Tech giant introduces the most advanced Watch into its ecosystem - The Apple Watch Ultra
Apple today introduced a range of new iPhone 14 models capable of sending a call for help via satellite during an emergency, as well as crash-detection ability and an adventure-focused Ultra Watch.
The iPhone 14 will start at $799 and the iPhone Plus at $899 and both will be available for pre-order starting September 9.
Khaleej Times' Principal Correspondent, Dhanusha Gokulan, was at the Steve Jobs theatre in Cupertino reporting live from the coveted event. Here's how the big tech event unfolded.
10.35pm
And that's a wrap, folks! Stay tuned to Khaleej Times for more details on the products that were unveiled today.
10.34pm
Here is a breakdown of prices of the entire new line-up of devices from Apple from their 'Far Out' event
Apple Watch Ultra - Dh3,199
Apple Watch SE – Dh999
Apple Watch Series 8 starts at Dh1,599
AirPods Pro second generation is Dh949
iPhone 14 is Dh3,399
iPhone 14 Plus is Dh3,799
iPhone 14 Pro is Dh4,299
iPhone 14 ProMax Dh4,699
10.33pm
Tim Cook is back to wrap up the launch event. Cook gives us a snapshot of all the new products and updates.
10.30pm
— iPhone 14Pro starts at $999. Pro Max starts at $1,099. Pre-order starts from September 9.
10.27pm
— Cinematic videos will be a breeze with iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
10.26pm
Here are the new features of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
10.23pm
— 14Pro also has an ultra-wide camera. New lens is sharper with more detail, revealing more than what's visible to the naked eye.
— Pro Video: Only smart phone to shoot in Pro Res and Dolby vision
10.22pm:
— Pro RAW format is here with the Pro14 series camera features
10.21pm:
Low-light photography is just getting richer and richer with the Pro work flows
10.20pm
— Finally, we have a 2XL photo zoom in.
— You can capture stunning photos across all lighting conditions
10.18pm
— Display engine in A16 allowing 1 hertz refresh range
— Pro camera system empowers every use for taking the best pictures
10.17pm
— 6-core CPU A16 chip is miles ahead than the iPhone's closest competition
— 16-core neural engine
10.16pm
— Pro series is powered by an A16 bionic chip with 16 billion transistors.
10.15pm
— Always-on display allows you to see time and other information at all times, with just a glance
10.14pm
Apple Pro features
— What's a dynamic island? The much-talked-about pill-shaped cutout space for the front camera when the phone is powered on.
— 6.1 and 6.7 screen size.
10.11pm
— The Apple Pro will come in several new colours including midnight black and deep purple
10.09pm
Tim Cook is back to talk about the iPhone 14 Pro models.
— He calls it the most innovative Pro line up ever.
10.7pm
iPhone 14 will be available from September 16 and 14 Plus will be available from October onwards.
10.6pm
iPhone 14 will be priced at $799 and iPhone 14 Plus at $899.
Here's all the new features of iPhone 14
10.04pm
— Service would be provided for free for two years starting November. Will only be available in US and Canada for now/
10.3pm
Emergency SOS through satellite connectivity
10pm
— New Safety service: iPhone can provide connectivity off-the-grid
— We guessed right, the new iPhones will provide satellite connectivity
9.58pm
The SIM tray has been removed from the iPhone.
— Crash- detection can notify emergency services if you have been caught in a car crash.
9.57pm
iPhone 14 connectivity
— Real-time connectivity with 5G and eSIM making it easier to connect. Can store multiple eSIMS in the same device.
9.55pm:
— Video has an advanced stabilisation mode with 'action mode'. Can give smooth video without a gimball.
9.54pm
New Photonic Engine benefits every camera giving photos with much better detail
9.52pm
— 12 MP main camera, 49 per cent improvement in low-light capture; the front camera has a new TrueDepth camera, autofocus, and show off low-details up close.
9.50pm:
— iPhone 13 Pro introduced the A15 bionic chip. The iPhone 14's A15 chip has a 16-core neural engine that pushes the limits of machine learning. Last year, over 3 trillion photos were taken with the iPhone.
