We were pleasantly surprised by some of the announcements, but most of them we already knew due to the millions of leaks that have been happening for months now. Follow me here on Skroutz for news, suggestions, and reviews!

iPhone 15 Lineup

Let's start with the big news here, we finally have a Type-C port! The standard and PLUS models come with the A16 processor that we previously found in the iPhone 14 Pro, while the PRO and PRO MAX models come with the new A17 PRO. The screen on both the standard and PRO models is 6.1 inches, while on the PLUS and PRO MAX it is 6.7 inches. They all come with a 48MP Main Camera, and the PRO MAX comes with an additional x5 telephoto lens. For the first time, you will also be able to record your videos directly to an External Storage Device. They all now have Dynamic Island, which was previously only available on PRO versions, and they promise all-day battery life. As we mentioned at the beginning, we finally have a Type-C port on the new iPhone, kudos to the EU for the pressure. But, there is a huge but unfortunately. People have been asking for the Type-C port for years because, apart from the convenience, it offers high charging speeds, data transfer rates, and many new functions with just one cable. And here comes the but: while the iPhone 15 Pro and Apple 15 Pro Max will support USB 3.0 speeds, the iPhone 15 and Apple 15 Plus will continue with the outdated USB 2.0, meaning the same speeds as the Lightning Port. The construction of the Pro models will be made of titanium, and the Mute Switch is changing to an Action Button that you can program as you wish. 

Finally, for gamers, we have huge news! According to the presentation we saw for the Pro and Pro Max, the phones will support the following games by mid-2024: Assassin's Creed Mirage, Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil 4 Remake, and DEATH STRANDING. However, I remain cautious about future titles, as Apple previously announced with its M1 processors that they would have an "incredible gaming experience" by showcasing Resident Evil Village, but a few years later, it remains the only supported title and unfortunately not with the performance it should have.

Watch Series 9

The new Apple Watch Series 9 comes with the updated S9 CPU, which, according to Apple, is "The most powerful chip in Apple Watch history." They probably thought people were expecting something inferior and surprised them. We are now talking about a smarter watch, supported by a Neural Engine, providing new capabilities such as recognizing the "double tap" gesture where you tap your thumb and index finger twice to control your watch and the smarter Siri. Finally, according to Apple, the watch will last an entire day on a single charge. A wide variety of colors as with every release, now with a new pink option, and they have ended leather straps to achieve a zero carbon footprint. 

Apple Watch Ultra 2

The Apple Watch Ultra 2nd generation has been announced, with the same processor and thus the same new features we mentioned above for the Watch Series 9 with the S9 CPU. My personal favorite change is the 3000nit brightness screen for an incredibly bright display even in extreme outdoor lighting conditions. 

AirPods Pro and EarPods

After the iPhone 15, Apple had to completely get rid of the Lightning Port from its new generation of devices to complete its ecosystem with the “One Cable to Rule them All” Type-C, so it replaces the port on AirPods Pro and releases new EarPods with a Type-C port. Now the AirPods Pro will have IP54 protection and will support lossless audio when connected to Apple's Vision Pro VR Headset.

iCloud+

Until now, the storage limit on iCloud was 2TB, but now two additional tiers of 6TB and 12TB have been added. A small announcement for some, but a huge announcement for many who have been requesting it for years and were forced to turn to solutions from Google, Microsoft, and others.

Software Update

The highly anticipated iOS 17 is finally coming, bringing MANY new features, along with watchOS 10 and iPadOS 17 on September 18, and macOS Sonoma on September 26.

So, in a nutshell, these are all the things we saw at the event. As always, there are many details that Apple did not mention, such as the change in the IP Rating of the AirPods Pro due to the change of the port. We will learn more once the devices reach the hands of consumers and the media.