iPhone 16 is here! This article will help you understand the Apple press conference
September 12, 2024 | Words by Jackson
"Good morning~ " With Cook's iconic opening greeting, it's time for the annual "Technology Feast". At 10 a.m. on September 9, the 2024 Apple Fall Special Event was held as scheduled.
Since it is Apple's autumn conference, the protagonist of this year is naturally the highly anticipated iPhone 16 series. Of course, the supporting cast should not be underestimated. Watch Series 10, Watch Ultra 2 new colors, AirPods 4, and the new AirPods Max are all unveiled.
Although most of the content is similar to the leaks, there are still some highlights and surprises in the conference. Let's follow the conference together. Is this wave of new products from Apple "amazing" enough? Jackson will take stock one by one.
Contents:
- iPhone 16/Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro/Max
- Apple Watch Series 10
- Apple Watch Ultra 2
- AirPods 4
- New AirPods Max
- AirPods Pro 2
iPhone 16/Plus
It is true that the iPhone 16 series was the last to appear at the press conference, but given that it has the highest attention, the editor simply cuts in line for the four brothers.
Let's take a look at the two younger brothers, iPhone 16/Plus. To be honest, they can't be said to look exactly the same as the exposed pictures, but they are completely consistent.
At first glance, there are three most significant changes: the rear lens module is arranged vertically, the operation button is added, and the camera control button is added.
Let's take a closer look at them one by one. The screen size of iPhone 16 is consistent with the previous generation, iPhone 16 is 6.1 inches, iPhone 16 Plus is 6.7 inches, peak brightness is 2000nit, and minimum brightness is 1nit.
The body is made of aviation-grade aluminum, the screen cover is made of glass-ceramic formula, and the hardness of the new generation of super-ceramic glass is 50% higher than that of the first generation.
In addition to the two classic colors of black and white, the color scheme also provides three new colors: ultramarine, dark cyan and pink.
As for the screen refresh rate that everyone is more concerned about, Apple didn't mention it at all, so those who understand it will understand it.
As for buttons, the leaks are true. iPhone 16/Plus has added a camera control button. The button is equipped with a Taptic Engine tactile feedback mechanism. This capacitive sensor can distinguish between full clicks and light touches according to the pressure, thereby controlling the camera.
Press once to quickly wake up the camera, long press to start recording, tap to open various control options such as zoom, and double-tap to switch to other camera settings. After selecting, slide your finger to adjust the corresponding settings.
Since the camera control button is arranged, the photo-taking ability should be improved. Jackson looked at the image specifications of the iPhone 16/Plus, and can only say that there are hints but they are limited.
The main camera is equipped with a 48-megapixel fusion camera, which integrates the main camera and a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens, and can fuse 48-megapixel and 12-megapixel photos into 24-megapixel images.
The main camera can be cropped to provide a 2x telephoto option, which can take full-resolution photos. The ultra-wide angle is equipped with a 12-megapixel lens, which increases the brightness by 2.6 times. The main camera and ultra-wide angle can be used to shoot space videos and space photos, and also support macro photography.
Apple said that although there are only two cameras on the back, it is like carrying four cameras.
The performance of iPhone 16/Plus is probably one of the key points that everyone cares about. Apple has arranged a new A18 processor, which is built with the second-generation 3nm process.
Specifically, the A18 is equipped with a 6-core CPU, including 2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, which is 30% faster than the A16 and 30% lower in power consumption. The GPU is a 5-core, and its performance is 40% faster than the A16 and twice that of the A14.
Thanks to the 16-core neural engine, which is optimized for running large generative models, ML speed can be increased by up to 2 times; and the system memory bandwidth has increased by 17%, which can access generative models more efficiently.
I don’t know if you have noticed that the A18’s comparison object does not include the A17 Pro. And Apple has also made a heat dissipation design, and the A18 has hardware-accelerated ray tracing function, claiming that "the sustained performance of games has increased by 30%."
Finally, Apple spent a long time focusing on Apple Intelligence. After all, "Apple AI" is the highlight of this year. However, most of the features have actually been introduced at WWDC, such as creating new emojis, email summaries, and Siri evolution.
However, no matter how powerful it is, Apple Intelligence will not be launched immediately. Instead, it will be launched in October with the iOS 18.1 system and enter the testing phase.
In terms of price, it is the same as the previous generation iPhone 15/Plus.
- iPhone 16: 128GB is priced at $799, 256GB is priced at $899, and 512GB is priced at $1099.
- iPhone 16 Plus: 128GB is priced at $899, 256GB is priced at $999, and 512GB is priced at $1199.
Pre-orders will start at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time on September 13, and will be officially released on September 20.
iPhone 16 Pro/Max
After looking at the two younger brothers, you have to take a look at the two big brothers, iPhone 16 Pro/Max. The big brothers are worthy of being big brothers, and the changes are obviously more.