— Best battery life ever in an iPhone
9.50pm
— iPhone 14 has bigger display, water and dust resistance, and all-day battery life
9.48pm:
The star of the event is here - iPhone 14.
9.47pm
AirPods cases can now be charged using MagSafe chargers. It comes in with a built-in speaker that would alert users in case the case has been misplaced.
9.45pm
— Apple AirPods Pro have advanced noise cancellation technology and passive noise reduction
— Adaptive transparency automatically reduces loud noises you are exposed to, such as construction sounds
— Touch control allows reducing or increasing volume by touching the device
— Increased battery life
9.42pm
New AirPods Pro: Spatial audio takes the listening experience to the next level. Apple says you'll feel like you're on stage wth your favourite musical band.
9.41pm
New AirPods Pro are here; it has a brand new H2 chip unlocking break through listening experience
9.39pm: New Apple Watch line-up
Apple introduces the most advanced Watch into its ecosystem: The Apple Watch Ultra
9.36pm:
All models of the Apple Watch Ultra is priced at $799 and is available from September 23. Available for order now.
9.35pm:
Here's every detail of the Apple Watch Ultra you want to know
9.34pm
— Watch can work as a dive computer
9.32pm
— Apple says the Ultra is for those who want to go the next mile. It has a re-designed compass app for trail hikers and runners.
— Built-in 80+ decibel siren
— Designed for water sports. Can work 100 ft under water.
— Watch can work as a dive computer
9.29pm:
Julz Arney: Apple Watch Ultra has a new precision dual-frequency GPS tracking system which can track movement through rugged and tricky terrains.
9.27pm:
— Apple Watch Ultra has: Alpine loop strap, ocean loop strap, trail loop.
9.25pm:
Most significant Apple Watch update is the introduction of the Apple Watch Ultra.
— The new watch has an action button, designed especially for those who live on the edge.
— The Watch has 36 hours of battery life a single charge.
— Wayfinder face on the watch can be optimised for use on the mountains and the ocean. It is designed to push boundaries.
9.22pm:
Watch SE - $249 GPS, $349 cellular
9.21pm:
Apple Watch SE
— 20 per cent faster than before
— Pair watches for children who don't yet have their iPhones
— Family set-up allows independence for kids and peace of mind for parents
9.20pm: Apple Watch SE
Delivers the core performance at an affordable price. The new SE will be available in midnight, silver, and starlight colours in aluminium. The new production process to cut carbon footprint by 80 per cent.
9.17pm:
The watch comes in several exciting new colours in completely recycled aluminium
9.16pm:
Watch Series 8 comes with low-power mode and international roaming for cellular models of the Apple Watch, running Watch OS9.
9.13pm:
New safety features: Crash detection
The device can detected if you've been in a serious accident
9.11pm:
"Temperature sensors on the Apple Watch is here!"
Series 8 samples wrist temperature every five seconds. The new tech is most beneficial for women as temperature tracking assists in cycle and ovulation tracking.
Cycle tracking data is encrypted on your device and can only be accessed by your Face Id, touch Id, and password protection.
9.09pm:
Jeff Williams, COO, Apple, said, "Series 8 is swim-proof, dust proof, and crack resistant."
9:03pm: The first device to be unveiled is the Apple Watch Series 8.
The show began with a short personal video of people reading letters they have written to Tim Cook about the Apple Watch.
9:01pm:
"Today, we're here to talk about the latest updates to our iPhones, Airpods and the Apple Watch," says Tim Cook.
"Today, we are going to make these products even better. Let's start with Apple Watch"
8.59pm: And it's go-time!! CEO Tim Cook has taken centre stage at the Steve Jobs Theatre. "It's been three years since we've had an event year. It marks a special day.. We're thrilled to bring this community back together."
8.54pm:
Minutes away from the much-awaited event! The music is getting louder, chirpier.
8.43pm
Alright! My devices are plugged-in to ensure uninterrupted connectivity. An absolute nightmare would be running out of power while reporting on the biggest tech event. I can see the hundreds of media professionals furiously typing away on their Macbooks and other Apple devices. People are mingling, music is playing in the theatre and loud chatter from the excited crowds.
