Apple's AirPods Max over-ear headphones have returned to their lowest-ever price on Amazon, priced at $429.00, down from $549.00. In a rare occurrence, we're tracking every single color of the AirPods Max at this price, and all are in stock and ready to ship out today.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Amazon Prime members can receive the AirPods Max as soon as this Wednesday, September 14, while free delivery for everyone else in the United States has an estimated arrival day of September 17. As of writing, only Amazon is offering this steep of a discount on the AirPods Max.
AirPods Max feature Active Noise Cancellation technology and the same Transparency mode, Adaptive EQ, and spatial audio features that are in the AirPods Pro. For charging, the headphones come with a Smart Case made out of a soft material that puts AirPods Max in an ultra low-power state to preserve battery charge when not in use.
We track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide, so be sure to bookmark that page while you shop around for the wireless headphones.
The S8 chip in the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra, and second-generation Apple Watch SE features the same CPU as the S6 and S7 chips, according to identifier codes.
The CPU within Apple's S8 SiP carries the same T8301 identifier as the CPU in the S6 and S7 chips that debuted in the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch Series 7. This explains why Apple has only compared its S-series chips in recent years to the S5 chip or earlier.
It also means that the Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch Series 7, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra, and second-generation Apple Watch SE all feature the exact same CPU. It is worth noting that Apple may have still iterated on other parts of the SiP to accommodate new components such as the Apple Watch Series 8's new accelerometer and gyroscope.
The S6, S7, and S8 chips all feature 32GB of storage and dual-core CPUs. When Apple debuted the S6 in the Apple Watch Series 6, the last time it made performance claims about its latest smartwatch lineup, it said that the chip allowed apps to launch 20 percent faster.
The S6, S7, and S8 are based on Apple's A13 Bionic chip from the iPhone 11 lineup and are manufactured using TSMC's 7nm process. Apple transitioned to TSMC's 5nm process starting with the A14 Bionic chip, and the iPhone 14 Pro's A16 Bionic is the first Apple chip to be fabricated with a 4nm process.
One explanation for Apple not advancing the CPU technology in its S-series chips is potential that advancements from using the cores in the A14 chip and TSMC's 5nm or 4nm processes would primarily yield performance improvements, which are no longer essential for the Apple Watch. Waiting for TSMC's 3nm process, which is set to enter mass production toward the end of this year, could yield more meaningful efficiency improvements – an area of much greater importance when it comes to the Apple Watch because it could help prolong battery life.
Apple is releasing iOS 16 to the general public today, offering users new ways to customize their Lock Screen, the ability to edit and unsend messages, and more. While there are several features that users can begin to use right after they update to iOS 16, there are several new features that apps will need to add support for first before users can begin to enjoy them.
Below, we've highlighted three features that users can expect apps to add in the coming days and weeks following the release of iOS 16. Be sure to stay tuned to MacRumors for full coverage of iOS 16's release and apps as they get updated.
Lock Screen Widgets
By itself, the redesigned iOS 16 Lock Screen and the suite of customization features it now provides, such as the ability to choose different fonts and colors for the time, are major changes. On top of that, however, the iPhone Lock Screen now benefits from the ability to add widgets.
Out of the box, iOS 16 offers several widget options for the iOS 16 Lock Screen, including Apple Watch Activity rings, world clock, temperature, calendar, Home, batteries, and more. In the coming days, third-party apps will release their own widgets for the iOS 16 Lock Screen, giving users even more flexibility and freedom over how they wish to customize the face of their iPhone.
Focus Filters
The Focus filters are a new part of iOS 16 that builds on Focus modes introduced with iOS 15 last year. Focus filters allow the parameters you set for your own Focus mode, such as Personal or Work, to carry through into the actual content of individual apps and beyond simply notifications.
For example, users can enable a Focus filter for the Messages app so that only messages from contacts allowed to break through specific Focus modes are shown within the app. Third-party apps will be able to take advantage of Focus filters, allowing users to limit distracting content within apps to only those they wish to focus on.
