TECH NEWS – After the debut of Apple’s iPhone 15, one thing is sure: prices for the top Pro version have increased massively compared to previous versions…

Apple unveiled its latest iPhones – variants of the iPhone 15 model – at an event on Tuesday (September 12), promising new materials, camera upgrades and improved performance to woo consumers back into the slowing smartphone market. All of this coincides with the apparently unpleasant fact for the company that one of their older devices is about to be banned in France.

The company has unveiled four new models, keeping pace with past generations: the iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max; as last year, the entry-level models start at $799.

The Pro version remains at $999. However, the Pro Max now starts at USD 1199. That’s $100 higher than last year!

The new models – especially the high-end versions – represent the first major iPhone refresh since the company’s first 5G phones were launched in 2020. Apple is keen to recover from the sales slump. It expects significant changes to the device to get people to upgrade. The company is also facing problems in China, where government workers are increasingly banned from using its products. Consumer sentiment could turn against the US-branded technology. In light of this, CEO Tim Cook has hailed the new product line as a showcase of the company’s recent breakthroughs.

In addition to the iPhone, the event also saw the launch of new Apple Watches, which focused on eco-friendly materials.

Investors were lukewarm to the news. Shares slipped 1.8 per cent to $176.21 in New York.

What can we expect from the new iPhone 15 models? Here are the details!

iPhone 15

• Apple’s standard model features an improved 48-megapixel primary lens along with other camera enhancements, a rounded aluminium case and a secondary “dynamic island” display that was only on Pro versions in last year’s lineup.
• As expected, Apple switched from its Lightning port to a USB-C connection for charging.
• An improved ultra-wideband chip makes it easier to locate people and objects nearby, while the devices can now call for AAA roadside assistance via satellite if the user is outside of cellular coverage.
• As has become commonplace, there is also a larger-screen Plus model of the iPhone 15, which has a larger display and bigger battery. The price of the iPhone 15 starts at $799, with the larger screen model costing $100 more.

iPhone 15 Pro

• Apple’s higher-end iPhone Pro lineup features improved cameras, a faster A17 Pro chip, better graphics processing and a new titanium casing that Apple says make this year’s devices the lightest Pro models ever.
• The iPhone 15 Pro also features a customizable action button. This can turn on and off in silent mode, launch a favourite app or perform a custom shortcut.
• The iPhone 15 Pro comes with a 6.1-inch display, while the larger-screen iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with a 6.7-inch display.
• On the camera front, the iPhone 15 Pro lineup features a 48-megapixel primary camera with a larger sensor than last year’s model for better low-light performance. The iPhone 15 Pro gets a 3x optical zoom, while the Pro Max gets a 5X zoom – Apple’s largest zoom ever.
• The Pro camera system can also use multiple lenses to capture stereoscopic video for later playback on Apple’s soon-to-be-released Vision Pro mixed reality headset. That feature will arrive later this year.

The iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999 – the same price as last year – while the Pro Max begins at a peppery $1,199, though it comes with double the memory. Pre-orders for all iPhone 15 models begin Friday, with devices arriving in stores on September 22.

Apple Watch

• Launching on September 22 for $399, the Apple Watch Series 9 features an updated Apple-designed S9 chip, a brighter display and a new gesture that allows watch owners to perform actions with a double tap of their thumb and index finger.
• The durable Apple Watch Ultra, which debuted last year, is also updated. The $799 Apple Watch Ultra 2 includes the updated S9 chip.
• A brighter display and an automatically activated night mode. Meanwhile, it offers up to 36 hours of battery life under normal use.
• As part of a series of new environmental efforts, Apple is eliminating the use of leather across its entire product line. Including watch bands and phone cases.

Source: Apple, Yahoo!Finance