Apple launches new iPhone 16, AirPods 4 and Apple Watch models

Apple has just revealed its upgraded iPhone models for 2024, along with several additional gadgets, including new fourthgeneration AirPods, slightly tweaked AirPods Max, and the Apple Watch Series 10.

At the tech giant’s “It’s Glowtime” event on 9 September, Apple unveiled the latest revamped smartphones, smartwatches and wireless earbuds.

The iPhone models unveiled feature new camera technology, improved processing power and advanced design features, while the Apple Watch Series 10 has a thinner design, bigger and better displays, and new health features. Apple’s new AirPods 4 add improved sound quality and a USBC port for charging, with one option featuring noise cancellation.

Apple has also announced the launch dates for its latest software upgrades – iOS 18 for iPhones, iPadOS 18 for iPads, watchOS 11 for Apple Watch models and tvOS 18 for the Apple TV platform – which are all launching on 16 September.

For more on the changes and upgrades to all of Apple’s best products, read our explainer below. We’ve cut through the jargon to bring you the key upgrades you need to know about:

Apple iPhone 16 Plus

• The new iPhone adds the customisable “Action Button” that debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro last year, as well as a new “Camera Control” button for instant camera access and control
• The new A18 chip promises a performance boost and better power efficiency, as well as Apple Intelligence (AI) support
• It comes in 6.1inch and 6.7inch screen sizes for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus respectively
• iPhone 16 colours: It’s available in “Ultramarine” deep blue, Teal, Pink, White or Black – these are, overall, bolder colours compared to the pastel iPhone 15 models
• iPhone 16 price: Apple has maintained the same prices from last year – the iPhone 16 starts at £799 and the iPhone 16 Plus starts at £899
• iPhone 16 preorders: Preorders start on 13 September, with the phone launching on 20 September
• Additionally, Apple has confirmed that its “Apple Intelligence” features are coming to the UK with English (UK) support in December – these features will launch earlier with support for US English

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus models stick to the 6.1 and 6.7inch sizes of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, with a slightly refreshed design featuring a vertical camera array instead of the diagonal layout seen in previous models.

They now gain the “Action Button” in place of the mute toggle, which is a useful custom button that you can set to launch various functions on your phone like starting a voice memo, opening the torch, or turning on “Do Not Disturb” or other shortcuts.

One of the most significant design updates is the addition of the new “Camera Control” button for quick access to the camera, faster photo and video shooting and a more seamless way to get to extra controls.

This camera button will also integrate with other apps. It can launch the camera with a single press, and a light press will bring up the quick controls. After launching the camera with this button, a single press is used to take a photo and you hold the button to shoot a video.

It’s going to make the iPhone feel a lot more like a compact camera and it’s the feature we’re most looking forward to testing out.

Apple’s “Camera Control” button in use for photography

The new button sits in just the right spot on the bottom righthand side of the iPhone for landscape photos and videos

The iPhone 16 comes in much bolder colours when compared to the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 models. Fans of the pastel pink iPhone from 2023 will be happy to see that pink has remained in the lineup, now in a slightly deeper shade, and it’s joined by a lovely Ultramarine (a deep greenish blue), black, white and teal.

It should deliver a boost to battery life, it has a new ultrawide camera with autofocus and a macro mode for closeup photography, and the new design is made to be better for thermal management to keep your phone from overheating.

The iPhone 16 hasn’t been held back from a substantial performance upgrade either, getting the A18 chip with improved power and efficiency to handle AI tasks. These features are gradually launching in the new version of iOS and should come to the UK starting in December.