Coming Later This Year: Live Activities
Coming later this year to an update to iOS 16 is an all-new type of notification and interaction for apps called Live Activities. Live Activities reside on the bottom portion of the Lock Screen and can display real-time and dynamic information from apps, such as Uber for tracking your ride or sports apps for keeping tabs on the scores of a game.
On the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, Live Activities play an even larger role in the iOS experience. While on other devices Live Activities are only visible on the Lock Screen and Notification Center, the new high-end iPhones display certain types of Live Activities in the Dynamic Island. Learn more about Dynamic Island here.
Apple TV 4K deals have continued to appear on Amazon all summer, and as we head closer to fall we're tracking a new discount on the Apple TV HD as well.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Starting with the 32GB HD model, it's available for an all-time low price of $99.00, down from $149.00. This model includes the new Siri Remote but lacks 4K, HDR10, Dolby Vision, HDMI 2.1, the A12 Bionic chip, and other internal features you can see in our comparison guide.
Still, if you or someone you're buying for doesn't care about 4K resolution and the other internal upgrades available on the Apple TV 4K, this is a solid discount on the entry-level Apple TV HD. It's in stock now and available for delivery by September 14 - 17.
Additionally, the 32GB Apple TV 4K is also available for $119.99 on Amazon, down from $179.00. This sale has been the most consistent deal we've tracked on the Apple TV 4K, and overall it's a second-best price. It also comes with the new version of the Siri Remote.
For more storage, the 64GB Apple TV 4K is on sale for $139.99, down from $199.00. This one can be delivered as soon as this Wednesday as well, and is another second-best price.
Just a few hours before Apple releases iOS 16 to the public, Google has previewed its upcoming Lock Screen widgets for its iPhone apps, including the Google app, Gmail, Google Maps, Chrome, Google News, and Google Drive.
Google says the Lock Screen widgets will be available in the "coming weeks" as its iPhone apps are gradually updated on the App Store.
The widgets allow users to quickly launch into Google apps from the Lock Screen and provide real-time information at a glance:
Google: Initiate a search via text, voice, or the camera
Gmail: View the number of messages in your inbox
Chrome: Initiate a search, including by voice or in incognito mode
Google Drive: Quickly access starred files and folders
Google Maps: View real-time traffic updates and estimated travel times to frequently traveled places like home and work
Google News: View real-time headlines
Note that the Google search widget does not allow you to complete a search on the Lock Screen directly and simply opens the app.
A key new feature of iOS 16 is the ability to personalize the Lock Screen with widgets, multi-layered wallpapers, custom fonts for the date and time, and more. You can also select a set of photos to shuffle on the Lock Screen throughout the day.
The new Lock Screen gallery showcases a range of Lock Screen options, including a new Weather wallpaper with live weather conditions and an Astronomy wallpaper that provides views of the Earth, Moon, and Solar System. iOS 16 includes support for multiple Lock Screen designs, allowing you to switch between your favorites with a swipe.
The always-on display on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will intelligently and automatically turn off when a user leaves their iPhone in a room and walks out while wearing an Apple Watch.
The always-on display on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will already turn off when the iPhone is in a user's pocket or face down on a table, helping to save battery life while the device is not in use.
According to German YouTuber Felixba, who was present at the Steve Jobs Theater for Apple's "Far out" event last week and had hands-on time with the new products, if a user has an Apple Watch paired to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, the iPhone will disable the always-on display once it detects the user has left the room without their phone.
Presumably, the iPhone 14 Pro will use proximity data from the Apple Watch to enable the feature and detect once a user has left the room. Apple made no mention of the unique feature on its website and didn't mention it during its event, but it's likely one of several power-saving features the iPhone 14 Pro's always-on display has.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max feature more power-efficient OLED panels with a variable refresh rate as low as 1Hz, saving battery with the always-on display. Additionally, the A16 Bionic chip features a new display engine that helps manage the always-on display and other features such as ProMotion while optimizing power efficiency.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max with an always-on display, better cameras, and the all-new Dynamic Island were made available for pre-order this past Friday and will begin arriving to customers on Friday, September 16.
