Everything To Know About Apple’s New Products
Every year, Apple’s autumn announcement is a defining moment. It not only reveals what we could buy, but also, it shows us what technology is now capable of. This year’s recent event wasn’t wrong when Apple named it “Awe Dropping”. The Californian tech giant announced a myriad of advancements, each of which was worthy of its own headline, from live in-ear translations in AirPods to market-leading hypertension detection in its watches – yes, even the budget option.
On the phones front, it was more revolution than evolution. We saw the long-awaited launch of the iPhone Air, plus new material in the iPhone 17 range’s frames, protective glass and battery that’s helped them to become the most sophisticated yet. The best news? The devices have generally kept or reduced their cost, making this tech more affordable than ever.
All these gadgets will be available to pre-order from 12th September, and will arrive on doorsteps and in shops on 19th September. Here’s a closer look at what they have to offer.
iPhone Air
The big news was the launch of the iPhone Air, which had been expected for sometime. As with the Air laptop range, it’s defined by how thin it is: at just 5.6mm thick it’s the slimmest iPhone ever.
It’s not only the size that makes it stand out in the iPhone range: it also is made of Titanium, and has one single rear camera rather than a suite that allows a range of lenses. That’s thanks to its Fusion camera system, which makes use of its high 48MP to give it an ‘optical-quality’ 2x telephoto lens. It also has a new 18MP selfie camera, which has Centre Stage (automatic video framing that keeps you in the centre), plus other features like suite of options, dual camera filming and better low light images that are useful for budding content creators.
Replacing the iPhone 16 Plus, it has premium features like a 6.5” display, and a new A19 Pro chipset that runs up to three times as fast, making it ideal for power-heavy Gen AI tasks. Usually, a slimmer means smaller battery, but by using the newest silicon-carbon batteries, battery life is the same as the 16 Plus, with 27 hours of video playback on each charge, Apple says.
The iPhone Air starts from £999 for 256GB base model – not bad considering the looming threat of Trump’s tariffs in their key market of the USA.
iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max
With the Plus giving way to the Air, the iPhone line up features one less phone but there’s still plenty of choice. The standard 17 is similar to its earlier versions, except for key upgrades like a slightly larger screen (at 6.3”), ceramic glass coating, and 120Hz refresh rate – a feature which is now standard in most flagship phones.
The 17 range all move onto aluminium frames (which are lighter and conduct heat better), and have a 48MP main camera, a 48MP ultrawide camera, and an upgraded 18MP selfie camera with Centre Stage. But the Pro and Pro also feature an industry-leading 48MP telephoto with an impressive 8X zoom, and their cameras are housed in a redesigned ‘Camera Plateau’ that runs full width on the back. The whole 17 range features the Fusion camera system too.
The Pro versions also have a better chip with the A19 Pro, allowing it to handle heavy-duty Gen AI tasks. The silicon-carbon battery means they have much better battery life than previous models – expect up to 39 hours of video playback.
The standard iPhone 17 starts at £799 (the same price as the iPhone 16 when it went on sale, despite all the upgrades). The Pro remains at £1,099 as a starting point, and £1,199 for the Pro Max. The priciest option is a new 2TB version of the Pro Max costing £1,999 – the most expensive iPhone yet.
AirPods Pro 3
While the iPhones are the most prolific devices announced by Apple, the AirPods – their wireless earphones – are just as impressive. If you’ve read or watched the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the idea of a babel fish – a fish that simultaneously translates from one language to another – will have been a source of fascination. Now, the AirPods Pro 3 are making that a reality. A twist of the stem activates the new live translation feature. If both parties have it on, you can hear each other’s translated speech in your ear. If not, you can use your paired iPhone to show it as text or play audio.
The new iPods have a rake of other useful features – it can now track your heart rate, it’s said to have doubly improved its noise cancellation, it lowers its playback volume if you’re having a conversation with someone nearby, and it has capabilities as a hearing aid. But such strides stay in the shadow of the translation feature – we just hope it works as smoothly as it needs to.
While still pricey at £219, it’s worth noting that it’s £30 less than the previous generation’s AirPods Pro.
Apple Watches
This year’s stride forward is certainly seen in Apple’s watch range. The Apple Watch SE 3 (from £219) is a powerhouse of a budget watch, with snazzy features like an always-on display, wrist temperature measurements and hypertension detection (a first for smart watch makers) built in as standard – most likely because Apple are now aiming at those who have yet to convert.
Then there’s the main version: the Apple Watch 11 (from £369), which also now comes with 5G connectivity that uses less battery. This partly explains its impressive 24 hours of battery life compared to 18 hours previously.
For big spenders, the new premium watch, the Ultra 3 (from £749), offers up to 42 hours of battery life. That’s in addition to other upgraded features, like the largest screen of any Apple Watch ever, and satellite connectivity, which allows emergency communication even in areas with no phone signal – perfect for adventurers.
In all, it’s laid a gauntlet for other smart watch manufacturers like Garmin and Samsung – let’s see what happens next.
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