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WAITING FOR a new Apple product drop is a little like Christmas Day—you know you’re going to be walking away with something new and shiny. In this instance, perhaps a new iPhone or a new Apple Watch, or even new earphones.
Because, life is too short not to have the latest and greatest Apple products, and if there’s anything we can take away from the global event held in Cupertino, California this month, this may very well be Apple’s best product drop yet.
There’s new iPhone 15—four of them, to be exact—new Apple Watch iterations with an assortment of new accessories, and there’s even an update to the iconic AirPods Pro. However, possibly the biggest news came when Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that the company will be saying goodbye to its proprietary Lightning Charging port after more than a decade of use, confirming what pundits had long predicted.
Below, you will find Apple’s latest product drops ready to be added to your cart.
iPhone 15 & iPhone 15 Plus
From the outset, you’ll notice the new iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are revealed in a host of new colours—pink, yellow, green, blue, and black—including an industry-first colour-infused back glass with a textured matte finish. Both models also feature the innovative Dynamic Island, revealed in 2022, as well as an advanced camera system that boasts a powerful 48MP Main camera and a new 2x Telephoto option. Powered by the powerful A16 Bionic chip, the two new iPhones represent a huge leap forward.
Key features:
- Dynamic Island feature
- New USB-C charging port
- Brighter OLED screen
- Feature iOS 17
- A16 Bionic chip
- Ultrawideband chip
- New colours
- Ceramic shield screen and water and dust resistance
- New dual cameras with a 48 megapixel camera
- 2x telephoto option
- New Portrait Mode features
- Ultrawide camera
Starting at $1,499 (iPhone 15) and $1,649 (iPhone 15 Plus)
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
“The ultimate iPhone.” The new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max is made for those looking beyond the means of a typical iPhone; here lies the most advanced, the most pro iPhone lineup yet. For the very first time, the new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a new grade 6 titanium design with contoured edges, making it noticeably lighter in hand—almost 9% lighter than the 14 Pro, and 7.5% lighter than the 14 Pro Max—ultra-tough, and super sleek all round. There’s also a new Action Button which will prove a handy addition to many iPhone users. The customisable button allows users to do just that; customise their iPhone experience.
There’s, of course, powerful new camera upgrades which are really noticeable from the get go: for starters, you’re now getting a 48 megapixel camera that adapts to low‑light photos with phenomenal detail, as well as letting you shoot closer with an additional 2x Telephoto. For iPhone 15 Pro Max, there’s an impressive 5x Telephoto camera with the longest optical zoom of any iPhone ever. This essentially enables the equivalent of seven pro lenses with incredible image quality. For both the Pro and Pro Max, you can also now choose your default main camera lens which is super handy—between 24 mm, 28 mm, or 35 mm.
The all-new A17 Pro silicon chip is at play here, enabling all of these impressive upgrades, including next-level performance designed for mobile gaming—it’s the first 3nm processor to hit a mainstream consumer device, and for the first time ever, T Triple A games will be available to iPhone Pro Max users (essentially, your phone is a gaming console now).
Like the standard iPhone 15 line, the Pro models will also make the shift to the USB-C port.
What we think: the new iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max offer nice upgrades from previous iterations. If you’re wondering whether you should upgrade from your iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max, we think there’s probably not that strong of an incentive to do so right now, unless you need the new camera and video upgrades as a creative, or simply enjoy gaming on your iPhone. The titanium fitout is a stylish new design feature, and while noticeably lighter, it really doesn’t make a whole lot difference from the look and overall feel of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.
Key features:
- New Grade 5 titanium design
- Ceramic Shield display
- 4 new colours: black titanium, white titanium, blue titanium, and natural titanium
- USB-C charging port
- USB-3 fast transfer speed
- New Action button
- New A17 Pro chip
- Updated 48 mp rear camera
- New telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom
- Updated 12 megapixel Ultrawide camera
- Spatial video capture for Apple Vision Pro
Starting from $1,849 (iPhone 15 Pro) and $2,199 (iPhone 15 Pro Max)
Apple Watch Series 9
Wearable tech just got a whole lot more advanced. The new Apple Watch Series 9 retains all the features you know and love from the exisiting Apple Watch collection, but is now far superior. For starters, Series 9 features a new chip which enhances performance and capabilities, a new double-tap gesture which will change the way you interact with your Apple Watch, a better Siri functionality, and a brighter display. The Apple Watch Series 9 is also Apple’s first third-party certified carbon neutral product.
