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The Apple Event 2023 has just happened, and Apple, just like every September before this, has announced its latest products, including the iPhone 15 series and the new Apple Watch Series 9.
Themed “Wonderlust”, the keynote presentation started at 1 am MYT. The first thing Tim Cook emphasized was how iPhones and Apple Watches have saved lives. Some examples brought up were the Emergency SOS feature and Crash Detection on the iPhone and Heart Rate Detection on the Apple Watch.
Remember the Apple Vision Pro? Tim Cook starts off the keynote by giving updates on their VR headset, just released earlier this year to much discussion. The Apple Vision Pro will be available as soon as next year, with the team working tirelessly to bring it to the world.
We were right on ground zero at the Apple HQ in Cupertino, California when the launch happened, so here’s a rundown of what was announced during the Apple Event 2023!
iPhone 15 & iPhone 15 Plus
It took us 16 years to get from the inaugural iPhone to the newest iPhone 15, and so much has changed. One of the biggest changes, perhaps, is one that we’ve all seen coming: the iPhone 15 series will come with Type-C charging ports instead of Apple’s proprietary Lightning ports.
The iPhone 15 is available in two sizes, the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus, and both models feature a textured matte finish, tougher Ceramic Shield glass, and a brighter screen that can go up to 2,000 nits in outdoor, bright settings. Both models are available in five colours, including the brilliant Pink, yellow, green, blue, and black.
Powered by the A16 Bionic chip, which was introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro. 6-core CPU, with 2 high-performance cores and 4 high-efficiency cores to handle everything you throw at it. One of the biggest improvements in the iPhone 15 is the camera. The rear camera now features a 48-megapixel sensor, which allows for better low-light performance and more detailed photos. The camera also features new computational photography tricks, such as Smart HDR 4 and Deep Fusion, which help to take better photos in all lighting conditions.
The iPhone 15 also features a new Ultra Wideband chip, which allows it to connect to devices up to 3X faster than the previous generation. This means that you can find your friends more precisely with Find My, and you can also use your iPhone to unlock compatible cars and doors.
Another new feature in the iPhone 15 is Roadside Assistance, building upon Emergency SOS and Find My via Satellite. This feature is powered by Apple's partnership with AAA in the US, and it can help you get roadside assistance if you're stranded. Roadside Assistance includes towing, tire changes, and jump starts. Unfortunately, this is still only available in the US, in collaboration with AAA. Here's to hoping it comes to Malaysia as well!
And finally, the moment we've all been waiting for: the iPhone 15 series will have an all-function USB-C port! This means that you can finally use the same cable to charge your iPhone, iPad, and Mac!
iPhone 15 Specifications
- Display: 6.1" Super Retina XDR display, 2000 nits peak brightness
- Processor: A16 Bionic Chip
- Memory: 128GB / 156GB / 512GB
- Operating System: iOS 17
- Rear Camera: 48MP Main Camera + 12MP Wide
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 15 Plus Specifications
- Display: 6.7" Super Retina XDR display, 2000 nits peak brightness
- Processor: A16 Bionic Chip
- Memory: 128GB / 156GB / 512GB
- Operating System: iOS 17
- Rear Camera: 48MP Main Camera + 12MP Wide
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 15 Series Price & Availability in Malaysia
The iPhone 15 series will be available in Malaysia starting 29 September 2023. Pre-orders start on 22 September 2023, with prices as below:
- iPhone 15 - from RM4,399
- iPhone 15 Plus - from RM4,899
iPhone 15 Pro & iPhone 15 Pro Max
The iPhone 15 Pro is "the most pro iPhone Apple has ever created", powered by the brand new A17 Pro Bionic chip. The A17 Pro is built on the industry-leading 3-nanometer process and features a 10% faster CPU, a faster GPU, and a 2X faster neural engine.
The traditional switch that iPhone users have known to toggle between ring and silent modes has been replaced with the Action button, which is designed to offer users a plethora of quick-access options, including snapping photos, recording voice memos, and more.
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max also feature a new rear camera system with a 48-megapixel sensor, a new ultra-wide camera with a wider field of view, and a new telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. The camera system also features new computational photography tricks, such as Smart HDR 5 and Deep Fusion, which help to take better photos in all lighting conditions.
On top of the USB-C charging port, the charging port on the iPhone 15 Pro series is also supercharged with USB 3 speeds, marking a significant upgrade in connectivity. This ensures faster data transfer speeds, making professional workflows more efficient.
