4 aperture

Three cameras:

Wide: 50MP, ƒ/1.8 aperture

Ultrawide: 12MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture

Telephoto: 10MP, ƒ/2.4 aperture

Two cameras:

Wide: 50MP, ƒ/1.85 aperture

Ultrawide: 12MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture

Video capture

4K x 60 fps

8K at 30 fps

4K at 60 fps

Front camera

12MP, ƒ/1.9 aperture

12MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture

10.8MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 6

Wi-Fi 6E

Wi-Fi 6E

Charging

20W fast charging, 15W wireless

25W fast charging, 12W wireless

20W fast charging, 20W wireless

Connector

USB-C 2

UCB-C

USB-C

Follow all of the news live from Apple's 'Wonderlust' event right here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-iphone-15-vs-the-competition-goodbye-lightning-hello-usb-c-192629676.html?src=rss

The Apple Watch Series 9 vs. the competition: Same design, more power

Apple unveiled the new Apple Watch Series 9 on Tuesday. The main upgrade is a new S9 chipset, which includes the wearable's first real CPU upgrade since the Series 6 in 2020 and helps enable features like a "double tap" gesture for controlling parts of apps hands-free. There's also a brighter display, a new neural engine, a fresh pink colorway and, according to Apple's product listing, a more expansive 64GB of storage. Designwise, however, the new watch looks much like the old ones.

Should you upgrade? We'll have to review the Series 9 to see, but for now, we've laid out how the new wearable compares to a couple top rivals, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and the Google Pixel Watch, on the spec sheet. Specs can't tell the whole story, of course: WatchOS and Wear OS are different beasts, and many of Apple's biggest updates this year are software-based. Plus, just because two watches have similar sensors doesn't mean they're equally accurate. But if you're curious about what your money gets you in 2023, here's how the Series 9's hardware stacks up.

There is a caveat to this, as Google has already confirmed that a new Pixel Watch will arrive in October. That one will come with better water resistance and, in all likelihood, an improved chipset. That said, we won't have full rundown of its specs until next month, and Google's sneak preview suggests it'll be similar to the existing model physically.

Apple Watch Series 9

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

Google Pixel Watch

Pricing (MSRP)

41mm Aluminum: $399

45mm Aluminum: $429

41mm Stainless steel: $699

45mm Stainless steel: $749

40mm: $299.99

44mm: $329.99

$349.99

Dimensions

41mm: 1.61 x 1.38 x 0.42 inches

45mm: 1.77 x 1.50 x 0.42 inches

40mm: 1.53 x 1.59 x 0.35 inches

44mm: 1.69 x 1.75 x 0.35 inches

41mm: 1.61 x 1.61 x 0.48 inches

Weight (approx.)

41mm Aluminum: 1.13 ounces

45mm Aluminum: 1.37 ounces

41mm Stainless steel: 1.49 ounces

45mm Stainless steel: 1.82 ounces

40mm: 1.02 ounces

44mm: 1.16 ounces

1.27 ounces

Case material

Aluminum or Stainless steel

Aluminum (Stainless steel on Galaxy Watch 6 Classic)

Stainless steel

Display size

41mm: 1.69 inches

45mm: 1.9 inches

40mm: 1.31 inches

44mm: 1.47 inches

1.2 inches

Display resolution / pixel density

41mm: 430 x 352, 326 ppi

45mm: 484 x 396, 326 ppi

40mm: 432 x 432, 330 ppi

44mm: 480 x 480, 327 ppi

320 ppi

Display type

LTPO OLED

Aluminum: Ion-X glass

Stainless steel: Sapphire crystal glass

Super AMOLED

Sapphire crystal glass

AMOLED

Corning Gorilla Glass 5

Display brightness

Up to 2,000 nits

Up to 2,000 nits

Up to 1,000 nits

Chipset

Apple S9 (dual-core)

Exynos W930 (dual-core, 5 nm)

Exynos 9110 (dual-core, 10 nm)

Storage

64GB

16GB

32GB

Battery life (claimed)

Up to 18 hours / up to 36 hours in Low Power Mode

Up to 40 hours with always-on display (AOD) off / up to 30 hours with AOD on

40mm: 300mAh

44mm: 425mAh

Up to 24 hours

294mAh

Wireless charging

Yes, via proprietary standard

Yes, via WPC-based chargers

10W

Not officially supported

Water resistance

Up to 50 meters, IP6X dust resistance

IP68, 5 ATM

5 ATM

GPS

GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS

GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo

GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo

Health features

Optical heart rate sensor, blood oxygen measurements, temperature sensor, ECG app, sleep tracking, irregular heart rhythm notifications

Optical heart rate sensor, blood oxygen measurements, temperature sensor, ECG app, sleep tracking, irregular heart rhythm notifications, bioelectrical impedance analysis sensor

Optical heart rate sensor, overnight blood oxygen measurements, Fitbit ECG app, sleep tracking

