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We're here wrapping up the Apple event.
Behind us, the Steve Jobs theater where Apple has just announced 4 new products, including three new iPhone's and an Apple Watch.
Here with me is Scott and Shara, our editors and experts in Apple.
And they're gonna tell us what they thought of the three new products.
Starting with that cheaper model Shara.
Yeah.
So obviously iPhone, the most important device for Apple, they've gone much higher in pricing lately.
So it was really interesting to see them come out with a new cheaper device that has been redesigned The iPhone six was really popular in 2014 but they haven't really changed that kind of base level phone design since then.
So this is kind of an option for people who want a flashy new device with face ID some of these features but doesn't want Want to pay a thousand dollars.
So what was the main difference between the iPhone XR and the other XSs that they announced today?
It's mostly in the materials.
So it's made out of aluminum instead of stainless steel.
The screen is kind of a cheaper screen.
It's LCD instead of OLED.
OLED is what lets you kinda curve around the edges.
So you'll notice when you hold this, the screen doesn't curve.
There's definitely a bezel again, kind of that Been layer, lining around the side of the screen.
Also one big difference also is the camera.
So this is just a single lens instead of dual lense on the back.
And the colors,
Yeah.
It seemed to be we had 6 new colors for this options.
Yeah.
Exactly.
Kinda like the reminiscm of the 5c when we had the plastic back with all the colors of the rainbow.
Yeah, yeah, but this is definitely not plastic.
It's funny that we also call it the cheap phone cuz it's definitely not cheap, it's 749, so it's basically iPhone 7 pricing, iPhone 8 pricing when those first came out.
But compared to these much more expensive phones, that's the cheap one now.
So true.
And then Scott, what about that camera?
They say that it can still do portrait mode, but it's software only this time.
Do you think it can get to the same level as the one on the 10 or the 10 S with that dual lens set up?
I think it's impossible to tell right now.
I mean, it kind of remains to be seen.
You can kind of tell that There are other phones out there that have single lenses that have done portrait effects.
Apple has always talked about the dual cameras being the key to doing portrait effect.
So I'm sure it won't be as good as the XS and XS Max will be as It's good as the X.
I wouldn't think so but that's gonna be the interesting part of testing these [UNKNOWN] which one to get.
And kinda run us through the innovation for the XS.
For the XSs now the XS Max.
What is the big feature for you at least in those two devices?
Good question.
I don't think there is one singular feature.
And I think that might be one of the challenges if you're looking to upgrade from a X. Is that these are more about speed general performance again camera, HDR was mentioned not just in terms of the display, but in terms of the photos being improved for HDR which could be great for for any sort of photo if you're looking at certain exposure situations.
I think in general people always want cameras to get better so, the race is still on going, but there are a lot of players in that race The Max is there to basically offer that larger screen and it's doing that sort of plus proposition, it's a nice big scree, it feels like the 8 Plus, I don't think everyone is gonna want a phone that big, but if you, maybe you're looking again for an iPad replacement that's a thing that the plus has always stood in for, but starting at 1099 Since they are already at a really high price and the 10s does not have a price drop over last year.
Apple doesn't usually do that, but there were some talks that might happen.
So you are looking at the 10s Max would go up to 1449 for the 512 gig which is a lot of memory.
That's a premium laptop.
The 10R is 749 to up to 849.
So which one do you get?
They all have the same processor, the 812 processor.
So it could be that for a lot of people, the XR is the phone to get.
That doesn't come out until October 26th.
So we won't know for awhile, and so I encourage anyone that they would hold out and wait But we'll be reviewing them as they come in and we'll take a look at how they compare.
Well what's interesting too that the cheaper model, the 10R is going to come out later than the two more expensive models.
Do we have any data of why Apple is delaying the cheaper model.
Well, I mean I've they've done this before.
They don't wanna overshadow their flasghip device.
Their flagship device is the 10s, that is the phone that they expect most people will buy that they want people to buy.
So if you're coming out too many options, that's just too confusing for people.
So if you want the latest, greatest right away you want the 10s and they're gonna give it to you rigth away.
And what other incentive would people have to buy the 10S max at that expensive price?
Because this is kind of the first time that we haven't much of a difference between the 10S and, and the larger model in this case.
Is there anything other than screen size....
that sets the Max apart?
I think battery life for one.
And also I think it's kind of more a proposition like the iPad models or a like the iPad Pro, where you have one maybe where you just want a larger screen.
And I think that will suit certain people.
And I kind of like that they're similar this time in the sense that You finally have some consistency there.
And people who wanna shoot photos and video, know that there will be a consistency.
I think there will always be a craving for that model, you know someone's gonna wanna show that off, and use it.
And yeah, if you're looking for the best photos and videos, I think you wouldn't wanna compromise, especially we're talking about Maybe a couple hundred of dollars.
For a lot of people it's worth that bump.