The most obvious thing is the size. The largest iPhone ever is here! The Pro Max is equipped with a 6.9-inch screen, which is the largest display in iPhone history.
Even the screen size of the Pro has increased from 6.1 inches in the previous generation to 6.3 inches. However, getting bigger comes at a price. The weight of the Pro is 199g and the Pro Max is 227g, which is 6% and 2.5% heavier than the previous generation, respectively.
Both models are equipped with a new generation of super-ceramic panels, support ProMotion adaptive refresh rate technology, and use grade 5 titanium.
It is reported that the titanium frame uses a new sandblasting process and is available in four colors: black titanium, white titanium, original color titanium, and desert color titanium.
As for battery life, the Pro has a larger battery, better power management, and excellent battery life, while the Pro Max has the best iPhone battery life ever.
According to the official website parameter information, the Pro Max can play videos for up to 33 hours, stream videos for up to 29 hours, and audio for up to 105 hours.
In terms of performance, since it is a Pro series, the processor must also be a Pro version. There is no doubt that it is the A18 Pro.
This chip also uses TSMC's second-generation 3nm technology and is more powerful than the A18 overall. The 6-core CPU includes 2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, which is 15% more powerful than the A17 Pro and can reduce power consumption by 20% while providing the same performance.
The 6-core GPU helps run 20% faster than the A17 Pro.
16-core Neural Engine capable of 35 teraflops; 17% increase in system memory bandwidth for more efficient access to generative models. Larger caches, next-generation ML accelerators, and advanced media features with ProMotion and always-on display support, faster USB 3 speeds, and ProRes video recording. Support for 2x data processing for video encoding.
In terms of imaging, the specifications of iPhone 16 Pro/Max are good. The Pro version is equipped with a rear 48-megapixel fusion main camera, supports 48MP ProRAW and HEIF photo shooting, and 0 shutter delay.
The ultra-wide angle also uses a new 48-megapixel camera, equipped with a four-in-one pixel sensor with autofocus function.
The telephoto of Pro/Max is a 12-megapixel 5x quad-prism telephoto lens. And the photography style has also been fully upgraded, supporting real-time adjustment of color and shadow.
It should be noted that thanks to the new ISP of A18 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro/Max both support recording 4K120 FPS video. In contrast, the previous generation can only record 4K video at 60 FPS.
It can be used in slow motion or video mode, and it does not need to be set in advance. It can be adjusted after capture to play at 120, 60, 30 or 24 FPS.
Of course, the camera control button will also be equipped with tactile feedback function, supporting the same operations as the standard version of the two models.
In addition, Apple has also launched a new "visual intelligence" feature. Click and hold the camera control button, and then point the iPhone at something to automatically extract detailed information related to it.
I almost forgot to mention that the microphone of iPhone 16 Pro/Max has also been upgraded. It uses 4 studio-grade microphones to support spatial audio capture during video recording, and get a more immersive experience when watching with AirPods or Apple Vision Pro.
With the upgrade of the microphone, Voice Memos supports layering tracks on top of existing recordings, making it more like a productivity tool in terms of audio functions.
According to MacRumors, by digging into the latest version of Xcode 16 developer tools, it is confirmed that all four iPhone 16 models are equipped with 8GB of memory. And according to the official promotional map released by Apple, the entire iPhone 16 series supports the Wi-Fi 7 standard.
In terms of price, the quantity is increased without increasing the price.
- iPhone 16 Pro: 128GB is priced at $999, 256GB is priced at $1099, 512GB is priced at $1299, and 1TB is priced at $1499.
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 256GB is priced at $1199, 512GB is priced at $1399, and 1TB is priced at $1599.
Pre-orders will be accepted from 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time on September 13, and will be officially released on September 20.
Apple Watch Series 10
At the press conference, the first new product was the Apple Watch Series 10, which Cook said was the Apple Watch with the largest display and the thinnest model to date.
Let's take a closer look. Watch Series 10 adopts a brand-new design and is equipped with the largest and most advanced display, even larger than Watch Ultra 2, and the watch mirror is made of durable lon-X glass.
This is due to the larger screen, which can enlarge the font without affecting the amount of content presented, and it is easier to input text.
In addition, this screen uses a wide-angle OLED display, which can present accurate pictures at a wider viewing angle, and the viewing brightness at an inclined angle is increased by up to 40%, and the AOD display supports refreshing once per second.
While the screen is the "largest in history", Series 10 is also the thinnest Apple Watch, with a thickness of only 9.7 mm, nearly 10% thinner than Series 9.
Officials said that in order to achieve the ultimate slim body, several already very compact internal modules need to be further reduced - the speaker system has been completely redesigned and reduced in size by 30%, and music and podcasts can be played through the speaker.
