Apple, as expected, revealed the iPhone 13 and the Apple Watch Series 7 during their event today. However, we didn’t get the AirPods 3. Also, the Apple Watch Series 7 looks a bit different than some leakers thought. That’s right, no major redesign this year. However, Apple finally revealed their completely redesigned iPad mini. The new mini tablet has a larger screen and a feature set that makes it a small iPad Air.
Apple revealed some updated workouts for Fitness+, along with group workouts, but, largely, this was a hardware event. We got the iPhone 13 series, Apple Watch Series 7, iPad, and iPad mini. And that’s it. Was it enough?
With the bad press surrounding Apple, perhaps not.
In This Article:
The iPhone 13
The iPhone 13 will come in the same four sizes as the iPhone 12. There’s the mini, 13, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max. It starts at $699 for the 128GB iPhone 13 mini, and goes up to $1099 for the 128GB iPhone 13 Pro Max. Storage specs for the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 go up to 512GB, and 1TB for the pro models. You may need that space if you’re hoping to avoid Apple’s scanning of your photos.
Some design spec changes include a narrower (albeit slightly taller) Face ID notch. This comes from moving the speaker up towards the edge of the iPhone, instead of placing it in the middle of FaceID. Finally, that smaller notch we’ve been hearing about since the notch was introduced! Apple also upgraded the cameras. The new diagonal camera array on the back features larger sensors and sensor-shift optical image stabilization, along with larger camera sensors. This will bring the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s camera technology to the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13, although, without the LIDAR or more useful telephoto camera.
The iPhone 13 mini and 13 will come in black, blue, green, a soft white color Apple calls “Starlight,” and red, which will be a deeper shade of red than the iPhone 12. The iPhone 13, all models, will be a little thicker and heavier. This is largely due to the larger batteries in each model. The iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 Pro will get an additional 1.5 hours of battery life over their predecessors. Meanwhile, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Max will gain 2.5 hours. This is also thanks to the new processors in the new iPhones.
Apple’s new A15 Bionic powers the iPhone 13 lineup. It has six cores, two for high power and four for lower power consumption, as well as a four-core GPU. The iPhone 13 Pro models have a five-core GPU, but otherwise the same processor.
Apple’s also introducing an intelligent “Cinematic Mode” for video. This does the rack focus effect you’ve likely seen in films and TV, where focus follows a person’s attention, snapping back and forth between the foreground and background. It can identify and lock on to subjects, easily switch subjects, and even follow their gaze using machine learning powered by the A15 bionic. Using the ultrawide, it can even track subjects that are out of frame, anticipating their entry and focusing as they come into frame. This even allows you to adjust focus afterwards, as Apple’s iPhones don’t have large enough sensors and lenses to actually have true depth of field. The blur is produced with the same technology as portraits are blurred for photos. All of this with Dolby Vision HDR and, soon after release, ProRes on the Pro models.
Displays are brighter all around, but the real improvement is on the Pro models, which get up to 120Hrz refresh rates for smooth motion.
The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max will come in four colors, with a new “Sierra Blue” shade, as well as graphite, gold, and silver.
Apple’s iPhone 13 models range in price from $699 for the iPhone 13 mini with 128GB all the way up to $1,599 for the 1TB iPhone 13 Pro Max. Preorders start this Friday at 8am eastern time, 5am pacific. Deliveries will start a week later.
The iPad
Apple took the existing iPad and added the A13 bionic chip from the iPhone 11. They also added the iPad Pro’s 12MP 122º ultra wide camera in the front, so you can use Center Stage in your calls. If you don’t remember, this is the feature that tracks you as you move through the frame, focusing on your face. It allows you to do video chats, even while moving around.
It uses the same body style, so the first generation Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard still work on the device, as well as third party keyboards and trackpads. Orders are open now, starting at $329 for the 64GB model.
iPad mini
The iPad mini is all new. The shape is more akin to the iPhone and iPad Air, with flat sides. Buttons were moved to the top of the device, for volume and a Touch ID power button. On the side, you can charge a second generation Apple Pencil wirelessly. The size is still the same, however the larger screen is now 8.3 inches, up from 7.9 on the previous model. Apple also added USB-C and 5G, for faster and more versatile connectivity. The 12MP camera from the iPad Air 4 is also here, along with a TrueTone flash module, something the iPad Air actually lacks currently. That camera can record 4K at 30fps, and the front camera is the new ultra wide lens for Center Stage face tracking for video calls. It’s running using the brand new A15 bionic chip for excellent performance.
The iPad mini starts at $499 for the 64GB model. The 256 model starts at $649. It comes in four colors, space gray, starlight, pink, and purple. Add $150 for 5G cellular connectivity. Apple also offers their Smart Folio for the iPad mini for $59 in five colors that match the four available on the iPad mini.
Apple Watch Series 7
The Apple Watch Series 7 looks like… the Apple Watch Series 6. However, now there’s a 1mm larger screen. The bezels are smaller, with the outside hardly getting any larger. The new display also has a refractive lens, which gives the illusion of the screen wrapping around the display on the side. It’s a stronger glass, which hopefully will be even more resistant to scratches and breaks. It’s also a bit tougher, with IP6X water resistance for dust, WR50, making it “swim-proof.”
The larger screen will allow more text on the display, and Apple has some new watch faces that take advantage of this larger display. One is simply a large analog face with the numerals squished on the side. It looks cool, but you likely won’t use it. The other allows for not one but two large complications on the modular display, in case you want fewer complications, but more detail from those complications.
Apple also added a keyboard… the FlickType keyboard. If you didn’t know, Apple refused to allow the developer of the FlickType Apple Watch keyboard to update their app. Well, as it turns out, that was because they were copying it for their own, and releasing it exclusively as a feature for their larger Apple Watch. Aren’t monopolies grand?
The aluminum model comes in green, blue, red, “starlight” white, and “midnight” black. There are also the standard stainless steel and titanium color options, for those wishing to waste more money.
Seriously, those markups for a slightly refined case? It’s a waste of money.
This year the Hermès will release new bands, as well as a new watch face. This is actually a unique two toned analog face that shows the hour as a stylized number. They’ll also have fabric watch bands, all for the same exorbinent prices you’ve come to expect from Hermès.
The Apple Watch Series 7 will start at $399, available this fall.
It’s… still kind of boring.
That’s It!
And that’s all, folks! Apple’s event this year was, besides the iPad mini, largely about small improvements. Incredibly small, like 1mm in the case of the Apple Watch Series 7. The new camera features on the iPhone 13 will certainly be welcome, as will the larger batteries. Outside of that, it’s a relatively low key year for Apple.
Next month, we should see more products from Apple, including a new Apple Silicon MacBook Pro.