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Smartwatches promised to make us healthier, and they finally might
It's been a big week for smartwatches. Big month, really. On Wednesday, Apple unveiled the latest version of its Watch, which -- in addition to cosmetic updates -- got new features like an FDA-cleared ECG app, irregular heart rate notification and fall detection. Meanwhile, Qualcomm launched a new made-for-wearables chip that promises much better battery life. Google also just released the latest iteration of Wear OS, which places your health data front and center. The company also worked with the American Heart Association (AHA) to come up with the new Fit app's health-tracking system to encourage users to engage in more cardio activity.
Apple iPhone Xs, Xs Max and Watch Series 4 pre-orders are open
Snagging Apple's latest and greatest iPhone costs a bit more than it did in previous years, but some of you early adopters will surely be lined up to secure a device right away. As usual, preorders via Apple and the various wireless carriers will open shortly, at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET. Last year the OLED-screened iPhone X quickly sold through its predicted initial shipments, but one would expect that supply will be more predictable this year for iPhone Xs / Xs Max variants (ranging from $999 to $1,449, with shipments beginning in a week) -- if you're hoping for a $740+ iPhone Xr, that won't be ready to pre-order until October 19th, with shipments beginning on the 26th. Whether or not you're upgrading your handset right away, there's also a new wearable to consider, as the Apple Watch Series 4 arrives with the first big change in screen size since the device first appeared in 2015. It's thinner than ever, still available with its own LTE connection and is ready to take both health and fitness more seriously. It's $399 with just WiFi, and $499 with LTE, and like the Xs will start shipping on September 21st. If you're hoping to snag one of the devices, then Apple.com, or, (at least in the US) the websites for carriers like AT&T / Sprint (phone, watch) / T-Mobile / Verizon are good places to start. Apple's Store app can occasionally be more reliable for access, and naturally you'll want to check beforehand to make sure your payment and shipping information is up to date. Also, there's the Apple iPhone Upgrade program to consider -- with these new higher prices installment plans are more appealing than ever.
Apple raised the price of its best phone by $330, and no one cares
The trend over the past few years is clear: iPhone sales are slowing down. Apple wasn't going to be able to achieve huge sales growth forever, and until the company makes inroads in India or strengthens its position in China, Apple is looking for other ways to keep revenue on the rise. Perhaps the most obvious way to do that is to raise the price of an iPhone -- and over the past two years, Apple has successfully made buying its latest and greatest phones significantly more expensive.
The biggest announcements from Apple's iPhone Xs event
As we all wake from the haze that follows an Apple event, we've collected together all the major announcements, new products and conspicuously absent devices that came from 2018's big iPhone briefing.
Apple's AirPower wireless-charging mat is still MIA
Apple unveiled its AirPower wireless-charging mat at its iPhone event last year, promising a way for those with multiple Apple devices to be able to wirelessly charge them all at the same time. The company showed how an iPhone, an Apple Watch and a set of AirPods could all be tossed onto the mat to charge simultaneously, noting that AirPower would be available sometime in 2018. But a year later we still don't have it, and today as Apple showed off its latest round of iPhones and the Apple Watch Series 4, there was not a single mention of AirPower. And the device has largely disappeared from the company's website.
Apple is happy to use women and people of color as art, not authority
Apple's 2018 iPhone event opened with a black woman busting her ass to ensure a white man's success. The introductory video is a Mission Impossible-style short featuring a young woman racing across Cupertino campus to deliver a briefcase to Apple CEO Tim Cook, who's waiting calmly backstage before the event. She arrives out of breath, and he opens the briefcase. Inside is the clicker for the presentation; he picks it up with reverence while the woman asks, incredulously, "The clicker?" She then stands, panting, behind the curtain as Cook walks out to enjoy a raucous round of applause.
Watch Apple's 2018 iPhone event in 12 minutes
Apple's annual iPhone event has come and gone, and yes, indeed, the company announced new iPhones. They are the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max, the latter of which has a supersize display of 6.5 inches across. Both of these are priced over $1,000 and promise to be the company's "most advanced" iPhones yet (but of course). Interestingly, Apple also unveiled the more budget-friendly iPhone Xr (though, if we're honest, it's not that cheap at all, at $750), which has lower specs but is available in a wider variety of colors. Watch enthusiasts, Apple hasn't forgotten you either, as there's also a brand-new Apple Watch Series 4, which promises to be make you even healthier than ever. Follow all the latest news from Apple's 2018 iPhone event here!
Apple’s latest pitch: This gadget will save your life
The most interesting device Apple announced today wasn't an iPhone; it was the Apple Watch Series 4. On top of some significant design upgrades -- like that drool-worthy edge-to-edge screen -- it's also breaking new ground with its built-in electrocardiogram (ECG). It's the first over-the-counter, consumer-grade device to include that feature, which allows the Apple Watch to detect potentially deadly heart issues like atrial fibrillation. Now the Apple Watch is not only something that can make your life better but also a device that can literally save your life. How can you say no to that?
Apple's iPhone event by the numbers
Apple brought its A game to Cupertino on Wednesday for the annual September iPhone event. The company showed off its next flagship line of iPhone Xs... uh... eses as well as some fancy new Series 4 Apple Watches, a host of eco-friendly phone materials and some impressive advancements in performance.
Apple's luxurious Watch Edition is no more
Do you insist on having only the finest materials in your smartwatch? You might be disappointed after today: As hinted at in leaks, the arrival of the Apple Watch Series 4 has marked the end of the luxurious Edition models. From now on, you'll have to "settle" for stainless steel models if you want a little flash. It's a good thing there's a new gold-hued steel model, then.