New Apple Intelligence features will come to iPhones using English (US) first and English (UK) will follow in December

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

• These models feature a similar design upgrade seen on the iPhone 16 –they now have a “Camera Control” button for instant camera access and controls for photography and video capture
• Both phones now have larger displays: the iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3inch screen while the iPhone 16 Pro Max goes up to 6.9 inches, with slimmer edges around the screen
• The new A18 Pro chip delivers even faster processing power with more efficient performance
• There’s a new 48MP ultrawide lens for more detail and improved closeup macro photography
• The 5x zoom lens that debuted in the iPhone 15 Pro Max is now available on both Pro phones
• The Pro iPhones can shoot 4K video at 120 frames per second – this higher framerate video enables smoother and more detailed footage, in regular video mode and slowmotion
• iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max colours: The Pro phones still come in a range of titanium colours: Black, White, “Natual Titanium” and “Desert Titanium” (a bronze shade)
• iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max prices: Pricing is unchanged from last year – the iPhone 16 Pro starts from £999 for 128GB of storage, while the bigger iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at £1,199 for 256GB of space
• iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max preorders: Preorders start on 13 September, with the new phones launching on 20 September

The latest Pro models are getting notable design and performance improvements too. The iPhone 16 Pro features a 6.3inch display, while the Pro Max is expanding to a huge 6.9inch screen. This is the first increase in display sizes since the iPhone 12 Pro models.

Alongside the new A18 Pro chip, these models benefit from an advanced camera system, including a new 48MP ultrawide lens for extra detail, closeup and lowlight photography. Both Pro models now have the 5x telephoto zoom that was previously exclusive to the Pro Max.

Other standout features include support for 4K video recording at up to 120 frames per second, slimmeddown bezels for an edgetoedge display, a faster and more efficient “neural engine” to help AI features run up to 15% faster, speedier camera performance and new “Photographic Styles” for colour and tone editing, as well as faster MagSafe wireless charging.

The new colours for the iPhone 16 Pro models

Apple AirPods 4

• These semiopen earbuds now feature the H2 chip for improved sound quality, battery life, and connectivity
• They now use USBC for charging
• There’s a base model and a model with active noisecancelling (ANC)
• The AirPods 4 feature refinements to the size and fit, with Apple saying it’s the most comfortable design ever
• AirPods 4 price: The new AirPods 4 cost £129 for the entrylevel model and £179 for the model featuring ANC
• AirPods 4 availability: The new AirPods will be out on 20 September

The 4thgeneration of Apple’s AirPods now features Apple’s advanced H2 chip to improve audio quality, personalised spatial audio, and voice isolation on phone calls.

Apple has also slightly tweaked the design after mapping thousands of ears of different people, but these are still the semi inear style of earbud, rather than the type with silicone or foam ear tips for a seal that isolates you from your surroundings. That seal is a major help for passive isolation and keeping out unwanted noise.

However, Apple has managed to equip a version of these buds with noisecancellation without changing the design. They’ll cost you a bit more, but are more comprehensive too, adding noise control, transparency mode, and Apple’s “Adaptive Audio” and “Conversation Awareness” modes. They noisecancelling variant also has wireless charging, while both models have a USBC port for wired charging.

Apple’s AirPods 4 deliver noisecancellation for those who hate the feel of ear tips

Apple AirPods Max

Apple’s AirPods Max, which first launched in 2020, are almost entirely unchanged in the latest update. The two most noticeable differences are:

• The AirPods Max now feature a USBC port for easier charging
  
• Apple AirPods Max colours: they now come in blue, purple, Midnight (a matte grey), Starlight (a soft gold) and orange – the colours from the previous range (silver, grey, blue, pink and green) are either discontinued or tweaked for the new model

But there are otherwise no major internal changes, and no new chip or upgraded noisecancellation performance – the battery life and spatial audio performance are also the same.

• AirPods Max price: The price remains unchanged, the slightly tweaked AirPods Max cost £499
• AirPods Max availability: The new AirPods Max will be available from 20 September

The AirPods Max, Apple’s premium overear headphones, haven’t seen significant changes in 2024 aside from the addition of USBC charging and some new colour options. Internally, the components remain the same. The new colour range is blue, purple, Midnight (a matte grey), Starlight (a soft gold) and orange.

Apple has continued to update the AirPods Max with frequent firmware upgrades since the launch of the headphones in 2020, and we think they remain a great option if you’ve got Apple products and would appreciate seamless device switching, tactile controls with the “digital crown” and a highend design.

