Intro
It's time for our yearly dose of hardware upgrades from Apple. the company
held its traditional September press event, showing off the latest in
iPhones, Apple Watches, and more. The event was titled "Gather Round". We're
here, as usual, to tell you exactly what was announced.
For those of you in a hurry, here's the TL;DR.
* The iPhone XS (5.8-inch screen) and XS Max (6.5-inch screen) are
upgraded versions of the 2017 iPhone X. They have better cameras, dual sim
support, tougher glass, and other spec bumps.
* iPhone XR is an iPhone XS with a 6.1-inch LCD screen. The display
doesn't look as good, it has a single-lens camera, no 3D Touch, and other
trade-offs, but starts at a much lower price. It also comes in six colors.
* Apple Watch Series 4 is here. It has a bigger screen, smaller
bezels, a thinner casing, a faster processor, better microphone placement,
an ECG reader, better fitness sensors, and new faces that take advantage of
the extra screen space to show more complications. Existing Watch bands will
fit it.
iPhone
The area of primary interest for most of you is probably the iPhone. What's
the plan for the home button? Is Face ID coming to more phones? Did the fans
of smaller screens get anything? Is it worth upgrading?
iPhone XS and XS Max
Let's start with the most expensive option. Last year, Apple announced
iPhone X, its first major re-design of iPhone in quite some time. It had
Face ID, a screen that took up the entire front of the phone, no Home
Button, a much-improved camera, and other new features that made it stand
out. This year, Apple decided it liked this new design, so it kept it, but
with improvements.
The successor to iPhone X is, not surprisingly, called iPhone XS (pronounced
10 S). It looks a lot like last year's model, though it does come in a new
gold color option. The major physical difference is the screen size; you can
choose between 5.8 inches and 6.5 inches, making the bigger option far and
away the largest screen Apple has ever put on any of their phones. In a
departure from their tradition of slapping "Plus" on the name of the bigger
iPhone, Apple has decided to call the 6.5-inch model
iPhone XS Max. The smaller one is simply called iPhone XS.
Let's get the rest of the screen details out of the way, as we're already on
the topic. Both XS models use OLED, the same technology that helped iPhone X
stand out from the line-up last year. OLED is more vivid, uses less power,
and is overall better than LCD (which is used by all iPhones up through the
8. This screen is--the claim goes--the best one Apple has ever put on an
iPhone, with 458 pixels per inch. It, and the glass on the back, are
protected by what Apple says is the most durable glass in any smartphone on
the market.
It's not just a bigger screen, though. Powering iPhone XS is Apple's latest
processor, the A12 Bionic. This is their first 7 nanometer processor (if you
don't know what that means, don't worry, it's just a geeky detail). The A12
is, to no one's surprise, faster while being more power-efficient. Its main
improvement isn't its overall speed, or its (up to) 50% increase in graphics
performance--the highlight is machine learning. Apple has a whole new
machine learning processing system which uses eight cores of its own to
analyze, in real time, the artificial intelligence being run on the phone.
It pushes this AI processing to whichever set of cores best fits the task,
be it the high efficiency ones, the powerful ones, or the graphics-specific
ones. This lets machine learning run up to nine times faster, while using as
little as a tenth the power, than is possible on the A11 Bionic chip we saw
last year.
The camera is better than iPhone X, with an improved flash, better sensors,
and all the other upgrades we expect each year. The big announcements around
photography were focused (yep, there's my pun for the article) on software.
Using the vastly improved machine learning integration possible on the A12
chip, Apple has hooked image signal processing into AI in a huge way. From
portrait shots that look a lot better, to automatic red eye removal and
better focus, to the camera "understanding" the image and being able to do a
better job with focus, balance, and other adjustments, Apple says photos on
iPhone XS look stunning. Combined with the improved screen, photographers
will want to give this phone serious consideration.
But enough about the things I, and most of you, can't even see. What else
does iPhone XS offer? One thing that got my attention was the improved
speaker setup. Stereo speakers have been on iPhones for a while, but to me,
they've never sounded great. Apple says that iPhone XS sports an improved
stereo field, also based partly in AI, with better overall sound. They even
pointed out some game developers who say users can use the built-in speakers
in place of headphones to get a good gaming experience. I'm dubious about
these claims, but it's nice to see Apple placing a focus on audio, not just
pictures. Oh, and speaking of audio, this iPhone can now record stereo sound
when shooting video. No word was given on whether that feature extends to
other apps that use the system microphones, but I hope stereo will be an
option everywhere.
One feature that will make some users incredibly happy is dual SIM support.
