Apple Announces New iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and More!

The estimated reading time for this post is 8 minutes

Last week was Apple’s annual fall event when it releases its latest tech, ending a season of rumors and speculation. This year, Apple announced four new iPhones, two new iPads (including the new iPad mini), two new Apple Watches, and more.

The company also announced updates to Apple Fitness + and new shows on Apple TV +.

Apple TV +

Apple TV +, Apple’s streaming TV channel, has been enjoying success with 35 Prime Time Emmy nominations (including 20 nominations for its breakout hit, Ted Lasso). At last night’s Emmy Awards, Apple TV + earned a record number of awards for a new show, perhaps compelling more viewers to check out the channel’s best offerings.

New shows arriving on Apple TV + this fall include:

• The Problem with Jon Stewart

• Swagger

• Finch

• The Shrink Next Door

It’s Alive!!!!! @theproblem pic.twitter.com/5V2tjQsGIE

— Jon Stewart (@jonstewart) August 30, 2021

Apple Fitness +

Apple continues to expand Apple Fitness + in its efforts to get us Apple Watch-wearers off of the couch and into shape. With workouts that last between 5 to 45 minutes, and modifications according to fitness levels, Apple Fitness + is leaving us few excuses not to start exercising!

At the event, Apple announced that Pilates and Guided Meditation will be added to Fitness +. Guided Meditation will offer themes such as Calm, Gratitude, and Kindness. Fitness + will soon be offering Workouts to get you ready for ski season.

For added motivation, Fitness + will offer Group Workouts so you and up to 31 of your favorite fitness friends can exercise together/compete against one another. You’ll be able to connect with other members of your Group Workout in real-time as you exercise. You’ll get notifications during your Workout when a member of the Group closes their rings. And during HIIT (high-intensity interval training), Treadmill, Cycling, and Rowing, you’ll see who in your Group is in the lead.

Fitness + is coming to 15 new countries so you can create Group Workouts with friends around the world.

Purchasers of Apple Watch will receive a free three-month trial of Apple Fitness +.

New iPads

Apple introduced its latest iPad, along with a new iPad Mini. Both the new iPad and the new iPad Mini have updated cameras and are compatible with Apple’s Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil. They also include Center Stage, a new feature from Apple introduced this spring with the iMac computer..

Center Stage

In the age of Zoom calls, Apple has realized that front cameras are not just for selfies anymore. So Apple improved the front cameras of both the new iPad and the new iPad mini, giving both 12MP cameras with wide-angle lenses.

 

Apple also added Center Stage to both new iPads. Designed to improve video calls, Center Stage adjusts the focus of the camera during video calls to the person on the screen. If you move around during a video call, Center Stage will move the frame to keep you in the center. If others join you on the video call using your iPad camera, Center Stage will adjust the frame to include your friends.

New iPad

The new iPad comes with an A13 Bionic chip that gives 20% faster performance than the previous iPad and six times faster than the best-selling Android tablet, according to Apple. Its 10.2″ (26cm) Retina display includes True Tone, which adjusts the color temperature according to the amount of light in the room.

The new iPad is available in Space Gray or Silver and starts at $329 with 64 GB of storage. Education pricing begins at $299. You can pre-order now prior to the September 24 release date.

New iPad Mini

Apple also announced the new iPad Mini with narrower borders on the edge of the screen. The iPad Mini’s display size has been increased to 8.3″ (21 cm) while the overall size of the device remains the same as the previous Mini.

You can use Touch ID to unlock your new iPad Mini by pressing the power button. Touch ID on the power button also works to authenticate your identity for logging into many apps and making payments.

The new iPad Mini comes with a USB-C port that allows for faster data transfers and faster charging. Its A15 Bionic Chip and improved camera let you record 4K videos. The read camera also includes a True Tone flash to take pictures and video in low light.

The new iPad Mini comes in Space Gray, Starlight, Purple, and Pink colors. The price starts at $499 for 64 GB of storage with pre-orders happening now and sales starting on September 24.

Apple Watch Series 7

The new Apple Watch Series 7 comes with a larger display that’s 20% bigger and wraps around the edges. You’ll be able to use the new Watch’s full keyboard to type or swipe to enter text.

Apple is launching new watch faces to take advantage of the Series 7 wrap-around display.

The Series 7 screen isn’t just bigger, it’s stronger too. The crystal is the strongest ever for an Apple Watch and is crack-resistant.

