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Apple unveiled a quartet of iPhones on Monday, including the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. As expected, the updates are largely iterative. The standard models now have the programmable Action button from last year’s Pro series, slightly improved battery life and an updated camera module that’s stacked vertically instead of diagonally. 

The Pro phones, meanwhile, feature bigger displays with slimmer bezels, improved battery life and a handful of camera upgrades, including a 5x optical zoom for the smaller Pro and a sharper ultrawide camera. The standard models run on Apple’s new A18 silicon, while the Pro models, fittingly, use a faster and more efficient chip called the A18 Pro.

The most notable hardware change across the board might be a new touch-sensitive “Camera Control” button that makes capturing photos and video a little more DSLR-like. Mostly, though, these phones don’t look to be massive departures from the iPhone 15s before them. Much of Apple’s sales pitch will come down to how helpful its “Apple Intelligence” AI tools are out in the wild. 

We already have a hands-on preview for the iPhone 16 Pro up on the site, and we’ll have full reviews for the entire iPhone 16 lineup in the near future. But if you’re thinking about pre-ordering right away, we’ve broken down how the new iPhone 16 Pro compares to two of its most prominent rivals in the $1,000 price bracket, the Google Pixel 9 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24+, on the spec sheet. Per usual, raw specs won’t tell the full story — you’d probably buy an iPhone because you want iOS and an Android phone because you prefer Android — but if you’re wondering what a $1,000 smartphone gets you in 2024, here’s how Apple’s latest handset stacks up. 

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-iphone-16-pro-vs-the-competition-bigger-with-more-buttons-194622608.html?src=rss

Apple

The full details on Apple’s new iPhones are finally available, and the dates align with our earlier predictions below. The new iPhone 16 series will arrive in stores on September 20, starting at $799. Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 will open online on Friday, September 13. The iPhone 16 Pro will start at $999, with the larger iPhone 16 Pro Max starting at $1,199. The baseline storage on all the 2024 iPhones is 128GB, and they’ll all run iOS 18 with the full range of Apple Intelligence features once they begin becoming available in October in the US. 

This is a developing story. While we update the details, check out the earlier version of the story below, and catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

Ready to set your eyes on the iPhone 16 lineup? You can in just a few hours because the Apple iPhone event is happening today, Sept. 9. You can watch the Apple video stream live starting at 1PM ET, and follow the Engadget iPhone event liveblog in real-time, too. And if you plan to get your hands on one of the new devices after the event, we’re here to save you time because the new iPhones won’t be available to buy yet.

Apple is pretty consistent when it comes to releasing new products and we don’t expect that to change this year. We’ll tell you when we expect Apple to release the iPhone 16 after its event. We’ll also let you know when you can expect to download iOS 18 – Apple’s latest software – on your current iPhone.

We don’t yet know how much the iPhone 16 lineup will cost. Currently, the iPhone 15 models start at $799 and range as high as $1,599 for the 15 Pro with 1TB of storage. It will be interesting to see if Apple holds the line on pricing, or plays around with different storage capacities and price points, as it sometimes does.

Want to follow along with us during Apple’s big event? Here’s how to watch the iPhone 16 announcement. (We’ll post our liveblog link closer to the event start time.)

When can I buy the new iPhone 16?

While we won’t have a set date for when the iPhone 16 will become available until the iPhone event, we can predict the date based on Apple’s past consistency. Here’s what we expect:

• Monday, Sept. 9: Apple’s official event (confirmed)

• Friday, Sept. 13: Preorders open

• Week of Sept. 16: iOS 18 available for download

• Friday, Sept. 20: New iPhones and other devices in stores

Again, aside from the confirmed announcement event, these dates are only speculation based on Apple’s previous iPhone release history. For instance, Apple generally opens preorders the Friday following the iPhone event. So if Apple follows its previous cadence, you’ll be able to preorder an iPhone 16 on Friday, Sept. 13. Likewise, if Apple keeps the same schedule as the past, that would mean the iPhone 16 will officially be available to buy on Friday, Sept. 20.

How about new Apple Watch and AirPods products expected to be announced alongside the presumed new iPhone 16 series? Generally, they also follow the same dates, but there have been some delays in the past. It’s entirely possible that one or more of these expected products could hit stores in later weeks – possibly even as late as October.

When can I download the new iOS 18?

