The much-anticipated 2024 Apple Event, held on September 9, introduced a slew of new products and features, headlined by the iPhone 16 lineup, the Apple Watch Series 10, and new AirPods.
The event was marked by significant technological advancements, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), user experience improvements, and an emphasis on health and sustainability.
Below, we will take a closer look at each product revealed during the event, and the major changes Apple introduced this year.
iPhone 16 Lineup
One of the key highlights of the event was the introduction of the iPhone 16 series, which included four models: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
The iPhone 16 starts at $799, while the iPhone 16 Plus costs $899. The iPhone 16 Pro is priced at $999, and the Pro Max starts at $1,199. Preorders open on Friday, and the phones will be available starting September 20.
Specifications
| Model | iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR | 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR | 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR, ProMotion, Always-On | 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR, ProMotion, Always-On |
| Chip | A18 Chip | A18 Chip | A18 Pro Chip | A18 Pro Chip |
| Camera System | 48MP Fusion Camera, 2x Telephoto, 12MP Ultra Wide, macro support | 48MP Fusion Camera, 2x Telephoto, 12MP Ultra Wide, macro support | 48MP Fusion Camera, 4K120 Dolby Vision, 48MP Ultra Wide, 5x Telephoto | 48MP Fusion Camera, 4K120 Dolby Vision, 48MP Ultra Wide, 5x Telephoto |
| Battery Life | Up to 22 hours video playback / Up to 80 hours audio playback | Up to 27 hours video playback / Up to 100 hours audio playback | Up to 27 hours video playback / Up to 85 hours audio playback | Up to 33 hours video playback / Up to 105 hours audio playback |
| Operating System | iOS 18 with Apple Intelligence | iOS 18 with Apple Intelligence | iOS 18 with Apple Intelligence | iOS 18 with Apple Intelligence |
| Action Button | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Material | Aluminum | Aluminum | Titanium | Titanium |
| Available Colors | Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine | Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine | Black Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium, Desert Titanium | Black Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium, Desert Titanium |
| Durability | Ceramic Shield (2x tougher than glass) | Ceramic Shield | Ceramic Shield, titanium frame | Ceramic Shield, titanium frame |
| Storage Options | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Audio | Spatial Audio, Studio-quality microphones | Spatial Audio, Studio-quality microphones | Spatial Audio, 4 studio-quality microphones | Spatial Audio, 4 studio-quality microphones |
| Pricing | Starts at $799 | Starts at $899 | Starts at $999 | Starts at $1,199 |
| Pre-order | September 13, 2024 | September 13, 2024 | September 13, 2024 | September 13, 2024 |
| Availability | September 20, 2024 | September 20, 2024 | September 20, 2024 | September 20, 2024 |
Source: Apple 16 and 16 Plus Specs – Apple 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max Specs
While the design might seem familiar to long-time users, several notable innovations set these devices apart from previous iterations.
AI-Powered iPhone 16
Apple has embedded its generative AI system, Apple Intelligence, into the new iPhone lineup. This integration allows the phones to offer writing suggestions, summarize notifications, and recognize images through the camera with enhanced accuracy.
The AI’s ability to process personal data on-device ensures a higher level of privacy, with the option to access ChatGPT for more complex tasks.
Siri’s capabilities have seen a major transformation with the iPhone 16, becoming more deeply integrated into the system and featuring a brand-new design that includes a subtle, elegant glowing light wrapping around the edge of the screen when activated.
This redesign not only enhances the visual experience but also complements Siri’s richer language understanding, making interactions more natural and fluid. Siri can now follow along when users stumble over their words and maintain context from one request to the next. Users have the flexibility to switch between typing and voice commands at any time, allowing them to accelerate everyday tasks with ease. Siri’s extensive product knowledge also enables it to answer thousands of questions about iPhone features and other Apple devices.
As part of the Apple Intelligence suite, additional features will roll out over time, including the ability to create personalized Genmoji by typing descriptions or selecting photos. Siri’s deeper contextual understanding will allow it to assist with even more complex tasks and integrate seamlessly with third-party apps like ChatGPT.
