Apple’s product launches are always surrounded by immense hype, and this year’s “awe-dropping” event was no exception. But once you look past the buzzwords and slick presentation, what did we really get? Here’s a sober assessment of the new iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch.
The headliner was the iPhone Air, a very thin, very pretty phone made of titanium. It’s an impressive piece of design, but at its core, it’s an iPhone 17 in a slimmer package. It has the same key upgrades as the rest of the line: a faster chip, better battery, and a new dual-camera recording feature. It’s a great phone, but not a revolution. The $999 price is standard for a flagship.
The AirPods Pro 3 added live translation. This is a genuinely useful feature that brings Apple up to parity with Google’s years-old Pixel Buds. The improved noise cancellation is a welcome, if expected, upgrade for a premium audio product. At $249, it’s a solid, iterative update.
The Apple Watch Series 11 can now warn you about potential hypertension. This is arguably the most important new feature announced, with real potential to improve health outcomes. It’s a significant step, but it’s also a logical extension of the Watch’s existing health suite. Overall, the event delivered strong, incremental progress across the board, but perhaps fell short of being truly “awe-dropping.”