Apple launches new iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, Watch Series 8, Watch Ultra and AirPods Pro
New satellite-connected emergency feature will allow users to text for help when out of range, while new iPhones will also be able to detect if you’ve been in a car crash.
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Apple’s new iPhone 14 could save your life with a satellite-connected emergency feature that lets you text for help.
You could be lost or injured and out of cellular range in the wilderness. iPhones will also detect if you have been in a car crash and contract emergency services.
These features will be on all iPhone 14 models.
The satellite connection emergency SMS feature will initially be available in the US and Canada with other countries to follow.
We’re already seeing the beginning of telcos wanting to connect everyday smartphones with satellite communications, with US telco T-Mobile signing with Elon Musk’s Starlink to offer satellite communications to phones generally.
Meet iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra, and AirPods Pro. All that and more from the #AppleEvent
— Apple (@Apple) September 7, 2022
Apple used its keynote event at Apple Park this morning to launch four iPhone 14s, an Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra and new AirPods Pro earbuds.
Gone is the iPhone mini. Instead there are two 6.1-inch handsets and two 6.7-inch handsets. You can choose between a standard version and Pro version with premium features for either screen size.
The 6.1-inch models are called iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, the larger models are iPhone 14 Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
As usual, previous year’s models will be discounted.
The new iPhones were announced at Apple’s “Far Out” keynote event at the Steve Jobs theatre at Apple Park, Cupertino. It was the first in-person launch in the theatre since the pandemic.
The launch comes as Apple faces economic headwinds such as inflation and declining consumer spending as do companies generally.
But it also faces a perceived lack of headline features in smartphones such as a folding phone or a handset offering incredible zoom photography as offered by rivals Samsung, Google and others.
Technology research firm Telsyte reports a 7.4 per cent increase in Australia’s Android market share in the first half of 2022 compared to a year ago, so Apple has its work cut out.
Apple nevertheless is making some great strides forward with a four nanometre processor on the Pro models.
It announced a new alert system called a “dynamic island” which includes actions with notifications. For example, when you are notified of a call, the notification includes button prompts for your response.
The Pro models have 1600 nits brightness and an always-on display that shows information on the screen even when locked. However, always-on displays have been available on Android phones for years.
Apple is calling iPhone 14 Pro's pill cutout the "Dynamic Island" pic.twitter.com/7jomGslgU4
— 9to5Mac (@9to5mac) September 7, 2022
The 2022 premium models have a 48MP wide angle lens. It’s a departure from three 12MP back facing lenses as on last year’s iPhone 13 Pro Max. Apple announced a series of other features that offer higher resolution photography and better low light performance on Pro models including 8K video.
The regular iPhone 14 camera system also promises better low light photography, faster focus, with better stabilisation when shooting video.
Apple is going eSIM in the US – SIM cards will be a thing of the past – but this isn’t being rolled out to other countries yet.
Standard models get a souped-up version of last year’s A15 chip with a 6-core GPU, 16-core neural engine and an extra graphics core.
Apple Watch Series 8
Apple also announced an Apple Watch Series 8 with an always-on display.
It has a temperature sensor tailored to women’s health. Its cycle tracking includes a retrospective estimate of ovulation using two temperatures.
The Series 8 Apple Watch also can detect if you are in a car crash and connect you to emergency services in countries where this is available.
Apple promises all-day 18 hours battery life. A software-delivered lower power mode can offer 36 hours on recent Watch series. All cellular models will support international roaming with WatchOS updates.
Apple also announced an updated affordable Apple Watch SE.
Apple Watch Ultra
It has a 49mm “aerospace titanium” case, an improved display that can be read in bright sunlight, two speakers and three microphones. All Ultras are cellular models with a large battery with up to 36 hours of battery life, with 60 hours achievable over a multi-day adventure, and L1 and L9 GPS.
It has an action button whose functions include moving between segments for triathletes.
It is also certified as a scuba diving watch to a depth of 40 metres. A new app called Oceanic Plus calculates dive metrics, including a decompression program.
Apple AirPods Pro
Users can create a personal profile for spatial audio which takes into account their personal hearing capability.
A new H2 chip delivers double the noise cancelling, and an adaptive transparency mode allows environmental noise but reduces extreme and damaging sounds, such as those from construction sites. They offer up to six hours of listening time, or 30 hours with the charging case.
When lost, each earphone can individually play a sound, and the case plays a louder noise when using Find Me.
Chris Griffith travelled to California as a guest of Apple.
Originally published as Apple launches new iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, Watch Series 8, Watch Ultra and AirPods Pro
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