If you’re not planning to buy the new iPhone 16, you’ll still have the option to make your older iPhone similar with the newer models – assuming your iPhone is eligible for iOS 18. (Nearly all models introduced in the past six years are.)

While Apple won’t announce when it’ll release iOS 18 to the public until its event, we can again speculate based on the past. The newest software will be available the week after the event – at earliest, that would be Monday, Sept. 16, though it’s possible it won’t become available until mid-week.

We’ll update with the official dates for new hardware and software after Apple announces them on Monday.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/the-iphone-16-launches-september-20-and-starts-at-799-144939985.html?src=rss

Apple’s latest attempt to slightly differentiate the iPhone 16 series is… a faux button it’s calling Camera Control. But unlike last year’s new button, this one doesn’t actually physically depress, and uses a mix of sensors and haptic feedback to simulate the sensation of movement. And in my brief hands-on right after Apple’s iPhone 16 launch event, I have to say I actually thought it was a real button. 

I got a quick look at the iPhone 16 Pro here in Apple Park, and got a deep walkthrough of the new camera control and its corresponding interface. When I first picked up the iPhone 16 Pro Max, I felt like it looked sleeker and thinner than my iPhone 15 Pro Max, which was nice. My fingers were then drawn to the new “button,” which has a groove that surrounds it, which helps with identification by touch.

From the home screen, I pressed down on the camera control and the camera app quickly opened. The Apple rep guarding these phones encouraged me to push the camera control with varying pressures, as a lighter touch changed the dial that popped up onscreen next to where the button sat. I dragged my finger on this surface, and the digital knob moved along with me, although I at first found the direction of the movement slightly counterintuitive. I am, however, one of those gamers that needs to flip the direction of my controllers when looking around and navigating any environment though, so that might be just me.

There is no way to change the direction of camera control’s direction when you’re swiping, but you can tweak the settings to adjust pressure sensitivity. When the Apple rep asked me to push harder on the control, I was shocked at what felt like a real button moving below my fingertip. I confirmed again with the Apple rep that this was not a mechanical button that actually moves, and was met with reassuring nods. Next to me, fellow reviewer Brian Tong echoed my sentiment that the camera control feels remarkably like an actual button. 

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

Aside from marveling at the physical sensation on the iPhone 16 Pro, I also took a closer look at the changes to the interface. When I first light-pushed on the camera control, a selection of options came up, allowing me to select Exposure, Zoom, Camera, Styles and Tone. Pressing harder down on each of these locked those modes and a different dial with more markings came up, and swiping on the sensor would move the wheel. In the Camera mode, I was able to quickly switch between the ultrawide, main and zoom options, similar to how the viewfinder currently operates. If you prefer to use the existing interface to switch cameras, you can still do so. 

When you pick the Styles option, you’ll swipe between the new Photographic Styles that Apple introduced this year. In each of these, you can tap an icon on the top right of the app to edit them with the new touchpad-ish interface. Dragging your finger around this square at the bottom will adjust color temperature and hue settings. You can also make changes to the Photographic Style in your picture after it’s been taken, so you don’t have to worry too much about not liking the way something looks. 

I also got to hold the iPhone 16 Pro Max in portrait mode and take a selfie. At first, my thumb was placed too high on the device’s edge, and pressing down did nothing. I shifted the phone in my hand slightly, which felt a little precarious, then found the camera control and quickly took a shot. 

This story is developing, please refresh for updates.

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/iphone-16-pro-hands-on-how-does-a-faux-camera-control-button-feel-so-real-191406863.html?src=rss

September ushers in whispers of fall and, like clockwork, new iPhones. Apple unveiled its latest iPhone models at an event in Cupertino today, and as expected, the iPhone 16 handsets are largely iterative of last year’s models — just with a big focus on Apple Intelligence. While the standard and Pro smartphone lineups took center stage, Apple also showed off the new Apple Watch Series 10, two new pairs of AirPods and detailed hearing aid features coming to the second-generation AirPods Pro. The company also provided more details on the new chipsets that power the new iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models, and reminded folks of all the Apple Intelligence features coming to iPhones soon in iOS 18. If you weren’t able to catch the announcements live, Engadget has you covered; here’s everything announced at Apple’s iPhone 16 event.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus

Apple

Apple unveiled the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus at the event, which feature a water- and dust-resistant design and new colors including ultramarine, teal and pink. The iPhone 16 has a 6.1-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Plus has a 6.7-inch display. Both of those can achieve up to 2,000 nits of brightness, and can go all the way down to 1 nit in the dark. The Action button has found its way to this series of iPhones as well, and it’s just as customizable as the one we saw on last year’s Pro-model iPhones.