But again I just think you're not dealing with that many differences otherwise and you're also dealing with mainly performance and camera differences so some people may decide especially if you have an iPhone 10 I think you're perfectly fine with that.
And I think it's designed that way, the price of
Yeah.
$1,000.
Your getting to the point where you're not doing an every year upgrade.
Yeah.
And maybe that's an aknowledgement of that.
Yeah.
I mean and they're not gonna be selling the iPhone ten any more.
It's just while supplies last.
Which I think is an aknowledgement that this is, you know there are really interesting things in these new devices but it's not enough if you have the ten that you would have to get these new ones so by getting rid of the ten people If you want all this new stuff you have to go with the new phones.
Well, was also interesting the fact that you mentioned the screen size the four factors itself hasn't increase at all, in fact looking at the side by sidethe 10s Max is actually almost the same size if not it will slightly reallign.
smaller that the previous 8 plus.
So they've been able to maximize a lot of that space that people complained about with the bezels.
So I guess let's take it to the next Apple device wich was the Apple Watch series 4 which was announced in I win correct me if I am wrong but this is the biggest redesign we've ever seen on an Apple watch since its launch about five years ago now?
Yeah, in 2015 [UNKNOWN] is the fourth iteration now, and it's three years before four devices and of all generations.
Really-
[LAUGH]
It can be asked one, that's kind of like its own device, but,
Yeah, I think the heart rate is the thing.
That's the biggest feature.
It's all about the heart.
It's got a lotta heart in it today.
I mean, one of the big features was the FDA approval to be able to screen for serious diseases like
This is the first time we're seeing an Apple device, or any device for that matter, crossing over into the medical realm with this ECG sensor.
What does this mean for Apple in terms of a competitive advantage?
With other brands that are attempting to do the same thing with wearables.
I mean, I think it'll help them with doctors who are maybe recommending a device you know, if you're at your physician and they say you need like a health tracker this could be an option.
I don't think a normal consumer is going to buy this for those health options necessarily.
It's just kind of an added bonus of something that you get along with everything else you get with the watch.
So it is really notable because it has FDA approval.
Which is, it's a long process.
That's a seal of approval that this actually works, which is great.
Some of the things we're seeing were things that people had wanted from these devices for a long time, and they've really pushed it as health and fitness.
And now it's really kind of fulfilling a lot of A lot the things that people are hoping for.
Well, and also kind of reached different type of market.
We've seen this is consumer wearable for-
Yeah
people looking to tracking their fitness or just kinda of asecondary device.
But now, it have protential to really be a life saving device that could open it up to different consumer.
Say I don't wanna Totally pigeon hole but like my parents for example who perhaps didn't need an Apple watch before it's now a second set of eyes that's watching over them in terms of the fall notification that's pretty huge that it alerts your Loved one's when somebody has fallen.
Talk about the sensors a little about the increase or the improvement in the sensor technology.
Yes, and they claim not just to improve heart rate sensor but does also improve accelerometer sensor, does improve gyroscope, that does all the finish tracking but also has a great awareness of what they're saying the big feature.
Among others was fall sensing, and that's one of these things that wasn't possible before so that it would know what type of slipping, or sliding, or falling, and if you stayed down, it could then trigger, you could then have it trigger an SOS to know that you needed help, which is great.
And the ECG part dovetailing with that That's like a different type of sensor, that's like electrode that's built in and you have to actually do a spot check on, but going back to last year I saw an ECG heart rate band made by Cardia that kind of show where this might be going and you can see it just gained an FDA clearance it's not easy and you hadn't seen any devices like that, a lot of them striving for it, So I am kind of shifting paths on that, but the sensors for the Fall are great.
I think the FDA clearance is fantastic.
I actually spoke to the CEO of Cardioband and he told me it took them four years to clearance for the band and the software.
Apple watch has really done A lot faster than they have or at least seemingly so.
And then for the regular consumer, we also have a larger watch phase.
35% larger on the 40 or 38 millimeter which is now 40 millimeter.
Watch face and the 42 to 44 along side with the improved sensors on the back.
And better LTE connectivity because of the sapphire and ceramic back.
But not better battery life.
That's the one thing it still needs.
Better battery life.
And sleeve tracking I know that was a big one for you, Scott.
Sleeve tracking, they [UNKNOWN] it.
So they're clearly working on that but maybe when the better battery life comes So that's, that's basically the line up.
Well lastly, lastly let's just end on what they did announce today.
What were you still expecting?
Yeah, I was going to say no air power, no air pods.
Or Ipad.
Or Ipad or Mac.
Yeah so I assume we'll have another event this year.
Yeah.
So stay tuned you can check out the first looks of all of these devices on CNET.com and probably join us at the next event before the end of the year I'm thinking, maybe?
Yeah, maybe, we'll see.
People need Macs and iPads.
We'll see what happens.
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