Apple has paired an ESIM (the same built-in SIM technology used in recent
cellular-capable iPads and Apple Watches) with a physical SIM. Users can now
have two phone numbers at once, with iOS set up to handle this. You'll see
which number is being called on an incoming call screen, for instance. China
gets an iPhone with two physical SIM cards, since their government doesn't
allow ESIMs.
That's about it for features. A faster, better processor that can work
wonders with machine learning; dual SIM support; a better camera; the "best
screen ever"; and AI helping to power everything from better speakers to
faster Face ID authentication. Oh, and they upped the waterproof rating to
IP68, good for protection against submersion in water up to two meters deep
for up to half an hour; previous iPhones were only rated for IP67. All this
in a package the same size as iPhone X or, for the Max, the size of an
iPhone 8 Plus. The battery life is also improved, offering thirty minutes
(XS) or ninety minutes (XS Max) more than iPhone X. This new phone will
start at $999 USD (add $100 for the Max) with 64GB of storage. You can get
more space if you want; it comes in 256GB and--for the first time ever on
iPhone--512GB. Space gray, silver, and gold are your color options.
iPhone XR
The third phone we saw is iPhone XR. This is meant to be the lower-cost
option for those who don't want--or need--the full XS experience. It uses
aluminum in place of stainless steel, it lacks the dual lens camera, and it
sacrifices a few other features to keep the cost lower. Not that this is a
bad phone by any stretch. In fact, many of our readers may find it the most
appealing of today's options.
iPhone XR uses the same A12 Bionic chip as the Xs does, so you're not giving
up speed or those new AI features. It has an edge-to-edge, 6.1-inch screen.
It even has Face ID. It comes in 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB storage tiers, and
offers six color options: blue, Product (RED), coral, yellow, black, and
white. As expected, it incorporates the wireless charging Apple started
supporting last year. Its size is somewhere between the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus,
but it offers a battery life up to ninety minutes better than an 8 Plus.
Why, then, would anyone buy the XS? What are you losing by going with the
XR? Well, the camera is a single lens design, using the 12MP sensor from the
XS but not including the telephoto module. The screen is 326 PPI, compared
to the 458 PPI on the XS, and is LCD rather than OLED. Apple is happy with
this screen, calling it a "Liquid Retina Display", but it's still not as
good. That said, it does support the same tap to wake, True Tone, and other
goodies that iPhone X added last year. The XR and XS both use 120Hz sampling
for touch input, which means, in English, that touches will be smooth and
drawing will work well. However, the XR ditches 3D Touch completely, while
the XS still has it. Finally, there's a chance the XR lacks the dual SIM and
improved speakers of the XS. it wasn't completely clear in the presentation,
so please double check that before you buy. We'll update this article if and
when we can clarify the situation.
Pricing and Availability
You can pre-order iPhone XS and XS Max starting September 14, with shipments
going out September 21. You can pre-order iPhone XR starting October 19,
shipments should go out on October 26, with in-store availability starting
that day or soon after.
The iPhone lineup will look like this for the next year (prices in U.S.
dollars):
* iPhone 7: $449
* iPhone 8: $599
* iPhone XR: $749
* iPhone XS: $999
Of course, you'll add to the price for the Plus or Max variants, and for
increased storage.
Finally, iOS 12 got a release date: it will come out on Monday, September
17. As we found out back in June, this will be a free update that is
supported all the way back to iPhone 5S.
Apple Watch
The next product on our list is Apple Watch. Though it's only three and a
half years old, today saw the announcement of Series 4, sporting the first
major re-design since the device debuted in 2015.
By shrinking the bezels, Apple has managed to expand the screen size of
Apple Watch without needing to change the device's overall size very much.
This let the company introduce larger screen options--40mm and 44mm--while
maintaining compatibility with all the Apple Watch bands already on the
market. The casing did get an overhaul, though; it sports a slimmer profile,
plus a completely new back face. No exact measurements were given at the
presentation, so I don't yet know just how
the Series 4 differs in size or overall layout from the previous
generations. All we were told was that the new model has "less total volume"
than the old design, not that that helps me visualize anything. It's also
worth noting that the speaker is 50% louder than in older generations, while
the microphone has moved to the opposite side of the casing. This move
provides more voice clarity when you talk to Apple Watch, as it cuts down on
echoes. Users of Apple Watch for phone calls or Walkie Talkie will benefit
most from this, Apple said, but I imagine dictation and Siri commands could
be helped some as well.