There’s also a new easy-access camera control “button” of sorts, which allows you to quickly control the camera with a slide of your finger. This tool can also tap into Visual Intelligence, an AI-powered feature coming in iOS 18 that can tell you more about anything you point your camera at. It appears similar to Google Lens, and can do things like add live event dates to your calendar after you point your camera at a flyer you see on the street. The camera array on the standard iPhone 16 models includes a 48-megapixel main Fusion camera, a 12MP telephoto lens and a new ultrawide camera with autofocus. This array will also be able to capture Spatial Photos that can be viewed on Apple’s Vision Pro.

Both standard iPhone 16 models run on the new A18 chip, which has a 16-core neural engine optimized for generative models. The internals feature a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU, both of which will be crucial for powering all of the new Apple Intelligence features coming to iOS 18.

According to Apple, both the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have larger batteries than their predecessors, and when combined with the efficiencies added from the A18 chipset and iOS 18 improvements, should make for a much longer-lasting battery lives overall (although Apple did not provide an exact estimate). Both the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are available for pre-order today starting at $799 and $899, respectively, and will be widely available on September 20.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max

Apple

The Pro series of iPhones includes the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max this year, which have 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch ProMotion, always-on displays, respectively. Both are made with Grade 5 Titanium, which Apple claims to be even lighter than stainless steel. These handsets will be available in four new colors: black, white, natural and desert, the latter of which resembles a dusty gold color.

According to the company, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are built from the ground up for Apple Intelligence, being able to take full advantage of all the new features coming in iOS 18. These handsets run on the new A18 Pro chipset, which takes advantage of 3nm transistors and is even faster and more efficient than the standard A18 chip found in the regular iPhone 16 lineup.

The rear camera array on both models includes a 48MP Fusion camera, 48MP ultrawide shooter and a 12MP telephoto lens. The main camera’s improvements allow for 4K, 120fps video and slow-motion recording. Both phones also have the new camera control button that provides easier access to the camera and all of its tools, both for capture and editing. There are also four studio-quality microphones built in to both smartphones for improved audio capture, and they allow for Spatial Audio recording, too.

Both the iPhone 16 Pro series and the standard iPhone 16 handsets supports Qi2 wireless charging, and Apple will come out with new MagSafe charging cases that account for the new camera control button. The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max will be available for pre-order on Friday, September 13, starting at $999 and $1,199, respectively. They’ll be widely available on September 20.

AirPods 4

Apple

AirPods 4 launched today during the iPhone 16 event, as rumors suggested. These have a redesigned bud shape that’s suppose to fit more ear shapes and be more comfortable overall. They have the H2 chip inside, which will provide improved audio quality and enable features like Personalized Spatial Audio. The charging case has a USB-C port, and it’s the smallest AirPods charging case to date.

In addition to the regular AirPods 4, there will be a second model that includes support for active noise cancellation and Transparency mode. Conversation Awareness will also automatically lower your media volume level when the buds detect you talking to someone. The standard AirPods 4 cost $129 and the AirPods 4 with ANC cost $179; both are available for pre-order today and will be widely available on September 20.

AirPods Max new colors

Apple didn’t reinvent the wheel with the updated AirPods Max. Instead, they’ll be available in a few new colors (midnight, blue, purple, orange and starlight) and support USB-C charging. The new colors can be pre-ordered today for $549 and will be widely available on September 20.

AirPods Pro new hearing aid features

Apple announced new features coming to the second-gen AirPods Pro that are designed to help prevent (and increase awareness around) hearing loss. A feature called “Hearing Protection” will be turned on by default, and users will be able to take a clinically-validated hearing test to see if they already have some hearing loss. On top of that, AirPods Pro will have a clinical-grade hearing aid feature built-in as well, which will work with a hearing profile created after a user takes the hearing test.

