Apple’s ‘Glowtime’ event features the unveiling of the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, and the latest Apple Watch: Here’s a recap.
If you missed the live event, here’s a rundown of all the details on Apple's latest phones, smartwatches, and earbuds.
September has arrived, and with it, the latest iPhones, right on schedule. During today’s event in Cupertino, Apple introduced its newest iPhone models. As anticipated, the iPhone 16 lineup offers only slight improvements over last year’s versions. While the spotlight was on the standard and Pro versions of the new iPhones, Apple also unveiled the Apple Watch Series 10, two new AirPods models, and highlighted upcoming hearing aid features for the second-generation AirPods Pro. The company also provided a closer look at its latest mobile chipsets powering the new iPhones and gave a preview of what users can expect when iOS 18 rolls out later this month, complete with Apple Intelligence. Here are what’s apple unveiled;
iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max
This year, the Pro series includes the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, featuring 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch ProMotion, always-on displays. Both models are crafted from Grade 5 Titanium, which Apple claims is lighter than stainless steel. The phones will come in four new colors: black, white, natural, and desert, the latter resembling a dusty gold shade.
Apple highlights that the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are designed specifically for Apple Intelligence, making the most of the new features arriving with iOS 18. These devices are powered by the A18 Pro chipset, which utilizes 3nm transistors for enhanced speed and efficiency compared to the standard A18 chip in the regular iPhone 16 models.
The rear camera system on both Pro models features a 48MP Fusion camera, a 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens. The improved main camera supports 4K video recording at 120fps and slow-motion capture. Both phones also introduce a new camera control button for quicker access to camera tools, both for shooting and editing. Additionally, they are equipped with four studio-quality microphones, enabling superior audio capture and Spatial Audio recording.
Both the iPhone 16 Pro series and the standard iPhone 16 models support Qi2 wireless charging. Apple will also release new MagSafe charging cases that accommodate the new camera control button. Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will begin on Friday, September 13, with prices starting at $999 and $1,199, respectively. The phones will be available widely on September 20.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus
At the event, Apple introduced the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, which boast a water- and dust-resistant design along with fresh color options like ultramarine, teal, and pink. The iPhone 16 features a 6.1-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Plus offers a larger 6.7-inch screen. Both displays can reach up to 2,000 nits of brightness and dim down to just 1 nit in dark environments. This series of iPhones also includes the customizable Action button, previously seen on last year’s Pro models.
A new camera control “button” has also been added, allowing users to easily manage the camera with a simple swipe of their finger. This tool integrates with Visual Intelligence, an AI-powered feature in iOS 18 that can provide information about anything your camera focuses on. Similar to Google Lens, it can perform tasks like adding event dates to your calendar after you snap a photo of a flyer. The camera setup on the iPhone 16 models includes a 48MP main Fusion camera, a 12MP telephoto lens, and a new ultrawide camera with autofocus. These models also support capturing Spatial Photos that can be viewed on Apple’s Vision Pro.
Powered by the new A18 chip, both the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus feature a 16-core neural engine optimized for generative AI. They also include a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU, which are essential for running the new Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.
Apple also highlighted that both the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have larger batteries than previous models. Combined with the efficiency improvements from the A18 chip and iOS 18, this should result in significantly longer battery life, though Apple didn’t provide specific numbers. Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus start today, priced at $799 and $899 respectively, with general availability starting on September 20.
Apple Watch Series 10
Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 10 today, marking the next step in its smartwatch lineup. It features the largest display and thinnest design ever on an Apple Watch, with a wide-angle OLED screen that’s even bigger than the one on the Apple Watch Ultra. The case now has more rounded corners and a wider aspect ratio, offering more space for interacting with the watch’s graphics and text. Apple also noted that the screen is 40 percent brighter when viewed from an angle, and the second hand will remain visible even when your wrist is lowered.
Powered by the new S10 SiP chip, the Series 10 is designed for improved performance, efficiency, and smart features, now enhanced by Apple Intelligence. One such feature is the updated Photos watch face, which automatically curates and displays your best photos directly on the watch.
In terms of health and fitness, the latest watchOS introduces sleep apnea detection for the Series 10, provided the watch is worn regularly during sleep. Apple is currently awaiting FDA approval and anticipates this feature will be available in over 150 countries. For activity tracking, the Series 10 includes scuba tracking capabilities and integrates with the new Tides app in watchOS 11.
Another addition is the ability to play audio directly from the watch’s speaker, which can be useful if you don’t have Bluetooth earbuds or AirPods on hand. The Apple Watch Series 10 will be offered in a new polished, jet-black aluminum finish, as well as new polished titanium finishes. Pre-orders are open now, with general availability starting on September 20.
AirPods 4
As expected, Apple introduced the AirPods 4 during the iPhone 16 event today. These new earbuds feature a redesigned shape for a more comfortable fit across a variety of ear sizes. Equipped with the H2 chip, the AirPods 4 deliver enhanced audio quality and support features like Personalized Spatial Audio. The charging case now includes a USB-C port and is the smallest AirPods case to date.
Alongside the regular AirPods 4, Apple is also releasing a second version that offers active noise cancellation and Transparency mode. Another standout feature is Conversation Awareness, which automatically lowers the media volume when the earbuds detect you speaking to someone. The standard AirPods 4 are priced at $129, while the version with ANC will cost $179. Both models are available for pre-order now, with general availability starting on September 20.
AirPods Max
Apple didn’t completely overhaul the AirPods Max with this update. Instead, they introduced a few new colors—midnight, blue, purple, orange, and starlight—along with support for USB-C charging. You can pre-order the updated AirPods Max today for $549, with general availability starting on September 20.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Despite numerous rumors about the next Apple Watch Ultra, Apple did not announce a third-generation model today. Instead, they introduced a new satin black finish for the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Alongside this, new Hermes finishes and a Milanese band were also unveiled to complement the satin black look.
