New features, some new looks, and a new type of Apple Watch

It’s that time of the year again for Apple’s most anticipated keynote, which was live-streamed at midnight last night here in Thailand. Though the Cupertino-based company holds a number of them every year, the one that really gets people excited is when Apple finally unveils the latest iteration of the iPhone. However, the brand new addition to the Apple Watch lineup may have stolen the iPhone 14’s thunder. Here’s the rundown for everything Apple announced last night. 

Behold, the iPhone 14

The base iPhone 14 doesn’t really look too different from its predecessor, but joining the lineup is the new iPhone 14 Plus, which has a 6.7 inch design similar to the Pro Max models. Absent from the lineup is a Mini version of the iPhone 14, which Apple seems to have done away with, at least for this series. The Photonic Engine is an enhanced image pipeline that improves the iPhone 14’s mid- to low-light picture taking, making it twice as better than the 13. There’s also a new feature when taking videos called Action Mode, which stabilizes the video much like a gimbal would. The iPhone 14 also comes with the new Crash Detection feature, which automatically contacts emergency services and your emergency contacts in the event of a crash, as well as the new Emergency SOS via Sattelite, which enables you to send out an emergency text message without the need of a cellular or wi-fi connection. This feature, however, will only be available in the US and Canada for the foreseeable future.

One of the biggest changes in the iPhone 14 is also the smallest: they’re now removing the SIM card tray. Apple touted the ease and convenience of having an eSIM rather than a physical SIM card, so much like their decision to take out headphone ports, the SIM card tray is becoming a thing of the past. Don’t worry though: this only applies to US models of the iPhone 14—for now.

The Pro lineup, comprising the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, has all the aforementioned features but also another small yet striking change to its front design. The notch on the iPhone has always been a point of criticism, and the iPhone 14 presents a solution with the Dynamic Island. It replaces the screenless notch in previous models and instead makes it seem like it’s integrated into the screen itself, transforming with satisfying animations when there are alerts or apps running in the background that you need to keep track of. Though it doesn’t do away with the notch  completely—watching something in full-screen mode will still have that black empty space on the side—it is a creative way to integrate the notch into the user experience. Another new display feature for the iPhone 14 is the Always On Display, allowing the screen to dim and not completely turn off so notifications and widgets on the screen can be seen at a glance. How much this will affect battery life remains to be seen.

The Pro lineup is also armed with a 48MP camera with a quad-pixel sensor. Without getting too deep into specs, it allows for great low-light photos while keeping the photo size to a minimum. For professional photographers, the Pro lineup now shoots ProRAW at 48MP, while filmmakers will also be glad to know that Cinematic mode now shoots in 4K at 24fps and 30 fps. All this is made possible by the latest A16 bionic chip, which Apple boasts is “40 percent faster than the competition.”

The Dynamic Island in action

The base iPhone 14 is priced at 32,900 baht, the iPhone 14 Plus at 37,900 baht, the iPhone 14 Pro at 41,900 baht, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max at 44,900 baht. Pre-orders start tomorrow, September 9, at 7pm on their website, and will be available beginning September 16, except for the iPhone 14 Plus, which will be available starting on October 7.

A new type of Apple Watch

The Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch SE

The presentation for the Apple Watch started off as expected. First came the announcement of the new Apple Watch Series 8, which can now estimate ovulation for women and has Crash Detection like the iPhone 14. It also has a new Low Power mode that keeps only the essential things running, like fall detection and Emergency SOS, as well as international roaming capabilities for cellular models. Apple also announced the new generation of the Apple Watch SE, their entry-level watch, which they touted as 20 percent faster than the previous model and comes with the same sensors as the Series 8 as well as some similar features like Crash Detection.

The new Apple Watch Ultra

But the highlight of the Apple Watch segment of the keynote—and possibly the entire keynote itself—was the unveiling of the new Apple Watch Ultra. While the original Apple Watch is catered to everyday use, the Apple Watch Ultra is being marketed as an essential tool for those who partake in sports in extreme conditions, whether it’s trekking, scuba diving, or ultra-marathons. With a rugged design, the Ultra has a significantly bigger display able to go up to 2,000 bits (two times brighter than other Apple Watches) and is also designed to withstand harsh environments. A new customizable Action Button allows users to perform tasks with just a simple press, and the Ultra also comes with three built-in microphones to ensure clarity even in a rain or snowstorm. For explorers, the new Compass allows you to set waypoints much like in a video game and also has a new backtrack feature that tracks your path so you find your way back to where you started. Meanwhile, divers can make use of the new Oceanic+ app, made in collaboration with Huish Outdoors, that basically turns the Ultra into a diving computer that’s right on your wrist. On top of all this, Apple has also designed bands to cater to endurance athletes, divers, and explorers.

The Apple Watch Ultra is meant to withstand difficult environments

The Apple Watch Series 8 is priced at 15,900 baht, the new Apple Watch SE at 9,900 baht, and the Apple Watch Ultra at 31,900 baht. No date has been given on when they’ll be available for pre-order or retail here in Thailand, so keep your eyes peeled.

The next generation of AirPods Pro

The second-gen AirPods Pro

The second generation of the AirPods Pro doesn’t have too many drastic changes. The new H2 chip allows for double the amount of noise filtered with its noise cancellation feature and also allows for a new feature called Adaptive Transparency, which minimises harsh noises, like the sound of construction, while still allowing some ambient noise. Of course, how well this actually works is yet to be determined. The controls on the earbuds themselves used to be limited to just presses that either pause, skip, or return when listening to music, but you can now swipe up and down to control volume. The battery is still a little underwhelming with six hours of listening time on a single charge. The new case, though not too different from its predecessor, can now be charged using an Apple Watch charger and comes with a lanyard loop and a speaker on the bottom that plays alerts if it’s lost and emits sounds to indicate battery life.

The AirPods Pro is priced at 8,990 baht, but no date has been given as to when it will be available for pre-order or retail here in Thailand.