Apple event - live: iPhone 16, new Watch and AirPods unveiled alongside big AI updates
New AI features among highlights of Apple event
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Apple has unveiled a brand new range of iPhones at its biggest event of the year.
The new iPhone 16 lineup was launched alongside updated Apple Watches and AirPods, together with some major AI announcements from the Cupertino company.
The ‘It’s Glowtime’ event, which was live streamed from Apple’s campus in California, kicked off at 10am local time (6pm UK time), with CEO Tim Cook saying it marked a major shift in the company’s approach to its hardware.
One of the biggest updates to the iPhone 16 – which will actually be four different models – is a dedicated “capture” button for using the camera, but perhaps the biggest feature was one that was revealed earlier this year: Apple Intelligence. The AI tools include the ability to create custom emojis from a simple text command, while its integration to the new AirPods Pro 2 mean they can be used as a “clinical-grade hearing aid”.
You can follow all the latest news and updates from the launch, as well as watch a live stream of the event, right here.
Apple Watch gets depth guage
The new Apple Watch Series 10 is coming with a depth guage, that works up to 6 metres. This is perfect for snorkelling and other water activities. It also comes with new tide forecasts for anywhere in the world through the Tides app.
Apple Watch charges faster than ever before
The Apple Watch is the fastest-charging smartwatch Apple has ever built, offering 80 per cent battery from just 30 minutes of charging.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is “the most refined expression of Apple Watch yet” and comes with a new S10 chip.
For the first time you can also play music directly from the Apple Watch’s speakers.
Apple Watch Series 10 unveiled
We’re starting with Apple Watch, which is getting a host of updates to make it “more essential, useful and intelligent”.
The new Apple Watch Series 10 has the biggest display of any Apple wearable ever, and comes in a thinner body to its predecessor. The display is also 40 per cent brighter when viewed from an angle, making it easier to see it at a glance.
It features a new alloy finish in three colours: Jet black, rose gold and silver alluminium.
This is what the new Apple Watch looks like:
Apple’s biggest event of the year gets underway
And we’re off! After a video intro showing various Apple gadgets being used for everything from education to exercise, Tim Cook is here to introduce today’s event.
He says it will be “without a doubt the biggest event of the year... introducing some breakthrough technologies adn truly meaningful innovations.“
Watch Apple event live stream
You can watch the live stream of today’s Apple event right here.
Everything we know about the iPhone 16
There’s only 30 minutes to go now, but if you’re impatient to find out what the new iPhone is going to be like, we’ve got a comprehensive round-up of everything we’re expecting to see today.
From a new DSLR-like camera button, to even bigger displays for the Pro models,The Independent’s Alex Lee takes a look at some of the more substantial rumours. They include loud whispers that the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will have thinner bezels than their predecessors, as well as brighter screens than ever before, with a peak brightness of 1,200 nits - 20 per cent higher than the iPhone 15 Pro.
You can read the full story here:
The iPhone 16 launches today, here are all the rumours to know
We’ve pulled together all the rumours you need to know about the upcoming smartphone
Crowds arrive at Apple Park
With less than an hour to go before we get underway, crowds are beginning to arrive at Apple Park. Here’s some pics from our tech editor Andrew Griffin, who is at the company’s HQ for the event and will hopefully have some first impressions of the new iPhone 16 later on.
Apple store goes down ahead of iPhone event
As is customary before a big iPhone unveiling, Apple has taken down its online store while it refreshes its hardware lineup. Instead of iPhones, iPads and Macs, visitors to the webpage are greeted with a glowing Apple logo in reference to today’s event.
When it next reopens, there’ll likely be price drops for its older models, including the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15. It will also likely mean a farewell to the iPhone 13.
What won’t be announced today?
While we await the unveiling of brand new iPhones, AirPods and Apple Watches, there’s a few things that almost certainly won’t be on the agenda today.
Of the four new iPhone models set to be announced, none of them will be foldable. While smartphone rivals - most notably Samsung - are already offering several different foldable versions of their premium handsets, Apple is not yet ready to show off what it’s rumoured to be working on.
Apple might be famous for its ‘One more thing’ announcements, but another product that will definitely not see the light of day today is the Apple car. After a decade of work on the Project Titan self-driving car, which reportedly drew in around 5,000 employees to develop it, Apple decided to quietly ditch the ideaearlier this year in order to focus on generative artificial intelligence.
That’s at least one topic we will be hearing a lot about today.
Tim Cook posts ahead of Apple event
The Apple boss has made his customary early morning post to X (formerly Twitter) ahead of the iPhone unveiling, with a shot of the rainbow inside Apple Park. He gives a nod to the event’s name, writing that Apple HQ is “glowing!”
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