September was a busy month for Apple as several press releases went out with the approaching arrival of their new products.  The iPhone 8/8 Plus and the Apple Watch Series 3 have been available for purchase in U.S. stores since Friday, September 22^nd.  The iPhone X is expected to be available for pre-orders in the U.S. on Friday, October 27^th and ready for purchase in stores on Friday, November 3^rd.

Highlights of the iPhone 8/8 plus include well-received features such as the most

The new iPhones are water resistant. Photo courtesy of Apple Newsroom

durable glass and the smartest chip (the A11 Bionic) ever to be used in smartphones.  Innovations have also been made to the Retina HD displays so they can adjust to the light in the surroundings, offering the best color accuracy in the industry.  Notably, the phones are dust and water resistant, the updated speakers are up to 25% louder, and the redesigned 12-megapixel cameras provide high quality images and videos for the users.  The smartphones are also designed for wireless charging with the established Qi ecosystem, including wireless charging mats from Belkin and Mophie, both of which are available in Apple stores.  Built in with iOS 11, the iPhone 8/8 Plus is available in space gray, silver, and gold.

The Apple Watch Series 3 comes in two models, the GPS with cellular and one with only GPS, both including a 70% faster dual-core processer and a new wireless chip, which allow for quicker app launch times, faster WiFi, and more power efficient watches.  The model with cellular allows users to stay connected without their iPhones nearby, and it even permits them to use the same phone numbers as their iPhone.  It will also enable users to stream music or listen to Beats 1 live or any Apple Music radio station while away from their phones. WatchOS 4, the new operating system that comes built in on the Apple Watch Series 3, features an enhanced Heart Rate app, Workout app, and GymKit among other updates.  The watches are available in space gray aluminum, silver, and gold in 38mm or 42mm cases.

The front view of the new iPhone. Photo courtesy of Apple Newsroom

Customers are most anxious about the iPhone X, which is being released to mark the tenth anniversary since the introduction of iPhones.  Regarding its external design, the iPhone utilizes the most durable glass ever used in a smartphone with a surgical-grade stainless steel band, and like the iPhone 8/8 Plus, it is dust and water resistant.  The implementation of Super Retina display provides the best system-wide color management, and True Tone adjusts the display to match surrounding light.  Interestingly, the iPhone X will use Face ID to gain access to several features, which is possible due to the capture of a 30,000 IR dot-image. This will create a mathematical model of your face that can adapt to physical changes, and it will only work when looking at the camera.  The TrueDepth camera can bring emojis to life with Animoji by capturing and analyzing facial muscle movements for animation.  Coming in silver and space gray, the iPhone X is also designed for wireless charging, and prices start at $999.

By: Rebecca Nadler ’19, Staff Writer