In Apple’s September 2021 Keynote ‘California streaming’, the tech giant’s CEO Tim Cook unveiled Apple’s latest product range. The announcement was headlined by the new iteration of the iPhone, and was followed by an introduction of the latest iPads and Apple watches.
Read on for a quick recap of Apple’s biggest announcements.
iPhone 13
The beloved iPhone doesn’t get a complete makeover this year, but it has plenty of new features to boast about, including an advanced dual-camera system with a new Wide camera with bigger pixels, and sensor-shift optical image stabilisation (OIS) that offers better low-light image quality. Perhaps the coolest the new feature is ‘Cinematic Mode’, which allows you to ‘effortlessly create cinema-grade videos’ even without filmmaking experience!
The iPhone 13 is powered by an A15 Bionic processor, which has four high performance and two high efficiency cores. You can expect 5G support, a super retina XDR display that is 28% brighter in sunlight, and extended battery life in a day (+2.5 hours, and +1.5 hours for the mini compared to its predecessors).
Similar to the iPhone 12, there are two versions of the iPhone 13 – a 6.1 inch model, along with a mini 5.4 inch model. It will come in the following colours; pink, blue, midnight, starlight and red.
With entry-level storage starting at 128GB, you can expect to pay around $1,349 or $1,199 for the mini version.
The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max features three new rear cameras, with improved telephoto lenses, MotionPro displays, and a new macro mode that allows you to capture subjects as close as 2cm. The Pro & Pro Max will come in gold, graphite, silver and sierra blue, with prices starting at $1,699 for the Pro (6.1 inch display) and $1,849 for the Max (6.7 inch display).
Apple Watch Series 7
A tad bit larger than its predecessor, the Series 7 Apple Watch will come in 45mm and 31mm sizes, with a slimmer 1.7mm bezel around the display. Apple claims that the increased size of the screen will fit 50% more text and a full keyboard.
The Series 7 focuses highly on durability, with a redesigned crack-resistant front crystal that is 50% thicker than the Series 6. The Series 7 can still be worn underwater, and the certified IP6X rating means it can withstand dust, beaches, and the desert.
On a single charge with the Magnetic Fast Charger USB-C Cable, the Series 7 can last 18-hours and boasts 33% faster charging compared to Series 6 .
The Series 7 comes in black, blue, red, gold and green, and it is rumoured that prices will start at about $550.
iPad mini
The new iPad mini gets a performance boost with the A15 bionic chip, with a 5-core GPU that is 80% faster and a 6-core CPU that is 40% faster than the previous generation, allowing users to play graphically rich games or use demanding professional apps.
The larger 8.3 inch Liquid Retina display has advanced technologies like a P3 wide colour gamut, anti-reflecting screen coating, and True Tone, which come together to bring images and videos to life. Plus, the new screen combined with the landscape stereo speakers makes watching movies on the mini a great experience.
Previously only available on iPad Pro, Centre Stage is now also available on iPad mini, so users can enjoy more engaging video calls with the updated Ultra Wide front camera and new 12MP sensor for a larger field of view.
The iPad mini now features a USB-C port for up the 5Gbps data transfer (10x faster than the previous generation) and connects to a vast number of USB-C accessories such as cameras, external storage, and displays up to 4K.
5G is now available on the cellular version of the mini, and the iPad supports Apple Pencil (2nd gen), which attaches magnetically for wireless charging and pairing.
The cheapest model starts at $749 (or $979 for the cellular model), and comes in the following colours: black, white, dark cherry, English lavender, and electric orange.
iPad 9
The iPad 9 comes equipped with an A13 Bionic processor that delivers a 20% performance boost over its predecessor. Apple claims that the iPad 9 is 3x faster than the best-selling Chromebook and 6x faster than the best-selling Android tablet, making it a solid device for students and professionals alike.
Like the iPad mini, Centre Stage is now available on iPad, and is enabled by the new 12MP Ultra Wide front camera and Neural Engine. True Tone has also been introduced to the iPad’s 10.2-inch Retina display, which adjusts screen content to the colour temperature of a room for a more comfortable viewing experience.
The new iPad starts with 64GB (double the storage of the previous gen) and goes up to 256GB for users who require more storage. Entry-level models will start at $499 for the wi-fi only version or $699 for cellular.
And that’s all Apple has announced for now! If you’re missing an upgrade of your favourite Apple product (such as AirPods or new MacBooks) don’t fret – it’s safe to assume that Apple will release another Keynote by the end of this year that introduces more awesome new products.
