iPhone 14 launch: 10 takeaways from Apple’s Far Out event

Cupertino-based company launched four new models in its 14 series and more during Far Out online reveal

The Apple iPhone 14 during an event at Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California, US. Bloomberg

Apple, one of the most popular consumer tech companies in the world, launched the latest iPhone 14 series and a series of other products at an online event on Wednesday.

Here are 10 takeaways from the Far Out event.

Crash detection feature

The entire iPhone 14 line-up comes with a new safety feature that can provide emergency assistance in the event of an accident.

With a new dual-core accelerometer, crash detection on iPhone can now detect a severe car crash and automatically dial emergency services when users are unconscious or unable to reach their iPhones.

Available in a 6.1-inch display and a new, larger 6.7-inch size, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus feature impressive camera upgrades and groundbreaking new safety capabilities. Photo: Apple

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus will be available in five colours: midnight, blue, starlight, purple, and (PRODUCT)RED. Photo: Apple

Apple chief executive Tim Cook speaks at an Apple event on the campus of Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California. AP

Apple Watch Ultra features a new, customisable action button in high-contrast international orange that gives users quick physical control over a range of functions. Photo: Apple

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus offer industry-leading durability and amazing battery life, including the best battery life ever in an iPhone with iPhone 14 Plus. Photo: Apple

Mr Cook arrives to speak at an Apple event in Cupertino. AP

Visitors arrive at the Steve Jobs Theatre before the Far Out Apple event. Bloomberg

Visitors arrive at Steve Jobs Theatre on the Apple campus. Bloomberg

Members of the media await the arrival of Mr Cook in Cupertino. EPA

Mr Cook presents the new iPhone 14 at the event. Reuters

The new extra-small ear tip on the Apple AirPods Pro delivers a better fit to more customers. Photo: Apple

The new AirPods Pro bring major upgrades to Transparency mode, Spatial Audio and convenience features while cancelling up to twice as much noise. Photo: Apple

You can personalise the charging case with Memoji, Animoji and a curated list of stickers. Photo: Apple

The new AirPods Pro. Photo: Apple

Apple Watch Ultra, the most rugged and capable Apple Watch. Photo: Apple

Three new bands — Trail Loop, Alpine Loop and Ocean Band — offer unique design features that provide a secure and comfortable fit. Photo: Apple

The reimagined Lock Screen in iOS 16 offers a multilayered effect that sets subjects of photos in front of the time, along with newly designed widgets. Photo: Apple

The Ultra Wide camera offers a new perspective for photos and video, and receives benefits from Photonic Engine — an enhanced image pipeline. Photo: Apple

Crash Detection uses specialised components paired with Apple-designed algorithms to detect a severe car crash and automatically dial emergency services when a user is unconscious or unable to reach their iPhone. Photo: Apple

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus contain a new 12MP Main camera, a new front TrueDepth camera and the Ultra Wide camera. Photo: Apple

The iPhone 14 line-up includes Emergency SOS via satellite, enabling the user to contact emergency services when outside of cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. Photo: Apple

When combined with Apple Watch, crash detection leverages the strength of both devices to get immediate assistance.

For example, when a severe crash is detected, the emergency services call interface will appear on Apple Watch, as it is most likely to be in closer proximity to the user, while the call is placed through the iPhone if it is in range for the best possible connection.

Emergency SOS via satellite

Apple has launched emergency SOS service via satellite connectivity with the new iPhone 14 series.

This technology allows antennas to connect directly to a satellite, enabling messaging with emergency services when a user is outside of the cellular or Wi-Fi network coverage.

It lets users to manually share their location over satellite when there is no connectivity, “providing a sense of security [to users] when hiking or camping off the grid”, Apple said.

Initially, the emergency SOS via satellite will be available to users in the US and Canada from November. The service will be free for two years.

Green Apple

The new Apple products are designed to minimise the company’s impact on the environment.

The iPhones use 100 per cent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets and 100 per cent recycled tin in the solder of several printed circuit boards, the company said.

Fibre-based packaging does not use outer plastic wrap, bringing Apple closer to its goal of completely removing plastic from all packaging by 2025.

Apple launches its latest iPhone 14 series. Bloomberg

Today, Apple is carbon neutral for global corporate operations, and by 2030, it plans to be 100 per cent carbon neutral across its entire manufacturing supply chain and all product life cycles.

Apple Fitness+ available to all iPhone users

Apple Fitness+, the technology company’s fitness and wellness service, will be available for all iPhone users even if they don’t have an Apple Watch, the company announced on Wednesday.

The update will be available later this year in all 21 countries where the service is offered. iPhone users will have access to the entire service featuring over 3,000 studio-style workouts and meditations.

Apple Fitness+ is available as a subscription service for $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year, and can be shared with up to five other family members.

Wrist temperature sensing for women’s health

Apple Watch Series 8 features new temperature-sensing capabilities that give women further insights into their health.

They are designed with the “same privacy protections as with all other health data”, Apple said.

The new smartwatch comes with a dual-sensor design — one sensor on the rear back of the watch, near to the skin, and another under the display. It will minimise any interference from the external environment.

Three new bands — Trail Loop, Alpine Loop and Ocean Band — offer unique design features that provide a secure and comfortable fit for Apple Watch users. Photo: Apple

Sleep tracking

Sleep tracking in the latest watchOS 9 operating system provides more insights with the introduction of sleep stages. The smartwatch will use signals from the accelerometer and heart rate sensor to estimate when users are in REM (rapid eye movements), core or deep sleep.

Sleep stage data can be viewed directly on the watch in the Sleep app and users can view more detailed information in the Health app on iPhone.

Apple said the sensors will check wrist temperature during sleep every five seconds and measure changes as small as 0.1°C. In the Health app, users can see nightly shifts in temperature, which can be caused by exercise, jet lag or illness.

Immersive sound experience with new AirPods

With personalised spatial audio, the new AirPods will ensure an immersive experience.

Users perceive sound individually, based on the size and shape of their head and ears. Using the TrueDepth camera on the iPhone, users can create a personal profile for spatial audio that delivers a tailored listening experience, Apple said.

Users can enjoy personalised spatial audio with music, movies and TV shows across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV.

Apple aims to attract new customers through its new products. Bloomberg

Impact on Apple stock

Apple stock, which has dropped nearly 14.8 per cent since the start of the year, jumped almost 1 per cent to trade at $155.96 a share on Wednesday at the market close. It gives the company a total market valuation of nearly $2.51 trillion.

In intraday trading on January 3, the company briefly hit a market value of $3tn when its shares reached $182.86.

The company was the first to achieve this milestone, although it failed to hold above the level until the end of the trading day.

New A16 bionic

Apple unveiled its A16 bionic chip that will be used in iPhone 14 Pro.

It features an accelerated five-core graphics processing unit with 50 per cent more memory bandwidth and a new 16-core neural engine capable of performing nearly 17 trillion operations per second, Apple said.

This will ensure a seamless run of graphics-intensive games and heavy apps on the iPhone.

Prices and availability

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models start from $799 (Dh3,399) and $899 (Dh3,799), respectively, while the iPhone 14 Pro costs $999 (Dh4,299) and the iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at $1,099 (Dh4,699).

Customers will be able to pre-order all four new phones from Friday. The iPhone 14, iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max will be available from September 16, while the iPhone 14 Plus will be available from October 7.

Apple Watch Series 8 starts at $399 (Dh1,599) and Apple Watch SE at $249 (Dh999), with both available to order from Wednesday, with availability beginning September 16.

Apple Watch Ultra, which starts at $799 (Dh3,199), is available to order today, with availability beginning September 23.