The iPhone Xs Max vs. the competition: A huge step up in size
Farewell "Plus" and hello "Max" as the name for Apple's larger handsets, with today's reveal showcasing a massive 6.5-inch screen size on the iPhone Xs Max. But how does it compare to the current crop of flagship phones, to which screen sizes bigger than six inches are old hat? We've taken the Xs Max and lined it up against two of Samsung's Galaxy siblings as well as the budget-friendly OnePlus 6. (We'll have to wait a few weeks to see how it stacks up against the Pixel 3 XL.) Of course, specs aren't everything. For a full accounting of how the iPhone XS Max shakes out, check out today's hands-on with the new device, and keep an eye out for our full review in the next few weeks.
The iPhone Xs vs. the competition: It's all about the cameras
It's time for a new flagship iPhone, and while the "s" in its name usually means no drastic changes on the outside, there are quite a few souped-up features in the Xs worth noting, like the camera's adjustable depth of field and smart HDR. But the competition continues to be heated, with phones like the Galaxy S9 and the notched G7 ThinQ boasting their own enhanced shooters and Snapdragon 845 chips. We've lined up all these devices in the table below so you can get an idea of how their specs contend, and we even threw in Huawei's P20 Pro with its stellar tri-lens rig. It's one of our favorite phones from this year, even if you can't officially buy it here in the US. What we can't do is compare the iPhone XS to the upcoming Pixel 3 -- for that you'll have to wait until Google's event next month. So stay tuned for that as well as our full reviews of Apple's new handsets.
Apple just killed the iPhone's headphone jack for good
Whenever Apple announces new iPhones, it inevitably drops some older models from the lineup. But there's a bigger sea change than usual this time around, because Apple is no longer selling any phones with 3.5mm headphone jacks.
iPhone Xr hands-on: Premium power for everyone
Apple's iPhone Xr wasn't exactly a surprise -- tons of leaks saw to that. Even so, the Xr is easily the most fascinating device the company released today. As expected, this less-expensive version of the iPhone X packs a 6.1-inch LCD display and an aluminum frame, all in the hopes of keeping costs down so more people can benefit from the work Apple poured into this generation of smartphones. And like the iPhone 5c before it -- way before it -- it comes in a host of pretty colors. Actually, hold on. iPhone 5c comparisons like the one I just made are almost impossible to avoid, but they're not exactly fair. The iPhone 5c packed year-old phone guts into a charming, plastic body. The iPhone XR takes much of what makes the iPhone Xs special -- like that A12 Bionic chipset -- and squeezes it into a body that would've felt premium not long ago.
Apple's new iPhones won't include headphone adapters
Apple really doesn't want you to use wired headphones. It has not only discontinued all iPhones with a headphone jack (the 6 and 6s were the last ones) but also now won't bundle in a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter like it did last year. That means you'll have to either use a pair of Bluetooth headphones for your music or use a pair of Lightning-connector earbuds. To those who do want to use their existing wired headphones, you'll have to cough up $9 for that headphone dongle, which you can still buy separately. I guess that's the cost of courage. Follow all the latest news from Apple's 2018 iPhone event here!
Comparing the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max and iPhone Xr
We're long past iPhone events where Apple would debut one big flagship handset and all you had to worry about was whether you would upgrade or snag an older phone at a now discounted price. Today we're looking at three new devices, and they're all pretty snazzy: The 5.8-inch iPhone Xs has the new A12 Bionic chip and new camera features like adjustable depth of field while the Xs Max sizes that up with a huge 6.5-inch display. And let's not forget the gorgeous iPhone Xr, which comes in a rainbow of colors, has the same wide-angle camera as its siblings and boasts a Liquid Retina LCD screen. While you'll have to wait for our review for the full skinny on these three, we have the specs all lined up below so you can get an idea of the power each one is packing.
iPhone Xs and Xs Max hands-on: The new normal
After months of rumors, leaks and breathless speculation, Apple's iPhone Xs and Xs Max are here -- and they're exactly what we expected. The former is the logical, technically impressive sequel to the iPhone X, and the the latter is, well, the same thing but bigger.
Apple Watch Series 4 hands-on: Subtle improvements
Apple has just wrapped its Gather Round press event, and as expected, we got our first glimpse at the new Apple Watch, the Series 4. As promised by some press phots that leaked ahead of the keynote, the watch has a larger screen than what we became used to on the first three editions: It's 35 percent bigger on the smaller 40mm model and 32 percent larger on the 44mm edition. It's also thinner, with haptic feedback, a louder speaker, longer battery life, more watch faces, a Mindfulness app and some new build materials: ceramic and sapphire. It ships next week, on September 21st, but I just strapped one on my wrist at the Steve Jobs Theater to bring you some early impressions.
Apple announces updated macOS Mojave is coming this fall
The iPhone Xs, Xs Max, Xr and Apple Watch weren't the only new products that Apple showed off in Cupertino on Wednesday. The company also revealed an update to its desktop operating system with MacOS 10.14 Mojave, which will be available for download on Monday, September 24th.
Apple TV adds Dolby Atmos audio on Monday
We're getting more than just new iPhones at Apple's big event. Today, the company put a date on its tvOS 12 update that will bring the promised support for Dolby's Atmos audio technology. When Apple announced the feature at WWDC earlier this year, it also said people who owned movies in iTunes that have Atmos soundtracks available would have their copies upgraded for free. Tim Cook didn't mention the zero sign-on technology that's also a part of tvOS 12, so we'll have to see if that's ready for a wide launch next week or if it's still waiting for more testing (or agreements with more cable TV providers and channels). Apple TV owners can expect the new software release on Monday, September 17th, dropping along with the HomePod update that will add new features and additional languages for Siri.