Camera Enhancements
A standout feature for the iPhone 16 models is the Camera Control button, which mirrors the feel of a DSLR’s shutter button. It is located on the lower right side of the phone, making it easier to launch the camera, adjust focus, or take a picture instantly.
The iPhone 16 Pro models also come with ProMotion technology with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz.
Additionally, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max come equipped with a 48MP Fusion camera and an Ultra-Wide camera for enhanced resolution, macro photography, and cinematic video recording. The Pro models also introduce 4K120 fps recording in Dolby Vision, a first for smartphones, offering stunning video quality.
“Powered by the faster, more efficient A18 Pro chip and built for Apple Intelligence, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are the most advanced iPhone models we’ve ever made,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.
“Customers who are looking for the best possible iPhone will be able to take advantage of this huge step forward, whether they’re applying edits to a photo without lifting a finger, rewriting meeting notes for a more professional tone, or using the advanced camera system to capture their next masterpiece in 4K120 fps in Dolby Vision — all while enjoying extraordinary battery life.”
Larger Displays and Improved Durability
Apple has increased the screen sizes on the iPhone 16 Pro models, with the Pro Max featuring a massive 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display, making it the largest display on an iPhone. The new design also features the thinnest borders in the iPhone series, providing an immersive viewing experience. The phones boast a titanium body, which makes them lighter yet more durable than their predecessors.
Battery Life and Performance
The new A18 Pro chip powers the iPhone 16 series, which uses 3-nanometer technology for faster, more efficient processing. This allows for better multitasking, gaming, and AI-driven tasks without compromising battery life. In fact, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is claimed to have the best battery life ever on an iPhone.
Apple Watch Series 10
The Apple Watch Series 10 was another star of the event, featuring several significant upgrades. Most notably, the Series 10 has rounder corners and a larger, brighter display that is nearly 10% thinner than the previous generation.
The new design enhances the aesthetic while maintaining durability with its titanium body, now available in new finishes like black titanium.
Apple also unveiled the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which offers an even larger and more rugged design, perfect for adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts. The Ultra 2 includes a flat sapphire crystal display, capable of reaching 3000 nits of brightness, making it one of the brightest smartwatches available. With its extended battery life of up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode and enhanced water resistance (up to 100 meters), the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is designed for more extreme conditions while maintaining a sleek, functional design.
| Specification | Apple Watch Series 10 | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Case Material | Aluminum (Jet Black, Rose Gold, Silver), Titanium (Slate, Gold, Natural) | Titanium, Grade 5 (Natural, Black) |
| Display | Always-On Retina LTPO OLED, up to 2000 nits brightness | Always-On Retina LTPO OLED, up to 3000 nits brightness |
| Screen Size | 42mm and 46mm, edge-to-edge display | 49mm, flat sapphire crystal display |
| Display Resolution | 416 x 496 pixels (46mm), 374 x 446 pixels (42mm) | 410 x 502 pixels |
| Processor | S10 SiP, 64-bit dual-core, 4-core Neural Engine | S9 SiP, 64-bit dual-core, 4-core Neural Engine |
| Storage | 64GB | 64GB |
| Sensors |
|
|
| Water Resistance | 50m (swim-proof) | 100m (recreational scuba diving to 40m), EN13319 |
| Battery Life | Up to 18 hours, 36 hours in Low Power Mode | Up to 36 hours, 72 hours in Low Power Mode |
| Charging | Fast-charging, up to 80% charge in about 30 minutes | Fast-charging, up to 80% charge in about 1 hour |
| Connectivity |
|
|
| Durability | IP6X dust resistant | IP6X dust resistant, MIL-STD 810H certified |
| Available Sizes | 42mm, 46mm | 49mm |
| Weight |
|
Natural: 61.4g, Black: 61.8g |
| Price | Starting at $399 | Starting at $799 |
| Pre-order | September 13, 2024 | September 13, 2024 |
| Availability | September 20, 2024 | September 20, 2024 |
Source: Apple Watch Series 10 Specs – Apple Watch Ultra 2 Specs
Health and Wellness Features
In line with Apple’s growing focus on health and wellness, the Series 10 offers improved sensors for tracking health metrics, including heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and sleep patterns. One of the more innovative features is hearing health monitoring, which integrates seamlessly with Apple’s AirPods to alert users when noise levels are dangerously high, such as at concerts or construction sites.