As noted by 9to5Mac, Apple Stores can replace the battery inside an iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, or iPhone 14 Pro Max for $99 in the U.S., which is up from $69 for most previous iPhone models. This is a 43% increase to the fee, which includes the cost of a new battery and service by an Apple Store or an Apple Repair Center. iPhone battery replacement fees will vary at third-party Apple Authorized Service Providers.
Customers with AppleCare+ can get an iPhone battery replaced for free, but only if the battery retains less than 80% of its original capacity.
Apple's out-of-warranty service fees have also increased for select other iPhone 14 repairs. For example, in the U.S., Apple charges $379 to fix cracked glass on an iPhone 14 Pro Max's display, compared to $329 for the same repair on an iPhone 13 Pro Max. Apple's iPhone Repair and Service page outlines additional repair fees.
iPhone 14 models are set to launch on September 16, with the exception of the iPhone 14 Plus, which will be available starting October 7.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus have seen "bad" pre-order results, indicating that Apple's positioning of the two new standard models may have failed, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In his latest post on Medium, Kuo explained that the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have seen "neutral" and "good" pre-order results compared to the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Delivery wait times of more than four weeks may indicate good demand for the new high-end devices. It is apparently "unclear" whether Apple will increase shipment forecasts of its Pro models, but there is a "growing" chance that it will cut orders of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, which currently account for around 45 percent of the entire lineup's shipments.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are expected to be in stock in retail stores on their launch dates, "reflecting lackluster demand." As it stands, Kuo says that the pre-order results for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are worse than those of the third-generation iPhone SE and the iPhone 13 mini. He noted that Apple cut orders of both the third-generation iPhone SE and the iPhone 13 mini in the first half of 2022 due to low demand.
If demand for the two standard models do not improve, Apple may cut iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus orders as soon as November. Suppliers who are not major beneficiaries of Apple's iPhone 14 Pro models will likely see the start of declining revenue in September and October as a result.
For iPhone 14 Plus, in particular, the "pre-order result is significantly lower than expected." As a model that effectively replaces the "mini" form factor in the latest iPhone lineup, with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch display sizes now being the only options, Kuo said that "Apple's product segmentation strategy for standard models fails this year."
All four of the iPhone 14 models were announced by Apple last week and have been available to pre-order since September 9. The iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max are set to launch on Friday, September 16, and the iPhone 14 Plus will launch on Friday, October 7.
The Apple Watch Series 8 replaces the Apple Watch Series 7 in Apple's smartwatch lineup, but how different are the two successive smartwatch generations?
In 2021, Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 7, including features like taller casing sizes with larger displays, slimmer bezels, improved durability, and faster charging technology. The Apple Watch Series 7 has now been discontinued by Apple, and as year-old models, prices at third-party resellers are falling. As such, some customers may be weighing up whether to upgrade to a Series 7 or a Series 8.
The Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 8 share the overwhelming majority of their features, so should you consider buying or sticking with the Series 7 to save money? This breakdown also serves as a way to see all the differences that the new Apple Watch brings to the table.
Differences
Apple Watch Series 7
Apple Watch Series 8
S7 chip
S8 chip (Same CPU as S7)
Gyroscope and accelerometer
More powerful gyroscope and high dynamic range accelerometer
-
Crash Detection
Third-generation optical heart sensor, electrical heart sensor for ECG, and blood oxygen sensor
Optical heart sensor, electrical heart sensor for ECG, blood oxygen sensor, and body temperature sensor
-
Wrist temperature sensing during sleep
-
Cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates
Aluminum casing in Midnight, Starlight, PRODUCT(RED), Blue, or Green
Aluminum casing in Midnight, Starlight, PRODUCT(RED), or Silver
Stainless Steel casing in Gold, Silver, or Graphite
Stainless Steel casing in Gold, Silver, or Graphite
Titanium casing in Titanium or Space Black
-
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Apple Watch Series 8 is a very minor upgrade over the Series 7, with the body temperature sensor and Crash Detection being the only significant changes, meaning that it is difficult to recommend upgrading. Many Apple Watch Series 7 users will likely not be able to justify upgrading to the Series 8, but some customers coming from an older model could still have good reason to preference the latest models, namely those who do not have an iPhone 14 model with Crash Detection and women who want to take advantage of the cycle tracking features. The Apple Watch Series 8 is very similar to the Series 7, so customers who have an older Apple Watch model and are looking for an upgrade may prefer to look for a discounted Apple Watch Series 7.
