Apple Event 2024: iPhone 16, Watch Series 10, AirPods 4 And More
- Apple has announced 4 new iPhone 16 models. It keeps the prices of the Pro models unchanged.
- There's a new Camera Action button to control your camera functions on all new models.
- Two versions of AirPods 4 and one new Apple Watch have also been launched.
Apple has launched four new iPhones in the 16 series, along with two new AirPods and one new Apple Watch along with the new iOS 18. The best, and probably the most surprising, news of the whole launch event was the unchanged price of the Pro models.
Here's a quick overview of all the new iPhone 16 models. These new iPhones will hit the shelves on September 20. However, you can pre-order the iPhone 16 from September 13.
| Model | Colors | Optical Zoom | Camera | Charging | Starting price |
| iPhone 16 | White, black, teal, pink, ocean marine | 2x |
| USB-C (USB 2) | $799 |
| iPhone 16 Plus | White, black, teal, pink, ocean marine | 2x |
| USB-C (USB 2) | $899 |
| iPhone 16 Pro | White, Black, Natural, and Dessert Titanium | 5x |
| USB-C (USB 3) | $999 |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | White, Black, Natural, and Dessert Titanium | 5x |
| USB-C (USB 3) | $1,199 |
Interestingly, the camera positioning on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus is back to what it looked like in the iPhone 12 model - aligned vertically.
The Pro versions of iPhone 16 have the largest display size ever - the iPhone 16 Pro has a display of 6.3 inches, while the Pro Max version has a screen of 6.9 inches.
However, to our disappointment, the refresh rate is still 60Hz on the base and Plus model, which now seems a thing of the past. Most modern smartphones have upgraded to 120Hz and this is certainly not helping Apple.
Camera UpgradesApple has focused a lot on its camera this time around with features that would lure even the best content creator.
- You can now capture 4K videos in 120 fps Dolby Vision on the Pro model. This is the highest-quality video you can shoot on a smartphone.
- You also get a second 48MP camera on the Pro model with an advanced quad-pixel sensor for high-resolution images and videos.
- The Ultra-wide camera now comes with autofocus for sharper and more detailed outputs.
- Spatial capture, which was earlier available only on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, has now made its way to all iPhone 16 models.
Apple has also added a bunch of Photographic Styles, which gives you a lot of creative room while capturing and editing your photos. You get advanced skin-tone rendering along with different color moods.
You also get a new control pad which helps you personalize every style by adjusting the intensity of the specific colors while capturing the photo.
Camera ControlTech geeks are in love with the new Camera Action button. All iPhone 16 models feature a new camera control button, which replaces the mute button on older iPhone versions.
You can tap the button once to activate your camera and then tap it again to take a photo. The button also allows you to adjust exposure, field depth, and toggle lenses and digital zoom. This is great for taking photos while you're on the move or if you want to capture a fleeting moment.
Apple has said that the button will later allow you to lock focus and exposure automatically. However, this feature isn't available yet.
Audio MixThis is the feature that impressed us the most. Besides bumping up its camera specs, you now get three voice options while recording videos - In-frame, Studio, and Cinematic.
- The In-frame mode only captures the voices of people visible on the camera. If someone is off-camera and their voice can be heard, Apple won't record it.
- The Studio mode makes your voices sound like they were recorded in a professional studio with sound-dampening walls. Content creators must be drooling over this by now.
- The Cinematic mode consolidates all voices in the front of the screen - just like in the movies.
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus versions are powered by the powerful A18 chip, while the Pro versions house the A18 Pro chip. Apple claims these chips to be faster and more efficient, with a 20% increase in total system memory bandwidth.
When compared to the iPhone 15 Pro, the new A18 chip has a 15% faster 6core CPU and a new 16-core Neural Engine.
And for the first time ever, Apple has addressed gaming in its keynote. The A18 Pro chips deliver the best-ever graphics performance for AAA gaming. This includes two times faster hardware-accelerated ray tracing than the previous A17 chip. This results in a more sustained frame rate and improved responsiveness.
Battery LifeApple never discloses its battery capacity in mAH and this year has been no exception, However, there is a huge improvement in battery life, as long as Apple has to be believed. We can't really verify this until we get our hands on a 16 model.
Apple claims that an optimized internal design has made its battery more power-efficient. Compared to the iPhone 15 Pro, the iPhone 16 Pro boasts 4 more hours of video playback.
Apple IntelligenceApple announced Apple Intelligence (AI) two months back. And although we expected it to roll out during the events, users will still have to wait till October to see AI in action.
Apple Intelligence brings new writing tools to summarize, rewrite, and proofread on your iPhone. You can ask to change your tone to make it more concise, professional, or any way you want it.
The best part is that it doesn't take over the entire writing process, which is still up to you. It only corrects spelling and grammar and finishes incomplete sentences.
You can now create your own custom emojis called Genmojis, which are basically emojis on demand.
Something that we liked was Apple's new Priority notifications. Siri, with the help of AI, will now select the most important notifications and surface it to help you find important details more quickly.
Read more about Apple Intelligence here.
Apple Watch Series 10Apple has also launched its thinnest watch ever - the Apple Watch Series 10, with the biggest screen ever. You get 30% more screen area than Series 4, 5, 6, and SE.
This is also Apple's first wide-angle OLED Display, making it 40% more bright when viewed from different angles. You also get a new color - Jet Black aluminum, which has a glossy finish. There are three polished titanium finishes to choose from, each with a mirror-like shine.
Clearly, Apple has worked a lot on redesigning the new Apple Watch. It feels lighter and has a more modern aesthetic appeal to it.
Interestingly, Apple has also redesigned the speakers, making it 30% smaller. You can now even play media aloud, besides using it for calls. There's also a Breathing Disturbances feature, which can diagnose Sleep Apnoea. The watch will even generate a 30-day report if it identifies signs of sleep apnoea.
Apple AirPods 4Apple's brand new AirPods 4 have also hit the market in two variants - AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation (ANC). Both models come with the H2 chip, leading to better audio and hands-free call quality.
These AirPods are also more receptive to gestures - you can shake your head for a no, or nod for a yes to respond to Siri. The stem also features a force sensor, which lets you control playback with a pinch.
The ANC version also features Conversation Awareness, which will automatically lower the playback sound when you're talking to someone.
However, the battery life still isn't that great - a 30-hour playback time for a modern hearing accessory is a bit of a letdown. Besides this, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is now available in a new Satin Black color. There were no signs of Watch Ultra 3 either.
AirPods Pro 2 UpgradesThere were no signs of the new AirPods 3, although AirPods Pro 2 has three new features focusing on hearing health.
- The hearing protection mode will remove loud sounds from your surroundings using a machine-learning algorithm.
- There will be a new hearing test in the Apple Health app that will let you know your hearing health after a short 5-minute test.
- Lastly, there's also a clinically-approved hearing assistance mode, which can be useful for people who suffer from presbycusis or any other kind of hearing loss.
Apple has not put a finger on the release date of these features. It simply said that these will be introduced this fall' - you may have to wait a bit.
AirPods Max DisappointsThe AirPods Max was probably the most disappointing part of the whole Apple event. Experts who speculated major upgrades were left disappointed. Apple introduced the universal USB-C charging port, which is now mandated by the EU. Besides this, you get 5 new color options - Midnight, Blue, Starlight, Orange, and, Purple. However, that's about it.
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