Apple Announces iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, and Apple Watch Series 4

Apple has just concluded a keynote speech to introduce not two, but three new iPhone models. Here are the highlights of the keynote and an overview of new Apple devices that will hit the market.

Apple Watch Series 4

Apple began the stream by introducing the 2 billionth device to run iOS, the new Apple Watch Series 4. This redesign allows the Series 4 to cross deeper into the medical territory that previous versions had simply been hinting at. In fact, this new watch is the first to obtain FDA clearance for its electrocardiogram and AFib alert functions. It’s no wonder why Apple has deemed this device the “intelligent guardian for your health.”

The Apple Watch Series 4 features a new design with an edge-to-edge bevel screen that is 32% larger on the 40mm and 35% larger on the 44mm. These new screens are capable of displaying up to eight different customizable complications, so that customers can make their watches display only what they care about. In fact, despite all of these new features, the Series 4 is still thinner than the Series 3.

The speaker on the Series 4 is 50% louder than the Series 3, and Apple has moved the microphone to the opposite side of the device to avoid interference. The digital crown on the side of the device has been redesigned to make it feel more mechanical and allow for more precise adjustments. This new Series 4 also features an 18-hour battery life, along with an outdoor workout time of 6 hours.

The entire back of the device is ceramic and sapphire crystal, which allows for the electrodes required for the ECG device to perform correctly. This ECG can be taken by a simple interaction with the digital crown, and an internal app will store information for future medical visits.

This new device focuses primarily on health features, including a built-in feature that detects when the user falls or slips. This prompts an alert to call for help, and if it does not detect movement for a minute, it automatically calls for help. Additionally, the device has alerts for AFib, low heart rate, and high heart rate.

With an improved accelerometer, gyrometer, and improved receptivity, the device is designed to go above and beyond its predecessor. It will come in gold stainless gold, and stainless space gray. This will be compatible will all previous bands.

It will be available in 16 markets with 34 carriers when it launches for pre-order on September 14, with a shipping date of September 21.

iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max

After their reveal of the Apple Watch Series 4, Apple gave the world the first look at its two new phones, the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max.

The iPhone XS features a 5.8” edge-to-edge, top-to-bottom OLED, while the XS Max boasts a 6.5” OLED. These phones are similar to the Plus sized models, but all while sporting much larger screens. The new OLED screens are super retina displays with 458 ppi and a 60% greater dynamic range for colors than its predecessors. The iPhone XS and XS Max also feature 3D Touch and 1-million-to-1 contrast ratio.

These new designs are iP68 certified, meaning that they can survive up to two meters underwater for thirty minutes. In addition to this protection, the neural networks of these new phones give these devices “the most secure facial ID ever.”

The new A12 Bionic chip allows for enhanced AR capabilities, include Animojis during Facetime calls. This focus also seems to be shifted to new immersive graphics capabilities. The new Core ML processor functions up to nine times faster than its predecessor, all while using only one tenth as much energy. This allows for developers to create graphic-intensive AR videogames that integrate with the iPhone XS and XS Max’s real-time machine learning. All of this is enhanced by a speaker with wider stereo sound and four built-in microphones.

Additionally, the AR integrates with the iPhone XS and XS Max’s True-depth camera, which displays on the vivid HDR display. The XS and XS Max features a total of four cameras, with two on the front and two on the back. This includes a 12MP wide-angle camera, a 12MP telephoto camera, and an improved True Tone Flash on the back with a RGB camera, IR camera, and Dot projector. Apple has also improved its previous Portrait mode to allow for more in-depth details, and even included a slider to adjust depth-of-field after a photo has been taken.

The iPhone XS battery lasts thirty minutes longer than the iPhone X, while the XS Max can last for an hour and a half longer. These two also feature faster networking, better worldwide roaming, and Dual SIM capability using eSIM technology and a new program called DSDS.

iPhone XS and XS Max will come at 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB will be available for pre-order starting September 14, and will ship on September 21.

iPhone XR

In what was seen to some as a surprise, Apple announced a third iPhone model, the iPhone XR. This one features multiple different colors, including white, black, blue, coral, yellow, and a promotional red.

This is made from aerospace aluminum to make them as durable as possible, and are protected to iP67. Each phone is equipped with an edge-to-edge 6.1” LCD display that Apple is calling the Liquid Retina display. It features 326 ppi with 1.4 million pixels. While the display is larger than the iPhone 8 Plus, the phone is significantly smaller than its older cousin.

The iPhone XR features an iPhone X experience, including tap to open and other iPhone X UI functions. While this phone doesn’t include 3D touch, it does include Haptic touch, which functions similarly.

The XR has the same in-depth camera sensor as the XS and XS Max to allow for face ID and Apple pay features. The faster algorithms on a Faster Secure Enclave help it to function similarly to the other iPhones announced at this keynote.

However, unlike the XS and XS Max, this XR features a single 12 MP wide-angle camera on the back and an Improved True Tone Flash. This camera does include the depth control shown in the other models, as well as a front camera with the same true-depth feature as the XS and XS Max. It's available at 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB.

The XR will feature an hour and a half more battery life than the iPhone 8 Plus. It will be available for pre-order on October 19 and will ship on October 26.

Apple also announced price changes for multiple phones. The iPhone 7 will start at $499, iPhone 8 at $599, iPhone XR at $749, iPhone XS at $999, and iPhone XS Max at $1099.