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 

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

The Backbone One has become a favorite mobile gaming controller for iPhone, Android and PlayStation over the last few years. Now, Backbone has announced that its beloved $100 controller (yes, even the Android-specific version!) will be compatible with the upcoming iPhone 15.

The good news is that playing with an iPhone 15 doesn't require buying a new controller. Anyone with a Backbone USB-C product needs to have the company's app downloaded to receive the automatic update adding its "patent-pending universal technology." This should then make all USB-C Backbone One controllers — including the PlayStation Edition — compatible with Android devices and the iPhone 15. All new USB-C Backbone One controllers purchased should also work across the devices.

The announcement comes on the same day as Apple's iPhone 15 launch, which has been largely anticipated (and seemingly confirmed by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman) to have USB-C compatibility — finally replacing the longstanding lightning port. This shift is the critical factor in allowing this Backbone One crossover to occur, but it isn't a change Apple necessarily wanted. The European Union is mandating that any new phones, portable speakers, tablets and many related devices sold in the region must have a USB-C charging port by the end of 2024. The bloc's rationale is that the regulation will reduce e-waste, though lightning port users might first have to buy a new charger.

Apple held its annual iPhone event on Tuesday, dubbed "Wonderlust" for 2023. Alongside the new iPhone 15 and next generation Apple Watch, the company announced that iOS 17, which the new generation of devices will use, will be available as a free software update on Monday, September 18. 

The public preview for iOS 17 has been available for download since June and has already shown off a number of design refinements including user-definable outgoing call screens so you can pick what people see when you call them and an option to send incoming calls to voicemail and read a transcription of them instead. Users will also be able to send quick voice or video messages if someone doesn't pick up their Facetime calls as well as mute/unmute themselves through their AirPods. The system's spellcheck has also been improved for fewer "ducking" autocorrects.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

The iPhone 15 Pro is getting a performance boost thanks to a new chipset. That's not too much of a surprise since Apple upgrades its phones' components every year. One thing we didn't expect, however, is the games that the A17 Pro will be able to support. 

Apple said during its iPhone event that Resident Evil Village, this year's Resident Evil 4 remake, Death Stranding and the upcoming Assassin's Creed Mirage are all coming to its mobile devices soon. As Apple notes, this will be the first time that a console-level Assassin's Creed game will be available natively on iPhone. Expect to see Mirage on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max in the first half of next year. The other three games will be available on the devices by the end of 2023.

Apple seems to be making a bit more of a push into games lately, after bringingRE Village and No Man's Sky to Mac last year, followed by Death Stranding. Whether folks will be willing to play (or pay full price for) major titles like these on iPhone is a different matter. The fact Apple is getting major publishers like Capcom and Ubisoft onboard for its gaming endeavors is certainly notable, though, especially as we look toward the debut of the Apple Vision Pro.

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

September typically brings crisper weather and new iPhones, and this year is no different. Apple unveiled the new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro today, and as rumors suggested, the company has finally done away with its storied Lightning port in favor of a USB-C connector. While iPhone 15 models now support the Dynamic Island and come in fun colors, the iPhone 15 Pro handsets sport titanium designs and the new A17 Pro processor. Apple also revealed the latest models of its wearable, the Apple Watch and the Apple Watch Ultra, both of which sport an upgraded chipset for better performance. Here's everything you need to know about how to pre-order the new iPhone 15 and 15 Pro, along with everything else Apple announced today.

Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus

The latest iteration of the iPhone looks much the same as the previous model, with the biggest difference being the new USB-C charging port on its bottom edge that replaces the age-old Lightning port. The USB-C ports support charging and data transfer, and practically, they allow users to power up most of their Apple devices — think MacBooks, iPads and now iPhone — using the same cable.

Another new feature for the base iPhones is Dynamic Island, which was previous only available on the Pro handsets. The floating black-pill section at the top of the iPhones' displays hides the front-facing camera and the FaceID sensor, while also showing things like alerts and animations unique to apps you're using.