All Apple Stores in the United Kingdom will be closed on Monday, September 19, out of respect for the planned state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Apple told UK-based staff today.
Monday, September 19, has been marked as a bank holiday by King Charles III, given the planned state funeral for Her Majesty. Official government guidance states that it's up to individual businesses whether they wish to close on that day.
Apple also told staff that this coming Wednesday, the first day the Queen's coffin is expected to lie in state in London, it will operate at a reduced capacity in its stores across the United Kingdom. Reduced working capacities are expected to continue into the weekend for some locations.
Following her death, Apple has kept a tribute to the Queen on its UK front page.
Apple does not advertise battery capacities for its new iPhone 14 lineup, but MacRumors has obtained this information from a Chinese regulatory database.
Three out of four iPhone 14 models feature larger battery capacities compared to the iPhone 13 lineup, with the exception being the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is equipped with a slightly smaller battery compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Battery capacities for the iPhone 13 lineup:
iPhone 13 mini: 2,406 mAh
iPhone 13: 3,227 mAh
iPhone 13 Pro: 3,095 mAh
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 4,352 mAh
Battery capacities for the iPhone 14 lineup:
iPhone 14: 3,279 mAh
iPhone 14 Plus: 4,325 mAh
iPhone 14 Pro: 3,200 mAh
iPhone 14 Pro Max: 4,323 mAh
The same database accurately revealed battery capacities for all four iPhone 13 models and the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro ahead of those devices launching last year. These exact battery capacities for all iPhone 14 models were also leaked in a post on Chinese website Weibo that was highlighted by Twitter account ShrimpApplePro in June.
Apple says all four iPhone 14 models feature "all-day battery life." iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max models feature up to one hour longer battery life for offline video playback compared to the equivalent iPhone 13 models, according to tech specs on Apple's website, while there is no directly comparable model for the iPhone 14 Plus.
Due to its larger 6.7-inch display size and lack of some Pro model features, the iPhone 14 Plus features the longest battery life ever of any iPhone, according to Apple. However, this is not entirely true, as Apple's tech specs indicate that the iPhone 14 Pro Max still gets the longest battery life for video playback, likely due to the ProMotion display's ability to ramp down the refresh rate for lower power consumption.
All four iPhone 14 models were announced by Apple last week and have been available to pre-order since September 9. The devices are set to launch on September 16, with the exception of the iPhone 14 Plus, which will be available starting October 7.
Following its September event focused on new iPhone and Apple Watch models, Apple often holds another event in October focused on new iPad and Mac models, and this year will likely be no exception. October is still three weeks away, but we already have a good idea of the products that would likely be announced at an event next month.
For the October event, rumors suggest that Apple plans to announce new iPad Pro models with the M2 chip, a redesigned 10th-generation entry-level iPad, and at least a few more Macs powered by the M2 series of chips, with potential candidates including the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, the Mac mini, and/or the Mac Pro.
The next iPad Pro models will feature a similar chassis design as the current models, but with "four-pin connectors" on the top and bottom edges, according to Japanese blog Mac Otakara. The purpose of these connectors and whether they would replace the existing three-pin Smart Connector on the iPad Pro is unclear.
Apple last updated the iPad Pro in April 2021, with new features including the M1 chip, a Thunderbolt port, 5G support for cellular models, a mini-LED display on the 12.9-inch model, and an upgraded 12-megapixel front camera with support for Apple's Center Stage feature, which helps keep you within the frame in video apps like FaceTime.
