What’s new from this year’s Apple fall event?
Three new phones, a new cellular-enabled watch, 4K streaming and video recording, Face ID on
the new iPhone X, and let’s not forget, Apple will finally get wireless phone charging.
With today’s addition of the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X, customers now have 8 different
iPhones to choose from.
That’s a ton of specs and options to compare, and we’re not even talking about color or
storage size.
So here’s a brief overview of the new phones….
The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are similar, with the Plus having the dual cameras like last
time around.
Both phones have a retina HD display with true tone technology that adapts to ambient
light.
The camera sensor and processor are also brand new and work much better in low-light conditions.
When it comes to video, iPhone 8 supports faster frame rates.
You can expect 4K videos at 60 frames per second.
The new cameras and 64-bit A11 Bionic chip have been calibrated for augmented reality.
The GPU is 30% faster and two additional high-efficiency cores make it perform smoother than previous
models.
The new iPhones 8s are also sealed to be water- and dust-resistant.
Thanks to a glassback, both support wireless charging.
The iPhone 8 is available in silver, space gray and a new gold finish that looks like
a mix between gold and rose gold.
Pricing starts at $699 for the 64GB model, with iPhone 8 Plus starting at $799.
Next we have the iPhone X, the anniversary model that ditches a home button in favor
of Face ID.
Yes, you unlock the phone with your face.
The New iPhone X has a 5.8-inch, edge-to-edge display.
For the first time, Apple offers an OLED display for more accurate colors and image uniformity
across the screen.
Apple’s iPhone X has a glass front and back, which means wireless charging for its additional
two hours of battery life.
It’s made from surgical-grade, stainless steel and comes in two finishes: space gray
and silver.
The iPhone X is dust- and water-resistant.
As for the camera, Apple introduced Portrait Lighting, letting users select their lighting
effects before and after the photo is taken with either the front or back camera.
Video is vastly improved, as well, and can be captured in low-light mode and in 4K.
The iPhone X starts at $999 for the 64GB model, with a larger 256GB option available.
Alrighty now... let’s talk Watch Series 3.
Wireless cellular LTE means the new Apple Watch will be able to stay connected even
when it’s not tethered to an iPhone.
Visually, the Apple Watch Series 3 is similar to the existing version.
Despite boasting internals and the addition of cellular, Apple managed to keep the watch
the same size, and it’s backward-compatible with existing straps and bands.
Additions to the Watch 3 include a barometric altimeter, two-way voice communication with
Siri, and improved heart rate monitoring and notifications.
Pricing for the Watch Series 3 with cellular starts at $399, and the version without cellular
starts at $329.
To power all these new Apple devices, Apple has a new wireless charging pad called the
‘AirPower’ It’s essentially a mat with room for your new iPhone 8 or iPhone X, as
well as your Apple Watch, and even AirPods with a new optional wireless charging case
accessory.
Also the Apple TV 4K is here, and it has both 4K resolution (as the name implies) and HDR
support, which means it can work with the latest TVs, projectors and content formats
for better picture, brighter colors and generally improved visuals.
It’s priced at $179 for a 32GB version and $199 for a 64GB version.
For all these hardware upgrades, Apple’s also been hard at work on its four different
operating systems.
iOS 11 and Watch OS 4 are coming out on September 19 and macOS High Sierra is expected on September
25.
For full coverage of today’s Apple event, visit us at TechCrunch.com.