Apple Unveils New iPhone 16, Watch, and More: Highlights from the ‘Glowtime’ Event

Apple is glowing up.

On Monday, September 8, the Cupertino-based tech giant hosted its “It’s Glowtime” event, unveiling a range of new technology, including the latest versions of the iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch.

For their latest cellular devices, Apple introduced the AI-boosted iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, along with the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

“The next generation of iPhone has been designed for Apple Intelligence from the ground up. It marks the beginning of an exciting new era,” Chief Executive Tim Cook stated at the product launch.

The new iPhones are fully compatible with all the generative AI-powered features that will be added to iOS 18 over the next several months. The premium models, available in black, silver, gray, and rose gold, boast enhanced screens and cameras compared to the regular versions.

The iPhone 16 Pro features a 6.3-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max offers a larger 6.9-inch display, an increase from the 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screens of previous models. Apple claims these new models have the “thinnest borders on any Apple product” and described them as “by far our best iPhone displays ever.” The use of titanium, which is nearly half the weight of stainless steel, makes the phones “more scratch resistant than other forms of titanium others have used.”

The company also highlighted that the Pro Max will feature “the best iPhone battery life ever,” although no additional details were provided.

The Pro models come equipped with an A18 Pro chip featuring second-generation 3-nanometer transistors and a new 16-core neural engine designed specifically for generative AI workloads. This upgrade results in a 17% increase in total system memory bandwidth and is described as “even faster and more efficient than A18,” according to Apple.

Both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro will be available for pre-order starting Friday, with in-store availability beginning on September 20.

Apple also highlighted updates to their AirPods line, introducing the AirPods 4—redesigned with advanced modeling tools to improve the fit in users’ ears and calling them their “most comfortable” set yet.

The company also has developed a hearing test, included in iOS 18, based on a study indicating that 75% of people diagnosed with hearing loss have not received the necessary assistance. Following the test, the AirPods Pro will function as a hearing aid, pending FDA clearance.

The Apple Watch Series 10 was also announced Monday.

While similar to previous models, the Series 10 features a thinner design and larger screen sizes of 42mm and 46mm, up from 41mm and 45mm in the Series 9.

It will also offer a potential sleep apnea detection feature, pending FDA approval. Cook highlighted the impact of previous Apple Watch models on users’ health, emphasizing the watch’s health-focused features during the product’s introduction.

Additionally, the Apple Watch Ultra will be available in a new black finish with a matching band, as well as a new Hermès band and watch face. However, the Ultra will not receive any new hardware upgrades.