While the 10th-generation iPad is expected to retain a Touch ID home button, rumors suggest the device will no longer have a headphone jack.
A questionable report from Mac Otakara claimed that the 10th-generation iPad will actually feature a Touch ID power button on the top edge of the chassis, like the latest iPad Air and iPad mini models. The report also claimed that the FaceTime camera could be positioned in the right bezel of the device for landscape usage.
Apple released the 9th-generation iPad in September 2021, with key features including a 10.2-inch display, an A13 Bionic chip, an upgraded 12-megapixel front camera with support for the Center Stage feature, True Tone, and double the base storage. In the U.S., the 10.2-inch iPad starts at $329 with 64GB of storage.
More Macs With M2 Chips
In late August, Gurman said Apple had been working on M2-based Mac mini, MacBook Pro, and Mac Pro models, adding that we were "likely to see at least a pair of those machines about two months from now," which lines up with October. However, it is possible that some of these Macs could be announced later in the year or next year.
Mac mini With M2 and M2 Pro Chips
Apple released the Mac mini with an M1 chip as one of its first three Apple silicon Macs in November 2020. Nearly two years later, a new version of the Mac mini with an M2 chip is on the horizon, according to Gurman.
Apple's next-generation 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips are "well into development and testing," and planned for release "as early as this fall," according to Gurman. As usual in recent years, Gurman said the timeframe could be pushed back due to supply chain disruptions or other factors.
While some reports suggested that the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips may be Apple's first 3nm chips, it looks increasingly likely that the chips will remain 5nm. The chips would still have modest performance improvements over the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, and increases in GPU core counts and unified memory (RAM) are also likely.
Mac Pro With M2 Ultra and "M2 Extreme" Chips
After announcing the Mac Studio at its March 2022 event, Apple teased that an Apple silicon version of the Mac Pro tower was coming later.
Back in 2020, Apple said its transition from Intel processors to Apple silicon chips across the Mac lineup would take around two years to be completed, so the new Mac Pro is expected to be announced by the end of 2022.
The new Mac Pro will be equipped with "M2 Ultra" and "M2 Extreme" chips, according to Gurman. It's possible the new Mac Pro will be smaller due to the switch to Apple silicon, but it's unclear if the desktop computer will have any major design changes compared to the current Intel-based model released in December 2019.
The new Mac Pro would be the fastest Mac ever, topping the Mac Studio with the M1 Ultra chip.
Apple TV With A14 Chip?
Apple plans to launch a new Apple TV with an "improved cost structure" in the second half of 2022, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, but it's unclear if the device would be announced during the October event or at another time.
A new Apple TV is in development with an A14 chip and 4GB of RAM, according to Gurman, but it's unclear if this model is the same one that Kuo referred to. Either way, the internal upgrades would result in faster performance compared to the current Apple TV 4K, which is equipped with an A12 chip and 3GB of RAM.
Released in April 2021, the current Apple TV 4K starts at $179 with 32GB of storage, while the Apple TV HD remains available for $149. By comparison, there are many streaming sticks from brands like Chromecast and Roku available for between $25 and $100.
iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura Release Dates
Apple says iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura will be released in October, and exact release dates will likely be announced at the event.
Apple released iOS 16 on Monday, September 12 as a free software update for the iPhone 8 and newer. iOS 16 includes plenty of new features, ranging from a customizable Lock Screen to the ability to temporarily edit or unsend iMessages.
To install iOS 16, open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap General → Software Update. After you update your iPhone to iOS 16, check out our list of six useful new features to try out below.
Customize the Lock Screen
The headline new feature of iOS 16 is the ability to personalize the Lock Screen with multi-layered wallpapers, widgets, custom fonts for the date and time, and more. You can also select a set of photos to shuffle on the Lock Screen throughout the day.
The new Lock Screen gallery showcases a range of Lock Screen options, including a new Weather wallpaper with live weather conditions and an Astronomy wallpaper that provides views of the Earth, Moon, and Solar System. iOS 16 includes support for multiple Lock Screen designs, allowing you to switch between your favorites with a swipe.
iOS 16 introduces the ability to temporarily edit or unsend iMessages, as well as mark iMessage conversations as unread after opening them.