Photo: Dhanusha Gokulan
8.40pm
The atmosphere inside the Theatre is electrifying with Yung Bae's 'Straight Up Relaxin' playing in the background, making the event nothing less than a party of tech geeks.
8.33pm
And we’re inside!!! The doors have opened and just 30 minutes to go time.
This is Apple's first in-person product launch event since before the coronavirus pandemic began.
8.25pm:
The entrance to the theatre is packed to the brim right now. In a matter of minutes, the entrance doors to the Steve Jobs Theatre will open to allow guests inside.
8.08pm:
The main entrance of Apple Park is now closed and will open for the main event at 9pm.
8.04pm
We are an hour away from the keynote address and CEO Tim Cook tweeted with hopes for a stellar event!
The crowd is getting thicker, and the anticipation is building. It’s unusually hot outside, and guests are being treated with some delicious refreshments.
7.50pm
Here’s where the magic of the tech world will unfold! The event, "Far Out", will begin at 9pm here at the Steve Jobs Theatre.
7.44pm
We are joined by UAE athlete, mountaineer Manal Rostom and YouTuber, tech reviewer Emkwan. They are part of the UAE contingency, and these guys are not new to Apple Park.
7.39pm:
Docked into the mothership: The acclaimed Steve Jobs Theatre, where the big reveal will take place tonight. We’re just over an hour away from the main event, and the excitement is palpable. From what I hear, even the ones who’ve previously visited the headquarter cannot contain their excitement.
7.10pm
I’m not sure journalists and tech experts from how many countries are here; but I can hear people speaking in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Italian, and I think I heard a whisper of Hindi near the breakfast counter. The GCC team is approximately 15 writers and content creators, the biggest contingency ever, says the PR team. Our PCR and Antigen tests have been done, and we’ve received our entry badges - a bright green Apple logo inset into a black card.
7.05pm
Most tech experts are placing their bets on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max versions of the phone to carry the bulk of the new and exciting features. The basic model, not so much. Apart from the 48-megapixel wide camera with 8K recording, some expected features include an always-on display (Android phones have had this feature for years), a larger sensor, and a screen that gets rid of the notch in favour of smaller camera cutouts, said The Verge.
MacRumours.com discovered chatter across Chinese social media networks, purportedly originating from Foxconn employees involved in iPhone 14 Pro assembly; the camera and speaker would have separate cutouts when the screen is turned off but will form one long pill-shape when it's powered on. The extra space between those cutouts would prominently display privacy indicators for the camera and microphone.
The devices are also expected to have slimmer bezels and bigger batteries. The most significant update to the non-Pro model is expected to be the introduction of a larger 6.7-inch display in the iPhone 14 Max, accompanied by a considerable price jump, suggested The Verge.
7pm
Photo: Dhanusha Gokulan
Hundreds of journalists, tech experts, content creators and Apple employees will be landing up at the Ameswell Hotel. Here are some of the early birds!
6.45pm
Good Morning from Cupertino!
It’s 7.45 am local time, and it's a beautiful day here in sunny California. An exciting surge of energy is being felt at the Ameswell Hotel in Mountain View. At Apple Inc’s invitation, hundreds of journalists, tech reporters, content creators and product reviewers from across the world gathered.
We’re hours away from the tech giant’s September product reveal event – ‘Far Out’ – and after weeks of speculation, leaks, and guessing games, the company is finally putting to rest the anxiety every Apple geek has been facing for weeks now. What will be most exciting with the new iPhone and the Watch Series 8?
The ‘Far Out’ invitation graphics opened doors for some serious speculation. Do the bright stars on a blue background in the Apple logo indicate satellite calling? Or does it hint at a better-performing camera? Is the new phone going to have a bigger screen? Apple will answer all these questions at 9pm UAE time (10 am PST).
Ajanta Paul is a Senior Editor on the Digital team. A natural leader and newshound, she thrives in breaking news and high-pressure situations - and enjoys reporting on community issues that matter to UAE residents.