And it’s brighter with a 70% increase in brightness for its always-on display. Even with its bigger and brighter screen, the new Apple Watch still has an 18-hour battery life and works with existing Apple Watch bands.

The Apple Watch Series 7 comes in new colors, including blue, green, midnight, starlight, and Product Red. Prices start at $399 and sales will begin later this fall.

New iPhones

Apple also introduced four new iPhone 13 models, all of which are upgrades from last year’s iPhone 12 models. The iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max are all faster and have longer battery lives than last year’s models.

All four models of iPhone 13 are powered by Apple’s A15 Bionic chip with 15 billion transistors.

Their rear cameras have sensor-shift optical image stabilization for better-focused photos and videos. All four models have cameras that can take photos in Night Mode, including for landscape photos.

These iPhone 13 models have Ceramic Shield screens for better protection against cracks and scratches. They also are all water-resistant to a depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes.

Cinematic Mode

The biggest “wow” feature from Apple was the introduction of Cinematic Mode for the new iPhones. Similar to Portrait Mode for photos, Cinematic Mode focuses on the subject in a video while blurring the background.

Cinematic Mode automatically detects the subject in a video and adjusts its focus, or you can manually choose the subject. When the subject of the video changes, Cinematic Mode then shifts focus to the new subject. For example, if the subject of the video turns his head to look at someone, Cinematic Mode will transition the focus to that person.
Apple demonstrated Cinematic Mode’s changing focus in this Whodunnit video:

https://youtu.be/8Tl1RL8MRCA

iPhone 13 Mini

If you’re a less-is-more type of person, the iPhone 13 Mini might be the best choice for you. This model has a 5.4″ (13.7 cm) Super Retina XDR display and weighs a mere 4.97 ounces (141 grams). This phone shares many features of the iPhone 13, including the front and dual-lens rear cameras.

The battery life of the iPhone 13 Mini is shorter than the other iPhone 13 models. The Mini can play video for up to 15 hours and audio for up to 75 hours.

The iPhone 13 Mini comes in:

• Pink
• Blue
• Midnight
• Starlight
• Product Red

Prices for the Mini begin at $699 for 128 GB of storage. You can pre-order the Mini now with sales beginning on Friday, September 24.

iPhone 13

The iPhone 13 is a larger version of the iPhone 13 Mini with a 6.1″ (15.5 cm) Super Retina XDR display. Weighing in at 6.14 ounces (174 grams), the iPhone 13 is slightly heftier than the iPhone 13 Mini.

The battery life of the iPhone 13 is longer than its Mini sibling. You can watch videos for up to 19 hours and listen to audio for up to 75 hours.

Like the Mini, the iPhone 13 comes in:

• Pink
• Blue
• Midnight
• Starlight
• Product Red

Prices for the iPhone 13 begin at $799 for 128 GB of storage. Pre-orders for the iPhone 13 are available now prior to its launch date of Friday, September 24.

iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max

The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max models are designed for those who want a faster phone with a more powerful camera than the iPhone 13. Both of these models come with the fastest smartphone chip ever. The Pro and Pro Max come with a Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion that allows for refresh rates up to 120 frames per second.

The Pro’s screen size is the same as the iPhone 13 at 6.1″ (15.5 cm) and the Pro Max has a screen size of 6.7″ (17 cm).

The triple-lens rear cameras of the Pro and Pro Max come with LiDAR Scanner for Night Mode portraits, faster autofocus in low light, and better AR (augmented reality) experiences. The rear cameras can take photos up close. Real close. As in the cameras can focus on an object that is only 2 cm away from the phone. If you’re farther away from your subject, these cameras have up to 6X optical zoom range.

With the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, you can not only shoot a video in Cinematic Mode (described above), but you can also change the focus of the shot after the video has been recorded.

Apple also introduced Themes with the Pro and Pro Max. Themes are similar to filters in that they change the look of the photos, but retain the life-like quality of the images. Once you set your iPhone camera to shoot using a Theme, the camera will remember that Theme and automatically use it next time you take a photo.

Initially, Themes will include Vibrant, Rich Contrast, Warm, or Cool.

Both the Pro and Pro Max come in Sierra Blue, Gold, Silver, and Graphite. Prices begin at $999 with 128 GB of storage for the iPhone 13 Pro and $1099 for the Pro Max. 1TB (1000GB) of storage is available for both the Pro and Pro Max.

Your Thoughts

Are you excited by the announcements Apple made at its fall event? Which of Apple’s new products (if any) are enticing to you? Would you like to shoot videos in Cinematic Mode or take photos using Themes?

Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!