Apple allows you to edit an iMessage for up to 15 minutes after sending it, with up to five edits allowed per message. Recipients are able to see a record of edits made to the message, and on devices running iOS 15 or earlier, edited messages are received as a new message that says "Edited to [new message]."
To edit or unsend a message, simply tap and hold on a bubble and select the appropriate option in the menu that appears. iMessages that have been edited are marked as "edited" below the message bubble. SMS messages (green bubbles) cannot be edited or unsent.
Use the Full-Screen Music Player
iOS 16 reintroduces a full-screen music player on the Lock Screen with large album art and a color-matched wallpaper.
Apple last offered a full-screen music player on the Lock Screen on iOS 10 in 2016. If you don't like the feature, you can tap on the bottom of the display to minimize the music player and revert to your standard Lock Screen wallpaper.
Game With Nintendo Joy-Cons
iPhones feature support for many additional Bluetooth game controllers on iOS 16, including the Nintendo Switch's Joy-Cons and Pro Controller. iPhones running iOS 16 can be used with either single left or right Joy-Cons, or both at once as a singular controller.
This is on top of the iPhone's existing compatibility with PS5 DualSense and Xbox Series X controllers since the release of iOS 14.5 last year.
Track an Apple Pay Order
Apple Pay on iOS 16 features new built-in order tracking information in the Wallet app for online orders completed via Apple Pay. The tracker provides an order's estimated delivery date and indicates when a package is out for delivery.
Close Your Rings Without an Apple Watch
Starting with iOS 16, the Fitness app is now available on the iPhone for all users, even without an Apple Watch. The app features a daily Activity ring that relies on the iPhone's motion sensors to estimate a person's calories burned and steps per day.
During its iPhone 14 event, Apple announced that its Fitness+ service will be available for iPhone users without an Apple Watch later this year in the 21 countries where the service is available. Fitness+ is priced at $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year.
There are usually multiple features that Apple is not able to finish before the first official release of a major new version of iOS, and this year looks to be no different, with a total of nine iOS 16 features now confirmed to not be present in the first public version of the new OS.
Last year, SharePlay, Digital IDs in the Wallet app, and Universal Control were among a large number of features in iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 that were not available in their initial release, taking several months to trickle out to users.
Apple previewed each of the following features upon announcing iOS 16 at WWDC earlier this year, but they will not be present in iOS 16.0 when it releases to the public tomorrow:
Live Activities: Follow activities happening in real-time like a sports match or a ride-share with just a glance at the Lock Screen. Third-party apps and App Clips can implement support thanks to the Live Activities API.
Game Center SharePlay support: Games that use Game Center multiplayer support have SharePlay integration. You can start playing automatically with friends on a FaceTime call.
Game Center Contacts integration: Contacts shows your friends' Game Center profiles. Tap through to see what they are playing and achieving in games.
Support for Matter: The new smart home connectivity standard that enables compatible accessories to work together seamlessly and across platforms. Matter allows users to choose from even more compatible smart home accessories and control them with the Home app and Siri on Apple devices.
Updated architecture for the Home app: Enhancements to the underlying architecture of the Home app to enable faster, more reliable performance and improved efficiency, especially for homes with lots of accessories and multiple controller devices.
Freeform app: A new digital whiteboard app with a flexible canvas for diagramming projects, aggregating important assets, and brainstorming, with real-time collaboration features and rich multimedia support.
iCloud Shared Photo Library: A new option in the Photos app to allow users to create a shared photos library and invite anyone with an Apple ID to view, contribute to, and edit it, including favoriting images and adding captions. There are no limitations, and all participants have the same permissions, making it ideal for families.
Key sharing: The ability to securely share keys in Apple Wallet via messaging apps and Mail.
Easy Shortcuts setup for iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X: Siri can run shortcuts from installed apps without any setup process (to be available for newer devices immediately without delay).
iCloud Shared Photo Library became the latest feature to be delayed following Apple's "Far out" event earlier this week, but all of the other delays were known upon the initial preview of iOS 16 at WWDC.