The back of Apple Watch is now a ceramic material, with sapphire glass on
the heart rate sensor. This was done for a few reasons, among them allowing
more of the casing's surface to let radio waves through. Apple says this
will increase cellular reception, and I'm wondering if it will help with
bluetooth and wifi as well.
The other reason for the re-design is the inclusion of electrodes. There's
one on the back, against your wrist, and another in the Digital Crown.
Together, they allow Apple Watch to take ECG (electrocardiogram) readings.
These measurements provide you with a heart rhythm classification on your
screen, and are saved as a PDF in your Health app. You can easily email or
show the files to a doctor, but the information has the same protection as
the rest of your health data. Taking an ECG reading is simple: open the ECG
app, leave your index finger on the Digital Crown for thirty seconds, and
that's it.
The other internal changes we know about are better sensors and an improved
processor. Apple Watch Series 4 is up to two times faster than Series 3, and
its movement sensors can take up to eight times more samples than could
those in previous generations. This lets Series 4 do some pretty helpful
things.
* Fall detection can figure out when you fall, based on how your arm
reacts to the sudden loss of balance. When it thinks you've fallen, it pops
up a notification, with the option to call emergency services and send an
SOS to your preset contacts. If Apple Watch detects no movement within a
minute of the fall, it calls EMS and sends that SOS message on its own.
* It can now detect a heart rate that is too slow, and can analyze
heart rhythm as well as heart rate. If a rhythm that could indicate atrial
fibrillation is detected, you'll get an alert.
* Thanks to the bettor spacial sensors, workouts should be more
accurate. Apple promises better, more precise tracking of movements and GPS
data.
Watch faces are the other focus in this generation. With the larger screen,
Apple is able to fit up to eight complications on a single face, compared to
the maximum of five for Series 3 and older. Each complication can now show
more data, too, offering details you used to have to open the relevant app
to find. Live sports scores and up-to-date flight details were two examples
Apple used to demonstrate what this could mean. You are also able to add
people as complications, simply tapping them to initiate contact via text,
call, Walkie Talkie, and so on. Why this isn't an option in older Apple
Watch models is a mystery to me. Nike got in on the game, with their custom
watch face optimized for the larger display. They even came out with a new
band variation for this new series, adding reflective yarn to their Sport
Loop bands.
There are a few other additions in this space. The other new faces aren't
focused on information, but rather looks. There's a
face displaying fire, another water, and a third vapor. We didn't get much
detail on what these do, but the impression I got was that they look
incredible doing whatever it is. The Breathe app also has its own face now,
letting you initiate a breathe session without opening the app at all. As
with putting contacts on faces, I'm not sure why this feature is exclusive
to the Series 4.
With the thinner casing and increased speed of both the SoC and sensors, it
might be fair to assume that battery life takes a hit in the Series 4. Apple
says it doesn't, though, claiming an 18-hour battery life just like in
previous generations.
Apple Watch Series 4 starts at $399 for the smaller variant without cellular
support. Add $100 for cellular, and an unknown amount to get the larger
screen size. Remember, though, that the screens take up more of the front
face, so I'd suggest getting an in-person look at them before you decide
which model you want. You may find that the added real estate lets you use
the smaller Apple Watch now. Speaking of choices, you have the same color
options as Series 3: gold, silver, or space gray
for the aluminum sport version, or gold, silver, or space black for the
stainless steel model. You can pre-order starting September 14, with items
arriving a week later. Note that the Series 3 is still available, with its
price now reduced to $279. If you already have an Apple Watch, look for the
watchOS 5 upgrade on September 17.
Other Announcements
There were a few other announcements made at the end of the presentation.
* macOS Mojave will be released on September 24, a week after iOS 12
and watchOS 5
* tvOS will get an update (demonstrated at WWDC in June), bringing
Dolbe Atmos support and other features
* the firmware on HomePod will be updated, enabling multiple timers,
the ability to place and receive phone calls, support for Siri Shortcuts,
and a few other features
I'm impressed with iPhone XS and XR, though I'm not yet sure if I'll be
trading in my trusty iPhone 7. If I do, I'll go for the XR, despite its
slightly larger footprint. Of much more interest to me is Apple Watch Series
4. I have a Series 2 now, and it works well. However, I got the chance to
use a Series 3 a few weeks back, and I was surprised at how much snappier
and smoother it felt. At up to twice the speed, Series 4 will be even
better! Plus, I swim with my Watch all the time, making that increased
motion tracking important to me.
I was really hoping for news on new Macs, but maybe there will be one more
event this year devoted to them. Not that I can afford one after I get done
with my Apple Watch upgrade.
Submitted by mehgcap - Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team at:
www.applevis.com
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