Arguably, the item that generated the most interest at Apple’s September 14 event was the iPhone 13 lineup. This year, it comes in four models: the iPhone, iPhone Mini, iPhone Pro, and iPhone Max.
All run the new A15 Bionic chip, which offers improved machine learning abilities and is heralded by Apple as the fastest CPU in a smartphone.
With a 6.1-inch screen, the iPhone 13 comes with a new look that includes a dual-camera array arranged diagonally.
Kicking off with 128GB storage, it also features improved display efficiency, an updated 5G chip, and a longer-lasting battery, tipped to stay charged 2.5 hours longer than the iPhone 12.
Set to retail from US$799, the iPhone 13 is available in pink, blue, black, white, and red.
The iPhone 13 Mini is the most affordable in the current line-up, kicking off with a price tag of US$699, and this year it packs some extra storage.
The base model comes complete with 128GB of storage and the A15 Bionic chip mentioned earlier.
Like the standard iPhone, it features a diagonal dual-camera array and comes in pink, blue, black, white, and red.
The 6.1-inch iPhone Pro and 6.7-inch iPhone Pro Max are Apple’s high-end smartphones, and this year they were unveiled to all the usual fanfare.
In addition to the A15 chip, they feature a Super Retina XDR display and a five-core CPU that allows for faster graphics.
One of the big improvements to the Pro range came in the form of the camera array, which now offers a new 77mm telephoto lens with three times optical zoom and new wide and ultrawide cameras.
The Pro retails from US$999 while the Pro Max starts at US$1099, and both are available in the colors of graphite, gold, silver, and sierra blue.
September is traditionally reserved for the unveiling of the latest base model iPad, with the Pro already released in April this year.
This year’s standard iPad is the 9th generation version and comes with a 10.2-inch screen and the A13 chip, which Apple says allows for 20 percent faster performance than last year’s model.
Machine learning is a big feature of the latest entry-level iPad. It comes with a 12MP front-facing camera that uses machine learning to adjust focus during FaceTime calls.
It also supports the first-generation Apple Pencil and features a True Tone display which factors in ambient lighting.
The 2021 iPad now offers more storage, kicking off with 65GB. It retails from US$329 (or $US299 for the education sector).
This year, the iPad Mini received some welcome additions and improvements, including USB-C support, the A15 chip, 5G compatibility, and upgraded front and rear cameras.
The 8.3-inch device also has a magnetic strip for the Apple Pencil, an updated speaker system, and now offers an edge-to-edge screen with a Liquid Retina display.
It’s available in new colors (including pink and purple) and retails from US$499 for the 64GB model.
The latest Apple Watch is now slimmer yet wider than its predecessor, with Apple describing the 20 percent larger display as its “biggest and brightest thinking yet.”
This screen is also ‘always on,’ allowing users to see information even when their wrist is down.
The larger display accommodates ease of reading and features a QWERTY keyboard that you can type or swipe to compose messages.
Retailing from US$399, the Apple Watch 7 is available in the five new all-aluminum colors of green, blue, red, white, and midnight.