The new Apple Watch Series 9 also brings with it a new dedicated strap collection in collaboration with Hermès, a longstanding partnership since 2015. The new Series 9 collection offers a blend of iconic references with technical innovations; bands in webbing, knit, and rubber demonstrate meticulous creative work from the Maison.
Key features:
- New S9 chip
- New Siri functions
- Siri+Health for on-command health information
- Always-on Retina Display that is brighter
- New double-tap gesture
- WatchOS 10
- 5 colours in aluminium: starlight, midnight, silver, (PRODUCT) RED, and pink
- 3 stainless steel colours: gold, silver, and graphite
- 41mm and 45mm options
From $649
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Last year, Apple surprised the watch world by unveiling a product many had been waiting for: the Apple Watch Ultra. This rugged, tool-purpose timepiece was much more than a smartwatch feat—it was designed for customers to stay connected, active, healthy, and safe, particularly when participating in endurance athletics, outdoor adventures, and water sports. Now, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is here, jam packed with even more features that make this the best smartwatch on the market.
At first glance, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 looks pretty similar to its predecessor. It’s still made from the seemingly unbreakable aerospace-grade titanium, which is not only aesthetically pleasing but also strikes the perfect balance between weight, durability, and corrosion resistance. The Ultra 2 also remains at the same dimensions, coming in at a whopping 49mm in size. But don’t be intimidated, its sizing is pivotal considering the features it comes with—and the watch this is designed to be.
So what’s new? Well, you get most of the same—yet impressive—features as the newly released Series 9, including a new S9 chip—the most powerful chip on the market—and the new double-tap gesture, which will prove a game changer for casual Apple Watch users. But now, you get the biggest and brightest display, up to 3000 nits, which is 50 per cent brighter than the previous-generation Apple Watch Ultra. There’s also improved exercise metrics for recording activities like cycling, diving and running, including improved GPS systems.
There’s advanced capabilities for the Compass app, which will assist those on hikes. The Depth app and Oceanic+ app also provide greater metrics for recreational divers—really, this is the tool watch for adventure purists and those seeking accurate data during whatever activity they pursue.
We were big fans of the Apple Watch Ultra, and now with the Apple Watch Ultra 2, you get the same watch that you might know or love from the previous iteration, only made better thanks to Apple’s continual innovation in the space of smartwatches.
Key Features:
- New S9 chip
- Double-tap gesture
- Brighter display
- Expanded altitude range
- New Modular Ultra display for more information on screen
- Ambient light sensor for Night Mode
- WatchOS 10
- 36-hour power estimate on a standard charge
- 72-hour power estimate on low-power mode
- Carbon neutral with an Alpine Loop or Trail Loop
From at $1,399
AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
One of Apple’s most popular products remains to be AirPods in 2023, but especially its AirPods Pro line. These in-ear, noise cancelling earphones were launched in 2019 to much hype, and remain the market go-to for in-ear, wireless earphones. Now, Apple has updated its marquee earphone with some really great new features like up to double the Active Noise Cancellation of the Apple AirPods 1st Generation, an advanced Transparency mode and a better, more immersive Spatial Audio experience.
Conversation Awareness is a neat new feature but I suspect it needs a little fine-tuning with updates to come. Essentially, when a user begins speaking to someone nearby— whether it’s a quick conversation with a housemates or a work colleague in the office— Conversation Awareness helps to lower the content volume, enhance the voices in front of the user, and reduce background noise. In theory, it’s a handy update that will stop users from having to hit pause and play constantly throughout their day. Although, I have found that on a couple of occasions, the new feature will kick in at times I don’t need it to, like if I start humming to a song or start talking to myself (as one does).
There’s new new skin detection sensors which help identify when you take the buds out of your ears to play or pause music which is a super responsive experience, and overall, the better sound and better battery—six hours of battery in the buds and 24 in the case— are big wins here with the AirPods Pro. Being able to adjust the volume via the earbud itself (just swipe up or down on the ear bud sensor to adjust the volume) is also game changing for lovers of the AirPods.
The fit of the new AirPods Pro remain largely the same, comfortable and practical, but you may need to play around with the different ear tip sizes to get the right fit. The sound you receive is phenomenal and the improved noise cancelling is definitely impressive; it sets the industry benchmark for person audio, no doubt. As with all Apple products, integration between one product to another is seamless and efficient.
New Features:
- Adaptive Audio
- Conversation Awareness
- Personalised Volume
- MagSafe Charging with USB-C
- Added convenience and durability
- Lossless Audio with Apple Vision Pro
$399
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