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APPLE

By Will Fastie • Comment about this article

Apple’s annual late-summer event on September 9, primarily a means of introducing the next great iPhone, could be called humdrum this year.

It’s not that there were no interesting announcements. It’s just that most were incremental. And some expectations set by Apple’s event this past June were not met.

The recent event was about iPhones, Apple Watch, and AirPods. The most interesting part? Health.

Source: Apple, Inc.

A quick visit to Apple’s site will provide all the specifications for the new iPhones. There is a performance boost, cameras are restructured, there is a new processor, and there is a new version of iOS. In all respects, including styling, anyone would consider the changes ordinary. But there are some nuances.

One of the most significant is the processor, not because it’s dramatically faster or better but because Apple broke with its traditional processor evolution. If you take a glance back at our coverage of the 2023 announcement of the iPhone 15 (Apple 2030, 2023-09-18), you’ll note that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are powered by the A16 Bionic chip — but the 15 Pro and Pro Max models used the then-new A17 Bionic. The customary evolution had been that the chip from the previous Pro model would go into the new base model and a new chip would be announced for the new Pro model.

That didn’t happen this time. The A17 chip vanished completely from the iPhone lineup. This time, the base model 16 has the A18 Bionic and the 16 Pro has the A18 Pro Bionic.

That turns out to have a side effect, including making a statement from my June Apple Owns AI report incorrect. In my discussion about support for Apple Intelligence, I wrote:

For iPhones, a model 15 is the minimum requirement. Other than that, any Apple device running iOS 18, iPadOS 18, or macOS Sequoia will be supported.

As Figure 1 shows, that is now incorrect.

Figure 1. The model comparison at Apple’s site shows that iPhone 15 will not support Apple Intelligence.

What’s happened is that the iPhone 15 base models, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, are retained in the lineup. Those have the A16 Bionic. The 15 Pro models with the A17 chip are discontinued. So if you purchased an iPhone 15 Pro model, Apple Intelligence will be supported, but to get Apple Intelligence with currently available models, an iPhone 16 model is your only choice.

So, what about Apple Intelligence? Back in June, Apple was deliberately vague, saying “AI” would be gradually released over time, including into 2025. However, I think most observers assumed that once iOS 18 was out, so would AI. The reality is that iOS 18.0 will not have support, and the rumor is that iOS 18.1 will represent the actual launch. No specifics yet; Apple remains vague.

This year, the Apple 13 was dropped. That move is consistent with past Apple practice.

For the most part, everything about the new Watch is routine. The announcement focused 95 percent on styling, including new watch faces, materials, and bands. This is not to suggest these are not important — all watches have some element of fashion associated with them, and Apple certainly must keep up.

Source: Apple, Inc.

There are far too many variations to describe in this space. Visit the Apple Watch page for details galore. There is also the new Apple Watch Ultra 2, the premium model.

One change of note is a new display that provides a wider viewing angle. It is an update that many will appreciate because, after all, the Watch is on a moving wrist and intended to communicate at a glance.

The Apple Watch is a key ingredient in Apple’s health technology. The Series 10 watch is improved in that regard, but health is a separate product space for Apple, involving multiple hardware products. That’s why there is a section below about those initiatives.

The best-selling Apple Watch SE was not updated, but as of today, the site allows only pre-orders. It’s not clear that anything has changed. However, Quinn Nelson of the YouTube channel Snazzy Labs speculates that the only change was a new default band color.

I find myself increasingly attracted to the Apple watch. However, I consider it a peripheral for an iPhone. That’s not an accurate description; the watch can certainly operate alone. But the two devices together are a force multiplier, especially where health is concerned. Price keeps me at bay, as does my Android phone. To really get into the thick of it, I’d need an iPhone.

There is a bit of a shakeup in the AirPods line.

Figure 2. From the left: AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with Active Noise cancellation, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Max. Source: Apple, Inc.

The biggest news for the AirPods 4 is a change in the shape of the earbud along with a new chip, the H2. Apple claims that the new earbud shape will fit better for about 85% of users. If true, that would be a significant improvement. Ears seem to be as unique as fingerprints, making one-size-fits-all a challenge. AirPods 4 are priced at $129.

The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation come at a $50 premium, priced at $179.

AirPods Pro 2 offer a new set of capabilities — Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Hearing Protection. More on those in a second, but this is another area in which Apple is experiencing delays. On June 9, the day of the event, Apple stated that the hearing features were awaiting approval of the FDA for certification as over-the-counter hearing aids, approval that would come “later in 2024.” Typically vague, but last Thursday the FDA announced that it had granted approval. This is another leap forward in the health space.

The AirPods Pro 2 also include a new charging case that supports the Find My app. The price is $249.

The AirPods Max? I wonder if anyone cares. This set of headphones is the only item in the AirPods lineup that did not get a processor update and still uses the H1 chip. Fashion is in play with five new colors. Of note is the switch from Lightning to USB-C cables for charging, long overdue. Still extravagantly priced at $549.

Perhaps it’s just because I’m older, but I continue to be impressed with Apple’s strong push into health.

Source: Apple, Inc.

Two days after the Apple event, my doctor mentioned sleep apnea during my routine checkup. I don’t think it affects me, but it brought this new health feature of the Apple Watch, in conjunction with an iPhone and the Apple Health app, into the forefront of my thinking. The app runs on iOS or iPadOs version 10 or later, which means just about any recent iPhone will run it. Sleep apnea appears to be a growing problem, and the existence of a Watch feature that can detect and analyze sleep patterns is exciting and, frankly, reassuring.

The sleep apnea notifications will be available on the Watch Series 9, Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. FDA approval is expected soon; Apple’s press materials say “this month” but are otherwise vague.

As noted above, the hearing solutions have been approved by the FDA and thus, in theory, should be available upon purchase of the AirPods Pro 2.

If you are contemplating any of these new Apple products for yourself or as gifts this season, my advice is to wait until all the features promised become available. So far, it sounds as if only the AirPods Pro 2 fit that prescription. A watch is probably a safe bet. But until Apple Intelligence is announced, don’t buy iPhone 16s.

References

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Will Fastie is editor in chief of the AskWoody Plus Newsletter.

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