Apple says that all of these features are coming in an update to iOS 16 later this year, but it has not yet offered a more specific timeframe for any of them. After months of beta testing, iOS 16.0 will become officially available for download on every compatible iPhone tomorrow. For a detailed breakdown of all of the new features in iOS 16, see our comprehensive roundup.
As was the case with iPhone 13 Pro models released last year, 4K ProRes video recording on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max still requires a model with at least 256GB of storage, according to Apple's tech specs for the devices.
ProRes video recording is limited to 1080p at 30 frames per second on iPhone 14 Pro models with a 128GB storage capacity. To record ProRes video in 4K at 30 frames per second, a model with a 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage capacity is required.
iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max support ProRes video recording in the Camera app at 1080p 30 fps with the 128GB storage option, and up to 4K 30 fps with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options.
The lack of 4K ProRes video recording support on 128GB models is likely due to the 4K videos having very large file sizes. Apple says a one-minute 10-bit ProRes video is approximately 1.7GB in 1080p and approximately 6GB in 4K.
Introduced on iPhone 13 Pro models, ProRes refers to a family of codecs from Apple that can compress videos into smaller file sizes with "impressive image quality preservation." Apple says ProRes is designed as a final delivery format for high-quality videos like commercials, feature films, and broadcasts.
ProRes video recording is still not supported at all on the standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.
The new iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max feature dual-frequency GPS support for more accurate location tracking, according to Apple's tech specs for the devices. The functionality is also supported on the new Apple Watch Ultra.
As with the Apple Watch Ultra, iPhone 14 Pro models can receive signals from GPS satellites operating on both the legacy L1 frequency and modernized L5 frequency. L5 satellites broadcast a more advanced, higher power signal that can better travel through obstacles like buildings and trees compared to L1 signals. With a combination of the two signals, iPhone 14 Pro models will have improved location accuracy in apps like Maps.
According to the U.S. government, there were 17 satellites broadcasting L5 signals in orbit as of June. In combination with L1, the government says L5 will "provide users worldwide with the most advanced civilian GPS signal." However, while L5 has been rolling out since 2010, the government says the signal remains "pre-operational."
The standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus do not have dual-frequency GPS support, according to Apple's tech specs. All four iPhone 14 models continue to support other navigation systems, including GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou.
It's been a crazy busy few days thanks to Apple's "Far Out" media event where we saw announcements in three major product categories including the highly anticipated iPhone 14 lineup.
Following Wednesday's event, we spent the rest of the day and beyond digging deeper into all of Apple's new products, so make sure to check out all of our coverage that extends beyond the announcements highlighted below!
Everything Announced at This Week's Apple Event in Just 11 Minutes
Apple's annual September event on Wednesday saw the company focus on three products: iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods Pro. In addition to a full lineup of iPhone 14 models, we also got three different Apple Watch models as well as updated AirPods Pro.
Apple Unveils iPhone 14 Pro With Dynamic Island, Always-On Display, 48MP Camera, and More
Apple this week announced the high-end iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, featuring a "Dynamic Island" to surface alerts and activity in a new way, a brighter display with always-on functionality, the A16 Bionic chip, a more advanced camera system, new color options, and more.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max continue to be priced at $999 and $1,099, respectively. Pre-orders are already underway, with availability beginning Friday, September 16, but we're already seeing some delayed shipping for new orders.
Apple Announces iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus With New Satellite Connectivity, Better Cameras, and More
Alongside the Pro models, Apple also announced the new iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, coming in 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch sizes that have the same design as the iPhone 13 but feature new cameras, faster performance, and satellite connectivity.
Pre-orders for the new iPhone 14 models are available now, and the iPhone 14 will begin shipping on Friday, September 16. The larger iPhone 14 Plus will begin shipping to customers on Friday, October 7.