The new metal back not only integrates various antennas, including cellular antennas, maintains 50m waterproof performance, but also accommodates a larger charging coil, which can obtain 80% of the power in just 30 minutes, making it the fastest charging Apple Watch.
As for materials and colors, Series 10 is available in three colors: bright black, silver, and rose gold. It adopts a polished aluminum metal appearance and is polished with nano-silicon dioxide particles.
And a titanium version is also launched, available in original colors, gold and slate colors, and is 10% lighter than the previous generation.
In terms of performance, it uses the new S10 SIP chip and is equipped with a quad-core neural engine, which can provide a series of "smart functions used every day", including two-finger double-tap gestures, device-side Siri, dictation, and automatic physical training detection.
As a smartwatch, the health function of Watch Series 10 is of utmost importance.
Relying on watchOS 11, it provides new health and fitness insights and many smart functions, including car accident detection, fall detection, sleep apnea detection, and detection of breathing disorders through motion detection.
Officials have made it clear that apnea detection will also support Series 9 and Ultra 2, and will be launched in more than 150 countries and regions around the world later.
There is also a built-in depth gauge and water temperature sensor, which supports depth and water temperature detection and can be used as a diving watch.
In terms of price, the Watch Series 10 Aluminum from $399, and the Watch Series 10 Titanium from $699.
Pre-orders will be accepted on September 11, and the watch will be available on September 20.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Hot on the heels of the Apple Watch Series 10 comes the Apple Watch Ultra 2. A new version, to be exact — a satin black model with a custom sandblasted finish.
It is reported that the black titanium uses a diamond-like carbon PVD coating, which is scratch-resistant and durable, and 95% of the case material is recycled grade 5 titanium.
In terms of functions, a sleep apnea detection function will be added, using the watch accelerometer and measurement data over time to detect whether sleep apnea is consistent.
In addition, Apple has also launched a new titanium Milanese loop strap. As for other aspects, the new color version of Watch Ultra 2 is consistent with the original version.
AirPods 4
As expected, Apple brought the brand new AirPods 4 at the press conference and called it "the most comfortable AirPods to date."
The headphones are equipped with the Apple H2 chip, which uses a new acoustic architecture and supports personalized spatial audio.
It is reported that the H2 chip can work with customized drive units and amplifiers to make the treble crisp and pure and the bass deep and rich.
In addition, the H2 chip uses a powerful adaptive algorithm that can process sound faster, allowing users to immerse themselves in higher-fidelity sound effects.
It is worth noting that AirPods 4 is equipped with Apple's smallest AirPods charging case to date, which uses a USB-C interface, supports Qi and magsafe wireless charging, and can provide up to 30 hours of battery life.
Based on AirPods 4, Apple also launched the first open noise reduction AirPods 4, which supports active noise reduction, transparency mode, and adaptive audio.
In terms of price, AirPods 4 costs $129, and the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation costs $179. It will be released on September 20th.
New AirPods Max
After nearly 4 years, Apple has finally updated AirPods Max, but the update is too "small", with only three changes.
The first is the color scheme, which provides five colors: midnight, blue, purple, orange, and starlight.
The second is the interface, which has been upgraded to USB-C.
The third is the function. With iOS 18, you can get personalized spatial audio. And then, there is nothing else...
In terms of price, the new AirPods Max costs $549. It will be released on September 20th.
AirPods Pro 2
Although there were no new AirPods Pro this year, AirPods Pro 2 still made an appearance at the press conference because new health features are about to be released.
According to Apple, the new features are mainly related to hearing health, such as active hearing protection, and the noise reduction function with the help of machine learning can block noise while retaining details. For example, a clinical-grade hearing test is performed by using AirPods and iPhone to conduct a clinically validated hearing test.
If hearing loss is detected, it can act as a clinical-grade over-the-counter hearing aid, and the hearing profile will be added to the music, movies, and other audio on all your devices. The hearing aid function is currently being approved by the FDA and other regulatory agencies, and these features will be pushed in 100+ markets.
Conclusion
The above is the situation of all Apple's new products. Friends of ZIKE, after watching the 2024 Apple conference, I wonder if you are interested in the iPhone 16 series?
Jackson watched the whole show and found some familiar places: environmental protection, 60Hz refresh rate, storage made of "gold"... There are also some unfamiliar ones: camera control buttons, A18/Pro, 6.3/6.9inch...
Whether a product is good or bad is a matter of opinion. Whether to buy the product depends on your own needs and preferences.
In order to help everyone know the new product more clearly, ZIKE specially made a picture:
Although the Apple conference has come to an end, news about Apple will not stop. ZIKE will continue to follow up and report on more details of the conference and more follow-up news.