So, the wait for the much-awaited iPhone launch event is finally over as Apple’s ‘Gather Around’ event took place on September 12 at 10 am PST local time, i.e., 10:30 pm IST as per the schedule. The event took place at the Steve Jobs theatre located at the Apple Park Campus.
So, those waiting with bated breath finally got a glimpse of the new iPhones. Like previous years, the event was used by Apple to unveil a slew of new products, which are discussed below.
Everything You Want to Know about the Apple Event 2018
As expected, Apple launched 3 new iPhones and a new Apple watch.
Apple iPhones
As mentioned already, Apple has launched three iPhones – iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. Of these, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are the pricey, high-end devices while the iPhone XR is the budget or the most affordable iPhone released this year.
iPhone XS
Price for iPhone XS – $999 to $1,349
Pre-order will start on – 14th September
Screen and Color: The iPhone XS (to be pronounced ‘iPhone ten S’) is to come with a 5.8-inch bezel-less notched OLED super retina resolution screen. It will be a successor to the iPhone X released last year. The design of the phone is more or less similar to that of iPhone X, but it will be available in a new, fresh gold color that definitely looks stunning. The other color variants that will be available are silver and space gray finishes. The iPhone XS will come in a stainless steel frame.
Size & Performance: The height and width of the iPhone XS will be the same as that of iPhone X, although it will be a little thicker due to camera upgrades. Apple is reportedly giving more importance to performance.
The new iPhones are expected to be faster than the current ones, mainly due to the inclusion of the Apple’s A12 Processor. The current iPhones feature the A11 Bionic Chip.
Camera: Another area of focus will be the camera. Some reports have suggested that iPhone XS will sport a dual-lens rear camera (12 Megapixels). Earlier, it was rumored that Apple would finally introduce the 3-lens system this year. But now, we have to wait another year to see the 3-lens camera in the iPhones.
However, significant camera improvements have been introduced in the latest iPhones. On the front, the iPhone will have a 7-megapixel TrueDepth camera with an f2.2 aperture that can record 1080p video and Portrait Mode photos.
Storage: Apple is expected to offer the maximum storage space of 512 GB in the iPhone XS. The other storage sizes we can expect are 64GB and 256GB. According to a 9to5Mac’s report, iPhone XS may include 4GB of RAM, up from 3 GB in the current iPhone X.
Other Features:
- The new iPhones are also expected to come with a dual SIM card slot using eSIM.
- It will run on the iOS 12 software.
- 3D Touch pressure-sensitive screen.
- The iPhone XS includes Face ID.
- It has 6-core CPU and a 4-core GPU. The new is expected to be much better at handling AR.
iPhone XS Max
Price for iPhone XS Max – $1099 to $1,449
Pre-order will start on – 14th September
Screen and Color: The iPhone XS Max is Apple’s most premium and expensive smartphone to date. It will sport a 6.5-inch notched OLED super retina resolution screen. Like iPhone XS, it will also be available in three color variants – gold, silver, and space grey. It too will come in a stainless steel frame.
Size & Performance: The size of the iPhone XS Max will be more or less similar to that of iPhone 8 Plus. But it will come with a larger display and is expected to be thicker than the iPhone 8 Plus, again to due camera upgrades like the inclusion of a larger rear camera sensor and lens.
Like iPhone XS, it will also include the latest Apple’s A 12 Processor, which is expected to bring about a significant improvement in performance.
Camera: A lot of upgrades are expected in this area. Like iPhone XS, it is also expected to sport a dual lens 12 MP wide-angle and telephoto rear camera, and a 7-megapixel TrueDepth camera at the front for taking selfies.
Storage: Apple will offer up to 512GB of storage in both iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. The storage sizes of 64GB and 256GB may also be available. Like iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max may include 4GB of RAM.
Other Features
- It will run on the iOS 12 software.
- The new iPhones will come with a dual SIM card slot in China and dual sim support in other countries using eSim technology.
- The iPhone XS May will include Face ID.
- 3D Touch pressure-sensitive screen.
- It has 6-core CPU and a 4-core GPU. The new is expected to give a much better experience in AR.
Also Read: Everything You Want to Know about Apple iPhone XS
iPhone XR
Price – $749 to $899
Pre-order will start on – 19th October
Screen and Color: iPhone XR is the third iPhone released this year. It is a budget model with a 6.1-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 320 and 330 pixels-per-inch.
Its design is similar to that of iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. It will be available in a range of colors including black, white, red, yellow, coral and blue. But you won’t find it in the new gold color. Further, unlike the two pricey iPhones, it will come in an aluminum frame (much like the current iPhone 8). But like other iPhone models, it is expected to feature the same glass back.
Size & Performance: The device will be a bit smaller than the expensive iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. As far as its performance is concerned, it also includes the Apple’s A12 Processor like the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max.
Camera: Unlike the other two iPhones, the iPhone XR is likely to sport a single lens 12-megapixel wide-angle camera; another measure taken for cost-cutting. On the front, it will also sport the 7-megapixel TrueDepth camera.
Storage: The battery of the iPhone XR will be smaller than that of iPhone XS. But, it is expected that all the latest iPhones including the iPhone XR will offer longer battery life. iPhone XR will offer lower storage options and less RAM than the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max.
The device will come with 3GB of RAM and offer 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage sizes. The iPhone XR will also offer dual SIM support with one physical card slot and a digital eSIM.
Apple Watch Series
As expected, Apple has unveiled its latest watch, the Apple watch series 4. The new watch series sports a new design along with a larger display and an inbuilt heart sensor. The new Apple watch can detect if the wearer has a sudden fall with the help of an accelerometer and gyroscope. It can also call for emergency services in such a scenario.
The watch will come in two sizes – 40mm and 44mm. It will be available in 3 color variants – silver, gold, and space gray and will come in a stainless steel frame with a Milanese band. The watch will allow its users to keep a track of their heart rates, and also see stocks, scores from sports teams, and much more.
Apart from these, it will feature a modified digital crown with haptic feedback. The speaker will be about 50% louder than that of its predecessor and the microphone will on the opposite side to reduce echo. The ‘Breathe app’ will be available as a watch face which means you can use it by simply raising your wrist.
It will have the same 18-hour battery life like its predecessor. The WatchOS 5 will run on the new Watch series. According to reports, it will include a walkie-talkie mode, support for podcasts, enhanced fitness and health tracking, and more. Its inbuilt electrical heart sensor will allow you to take an ECG anytime, anywhere.
So, Apple has finally introduced 3 new iPhones in its ‘Gather Around Event’. But, it did not launch the AirPower, AirPods, Macs, and iPad Pros.
