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Apple has unveiled a new generation of iPhones, including the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus and a special edition iPhone X to mark 10 years since the Apple smartphone was first introduced. The iPhone 8 will be in shops from 22 September in selected countries and the iPhone X from 3 November.
The iPhone 8's main new feature is wireless charging, based on the Qi standard. Similar in appearance to the iPhone 7, the new smartphone comes with a new durable glass back in a choice of black, silver or gold, the faster A11 processor and Apple's first own GPU, after it ended its relationship with Imagination Technologies. The new chips are expected to support a growing range of AR and 3D games and apps for iOS, based on the Arkit development platform launched by Apple earlier this year.
The new iPhone has an HD display of 4.7 inches on the standard model and 5.5 inches for the Plus. In addition, the True Tone feature to adapt the screen to local lighting, first introduced on the iPad, comes to the new iPhones.
The 12-megapixel camera also gets an update, with the same as the previous generation of iPhones, the 'Plus' version coming with dual back cameras. Apple designed the image signal sensor itself, with an eye on supporting AR apps and games.
The iPhone 8 will start at 64GB for USD 699, and the 8 Plus will cost from USD 799. The phones will roll out gradually around the world, reaching a second wave of countries from 29 September.
Both devices run the new iOS 11, which will be released for all iPhone users from 19 September. First previewed in June, iOS 11 notably comes with new payment features, such as P2P payments over the Messages app. With the new feature 'Apple Pay Cash', users can accumulate cash from personal payments to use for paying for other services with Apple Pay.
As rumoured, the new iPhone X, pronounced iPhone 10, will top the price list, starting at USD 999 for 64 GB and also a 256 GB model available. Apple saved its newest features for this model, which will go on pre-order 27 October in 55 countries and launch in shops from 3 November.
Featuring an edge-to-edge 5.8-inch OLED 'Super Retina' display, the new phone eliminates the home button on the front of the iPhone. Users need to tap the screen to activate it and swipe up to return to the home screen. The side button is dedicated to Siri, while the TouchID to unlock the phone is replaced with the new feature Face ID. The facial recognition is made possible by machine learning and neural networking in the new A11 'Bionic' processor and a dot projector and 7-megapixel infrared front camera to map the user's face. In addition to unlocking the phone, Face ID can be used to authenticate transactions, such as purchases with Apply Pay.
The iPhone X also comes with wireless charging and a few upgrades on the iPhone 8 Plus, such as an enhanced telephoto lens on the dual back cameras and dual OIS and quad LED flash for the front camera. The 'TrueDepth' front camera can also create animated emoji based on the user's expression, along with the iMessage app pre-installed on the iPhone X.
In addition to the new iPhones, Apple presented the latest version of Apple TV. The device comes with a faster processor and for the first time support for 4K and HDR. A range of 4K films will be added to iTunes, including automatic upgrades to 4K for existing purchased titles. Other video services such as Amazon and Netflix can also stream in 4K on Apple TV.
The new Apple TV costs USD 179 for 32 GB and USD 199 for USD 64 GB and will launch from 22 September. Apple also presented an update of the Apple TV app, which works on the media player as well iPhones and iPads. The update adds more sports integration, to help users track live events and favourite teams. The app is also expanding outside the US for the first time, launching first in Australia and Canada this month and in the UK, France, Germany, Norway and Sweden by year-end.
The Apple Watch also received an update, in function more than in design. As expected, Apple Watch Series 3 will come with LTE/UMTS connectivity, so it can go online without having to connect first to an iPhone. The embedded Sim shares the same number as the user's iPhone. The watch will also have wireless charging, with Apple promising a new 'Air Power' charging pad next year to charge all its devices, including the AirPod wireless headphones introduced last year.
Available from 22 September, the new smartwatch starts at USD 399 with cellular access. A Wi-Fi version, including a more efficient chip to reduce power usage and boost Wi-Fi speed, will be available for USD 329. The update also comes with a new OS and Radio app, and later in the autumn, the new Apple Watch will get support for streaming Apple Music direct from the device. At the same time, the first-generation Apple Watch is reduced in price to USD 249.