The new colour range for Apple’s AirPods Max overear headphones

They are, however, very expensive and far from the only contenders when it comes to the best overear headphones. There are several rivals that are now capable of beating Apple’s noisecancelling headphones when it comes to ANC performance, sound quality, customisation, portability and battery life.

Apple’s 2ndgeneration AirPods Pro earbuds continue to be among our top picks as wireless earbuds for sound quality, functionality, noisecancelling, transparency and much more.

They’re set to be much improved with hearing health features including hearing protection to reduce background noise, a builtin hearing test to measure your hearing and adapt audio to your ears, and the addition of a clinicalgrade hearing aid feature.

The new Apple AirPods product lineup

New Apple Watch Series 10

• The Apple Watch now comes in larger screen sizes with 42mm and 46mm models – these both have reduced bezels for more screen space
• They’re the thinnest Apple Watch designs ever
• The upgraded screens are not only bigger but brighter when viewed at an angle
• There are new aluminium and titanium finishes – it comes in jet black, rose gold and silver for the aluminium design, and natural, gold and slate grey for the titanium shades
• There are new sensors for sleep apnea detection
• The Apple Watch Series 10 includes an updated processor – the new S10 chip promises better performance and efficiency
• It’s also faster to recharge than the Apple Watch it replaces
• Apple Watch Series 10 price: The upgraded wearable starts at £329 for the 42mm size and £429 for the 46mm size

As the Apple Watch reaches its 10th anniversary, the new Series 10 brings a series of refinements to the already excellent smartwatch. The biggest changes are that it now has a bigger display and a thinner and lighter casing compared to the Apple Watch Series 9. It comes in 42mm and 46mm variants, so there isn’t an option designed to suit those with smaller wrists quite as well anymore.

However, the watches do have slimmer bezels, so they don’t have a big increase in dimensions even with the display changes, and Apple said that they’re 10% lighter during the event. The upgraded displays are also designed to be up to 40% brighter when viewed at an angle.

The Series 10 is also more efficient at charging, delivering 80% of your battery life back after 30 minutes of charging. That should be a major convenience boost.

The new Apple Watch Series 10 is the thinnest Apple Watch yet

This extra display size will be great for typing text replies on the device’s onscreen keyboard, viewing watch faces and complications, and reading more text. It’s also now available in new aluminium colours: black, rose gold and silver.

The stainless steel watch option is replaced by a lightweight titanium version available in natural, gold and grey.

On the health front, Apple has introduced monitoring for sleep apnea, which measures breathing disturbances with the accelerometer and advanced algorithms. This will come to the new Series 10, and the existing Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.

The new lineup of Apple Watch Series 10 colours and straps

Apple Watch Ultra 2

• While it hasn’t been upgraded, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 from last year now also comes in a deep and dark “Satin Black” finish
• Apple has launched new watch straps to match the new colour, as well as a new titanium Milanese loop band that’s available in natural titanium and black
• Apple Watch Ultra price: The price remains the same for the new colour – the Apple Watch Ultra 2 starts at £799 and the new colour is out on 20 September

The Apple Watch Ultra, designed for extreme sports and outdoor adventures, hasn’t been updated to a new version in 2024. The Ultra is one of the goto smartwatches for use in extreme conditions, and it continues to be a highend choice as a wearable with accurate GPS, a tough and rugged design to withstand extreme conditions, a bright display, a much better battery life and a customisable “Action Button”.

It’s still among the best smart devices for serious fitness enthusiasts and adventurers, with specific features aimed at divers, hikers, runners and mountain bikers.

The change for 2024 is that it comes in a new black titanium case. It’s a deep and dark colourway with a surface that’s scratchresistant and durable. It will also have updated Apple Watch straps to match in black, and a new titanium Milanese loop designed to go with either the new black or the natural titanium finish of the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 in black and natural titanium, with the matching new Milanese loop straps