Apple September Keynote 2018: What Was Announced?
Apple has made its comeback. Wednesday night at the September Keynote event, the Cupertino company announced 3 new smartphones, a smartwatch and some software updates.
iPhone Xs and Xs Max
The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max. These models are evolutions of the iPhone X, released last year to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Apple’s smartphone range. Both smartphones come with a borderless screen, and look almost identical to the iPhone X.
The Xs and Xs Max both feature an OLED display, measuring 5.8 inches and 6.5 inches respectively. The Xs Max is Apple’s largest iPhone to date. Both phones have a dual-sim option, with the integration, for the first time of a virtual sim (“eSim“). They will be available in the UK from September 21, with prices starting at £999 for the Xs and £1,099 for the Max.
iPhone XR
The third smartphone presented during the conference was the iPhone XR, it will be a little more affordable than the other two. Prices start from £749 and it will be released on 26 October. The smartphone is made of aluminium and comes in a range colors: coral, yellow, blue, red, white, black. It recalls, the iPhone 5c released in 2013, which was also available in several colors.
The screen of the iPhone XR has a borderless design. It features an LCD (called “Liquid Retina” by Apple), not OLED, in theory, to reduce the price. It measures 6.1 inches.
Apple Smart Watch Series 4
Apple has dedicated the beginning of its conference to present the fourth generation of its smart watch, the Apple Watch Series 4. Its screen is larger than that of the previous generation. Most importantly, the Apple Watch Series 4 has new features around heart health. For example, it’s able to signal to users if it detects an irregularity in the heart rate.
It can also perform a real electrocardiogram, thanks to a new dedicated sensor. Just put your finger on the wheel of the watch. The user can then obtain a detailed report on his cardiac activity, which can be consulted by a doctor, if necessary. Apple also announced that the Apple Watch Series 4 had received approval from the FDA, the US Drug Administration. This makes the watch a real medical device. In the UK, the Apple Watch Series 4 will be on sale from September 21, with prices starting at £399.
A few other things announced…
The conference was also an opportunity for Apple to make a number of announcements regarding its software. iOS 12, its mobile operating system, will be available worldwide from September 27th. The latest version of macOS, Mojave, which equips the computers of the brand, will be available from September 24. Apple’s HomePod and Apple TV will also benefit from a software update on September 17.