Apple Unveils New iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10 & AirPods 4

Apple just introduced the all-new iPhone 16 (and Plus, Pro and Pro Max), along with the Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4 at the highly anticipated “It’s Glowtime” event, which was held earlier today at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, CA.

While there were no real surprises unveiled today (an iPhone with a folding screen would have been cool), there’s still a lot to get excited about, and we’re here to break it all down for you.

First up is the Apple iPhone 16. Offered in four variants – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro & iPhone 16 Pro Max – there’s a phone for every need and budget, and Apple Intelligence (Apple’s generative AI, which will be released later this year) will be available on all of them, unlike the iPhone 15, where only Pro/Pro Max users get access to it.

Visually, the phones look much the same, with a few notable differences. First, the rear camera array is arranged vertically on the iPhone 16 & 16 Plus with a pill-shaped bump. The powerful camera system features a 48MP Fusion camera with a 2x Telephoto option, giving users two cameras in one, while a new Ultra-Wide camera enables macro photography – A first for base iPhone models. The new A18 chip delivers a huge leap in performance and efficiency, enabling demanding AAA games, as well as a big boost in battery life.

Furthermore, the Action button that debuted on last year’s 15 Pro models now arrives on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. This button, which replaces the mute switch, allows users to easily access a variety of functions with a press. Users can quickly open the camera, flashlight, or controls; switch between Ring and Silent; recognize music with Shazam; activate Voice Memos, Focus, Translate, and aMagnifier; or use Shortcuts for more options.

Camera Control elevates the camera experience on the iPhone 16. It’s packed with innovation, including a tactile switch that powers the click experience, a high-precision force sensor that enables the light press gesture, and a capacitive sensor that allows for touch interactions. Camera Control can quickly launch the camera, take a photo, and start video recording so users don’t miss the moment. A new camera preview helps users frame the shot and adjust other control options — such as zoom, exposure, or depth of field — to compose a stunning photo or video by sliding their finger on the Camera Control.

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will be available in five bold colors: black, white, pink, teal, and ultramarine. Available in 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch display sizes, the Super Retina XDR display with OLED technology and the Dynamic Island offers an exceptional viewing experience. Pricing for the iPhone 16 starts at $799 and iPhone 16 Plus starts at $899.

For those wanting even more, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are just the ticket, featuring larger display sizes, powerful pro camera capabilities, and a huge leap in battery life.

The new Pro lineup features the thinnest borders of any Apple product and introduces larger display sizes: 6.3 inches on iPhone 16 Pro and 6.9 inches on iPhone 16 Pro Max. The stunning Super Retina XDR displays with Always-On and ProMotion technologies help users accomplish more. Both models offer industry-leading durability with a strong, lightweight titanium design, as well as the latest-generation Ceramic Shield, which has an advanced formulation that is 2x tougher than glass on any other smartphone.

With iPhone 16 Pro & iPhone 16 Pro Max, the camera gets even more powerful. Powered by A18 Pro, the upgraded camera system introduces a new 48MP Fusion camera with a faster, more efficient quad-pixel sensor and Apple Camera Interface, unlocking 4K120 fps video recording in Dolby Vision. The quad-pixel sensor can read data 2x faster, enabling zero shutter lag for 48MP ProRAW or HEIF photos.

A new 48MP Ultra Wide camera also features a quad-pixel sensor with autofocus, so users can take higher-resolution 48MP ProRAW and HEIF images when capturing uniquely framed, wider-angle shots or getting close to their subjects with macro photography. The powerful 5x Telephoto camera now comes on both iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, allowing users to catch the action from farther away, no matter which model they choose.

Both Pro models feature 4 new studio-quality mics that preserve true-to-life recorded sounds, and video can now be captured in Spatial Audio for immersive listening with AirPods, Apple Vision Pro, or a surround sound system.

For many people, the Pro models might not offer enough to warrant the extra cost, given that the regular iPhone 16 is pretty feature packed already. But I’m going to get a iPhone 16 Pro, if not just for the extra screen size, better camera, and more powerful processor. iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be available in four stunning finishes: black titanium, natural titanium, white titanium, and desert titanium. Pricing for the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 and iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199.

Apple Watch Series 10 introduces the largest and most advanced display, with their thinnest design ever. The watch includes new capabilities like sleep apnea notifications, faster charging, and water depth and temperature sensing. Meanwhile, Apple Watch Ultra 2 is now available in a striking new black titanium finish, offering the most accurate GPS in a sports watch; the brightest display of any Apple product; and up to 36 hours of battery life with regular use, or up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode. Both Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 feature the breakthrough health and fitness insights and intelligence of watchOS 11.

Lastly, Apple unveiled two new AirPods 4, “the most advanced and comfortable headphones Apple has ever created” with an open-ear design: AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. The new AirPods 4 offer a better fit, a massive improvement in sound quality, an option for Active Noise Cancelling, a case with USB-C and wireless charging, up to 30 hours of battery life, and all the Listening Modes that have become beloved features of the AirPods Pro 2 making their way into these non-Pro pods.

Overall, it was a pretty solid event, with Apple continuing to improve and refine their products, rather than introducing anything radically new. With Apple Intelligence available on all of the iPhone 16 models, that might be just the catalyst to get more people to upgrade their older iPhones. As for the new Apple Watch and AirPods, they offer nice upgraded features if you’ve got a much older model.. but if you’ve got a newer model, that might not be necessary.

You can purchase the new iPhone 16 models, Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4s in stores beginning Friday, September 20.