The new iPad and Apple Watch are among the product highlights recently announced by Apple. Instead of the highly rumored iPhone 12, which will likely be announced on its own at a later date, the brand has showcased this new tablet and wearable, in addition to new software and services.
Here’s a rundown of the latest from Apple.
The Apple Watch Series 6 is now official with a number of color options, including Blue, Gold, Graphite, and Product Red. It also has a blood oxygen (SpO2) sensor as its highlight health feature. The monitor uses red and infrared light to determine blood oxygen levels in just 15 seconds. Another new health feature is the always-on built-in altimeter, which tracks elevation data in real-time, using GPS and Wi-Fi.
The Series 6 also introduces the S6 dual-core processor, which the brand rates as 20 percent faster than the chip from the prior-gen Apple Watch. Other power features include its always-on display, which is 2.5 times brighter than the Apple Watch Series 5, and 18-hour battery life, which is further supported by its fast charge, which can go from zero to full in approximately 1.5 hours.
For more design features, Apple has added several new watch face options for the Apple Watch Series 6, including Countdown, Stripes, Chronograph Pro, Typograph, GMT, Mimoji. and Artist. Apple has also introduced solo loop and braided solo loop bands for a continuous strap option.
Running watchOS 7 was its software, the Apple Watch Series 6 has features, such as family set up, which allows users who may not have an iPhone of their own to be able to have their one phone number and account to access Apple Watch connectivity, safety, and fitness features.
The Apple Watch Series 6 GPS only version will sell for $399 starting September 18. The GPS and cellular version will sell for $499.
The Apple Watch SE will launch alongside the Series 6, as a budget option, starting at $279. This model is outfitted with an S5 chip but doesn’t include the newer monitoring features, such as the blood oxygen sensor and ECG. However, the SE does include other health metrics, such as heart rate, VO2 Max tracking, sleep, fall detection. It does also come in Bluetooth and cellular options.
The iPad 8th generation and the iPad Air 4th generation are the two new tablets in Apple’s lineup.
The new iPad Air is powered by the A14 Bionic chip, touting a 40 percent faster CPU and 30 percent faster graphics, as well as the introduction of a USB-C port with a 20W charger, and iOS 14. It also features a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display, 64GB, and 256GB internal storage options, TouchID in the power button, a 12-megapixel rear camera, and a 7-megapixel front camera, stereo audio, and Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard support.
Its five color options include silver, space gray, rose gold, green, and sky blue. Availability will start in October, with the Wi-Fi-only model selling for $599 and the Wi-Fi and cellular model selling for $729.
The iPad 8th generation is powered by the A12 Bionic chip and iPad OS 14. It also features a 10.2-inch Retina display, 32GB and 128GB internal storage options, stereo speakers, and support for the first-generation Apple Pencil and the new Magic Keyboard.
Availability started September 18 with the Wi-Fi-only model selling for $329 and the Wi-Fi and cellular model selling for $459. Students can also get the tablet for as low as $299.
Apple’s new exercise-focused subscription service, Fitness+ builds on a trend of increasingly popular workout streaming platforms. Pundits note that with its built-in user base, Apple may be taking inspiration from or looking to compete with Peloton. Fitness+ offers exercise instruction that can be streamed to an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. Users can also keep up with workout metrics, including time, distance, heart rate, and calories burned on an Apple Watch. Fitness+ can also pair with Apple Music for curated workout playlists.
The service will available by the end of the year, launching first in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand for $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year. Those purchasing a new Apple Watch will also get three months of the service for free.
Piggybacking off the Fitness+ unveiling, Apple also announced its new bundling of its many services in a subscription called, Apple One. The package comes in three tiers, individual, family, and premier, which will cost $14.95, $19.95, and $29.95 respectively.
Apple One will launch in the fall with availability for the Individual and Family tiers in over 100 countries and regions. The Premier tier will be available in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. There will also be a 30-day free trial of
Apple says the bundles will be available starting this fall, with the Individual and Family tiers set to be available in over 100 countries and regions, while the Premier tier will be limited to the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Subscribers will also get a 30-day free trial of whichever services they don’t already have. Those purchasing with an Apple Card will earn three percent cashback.
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