Apple releases new iPhones, iWatch and iPad

The iPhone 13, as the new iPhone has been christened, looks similar to its predecessor, but comes with a slightly smaller ‘notch’, which is the slot that houses the Face ID module. Cameras have been tampered with, too. The device has a new wide-angle camera with larger pixels and optical image stabilization (OIS) with shift sensor, which makes photos and videos look better in low light.

For video, there is now also an option to automatically adjust focus while shooting. When the camera detects that someone is turning their head towards a specific target in the frame, it will focus on it. ProRes video format support will also be added later through a software update.

Apple also put larger batteries in the devices and improved power consumption. Together with the new, more economical A15 Bionic-soc, this should result in an extended autonomy of one and a half to two and a half hours. Finally, all iPhones come with at least 128GB of storage, which doubles the minimum with the iPhone 12.

With the Pro and Pro Max models of the iPhone (which come with a third portrait lens, among other things), the biggest novelty is the addition of a so-called “ProMotion” screen. Supports refresh rates of up to 120Hz, which makes movement look smoother. The screen refresh rate can also be lowered automatically, up to 10Hz, to save battery. This happens, for example, when the user simply reads the text. All screens on all iPhones can also shine brighter, up to 800 nits on the iPhone and 1,000 nits on the Pro models.

IPAD

With the iPads, the base model and iPad Mini were revamped by Apple. With the standard iPad, these innovations are subtle. A new front-facing camera has been installed that supports “Center Stage” (the feature by which the camera can automatically follow speakers in AI video calls) and is said to be twenty percent faster than its predecessor. Moreover, the storage capacity has been increased to at least 64GB and the device is now compatible with the first generation Apple Pencil. The new iPad costs between 389 and 699 euros.

With the iPad Mini, innovations are even tougher. It will now have the same look as the iPad Air. This means that the home button is gone and fingerprints have been erased via the on/off button at the top. As a result, the screen has become larger, up to 8.3 inches diagonally, and the resolution has also increased slightly. Remarkably also, the device now comes with a USB C connection, which replaces the traditional Lightning connection. In terms of connectivity, the device will have Wifi 6 and some versions will also have 5G. The mini is sold for between 559 and 899 euros.

Apple Watch

Finally, Tim Cook also brought a new Apple Watch to his event. The larger screen in particular is striking there. The screens are now 41 or 45 millimeters in size, which means they’ve grown by one millimeter compared to last year. This makes it possible, among other things, to show a full keyboard (you) on the screen. Charging speed has also been increased. Apple says that charging the battery from zero to eighty percent should take no more than 45 minutes.

A new fall detection system has been built for cyclists, and the device is also largely compatible with Apple Fitness+, the online service with fitness videos, which is not yet available in Belgium and the Netherlands.

The exact date when the watch will be in stores has not yet been announced. Apple is holding it “for later this fall” for now. The price in the US is already known: from $ 399.