Wi-Fi

802.11 b/g/n

802.11 a/b/g/n

802.11 b/g/n

Bluetooth

v5.3

v5.3

v5.0

NFC

Yes

Yes

Yes

OS

watchOS 10

Wear OS 4, One UI 5 Watch

Wear OS 3.5

Case colors

Aluminum: Pink, Starlight, Midnight, Silver, Product Red

Stainless steel: Gold, Silver, Graphite

Graphite, Gold

Champagne Gold, Matte Black, Polished Silver

Other features

Always-on display, ultra-wideband chip, fall detection, crash detection, emergency SOS, optional 4G LTE (standard with stainless steel model), altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope

Always-on display, fall detection, emergency SOS, optional 4G LTE, altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope

Always-on display, Fitbit integration, fall detection, emergency SOS, optional 4G LTE, altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-apple-watch-series-9-vs-the-competition-same-design-more-power-191333859.html?src=rss

The iPhone 15 Pro can take 3D spatial videos for Vision Pro users

Apple just teased an interesting feature for the just-announced iPhone 15 Pro line of smartphones. Thanks to the redesigned camera system and the addition of the powerful A17 Pro CPU, these phones can shoot 3D spatial videos and photos which can then be viewed by using the forthcoming Apple Vision Pro mixed-reality headset.

When Apple unveiled the Vision Pro, it spent some time on the notion of spatial videos and photos. Basically, these are completely three-dimensional experiences that you can relive by donning the headset. For instance, if you make a spatial video of your daughter’s birthday party, you can wear the Vision Pro and relive the day, as the operating system makes it feel like you're back in the moment.

Apple announces Spatial Video #AppleEvent

Capture 3D spatial videos on your iPhone 15 Pro & relive them with Apple Vision Pro, coming later this year pic.twitter.com/qNN6BIXAAQ

— GYX Deals (@GYXdeals) September 12, 2023

However, the company hadn’t detailed an easy way for consumers to make these videos, until now. You point and shoot a video and let the beefy iPhone 15 Pro do the rest, eventually sending the footage onto a Vision Pro once it releases. Additionally, you’ll be able to use the headset itself to capture these moments, but that’ll be at the expense of, you know, actually experiencing the moment.

During today’s iPhone-centric fall event, Apple CEO Tim Cook once again confirmed that the Vision Pro is all set for a release in the beginning months of 2024, so start saving up for the $3,500 device. The iPhone 15 Pro, for its part, starts at $1,000 for the bare-bones model.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-iphone-15-pro-can-take-3d-spatial-videos-for-vision-pro-users-185251737.html?src=rss

Apple discontinues the iPhone 13 mini, its last small phone worth owning

The writing was on the wall for the iPhone mini series last year, when Apple went to a bigger Plus size of the iPhone 14 instead of the mini model it offered for the iPhone 12 and 13. But now, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 13 mini entirely, a tough blow for those of us who like smaller phones. 

First introduced in the fall of 2020, the iPhone 12 mini had the same specs as the bigger iPhone 12 but with a smaller battery and smaller 5.4-inch screen. People who love small phones rejoiced, as it's been increasingly difficult to buy a phone with a screen less than 6 inches — but analysts were quickly stating that iPhone 12 mini sales were not up to par. Apple still released an iPhone 13 mini in 2021, but last year decided that a bigger phone made more sense. 

The iPhone 13 mini stuck around for another year, but now has been stricken from the portfolio. The iPhone SE remains as a relatively compact device, but with a much smaller and lower-quality display than the mini offered. Maybe tastes will shift and we'll come back around to a time when a smaller phone is in demand, but my guess is it won't happen any time soon. 

Follow all of the news live from Apple's 'Wonderlust' event right here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-discontinues-the-iphone-13-mini-its-last-small-phone-worth-owning-184836048.html?src=rss

macOS Sonoma arrives on September 26

Apple's next desktop overhaul is almost ready to download. macOS Sonoma will be available on September 26 as a free update for users with a compatible Mac device, the company announced at its annual fall event today. As is typically the case with desktop software upgrades, a lot of the improvements are under the hood. However, changes to widgets, high-resolution video screensavers and other items mean there's plenty of new stuff to try.

One of the more notable changes is that widgets are now available on the main desktop area. Sure, it's not the most thrilling of updates, but it will be handy to have things like weather and upcoming calendar events just a glance away. Apple is also adding high-res video screensavers to macOS, something akin to what's been available on Apple TV. The motion continues on your lock screen, but once you've signed in, that all settles into a still image. 

There are upgrades for video chat apps like FaceTime too. New gestures will trigger effects over top of your camera feed while presenter overlays allow you to be present while you're sharing your screen. When it comes to Safari, any website can now be transformed into a web app and the browser supports multiple profiles for things like work and personal use. There's also a new Game Mode that prioritizes your computer's power during those sessions and both Memoji and Stickers now sync across all of your iCloud-connected devices.  

Follow all of the news live from Apple's 'Wonderlust' event right here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/macos-sonoma-arrives-on-september-26-184116109.html?src=rss