Apple Watch Series 10

Apple

Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 10 today, the natural successor to last year’s Series 9. It has the biggest display and thinnest design ever on an Apple Watch, and the wide-angle OLED display is even a bit larger than that on the Apple Watch Ultra. The case has more rounded corners and a wider aspect ratio, both of which, combined with the larger screen, should provide more space to interact with graphics and text on the Watch. Apple claims the screen is 40 percent brighter when looked at from an angle, and it’ll show a second hand ticking away even when your wrist is down.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is powered by the new S10 SiP chip, which Apple claims is built for performance, power efficiency and intelligence (i.e. Apple Intelligence). One example of Apple Intelligence at work on the Series 10 is the new Photos watch face, which will curate the best photos from your library and serve them up to you automatically.

When it comes to fitness features, Apple announced that the latest version of watchOS will allow the Series 10 to detect signs of sleep apnea, provided you’re wearing your Series 10 to sleep regularly. Apple claims it’s awaiting FDA clearance, and it expects the sleep apnea detection feature to launch in more than 150 countries. Elsewhere in the activity sphere, the Series 10 will have scuba tracking features and it will support the new Tides app in watchOS 11.

Another new feature is the ability to play audio directly from the Watch’s speaker, which could be helpful if you don’t have AirPods or another pair of Bluetooth earbuds handy. The Apple Watch Series 10 be available in a new polished, jet-black aluminum finish and new polished titanium finishes. It’s available for pre-order today and will be widely available on September 20.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 new finish

While there have been a bunch of swirling rumors about the next iteration of the Apple Watch Ultra, the company did not reveal the third generation sportswatch today. Instead, Apple revealed a new finish for the Apple Watch Ultra 2: satin black. There are also new Hermes finishes, and a new Milanese band to accompany the new satin black finish.

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/everything-apple-revealed-at-the-iphone-16-launch-event-apple-watch-series-10-airpods-4-ios-18-and-more-170346723.html?src=rss

Apple’s It’s Glowtime event just concluded (see Everything Apple revealed at the iPhone 16 launch event for full details), where it showcased the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, as well as the new Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4 devices. The phones will have iOS 18 already installed, so you won’t have to upgrade at purchase. Everyone else with an older iPhone will get to check out iOS 18 when it becomes available as a free download for most newer Apple handsets on September 16. But not every iPhone will be able to run iOS 18, and even the ones that can won’t have all the bells and whistles of the new Apple Intelligence features. 

That update stratification is nothing now. Generally each year, some older iPhone models are removed from Apple’s iOS eligibility list. Last year, for instance, the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X were left off the compatibility list. That meant those iPhone owners couldn’t update to iOS 17 and missed out on some notable features.

We’ll help you find out if your iPhone will support iOS 18, as well as Apple Intelligence. Not sure what’s coming with the new update? Here’s a summary of the biggest announcements from WWDC, including an overview of iOS 18.

iPhones compatible with iOS 18

We have good news: If you had an eligible phone last year when you updated to iOS 17, that device should still be compatible with iOS 18, according to Apple. That means you won’t have to buy a new phone to check out most of the new software features.

• iPhone SE (second generation or later)

• iPhone XR

• iPhone XS

• iPhone XS Max

• iPhone 11

• iPhone 11 Pro

• iPhone 11 Pro Max

• iPhone 12

• iPhone 12 mini

• iPhone 12 Pro

• iPhone 12 Pro Max

• iPhone 13

• iPhone 13 mini

• iPhone 13 Pro

• iPhone 13 Pro Max

• iPhone 14

• iPhone 14 Plus

• iPhone 14 Pro

• iPhone 14 Pro Max

• iPhone 15

• iPhone 15 Plus

• iPhone 15 Pro

• iPhone 15 Pro Max

• iPhone 16 

• iPhone 16 Plus

• iPhone 16 Pro

• iPhone 16 Pro Max

Put another way, if you have an iPhone from the 2017 model year or earlier (iPhone 8 or iPhone X), you can’t upgrade to the latest iOS, but your phone should continue to work — albeit without the latest and greatest features. 

Is your iPhone compatible with Apple Intelligence?

While your older device will still be able to support the latest iOS, chances are that you won’t get to try the Apple Intelligence beta yet next month. Unless you have an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max — the top-end 2023 models — or one of the new iPhone 16 models, your iPhone isn’t eligible. 

When will Apple Intelligence features be available?

If your device is compatible with Apple Intelligence, you can start playing with some of those features in October, when they begin to hit those newer iPhones in subsequent updates. 