The iPhone 15 Pro series boasts a design crafted from aerospace-grade titanium. This material, which is also used to make the Mars Rover, offers a perfect balance of strength and weight, making these the lightest Pro models Apple has ever produced. The contoured edges and the customizable Action button further enhance the user experience, allowing for a more personalized interaction with the device. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will be available in four mesmerizing finishes: black titanium, white titanium, blue titanium, and natural titanium.
iPhone 15 Pro Specifications
- Display: 6.1" Super Retina XDR display, 2000 nits peak brightness
- Processor: A17 Pro Bionic Chip
- Memory: 128GB/ 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
- Operating System: iOS17
- Rear Camera: 48MP Main Camera + 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 15 Pro Max Specifications
- Display: 6.7" Super Retina XDR display, 2000 nits peak brightness
- Processor: A17 Pro Bionic Chip
- Memory: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
- Operating System: iOS17
- Rear Camera: 48MP Main Camera + 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 15 Pro Price & Availability in Malaysia
The iPhone 15 Pro series will be available in Malaysia starting 29 September 2023. Pre-orders start on 22 September 2023, with prices as below:
- iPhone 15 Pro - from RM5,499
- iPhone 15 Pro Max - from RM6,499
Apple Watch Series 9
One of the most significant changes to the Apple Watch Series 9 is the new S9 chip. This chip is based on the same technology as the A15 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 13, and it delivers significant performance improvements over the S8 chip in the Series 8. This means that the Series 9 can handle more demanding tasks, such as running more complex watch faces and apps.
The Apple Watch Series 9 also has a brighter display. The screen now has a peak brightness of 2000 nits, which is twice as bright as the Series 8. This makes it easier to see the display in bright sunlight. The display also has a wider colour gamut, which means that it can display more vibrant colours.
Here's another exciting upgrade on the Apple Watch: Apple Watch Series 9 features the brand new Double Tap gesture. This gesture allows you to control the watch with just one hand. To use Double Tap, simply tap your index finger and thumb twice on the display. This gesture can be used to answer or end calls, stop timers, play and pause music, or snooze alarms. You can also use Double Tap to scroll through menus.
The Apple Watch Series 9 is also water resistant up to 50 meters, so you can wear it swimming or in the shower. It also has an ECG app and a blood oxygen sensor, which can be used to track your heart health and blood oxygen levels.
Apple Watch Series 9 Specifications
- Processor: S9 SIP
- Display: 41 / 45mm, Always-On Retina Display, 2000 nits peak brightness, dims down to 1 nit
- Operating System: watchOS 10
- Battery: Up to 18 hours
- Features: Emergency SOS, International emergency calling, Fall Detection and Crash Detection
Apple Watch Series 9 Price & Availability in Malaysia
The Apple Watch Series 9 will be priced from RM1,899. As of the time of writing, there is no confirmed date of availability for the Apple Watch Series 9, so keep an eye on this space for more updates!
Meanwhile, the Apple Watch banks, Apple Watch Nike bands, and Apple Watch Hermes bands are already available for pre-order today, with availability beginning 22 September 2023. watchOS 10 will be available for Apple Watch Series 4 onwards on Monday, 18 September.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the most advanced smartwatch from Apple yet; basically the Apple Watch Series 9 but on steroids. Anything the Series 9 has, the Apple Watch Ultra also has, and more. It is designed for extreme sports and activities, and it has a number of features that make it ideal for athletes and adventurers.
Powered by the S9 chip with A15 Bionic-based architecture, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 also features the brightest display Apple has ever created, with 3000 nits of peak brightness. Besides that, the Watch Ultra 2 also has the new Double Tap feature that was introduced with the Series 9 earlier.
As a smartwatch made for the adventurous, the Watch Ultra 2 has precision dual-frequency GPS for accurate tracking, and advanced metrics for runners and cyclists. It can track a variety of metrics for runners and cyclists, including distance, pace, heart rate, calories burned, and track elevation gain and loss!
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Specifications
- Processor: S9 SIP
- Display: 49mm Titanium case, Always-On Retina Display, up to 3000 nits
- Operating System: watchOS 10
- Battery: up to 36 hours
- Features: Emergency SOS, International emergency calling, Fall Detection and Crash Detection, Siren
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Price & Availability in Malaysia
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 will be priced from RM3,799. As of the time of writing, there is no confirmed date of availability for the Apple Watch Ultra 2, so keep an eye on this space for more updates!