Apple launched the iPhone 17 series today at its “awe-dropping” event, with the base model getting an upgraded display.
The iPhone 17 has a slightly bigger screen at 6.3 inches as compared to the 6.1-inch screen of the iPhone 16. The display itself is getting an upgrade with the ProMotion display, which is being used in the base model for the first time.
It supports a 120Hz refresh rate and dynamically switches to different refresh rates using the LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) tech. This display also has a peak brightness of 3,000 nits for better outside legibility.
The phone is powered by a 3nm A19 processor with a new display engine to power the display update.
The iPhone 17 gets a new 48-megapixel ultrawide camera. The phone’s camera system also powers 2x optical telephoto and better macro photos.
The company updated the front camera with a new square sensor. Apple said this allows you to take selfies in different formats without switching orientation.
The new iPhone 17 front camera also supports Center Stage for calls.
The iPhone pre-orders start from Friday and the phones will be available starting September 19.
Apple debuted the third-generation AirPods Pro at the “Awe-dropping” event on Tuesday, featuring heart-rate tracking, improved audio, and a smaller, more interactive charging case.
It’s been three years since Apple refreshed the AirPods Pro line, releasing the Pro 2 model in 2022. The new AirPods Pro are available for pre-order today for $249. The headphones will arrive in stores on September 19.
One of the standout features of the AirPods Pro 3 is its heart-rate sensing capability, a first for the AirPods line. This addition will operate similarly to the Powerbeats Pro 2, using LED sensors to provide precise measurements. The collected data will sync with Apple’s Fitness app.
The active noise cancellation, which reduces external noise, has been significantly improved. Apple says it removes twice the noise compared to Pro 2.
A noteworthy upcoming feature is a live translation capability, thanks to Apple’s iOS 26 software update. This lets you have conversations in different languages, using your iPhone to translate while the phone plays one language and the AirPods handle the other.
Other notable updates include smaller, more comfortable earbuds. Apple now offers foam ear tips in five different sizes, and the company claims it’s “the best-fitting AirPods.”
Although the current model represents a solid improvement, considerable speculation has circulated before the event about the potential release of a second version of the AirPods Pro 3.
The second version of the Pro 3 model is predicted to launch in 2026.
Move over, iPhone Plus, here comes your super-slim replacement: the iPhone Air.
During Apple’s iPhone event on Tuesday, the company unveiled the iPhone Air, its thinnest and lightest model to date. This replaces the Plus model in the company’s 2025 lineup, following the underperformance of the iPhone 16 Plus last year, based on data from research firm DSCC.
The star of today’s event draws inspiration from Apple’s MacBook Air strategy, which debuted in 2008 as the thinnest laptop available, positioned between the more affordable MacBook and the higher-quality MacBook Pro.
Now, Apple is applying the “Air” concept to the iPhone, emphasizing thinness and lightness as the main selling points.
The device weighs around 145 grams, thanks to its titanium frame, and measures just over 5.5 millimeters thick. This makes it about 0.08 inches (or slightly over 2 mm) thinner than current iPhones and thinner than Samsung’s 5.8mm Galaxy S25 Edge. For a better idea of how thin it is, think about four stacked dimes, which total about 5.4 mm.
The phone features a large 6.6-inch display, sporting the same 120Hz ProMotion setup found on the Pro models. It runs on the A19 Pro chip, also just like the new Pro and Pro Max models, providing a performance boost over the base iPhone 17 model.
Another interesting detail is that it’s an e-SIM-only device. This helps keep the phone looking sleek since there’s no need for a physical SIM card slot. It also offers more security than regular SIM cards, as they can’t be easily removed from a lost or stolen phone.
Apple appeared to acknowledge the battery concerns by unveiling a new line of accessories exclusive to the Air, including a slim MagSafe battery that is compact enough to fit in your pocket. When using this additional battery, users can enjoy up to 40 hours of video playback.
Additionally, two custom cases are available for the iPhone Air: one is a translucent case that is just 1 mm thick and comes in frost and shadow colors, while the other is a lightweight bumper available in four matching colors. Notably, the iPhone Air can also be paired with a new cross-body strap.
As for the color options, the iPhone Air is available in “Space Black,” “Cloud White,” light gold, and light blue.
Apple joins the ‘thinness wars,’ but will it appeal to the general public?
Rumors of a new, ultra-thin iPhone, potentially named “Air,” first surfaced in 2024 from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who recently argued that the thinner design will set the standard for all future iPhone models, similar to how the MacBook Air influenced Apple’s laptop lineup.
When the MacBook Air first came out, it was praised for being ultraportable at a time when most laptops were heavy and bulky. However, it also received a lot of criticism for being too expensive and having some shortcomings, such as poor connectivity and a slow, small hard drive.
Still, the original model set the stage for the 2010 version, which was revamped with improved processors and a more affordable starting price of $999. Since then, the MacBook Air has been Apple’s top seller for more than a decade.
With that being said, anyone thinking about buying the iPhone Air should consider whether holding off for later versions with upgrades and better features is a smarter move. Or, for those diehard Apple fans, maybe it’s worth owning the original model for bragging rights.
Additionally, the slimmer phone could pave the way for a future iPhone that folds, a concept that has been rumoured and is predicted to launch around the same time next year. A foldable device would help Apple compete with Samsung and Google, while also helping it regain market share in China, where it has been struggling recently.
Apple just announced the Apple Watch Series 11, which looks similar to its predecessors but is the slimmest Apple Watch to date and includes new features like 5G cellular connectivity and stronger glass.
The Series 11 is the first Apple with 5G connectivity and features a modem and antenna that will provide improved coverage while being less of a drain on battery life. Like the AirPods Pro 3, the Watch will have live translation capabilities.
It will also be the first Apple Watch with the ability to monitor for a serious medical condition called hypertension, or high blood pressure. The feature uses the Series 11’s optical heart rate sensor, but instead of providing an assessment on demand it works in the background using data collected over 30 days and a new algorithm to look for signs that potentially indicate your blood pressure is too high.
A new Sleep Score feature uses metrics like how long you’ve been asleep and your sleep stages to help you better understand the quality of your rest over night.
Apple says the Series 11 will get “up to 24 hours” of battery life and will come in both recycled aluminum and polished titanium finishes. It also comes with Ion-X glass, which Apple says has a ceramic coating bonded at the atomic level, making it twice as scratch-resistant as the previous glass, though it’s not clear how it compares to sapphire watch crystals.
Pricing starts at $399 for the smaller 42 millimeter GPS-only version of the Apple Watch Series 11 (the same price as the entry-level Apple Watch Series 10), and it will be available for preorder starting today and ship starting on September 19th.
The Apple Watch Series 11 will launch alongside watchOS 26, the latest version of Apple’s smartwatch operating system that includes new features like a wrist flick gesture that can be used to dismiss calls, notifications, and alarms, as well as take you back to your watch face. It will feature an improved Smart Stack, a Workout Buddy feature that leverages Apple Intelligence to provide personalized insights and even pep talks, and Apple’s new Liquid Glass design language that’s also coming to other Apple devices.