Both the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus have the same screen sizes as their predecessors: 6.1-inch and 6.7-inches, respectively, and they both have Super Retina XDR displays that can reach up to 2,000 nits of brightness. The revamped camera array includes a 48-megapixel main rear camera with a 12MP telephoto lens, plus a TrueDepth front camera. Both models run on Apple's A16 Bionic chipset, the same found in last year's iPhone 14 series, and will support an all-day battery life.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max

As with the standard models, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max handsets eschew Lightning in favor of USB-C charging ports. But new for the Pro models only is a titanium design that makes both the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max much lighter than their predecessors. Apple claims it managed to shrink the overall dimensions of both handsets without affecting screen size; you'll find a 6.1-inch display on the iPhone 15 Pro and a 6.7-inch screen on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Another noticeable design change is the new Action button that replaces the side mute toggle switch. Apple essentially made it a more customizable tool on the iPhone, allowing users to pick the action they want associated with a button press. Muting the iPhone remains an option, but you can change it so a button press allow you to quick access to your phone's camera, flashlight, accessibility tools and more.

As far as cameras go, the iPhone 15 Pro models have a 48MP main camera with a larger sensor than that found on the standard iPhone 15 models, and it provides improved low-light performance and the ability to shoot higher resolution photos at different focal lengths. There's also a 12MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom capabilities, which is the most on any iPhone yet. The entire rear array can also capture spatial video, which Apple is billing as a perk for those who want to get the Vision Pro when it becomes available next year.

The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max run on Apple's latest A17 Pro chipset, a new GPU and a dedicated USB controller that's not present on the standard models. The new GPU is noteworthy for its six-core design and hardware-accelerated ray-tracing capabilities, both of which should improve overall gaming experiences on the new iPhones.

Apple Watch Series 9

If you were expecting a lot of changes on the latest Apple Watch, you'll unfortunately be disappointed. The new Apple Watch Series 9 is almost identical to last year's version, but it runs on a new S9 SiP, which is the biggest chipset upgrade for Apple's wearable since 2020. It will provide a general performance boost and things like smoother watchOS 10 animations and quicker Siri request processing. The Series 9 also has a new four-core neural engine that should help process machine learning tasks more quickly, and enable new features like the Double Tap gesture. The Watch will also be able to ping your iPhone and help you find it with on-screen directions and haptic feedback (aka Precision Finding) thanks to the new, built-in ultra wideband chip.

Otherwise, the Series 9 will be available in the familiar sizes, 41mm and 45mm, and come in pink, starlight, silver, midnight and Product Red aluminum case colors.

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Similarly to the Series 9, the Apple Watch Ultra got an incremental update for 2023. The new model runs on the updated S9 SiP and features all of the perks of the Series 9, including on-device Siri command processing and Precision Finding for iPhone with the new, built-in ultra wideband chip. The externals are mostly the same, but Apple changed the display architecture here so the Ultra 2's screen can hit up to 3,000 nits of brightness. That should make it even easier to view watch faces, complications and more in direct sunlight.

Otherwise, the Ultra 2 is the same GPS + Cellular, 49mm wearable as it was last year, with the biggest screen on any Apple Watch and the longest battery life of any Apple wearable too.

Apple AirPods Pro with USB-C

Apple didn't spend much time talking about the newest version of its Pro earbuds, probably because the major upgrade here is USB-C. The new AirPods Pro have a charging case that now features a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port, following the iPhones as another Apple gadget to ditch Lightning entirely. On top of the new connector, the upgraded earbuds will have improved dust resistance and lossless audio with Apple Vision Pro.

We figured the iPhone 15 Pro would feature some sort a new A17 chip, but Apple surprised us by debuting its first "Pro" chip today. The A17 Pro is Apple's most powerful mobile silicon yet. The 3 nanometer chip features 17 billion transistors and a six-core CPU. Apple claims its two performance cores are 10 percent faster than the A16, while its four efficiency cores offer far better performance per watt. The 6-core GPU is also 20 percent faster than before, and it features advanced graphics features like hardware accelerated ray tracing.

The A17 Pro seems particularly useful for game developers. Apple announced that Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil Village are coming to the iPhone, while The Division Resurgence will also launch next year. 

The real question, though, is why Apple is calling this the A17 Pro. Does that mean we'll see a stripped down version of this chip in next year's iPhone 16? It certainly gives Apple more leeway in the future — instead of trying to justify why the A17 Pro may lose features when it heads to cheaper hardware, the company can trot out a slightly slower chip that's still an upgrade from the A16.

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