On Monday, Apple revealed a range of new technology, featuring impressive updates aimed at encouraging customers to upgrade.
The company introduced the iPhone 16, the first model specifically designed for generative AI, enabling users to generate text and images through natural-language prompts.
Apple also launched the latest version of its AirPods and the new Apple Watch 10.
Here are some key highlights from the event:
- Hearing aid feature: Apple’s new AirPods Pro model will come with a clinical-grade over-the-counter hearing aid feature, the company said, as well as a clinical hearing test that users can access on their iPhones. Apple said it expects to receive clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration and other regulators soon, but the feature will be available in over 100 countries and regions, including the US, this month.
- Tracking sleep apnea: Apple’s latest Apple Watch 10 can detect sleep apnea, the company said. The common and potentially dangerous condition can cause breathing to stop while people are sleeping. The detection feature is awaiting clearance from the FDA, Apple said, and is expected to be available in over 150 countries and regions later this month.
- Visuals intelligence: A new camera control feature, accessed with a button on the side of the phone, which will give users access to “visual intelligence,” Craig Federighi, the senior vice president of software engineering, said. For example, after clicking the camera control, a user can point the camera at a restaurant and the iPhone 16 will pull up information like reviews, the menu and how to make a reservation. It can also be used to identify things like dog breeds or landmarks and to add things to your calendar.
- Siri enhancements: Siri will now be able to pull from users’ text messages, meaning it can remind you of TV and music recommendations sent by friends, said Federighi. For example, you can say, “Send Erica the photos from Saturday’s barbecue,” and Siri will understand which photos to send and automatically text them to the right person.
- iPhone Pro video enhancements: The new high-end iPhone 16 also lets you shoot in 4K resolution at 120 frames per second, with the ability to make the video slow-motion after recording a clip, rather than trying to grab the right setting as the action is happening. The Pro line is also getting an audio recording boost, including spatial audio with reduced background noise, enabling videos to pick conversations from ambient noise.
The new iPhone 16 Pro Max is priced at $1,199, making it Apple’s most expensive iPhone to date. However, this price appears less steep when adjusted for inflation. In 2017, the iPhone X launched at $999, which at the time was the most expensive iPhone. Adjusted for inflation, though, the iPhone X would actually cost $74 more than the current iPhone 16 Pro Max, based on Consumer Price Index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Furthermore, when assessing smartphone price trends, the Bureau doesn’t just consider changes in cost but also the value of upgrades, such as improved battery life, compared to earlier models. After factoring in these enhancements, smartphones today are 8.2% cheaper for consumers than they were a year ago, according to July CPI data.
Apple announced on Monday that the new iPhone 16 Pro will be priced at $999, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max will cost $1,199. Pre-orders for both models begin on Friday, with availability in stores starting September 20. Notably, these prices match those of last year’s iPhone 15 Pro.
