Every year at this time, Apple announces their latest iPhones and Apple Watches to much fanfare. For years, Apple invited members of the press to watch the announcements live as they unfolded, typically in a theater or auditorium, but since the pandemic, Apple has pre-filmed the events at their new Apple Campus. Why am I telling you this? Because this year, Apple included a skit, featuring Octavia Spencer as Mother Nature, that was scripted to explain all of the progress Apple has made in their efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The skit, which lasted a bit more than 5 minutes (it definitely seemed longer when watching it live), underscores the fact that smartphone and fitness tracker innovation has slowed greatly. There are of course speed improvements and camera improvements and other small innovations (the dynamic island for example), but for the most part, devices from 2 or more years ago remain not only relevant, but in most cases, will continue to serve users for years to come. It’s gotten to the point where the main reason to upgrade is because of a failing battery or a broken screen and even then, the devices can be repaired. So what groundbreaking features did Apple announce this year and, are the new features enough of a reason to consider upgrading your current technology? Read on to find out.
iPhone
Apple announced four new iPhone models. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus and the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. The iPhone 15 is essentially last year’s iPhone 14 Pro, with chip and speed improvements, the dynamic island, improved camera specs, a second generation ultra-wideband chip, and, perhaps the biggest change to the iPhone lineup, the introduction of USB-C which replaces the lightning port on current iPhone models and brings them in line with the iPad and Mac. They made the change not because it was better for consumers or that the tech is faster than lightning. They did it because they had to, as the EU announced the passage of “the common charger,” requiring tech companies that do business in the European Union to adopt the USB-C standard for charging, which in theory will eliminate the need for multiple cables, which in turn makes it better for the environment. The difference between the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 plus is screen size (6.1 inches versus 6.7 inches.
The pro models bring further enhancements. Apple introduced a new chip called the A17 Pro, which is a step up from the iPhone 15’s A16 Bionic. The pro models bring all of the enhancements introduced in the iPhone 15, but adds a 3X Zoom lens in the smaller iPhone 15 Pro and a 5X Zoom lens in the iPhone 15 Max. It also introduces the action button, introduced last year on the Apple Watch Ultra. This new button replaces the mute switch on the current iPhone Pro models and brings the ability to program it to do other tasks besides muting and unmuting your phone. The pro models are also made from titanium, which Apple says has one of the strongest strength to weight rations and actually decreases the weight of the iPhone 15 pro versus the iPhone 14 pro, which uses stainless steel.
Upgrade or Not?
People upgrade their phones for various reasons. Perhaps the better camera appeals to you or you just like to have the latest and greatest device. Deals from the carriers and Apple try to make it more enticing to upgrade more frequently, but the fact is, users are keeping their devices for a much longer period of time, because new features are just not compelling enough and, assuming your model is still supported, software updates bring new experiences to older phones. If you’re happy with your current model and it’s not too old (iPhone 8 and older are no longer supported with software updates), I would say there isn’t a real need to upgrade, assuming that the battery is still holding a charge. iPhone X and newer are still seeing software updates, so many of the newer features can be had just by updating your software to iOS17 when it comes out next week. With that said, if you are rocking an iPhone X or earlier and you decide to upgrade, you are going to see monster performance improvements. If you have an iPhone 11 or later, however, it really isn’t necessary.
Apple Watch
The other major announcements came in the form of the new Apple Watch 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. As with the iPhone, improvements are iterative, though Apple did announce the first chip upgrade since the Apple Watch 6, giving users with older watches a reason to upgrade. There were three other announcements that were intriguing with regard to the Apple Watch. The first is that watch is outfitted with the newer ultra-wideband chip, making it possible to find people and items with pinpoint accuracy. The second of those announcements involves Siri. If you’ve ever made a request to turn off the lights or other related request, you may have noticed a delay versus using your iPhone for the same request. This is because the Apple Watch will make these calls to the cloud, first using the iPhone, then WiFi and then cellular (if equipped). With the latest chip enhancements, many of these requests will now take place on the device, making them much faster to complete. The final announcement was the introduction of the “double tap.” If you tap your index finger and thumb together twice, it acts as the primary input method for your Apple Watch, allowing for the completion of tasks such as answering the phone using just one hand.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 brings those same enhancements, but not much else. It still boasts two-day battery life, is much bigger at 49mm and is built from titanium like the iPhone pro models.
Notably, there were no additional sensors or other fitness related improvements, aside from those that I covered with the introduction of WatchOS 10, which will be available to all users beginning next week.
Upgrade or not?
Since the release of Apple Watch 6, Apple has given users few reasons to upgrade, though there have been improvements over previous generations. Later models introduced the always on display, a new temperature sensor and crash detection. I think that this year’s chip upgrade, coupled with the ability to complete more tasks with Siri without the need for those requests to go through the cloud first, will make it an appealing upgrade for users sporting a Series 6 or older. Here is my upgrade guidance:
Series 6 or Older - A Worthy Upgrade, with noticeable improvements in both speed and functionality.
Series 7 or Newer - Not enough new functionality to warrant an upgrade.
What About Ultra? - Here’s the thing. The Apple Watch Ultra, in my opinion, is the best smartwatch available. It is not just for extreme sports enthusiasts and many have purchased it for the aesthetic alone. If you own a Series 7 or older, value longer battery life and you like the size of the Ultra, it’s an upgrade that is going to last for many years to come.