Apple Unveils Apple Watch Ultra With Large-Screen Design for Athletes and Explorers
Apple at its "Far Out" media event this week announced the Apple Watch Ultra, a new feature-rich smartwatch for athletes and explorers, coming with an all-new design, a large flat sapphire crystal display, an additional programmable Action button, and cellular as standard.
The Apple Watch Ultra is priced at $799 and orders are open now ahead of a September 23 launch.
Apple Watch Series 8 Announced With New Body Temperature Sensor, Car Crash Detection, and More
For more mainstream users, Apple also introduced the Apple Watch Series 8 with the same overall design as the Series 7, including a larger display that curves around the edges. One of the headline new features of the Series 8 is a new body temperature sensor designed for women's health purposes, such as knowing when ovulation has occurred.
The Apple Watch Series 8 is available for pre-order now and will be available starting Friday, September 16. The Series 8 starts at $399 for GPS and $499 for cellular models.
Apple Announces Second-Generation Apple Watch SE With S8 Chip and Crash Detection for $249
And finally in the Apple Watch department, Apple unveiled the second-generation Apple Watch SE, featuring the latest S8 chip, Crash Detection, and new color options at a lower price point.
The second-generation Apple Watch SE starts at $249 for the GPS model and $299 for the cellular model. Orders are currently open and they will start delivering on September 16.
Apple Announces New AirPods Pro With H2 Chip for Up to 2x Noise Cancellation and More
Rounding out this week's announcements, Apple unveiled the second-generation AirPods Pro with an upgraded H2 chip that provides up to twice as much active noise cancellation and more.
A new Touch Control feature on the stem allows users to adjust the volume with a swipe up or down, while the silicone ear tips are now available in a new XS size alongside small, medium, and large.
The new AirPods Pro are available to order now with pricing set at $249 in the United States. The second-generation AirPods Pro will launch on September 23.
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The iPhone 14 lineup is the first iPhone series to not include a display size below six inches, despite sticking with the 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch form factors of previous generations that included a 5.4-inch model. So why did Apple eliminate the "mini" device that some iPhone customers had come to love?
Apple debuted the iPhone 12 mini in 2020 following years of calls from iPhone fans for the company to offer a small-screen device with the latest features. When Apple did so, it was assumed that the small form factor would persist for several years – but it appears that the device has come to a premature end upon the release of the iPhone 14 lineup.
Concerns first arose when the iPhone 12 mini appeared to not be selling as well as Apple had hoped, making up just six percent of iPhone 12 sales in the U.S. in October and November 2020, according to data gathered by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP). Counterpoint Research reported that the iPhone 12 mini accounted for only five percent of all iPhone 12 sales in the U.S. in the first half of January 2021.
Morgan Stanley believed that Apple chose to cut production of the iPhone 12 mini by two million units to create more manufacturing capacity for the more popular iPhone 12 Pro. This was mirrored by a Taiwanese report, citing supply chain sources, which said that strong demand for iPhone 12 Pro models in China led Apple to increase its supply of the more expensive devices.
Most strikingly, JP Morgan Chase claimed that Apple outright halted iPhone 12 mini production in the second quarter of 2021. While the sales reports for the iPhone 12 mini did not bode well for the iPhone 13 mini, Apple plans its iPhone production and supply chain operations well in advance of launch, meaning that the iPhone 13 mini was already well on the way to production by the time the issues with the iPhone 12 mini's sales were clear.
In April 2022, CIRP released more data suggesting that the iPhone 13 mini accounted for just 3 percent of iPhone 13 sales – half that of the iPhone 12 mini. These continued poor sales were likely the main reason behind the demise of the "mini" form factor iPhone.
With the iPhone 14 lineup, Apple has opted to replace the "mini" device with an all-new "Plus" device. In some respects, the iPhone 14 Plus mirrors the iPhone 12 mini, offering the latest iPhone's features in a different display size. Instead of offering a lightweight small-screen option, customers can now choose an even bigger battery and 6.7-inch display – the same size that iPhone "Max" customers have been used to for over four years now at a price of $1,099 – but at a lower, $899 price point.
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