First Thoughts on ‘It’s Glowtime’
Before we get into how I feel about the new stuff, let’s review my top picks and Bingo board results:
✅ iPhone 16 Pro with a titanium matte frame, camera parity with the Pro Max, and a capture button (ideally the size is no bigger than the 15 Pro1)
❌ Apple Watch Ultra 3
✅ AirPods (4th gen) with a new shape that fit as well as AirPods (2nd gen) and (somehow) some noise cancelation magic (and ideally tap gestures make a return)
❌ AirPods Max that weigh notably less than the originals
✅ Apple Intelligence runs on all new iPhones, not just Pro models
3/5, or 60% correct. I’ll take it.
And I got a double win on my Bingo card! (Did you play along? Let me know!)
Okay, let’s get into what I think about the products introduced today.
Apple Watch
- Any year that the Apple Watch gets thinner and lighter without sacrificing features or battery life is a win in my books.
- They called it a major new design, but I kinda expected something more dramatic for the Series 10. I could be wrong, but I don’t think they made a big deal about it being 10 years (to the day!) since the Apple Watch’s first reveal.
- I’m puzzled by Apple completely neglecting to mention the smaller watch size sticking around during the keynote. I was convinced that they axed it until seeing it available on their website afterward.
- I’m disappointed but not surprised by Apple Watch Ultra skipping an upgrade this year. My Ultra 1 can probably hold out for another year. The new black color does look super sick, even though it’s probably not the color I would choose.
AirPods
- AirPods 4 (new naming scheme) looks just about exactly what I wanted, assuming they fit my ears. I don’t think I’m getting the tap gestures, but active noise cancelation without in-ear tips is magic.
- I’m disappointed and surprised by the AirPods Max only getting a color refresh and Lightning swapped for USB-C. Four years later, you can hardly call them “Max” without them having best in Adaptive Audio, head nod recognition, higher fidelity audio, or anything else that the AirPods Pro have gotten. I thought those would be table stakes — let alone materials and design improvements — and who knows now how long we’ll be waiting for them to get a real upgrade.
- AirPods Pro getting really substantial health features without having to buy new hardware is fantastic. People love their AirPods, so if they can use them as over-the-counter hearing aids too, I think a lot of people will suddenly have access much better hearing. I might need to borrow my wife’s AirPods Pro just to take the hearing test!
iPhone
- iPhone 16 looks like a really nice upgrade, especially for a non-Pro phone. Action Button, Camera Control, better camera lenses, Apple silicon jump, better thermals, and more.
- iPhone 16 Pro looks like about exactly what we expected, and I’d say a less exciting Pro release, unless you’re really into the camera/audio features. Faster chip, better cameras, Camera Control, bigger display, longer battery life — those seem to be the highlights. I’m actually going to have to do some contemplation on if want to go Pro this year. I figured if I was going to get the regular (non Mini) size, I might as well get the best phone I can. But the differences between the regular and the Pro phones aren’t really things that I have strong opinions about — at first glance. I’m still leaning toward Pro (I am a tech nerd, after all), but it’s a harder decision than normal. (Also, tying monthly installments — both through Apple Card and iPhone Upgrade Program — to only AT&T, Boost Mobile, Verizon, or T-Mobile might be a barrier to me making a purchase at all this year. I switched to Spectrum this year and the lack of financing options could throw a wrench into my upgrade plans.)
- I’m happy to see that the trend continues that last year’s Pro Max camera upgrades are now available in both sizes of Pro phones, and that they’re in lockstep this year.
Event Itself
- The keynote both moved very quickly (dense) and also felt super long (spent too long on some segments) overall.
- Apple Event days aren’t quite the same with everyone split off into different communities (Threads, Mastodon, etc.). It’s really only these days that I miss Twitter where I could see photos from the event and everyone’s hot takes all in flying in on one stream. Maybe we’ll get back there eventually when ActivityPub gets sorted out.
- Speaking of hot takes, you can read the rest of mine from my liveblog of the event right here.
Those Very Good Tweets™
If you have a drink every time they mention Apple Intelligence, you are already drunk. #AppleEvent
I am also 40% brighter when viewed from an angle. #AppleEvent
ROSE GOLD HAS RETURNED FROM WAR
“Apple Watch Ultra 2 remains a product in our lineup.”
AirPods Max remain a product in our lineup. #AppleEvent
Post by @charliemchapmanView on Threads
New Apple stuff is great and all, but hear me out… What if they integrated hardware, software, and services in a way that only Apple can do? 🤪
does the new camera button let us turn down that light wrap on that explosion
This is how Only Murders in the Building can record their podcasts entirely on phones.
Post by @mgsieglerView on Threads
Not sure why they named this #AppleEvent “Glowjob” usually it makes sense after the event is over but not this time…