The Apple Special Event kicked off at 2 a.m. Japan time on September 13, and new iPhone and Apple Watch models were announced.
Here are the new iPhones!
This time three new models join the lineup. The CPU has been upgraded to the A12 Bionic, with a 15% bump in core performance. All models now sport the same notched display introduced on the iPhone X, and the largest of them stretches to 6.5 inches — even bigger than the iPhone X's 5.8 inches. The CPU and Face ID have been beefed up, a new 512GB storage tier has been added, and fresh colors like Gold have joined the lineup. Details below.
iPhone Xs
Positioned as the minor-update "S" model. Beyond the new CPU, things like IP68 water resistance and stereo audio recording in video have been added — a steady, no-nonsense round of upgrades. The screen is the same 5.8-inch Super Retina display as the iPhone X, with a 2,436 × 1,125 resolution at 458 ppi.
A premium new Gold color has also been added.
Pricing: 64GB at 112,800 yen (about 1,020 USD), 256GB at 129,800 yen (about 1,180 USD), 512GB at 152,800 yen (about 1,390 USD). (Tax not included.)
iPhone Xs Max
The biggest-screen model announced this time around — effectively the successor to the previous Plus models. The display reaches 6.8 inches, and as Apple's official tagline "Welcome to the big screen" suggests, it really is a sizable screen.
Pricing: 64GB at 124,800 yen (about 1,135 USD), 256GB at 141,800 yen (about 1,290 USD), 512GB at 164,800 yen (about 1,500 USD). (Tax not included.) A bit on the pricey side.
iPhone XR
Looks like it's positioned as a budget model in the spirit of the old iPhone 5C. The screen is 6.1 inches — a touch larger than the Xs — with a 1,792 × 828 resolution at 326 ppi on a Liquid Retina display. The most eye-catching thing is just how many color options there are.
Like the 5C, you can pick from colorful options such as Blue, Yellow, and Coral.
Pricing: 64GB at 84,800 yen (about 770 USD), 128GB at 90,800 yen (about 825 USD), 256GB at 101,800 yen (about 925 USD). (Tax not included.)
Here are the new Apple Watches!
The traditional square display has been stretched out, and the corners are now rounded all around — much like the iPhone X. At the same time it has gotten thinner, and CPU performance has of course been boosted.
Series 4
(Apple Watch 4 on the left, Apple Watch 3 on the right.)
It packs the new S4 chip, which is twice as fast, and it's 0.7mm thinner.
Pricing: the 40mm GPS model is 45,800 yen (about 415 USD, tax not included), and the Cellular model is 56,800 yen (about 515 USD, tax not included). The 44mm version adds 3,000 yen on top of those prices.
