Everything Apple Announced at its iPhone 14 Event Today

If it’s not broke and manages to sell tens of millions of units, don’t fix it. That seems to be the game plan for the new iPhone 14, which looks nearly identical to the iPhone 13, and will be available in two sizes: a regular version with a 6.1-inch screen, and a Plus option that boosts the screen size to 6.7-inches. Both models continue to use last year’s A15 Bionic processor, while Apple is promising the best battery life yet from an iPhone.

In the US, at least, the iPhone 14 is skipping the SIM tray for eSIM, and will introduce satellite connectivity to its Emergency SOS feature, which allows limited text messaging through satellite communications when cellular reception is insufficient—although it will eventually stop being free and instead become an optional paid feature. The iPhone 14 also comes with an ultrawide and 12MP camera on the back with improved low-light performance, and improved stabilization through a new Action Mode—but don’t expect the iPhone 14 to replace your GoPro.

Like the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, the new iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are reminiscent of the last generation iPhone 13 Pro models, but the differences are more noticeable when you look at the always-on screen. Apple has come up with a way to distract users from the iPhone notch with a new pill-shaped cutout camouflaging the front-facing camera and Face ID hardware behind animated widgets and notifications that appear to grow from and shrink back into the screen cutout. It’s called the Dynamic Island, and is already the subject of far too many memes.

More useful are the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max’s camera upgrades, which now pack 48-megapixels ‘round back that promise greatly improved low-light photography and cropping tricks to achieve a true 2X zoom. Both Pro models are also powered by the new A16 Bionic chip, which Apple claims is its most powerful and energy efficient mobile processor.

The longstanding rumors of the Apple Watch getting a major facelift with a flat screen only materialized for another model this year, with the new Apple Watch Series 8 looking more or less like an exact clone of the Apple Watch Series 7. So why bother upgrading? The Series 8 introduces new features like a low power mode that can keep the watch running for up to 36 hours with certain functions deactivated, crash detection that leverages upgraded motion and G-force sensors to detect severe impacts and automatically alert emergency services, and dual temperature sensors designed to assist features like fertility tracking that now includes ovulation estimates based on previous measurements.

Designed specifically for adventurers, athletes, and explorers, the new premium Apple Watch Ultra might also be a solid option for those who struggle to take care of their gadgets. With a beefy 49mm case made of titanium, the Apple Watch Ultra also boasts a battery good for 36 hours of use on a single charge, or up to 60 hours in a low power mode, an always-on super-bright flat screen, a semi-protected digital crown and button along with an additional programmable Action button on the other side, extra mics, diving-certified waterproofing, upgraded GPS, and an 86-decibel alarm designed to help lost adventurers get located faster.

If you’re new to the Apple Watch, or just don’t want to splurge on the Series 8 or the pricier Ultra model, the Apple Watch SE remains one of the best smartwatch bargains out there, and is now even better with an updated version revealed today. Powered by the same S8 SiP advanced dual-core processor as the Apple Watch Series 8 and the Apple Watch Ultra, the SE is now 20% faster than the previous version, and includes features like the new Crash Detection functionality and improved compass app. The SE is also worth considering because with 40mm and 44mm options and a new nylon composite back case, it’s also the lightest Apple Watch models available.

The original AirPods Pro quietly snuck onto Apple’s online store without much fanfare back in 2019, but the follow-up got the main stage treatment—err, video segment treatment—at today’s event, although the AirPods Pro 2nd Gen don’t look that much different. The biggest improvement is that Apple promises twice the noise cancelling capabilities thanks to a new H2 chip inside. Battery life has been boosted to six hours on a charge with ANC on, or up to 30 hours when occasionally docked in the charging case that’s now Qi charger-friendly, even with the Apple Watch’s proprietary charging cable.

The AirPods Pro 2nd Gen’s charging case gains a loop for a lanyard, a U1 chip making it easier to locate with Apple’s Find My feature, and a built-in speaker that will chirp making the case easier to find, but also provides battery life—or imminent battery death—warnings.

First announced back in June at Apple’s WWDC keynote, iOS 16 brings a visual refresh to supported iPhone models with a bunch of long overdue aesthetic upgrades to the mobile operating system including a redesigned lock screen with more personalization and customization options like font choices for the clock that better integrate with the wallpaper. iOS 16 has been out in beta since WWDC, but today Apple announced the major update will be officially available to iPhone users starting on September 12.

Every Apple event comes with as many disappointments as it does product announcements. So what were we hoping to see revealed that didn’t make the cut today? iOS 16 is set to arrive next week, but what about iPad OS? The next version of the mobile tablet OS that includes new features like Stage Manager allowing apps to run side-by-side in resizable windows is still missing in action, and we still don’t know when macOS Ventura, Apple’s flagship desktop OS, also announced at WWDC 2022, will arrive, aside from sometime before the year is out.

Earlier this year, it was rumored that Apple was going to introduce a monthly subscription service for the iPhone and Apple’s other hardware, including the iPad, that works differently than the current iPhone Upgrade Program. With a pricy new Apple Watch model revealed, today seemed like a good time to introduce a new way for customers to buy Apple’s gear, but perhaps we’ll see it introduced at the next Apple event.

And while we know Apple is working on a virtual reality or augmented reality type headset, the company has yet to reveal any physical hardware or features for the product, leaving curious Apple fans to continue to sustain themselves on rumors and intriguing trademark filings.