Apple Intelligence will be available in English in the US this October. In December, it’ll become available in localized English to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Additional language support, including Chinese, French, Japanese and Spanish, will be available sometime next year, Apple says.

iOS 18 new features to expect

While Apple Intelligence is by far the biggest update coming with iOS 18, its features are going to be released more piecemeal over the subsequent few months. And the more advanced features won’t be available on older iPhone models aside from the iPhone 15 Pro series. But the rest of the iOS 18 features will hit the handsets listed above. Here are just some of the highlights you can expect when you download Apple’s new software later this month.

Passwords app: Securely store all your credentials in one place, including passwords and security alerts that you can access directly in the app. (While this functionality currently exists in Settings, moving it to a new app should make it easier to locate and access.)

Improved Messages app: A new iMessages experience is bringing the option to bold, italicize, underline and strikethrough your text. You’ll also be able to add animations to your text messages. The update is also bringing RCS to iPhones to better support Android compatibility.

An organized photos library: The Photos app is getting a redesign, which allows you to create and pin your own collections in the app — think “wedding photos” or “trip to Aruba.” It removes the current tabbed bottom and leans into a grid layout. The updated carousel view that was touted at WWDC was removed during the beta process.

Personalized home screen layout: You’ll finally get the option to rearrange your apps — for instance, you can leave the middle space open to display your home screen photo, and instead have your apps alone the border of the screen. You can also change the appearance of the apps by tinting them with any color, as well as making the apps larger.

There are plenty of other tweaks and improvements to keystone apps like Maps, Calendar, Safari and more. Check out Cherlynn Low’s choices for the best hidden features of iOS 18 and its sibling Apple operating system updates, based on the betas released earlier this year. 

Is there an iOS 18 beta?

There is, and you can download it now — so long as you’re willing to live with the glitches and challenges of beta software. If you haven’t already downloaded it at this point, we’d suggest just waiting for the real deal to be released in just under a week.

Update, September 9, 3:37PM ET: This story has been updated with the announced release dates for iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/the-ios-18-release-date-is-september-16-is-your-iphone-compatible-these-are-the-new-features-and-eligible-devices-155304114.html?src=rss

Hey, there were good intentions! When Apple revealed its new type of case, no longer offering leather cases for the iPhone 15 series, the FineWoven case was pitched as a leather substitute that used 68 percent post-consumer recycled content. 

The material looked a little similar to leather in press shots, but the reality was a material that was smooth and scratchy at the same time, a surface that was almost as absorbent as Bounty with fingerprints and a fantastic opportunity for third-party iPhone case manufacturers. 

When leather gets old, it gets… nicer? There’s a patina. When Finewoven cases got even a few days old, it got scratched and blotchy. It’s not a huge surprise, then, that there are no new FineWoven colorways, or any iPhone 16-compatible FineWoven cases, period. They’re gone. 

It isn’t the end of FineWoven completely. The material will live on in a MagSafe wallet, available in four different colors, and more Apple Watch straps. If you are looking for a new (but official) iPhone look, how about, randomly, these Beats-themed iPhone 16 cases? They’re not microtwill; they’re hard plastic. 

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-quietly-kills-its-terrible-finewoven-iphone-cases-191345213.html?src=rss

Apple has introduced a new feature called Visual Intelligence with the iPhone 16, which appears to be the company’s answer to Google Lens. Unveiled during its September 2024 event, Visual Intelligence aims to help users interact with the world around them in smarter ways.

The new feature is activated by a new touch-sensitive button on the right side of the device called Camera Control. With a click, Visual Intelligence can identify objects, provide information, and offer actions based on what you point it at. For instance, aiming it at a restaurant will pull up menus, hours, or ratings, while snapping a flyer for an event can add it directly to your calendar. Point it at a dog to quickly identify the breed, or click a product to search for where you can buy it online.

Later this year, Camera Control will also serve as a gateway into third-party tools with specific domain expertise, according to Apple’s press release. For instance, users will be able to leverage Google for product searches or tap into ChatGPT for problem-solving, all while maintaining control over when and how these tools are accessed and what information is shared. Apple emphasized that the feature is designed with privacy in mind, meaning the company doesn’t have access to the specifics of what users are identifying or searching.

Apple claims that Visual Intelligence maintains user privacy by processing data on the device itself, ensuring that the company does not know what you clicked on.

