iPhone 14, Apple Watch Ultra, new AirPods Pro

Yep, Apple is transitioning to electronic SIM cards (those tiny cards you get from wireless carriers). Another big feature coming to iPhone 14: crash detection. The phone will automatically notify emergency services and contacts in a crash, like Apple Watch. The iPhone will also add emergency SOS via satellite. The phone will have specific technology so iPhone 14 antennas can connect to communication satellites when users point their phone in the satellite’s direction.

The phone has a new 12-megapixel main camera with a larger sensor and faster aperture, along with improvements to taking pictures in low-light environments. The front of the iPhone gets a new 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera. The phone’s Deep Fusion technology will help improve photography in low-light spaces, providing more detail and color in your images. Video will get upgraded as well. A new stabilization mode called action mode will make videos look more stable when filming more active events.

Now for the big news: Apple announces the iPhone 14. There’s an iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. The iPhone 14 has a 6.1-inch screen, while the Plus has a 6.7-inch screen. It has a super retina custom OLED display, ceramic shield glass, aerospace grade aluminum body, and comes in five colors: midnight, starlight, light blue, purple and red. It will run on the A15 Bionic chip, so naturally it will run faster and better than previous models.

Customers can pre-order AirPods Pro on Sept. 9, with launch on Sept. 23. They start at $249, says Apple.

New controls on the earbuds will now let users adjust volume by swiping up and down along the side of the stem of the AirPod. The new AirPods Pro support up to 30 hours of listening time when you factor in the recharging case. A speaker has been added to the AirPod case to indicate when they’re lost or on low battery. The AirPods Pro case can charge using an Apple Watch charger.

Mark another square on your Apple event bingo cards. Apple CEO Tim Cook announced updated AirPods Pro, which he said are the company’s most popular AirPods. The new Pro earbuds feature an updated processing chip for better sound quality. There’s a new low distortion audio driver and custom amplifier to provide more sound detail and clarity. Then there’s spatial audio, which gives the impression the sound is coming from all around you. Users can personalize it to present sound as accurately as possible. The popular active noise cancellation feature is twice as good as the original AirPods Pro, according to Apple. The earbuds will now include an extra-small earbuds tip for comfort. Transparency mode helps reduce high-decibel noise nearby.

Yep, not cheap. The Apple Watch Ultra starts at $799. Preorders are available Wednesday, and the watch will launch on Sept. 23.

Apple says one of the biggest features of the Apple Watch Ultra is improved GPS accuracy. In dense conditions such as areas with high skyscrapers or tall trees, the watch has special technology to maintain accurate GPS results. The watch’s action button allows for more precise workouts, and a new feature will automatically detect when you hit a running track. Apple said it’s built for extreme temperatures. There’s also a redesigned Compass app with better views of your locations and ways to mark key points. Plus there’s an 86-decibel siren built into the watch in case of emergency. 

One of the first big rumors confirmed: the Apple Watch Ultra. The case is made from titanium to handle more rugged activities with flat sapphire front crystal and the largest display on an Apple Watch. There’s also a new button in bright orange for additional functions. The watch has a second speaker for more volume and extra microphones. Every Ultra watch is built with cellular, and up to 36 hours of battery life on one charge. It can even go up to 60 hours with a new battery optimization setting launching this fall. The watch’s Night Mode can turn the interface bright red for better visibility in the dark.

The budget-friendly intro to the Apple Watch is also getting an upgrade. It will be available in silver, midnight and starlight colors. It boasts most of the safety features of the main Apple Watch. The display is 30% larger of the Series 3 watch, and it’s 20$ faster than the previous SE model. It will also support crash detection. Apple clearly is pitching this as a great model for kids. It starts at $249 or $299 or a cellular model. Preorders open Wednesday, and the watch launches Sept. 16.

The watch will launch in multiple colors and styles, including midnight, starlight and product red for the aluminum models, and silver, gold or graphite for stainless steel models. Watches from brands Nike and Hermes will get updates too. It’s available to preorder Wednesday, and launches Sept. 16.

Apple Watch adds low power mode

The Apple Watch will get a low power mode to minimize battery-intensive features and add up to 36 hours of battery life. It’s available for the Watch Series 4 or later through the WatchOS 9 update.

The new watch will add a feature that detects when you’re in a severe car crash. Once detected, the watch automatically contacts emergency responders, sends off your location, then reaches out to emergency contacts. New tech can sense the force and timing of an impact to determine whether you’ve been involved in a front- or side-impact crash, a rear-end crash or a rollover.

The new Apple Watch Series 8 announced by COO Jeff Williams features a brighter, always-on display. It’s also swimproof and crack-resistant. Health sensors in the watch still include the ability to read blood oxygen levels and ECGs. There’s a new temperature sensor as part of advanced cycle tracking features for women’s health. The sensor will provide an estimate of ovulation, as well as check nighttime wrist temperature to detect changes as small as 0.1 degrees Celsius. Apple notes all health data is encrypted end to end, controlled only by users.

Before detailing changes to Apple Watch, the company plays a montage featuring users of the Watch and how it has impacted their lives. Most discuss the various health scenarios including falls and rapid heartbeats. In some cases, users dialed 911 to contact rescuers or family to seek help to save their lives.

Apple CEO Tim Cook begins the event, saying it will focus on three products: iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch. “Together, they provide a magical experience,” said Cook.