Today, Apple announced the new Apple Watch Ultra, AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, and the first iPhone 16, designed from the ground up for Apple Intelligence and its breakthrough capabilities.
In June 2024, Apple launched Apple Intelligence, the powerful new personal intelligence system, which will have an incredible impact on our lives. Helping us stay healthy, connected, productive, and entertained.
For years, artificial intelligence and machine learning have been essential in delivering so many of the features and experiences we love.
But with the innovation and invention Apple products deliver, these technologies will continue to deepen the meaningful impact they have on all of our lives, making everyday interactions smarter, more intuitive, and more personal.
iPhone 16
Apple iPhone 16 marks a new era for iPhone. With incredible camera experiences including the 48 megapixel Fusion camera, macro and Spatial capture, deep customization abilities with the action button and iOS 18, and built for Apple Intelligence from the ground up with A18 camera control that enables visual intelligence and a big boost in battery life.
iPhone 16 Pro
The iPhone 16 Pro brings Apple’s most advanced technologies, redefining what a smartphone can do. Apple Intelligence elevates the experience even more with a sleek new design, inside and out. It features an upgraded camera with faster shutter speeds and the ability to capture 4K video at 120 fps.
With the A18 Pro chip, stunning titanium build, larger displays, and enhanced camera controls, along with cutting-edge features across photos, videos, and audio, this model is a significant leap forward.
Apple Intelligence
Branding it as “a new era for Siri,” Apple emphasized that the Intelligence upgrades enable Siri to understand less precise requests, guide users through specific tasks on the iPhone, and gain contextual awareness of on-screen actions.
First introduced at WWDC, Apple Intelligence is described as a more private large language model designed to enhance existing apps and features behind the scenes. Apple highlighted Intelligence’s capabilities in organizing inboxes by surfacing email summaries and prioritizing key notifications.
Apple Intelligence will launch as a beta in the U.S. this fall, with localized English versions expanding to additional markets in December, and languages such as Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish planned for 2025.
Additionally, Apple detailed a visual search feature powered by Intelligence that combines reverse image search with text recognition, allowing users to add event details to their calendar from a photo or retrieve restaurant information directly from an image.
Ultimately, a key question remains: With these enhancements, is Siri finally becoming better now?
AirPods 4
Apple touts the new AirPods 4 as the “most comfortable AirPods ever,” featuring a redesigned look with the new A2 chip.
They introduce personalized Spatial audio and use machine learning to enable Siri to recognize head shakes as responses to prompts. The new AirPods 4 will be available starting September 20 and include active noise cancellation in select models.
AirPods Pro 2
Apple’s new focus areas are prevention, awareness, and assistance.
Prevention; hearing protection will be enabled by default, using machine learning for passive noise reduction.
Awareness; a “clinically validated” hearing test will be available anytime for users to assess their hearing health.
Assistance; hearing aid features will be introduced for users identified by the hearing test as potentially benefiting from additional support.
Apple anticipates FDA clearance for these features soon, with updates expected to roll out to iOS in the fall.
The hearing aid feature enhances specific sounds in real time, such as speech and environmental elements, while applying a personalized hearing profile to music, movies, and phone calls across all devices.
Apple states that this will help users better hear their surroundings and actively participate in conversations.
Apple Watch Series 10
The new Apple Watch Series 10 features a refined design with more rounded corners and the introduction of Apple’s first wide-angle OLED screens.
The Series 10 display is up to 40% brighter at an angle and is the thinnest model yet, measuring 9.7mm and up to 10% lighter than its predecessors.
AI takes center stage in the Series 10, with a new photo watch face that uses AI to curate images for the display, and enhanced translation tools powered by machine learning.
Apple Watch Ultra
Apple has consistently positioned the Ultra as a go-to device for fitness enthusiasts, offering features like custom workouts, running track detection, and live tracking for bike rides. However, rather than unveiling an Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple surprised us by introducing a new satin black color option for the Ultra 2.
A sleep apnea detection feature has been added to the Apple Watch Series 10, 9 and Ultra 2.
These supported models use the accelerometer to track a new sleep metric called “breathing disturbances,” alerting users if there are signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea.
Users can view their nightly data in the Health app and generate detailed reports to share with their doctors. Dr. Sumbul Desai, Apple’s Vice President of Health, noted that “the detection algorithm was developed using advanced machine learning and a comprehensive dataset of clinical-grade sleep apnea tests.
It was validated in a clinical study of unprecedented size for this technology. We are thrilled about the positive impact this feature can have for millions with undiagnosed sleep apnea.”
This feature will be available in over 150 countries and regions, including the U.S., Europe, and Japan, starting this month.