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/apple-invents-its-own-version-of-google-lens-called-visual-intelligence-180647182.html?src=rss

Before announcing new handsets during Monday’s It’s Glowtime iPhone 16 launch event in Cupertino, Apple execs talked up the company’s latest suite of smartwatches. Rumors suggested we could get an Apple Watch X instead of the Apple Watch Series 10, if the company were to borrow the naming scheme from its 2017 iPhone. But that didn’t happen, it’s indeed the Apple Watch Series 10. In addition to the flagship wearable, we also saw the announcement of a new finish for the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Unfortunately, after a two-year wait, the Apple Watch SE has not been updated to a third generation. The new Apple Watch 10 opens for pre-orders today and should start shipping on Sept 20. Here’s how to pre-order yours. 

This is a developing story. Refresh for the latest news…

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/how-to-pre-order-the-new-apple-watch-series-10-173004323.html?src=rss

Apple gave its AirPods lineup a makeover on Monday, introducing two different pairs of wireless earbuds dubbed the AirPods 4, a minor refresh for the over-ear AirPods Max and some new features for the existing AirPods Pro. Both models of the fourth-generation AirPods look like slightly smaller versions of the third-gen model from afar, though Apple says the shape has been refined to improve overall comfort. They also feature Apple’s H2 chip, smaller charging cases with USB-C and promised improvements to sound quality. 

The higher-end version of the two comes with active noise cancellation (ANC), which was previously limited to the AirPods Pro and Max. Its case also supports wireless charging and has a speaker that should make the whole thing easier to find if it’s ever misplaced.

The revised AirPods Max, meanwhile, now charge over USB-C and come in a few new colors. Finally, while there aren’t all-new AirPods Pro, Apple says the current model will receive new software features centered on hearing health, including the ability to function as a “clinical-grade” hearing aid.

Of course, the best way to figure out how much these updates matter is to actually listen to the new headphones. Unsealed earbuds like the AirPods 4 tend to naturally let in lots of outside noise, for instance, so we’ll be eager to see how well its ANC feature works. We’ll have full reviews in the near future. If you’re already dead-set on upgrading in some fashion, though, we’ve put together a quick and dirty breakdown of how the updated AirPods lineup stacks up. 

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/heres-how-the-new-airpods-4-compare-to-the-rest-of-apples-headphone-lineup-190150611.html?src=rss

If you were hoping for three new Apple Watches today, you might be disappointed. However, Apple did reveal the largest Apple Watch display ever on the Series 10 wearable. The device is also thinner, delivering the bigger-but-slimmer update the company loves to give new devices. It’s lighter too, so all three of the design changes should make the wearable more comfy to… wear. And of course, the new display will be a key selling point for this updated model. 

That display is the standout update to me. The panel is said to be 40 percent brighter when viewed at an angles, which will make it so much easier to see Watch info at a glance. I tried on the Series 10 in the demo area here at Apple Park in both the 46mm and 42mm sizes. The larger of the two isn’t that much of burden for me as I’m rocking a 45mm Series 7 on the daily. Still, the OLED display is a massive upgrade over what I’m used to, and it will offer better performance over recent Apple Watches too. I also got a look at that screen update feature, which lets you see time and other info even when the display is in ambient mode. 

Billy Steele for Engadget

In addition to the new display, both it and the Apple Watch case have more rounded angles. Combine that with new finishes (hello, jet black!) and you’ve got the biggest update to Apple’s wearable since the Series 4 in terms of design. There are also a host of new features we weren’t able to test in the demo area, like the depth gauge and water temperature sensor, but we did get a brief look at the upcoming sleep apnea tool in Apple Health. 

Here, Apple Watch will monitor your sleep for breathing disturbances. Like other sleep metrics, you’ll see data for the current month, path six months and previous year, so you’ll be aware of any changes over time. Of course, the app will alert you if you might need to see a doctor, and it will offer all of the logged data for you to share when you do. Millions of people suffer from sleep apnea, so being able to detect the signs of the condition without time-consuming sleep testing will certainly be a welcome addition to Apple’s suite of health-tracking tools with Watch Series 10. 

Billy Steele for Engadget

The main aesthetic update to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a new black color option. And while there’s isn’t a ton to say there, I will note that it looks very nice. Plus, it provides some contrast for those people who didn’t care for the lighter silver option that was available before now. 

Billy Steele for Engadget

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-watch-series-10-hands-on-bigger-lighter-and-thinner-than-ever-190000233.html?src=rss