It’s been 3 years since the Steve Jobs Theatre in Cupertino held a physical keynote, as benevolently expressed by Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook during his introduction at this morning’s Apple Keynote. A standing ovation, thunderous claps and pre-event jiving to Harry Styles’s ‘Late Night Talking’ were every bit the indication that the pool of journalists and key influencers seated inside the theatre—myself included—were enthralled to witness this year’s Keynote in person.
At this point, endless rumours and speculations of this year’s Fall line-up were already rampant—pegging this Keynote to be the tech giant’s biggest one yet. And fortunately, Apple did not fall short of the fanfare.
As expected, the new iPhone 14 came through—unleashing more powerful models, that incorporated Pro versions of the 13 into the baseline 14, while 14 Pro took on the higher calling of going bigger in terms of user experiences and camera prowess. What was evident was the brand’s commitment and investment in the health and safety space, with the iPhone 14 line-up booted with a Crash Detection feature in the case of a moving vehicle. Women’s health proved to be a priority, with Apple Watch Series 8’s key highlight of a temperature sensor to determine ovulation period estimates, amping up the Watch’s existing feature of Cycle Tracking. To take things up a notch for folks into extreme sports—going beyond a simple HIIT workout—comes an inaugural Apple Watch Ultra, designed to push boundaries while representing a new expression of the distinguished watch.
Below, Vogue Singapore breaks down the key highlights and important features from this year’s Apple Keynote.
1 / 5
Apple Series 8
The lowdown: Très chic Hermès watch straps aside, the Apple Watch has always been a reliable aide for our personal health and fitness goals. From AFib to cycle tracking, the device has been quite the lifesaver of many, especially since previous editions’ Fall Detection feature came about. Now, Apple has taken one step further to its Emergency Services—by including Crash Detection. A stellar feature specially designed for car accidents, using two new motion sensors and an advanced sensor-fusion algorithm. The new Series 8 now comes with Low Power Mode, just like your iPhone, to maximise your watch’s everyday battery life.
Top feature: With a clear vested interest in women’s health, the new Series 8 introduces an innovative capability: one that senses your wrist temperature thanks to the watch’s two-sensor design. This added insight helps the watch estimate your ovulation period, while also improving the cycle tracking for users’ menstrual cycles. With smart tracking at helm, you would be able to receive notifications if your cycle has deviated, which could also be a case of underlying health conditions.
Pre-order the Apple Watch Series 8 here.
2 / 5
Apple Watch Ultra
The lowdown: It’s an inaugural product for Apple, that’s designed for endurance athletes or those who aspire to push beyond their limits. Case in point: for users who partake in triathlons for fun or love to freedive during their vacations. With that in mind, many parts within the watch were new integrations for the gadget—like the precision dual-frequency GPS, delivering the most accurate GPS of any Apple Watch to date. Made entirely out of aerospace-grade titanium, the watch now commands new touchpoints: from the Action button that’s fully customisable to either kickstart a workout or drop a waypoint on your compass to an extra speaker to amplify your audio in the event of harsh climates. Speaking of which, the device is also built to withstand extreme temperatures whether it be in sub-zero or scorching desert heat.
Top feature: In the event of a tricky route while trekking, the Apple Watch Ultra’s Compass Waypoints will come to the rescue. By dropping a waypoint, you can detect both the direction and approximate distance just from the face alone. The watch’s bested GPS feature also shines through when you’re lost in the woods, with the Backtrack feature, to help you retrace your steps. All of which can be accessed even when you’re off the grid.
Pre-order the Apple Watch Ultra here.
3 / 5
Airpods Pro 2
The lowdown: Think noise cancellation, but better. The Airpods Pro 2’s new H2 chip grants an exceptional acoustic experience and even cancels up to twice as much noise over its predecessor. The device also now boasts Personalised Spatial Audio, based off the size and shape of your head and sizes of your ears—which are altered using the TrueDepth Camera on your iPhone.
Top feature: The Touch Control comes up top with a fuss-free experience—especially while on the go. Easily slip in and out of environmental chatter and adjust the volume without the need to touch your iPhone. Oh, and we do love a good Memoji moment engraved on the case as well.
The Apple Airpods Pro 2 will be available to purchase from 19 September.
4 / 5
iPhone 14 and 14 Plus
The lowdown: Not only do the new iPhone 14 and 14 Plus beat out your 13 Pro models, they have also made the smartphone in a bigger size—6.7 inches to be exact for the 14 Plus. Both models boast powerful camera upgrades, with a new 12 MP Main and Front TrueDepth camera as well as an enhancer called the Photonic Engine that impacts the hardware and software. This is instrumental to photos shot in low-light conditions, where more detail, vivid colour and textures can come to play. The iPhone 14 line-up is also equipped with Crash Detection, along with the update in Apple Watch Series 8.
Top feature: We love a good fashion sashaying moment and the iPhone 14 models’ Action mode in the camera will enable smoother movement down to the billowing fabrics, even if you’re walking and filming at the same time. This will translate mid-action, despite shaky hands and vibrations.
Pre-order the iPhone 14 from 9 September here.
5 / 5
iPhone 14 Pro
The lowdown: As expected, the iPhone 14 Pro is the most powerful iPhone yet. After all, it holds the A16 Bionic chip—the fastest chip ever in a smartphone. A 48 MP Main camera sets a new precedent for smartphone photography, alongside the aforementioned Photonic Engine as well as a quad-pixel sensor, which adapts to the photo in low-light snaps as well as optical quality during Portrait Mode. This trickles down to the editing function in ProRAW, with the sensor enhancing even more detail and control.
Top feature: Most might dub the Deep Purple hue as a covetable feature but our eyes are on the other prize in the 14 Pro. In dramatic fashion, the iPhone 14 Pro Max has pulled out a new Apple jargon for the books: Dynamic Island. Essentially a transformative bar at the top of your screen, that reconfigures the user experience for the better. This design adapts in real time in line with your notifications, alerts and background apps. You can easily control it by tapping onto the bar without seeking out your apps running—just in a simple tap-and-hold motion. The movement is swift and adept, seamlessly integrating into your everyday experience.
Pre-order the iPhone 14 Pro from 9 September here.