The Series 10 also introduces more robust fitness tracking capabilities, with deeper insights into workouts and activity levels. Additionally, it supports mental health tracking through the Mindfulness app, helping users manage stress and anxiety.
Insightful Sleep Apnea Notifications
One of the standout features of the Apple Watch Series 10 is its ability to monitor and detect signs of sleep apnea, a potentially serious condition that affects over 1 billion people globally. Sleep apnea causes interruptions in breathing during sleep, often going undiagnosed and leading to increased risks of hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Apple Watch Series 10 builds on its already robust sleep tracking capabilities—monitoring metrics like heart rate, respiratory rate, and wrist temperature—and now introduces the ability to detect Breathing Disturbances, a key indicator of sleep apnea.
By utilizing its built-in accelerometer, the Apple Watch detects small movements at the wrist that correlate with interruptions in normal breathing patterns. These Breathing Disturbances are analyzed and, if consistently elevated over time, may signal the presence of sleep apnea. The Apple Watch notifies users of these disturbances, and further insights can be viewed in the Health app. There, users can track their sleep patterns over various time periods—such as one month, six months, or a year—helping them understand the quality of their rest and identify potential health concerns early on.
With the addition of sleep apnea detection, the Apple Watch continues to expand its role as a personal health guardian, offering powerful tools to improve users’ well-being through advanced, intelligent monitoring.
Battery and Performance
The Apple Watch Series 10 provides reliable battery life for everyday use, lasting up to 18 hours under typical conditions. In Low Power Mode, it can extend to 36 hours, making it suitable for longer periods without charging. The watch supports fast charging, allowing it to reach 80% charge in about 30 minutes. A 15-minute charge provides up to 8 hours of normal use, and 8 minutes of charging is enough for a full night of sleep tracking. These improvements ensure that the watch is ready to go with minimal downtime between charges.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is designed for extended use, offering up to 36 hours of battery life during regular usage. In Low Power Mode, the battery can last up to 72 hours, making it ideal for long adventures or extended outdoor activities. The watch comes with a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery and supports fast charging, allowing it to reach 80% charge in about an hour. This ensures that even with limited charging time, the Ultra 2 is ready to handle longer periods of use without frequent recharging.
AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2
Apple’s audio lineup saw substantial upgrades with the unveiling of AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods 4, designed for users who dislike in-ear tips, now feature Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) for the first time in an open-ear design. These AirPods offer a more comfortable fit with advanced sound quality, making them a strong contender for users who prioritize convenience and comfort.
“With AirPods 4, customers can enjoy Active Noise Cancellation and the most advanced audio experience ever in an open-ear design,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. “And with a revolutionary update to the world’s best-selling headphones, AirPods Pro will deliver groundbreaking new capabilities — including Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features — to help more than a billion people affected by hearing loss.”
Advanced Features and Design
Both the AirPods 4 and Pro 2 benefit from Apple’s H2 chip, enabling features like adaptive audio, transparency mode, and conversation awareness. These features automatically adjust audio settings based on the surrounding environment, offering a seamless listening experience. The AirPods Pro 2 also introduces the world’s first hearing health experience, including a hearing test and hearing aid functionality.
These new health features have been lauded for their potential to revolutionize the hearing aid industry, offering a cost-effective and high-quality solution for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. The hearing test feature uses pure-tone audiometry, a clinical-grade method, to assess users’ hearing and create a personalized profile.
Prices for the AirPods 4 start at $129, with the Pro 2 models priced at $249. Pre-orders began on September 9, with availability starting on September 20.
Conclusion
The 2024 Apple Event was a showcase of innovation, focusing heavily on AI, user experience, and sustainability. From the AI-powered iPhone 16 lineup to the hearing health revolution introduced by the AirPods Pro 2, Apple continues to push the envelope in terms of what technology can do to improve everyday life. With substantial improvements across the board, Apple is poised to remain a leader in the tech industry, offering products that not only meet consumer demands but also anticipate future needs.
The new iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods models will hit the shelves on September 20, and Apple fans around the world are eager to get their hands on these next-generation devices.
Here is the full video of the event: