Apple event - as it happened: iPhone 15 brings new charging ports and ‘carbon neutral Apple Watch

Apple launches new Series 9 watch

Apple has launched brand new iPhones and two new Watches at its biggest event of the year.

The new iPhone 15 range has brought extra controversy this year, given the switch to a new charging port at the bottom of the phone.

Alongside those updates, Apple unveiled faster chips, better battery life and design tweaks for the higher-end, Pro versions of the phone.

In addition to the new products, Apple updated both the normal and Ultra version of the Apple Watch, both featuring new chip technology.

The AirPods also received an update to swap the Lightning charging port in the bottom for USB-C – beginning the process of getting rid of a charging technology that has been used for more than a decade in Apple’s most popular products.

The event was live streamed from Apple’s California headquarters, beginning at 10am local pacific time, 1pm eastern, or 6pm in the UK. You can catch up with all the news and announcements here.

Key Points

• Apple switches to USB-C charging for iPhone 15
• Price and release dates for the new iPhone 15 range and Apple Watches
• Watch the full event

[12 September 2023 18:08 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Apple iPhone 15 event: First up, Apple Watch

Apple is on track to ship its Vision Pro headset early next year, Tim Cook says, though we’re unlikely to get any more updates about that today.

Instead we’ll be focussing mostly on Apple Watch and iPhone. First up is Apple Watch.

[12 September 2023 18:12 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Apple iPhone 15 event: Apple Watch to feature its most powerful chip

Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer is on a pier in San Francisco to introduce the next generation of Apple Watch.

Series 9 comes with “amazing new features that you’ll use every single day”, he says.

(Apple)

It will be powered by the S9 chip, which is the most powerful chip to ever feature in an Apple smartwatch, while also enabling an improved 18-hour battery life.

(Apple)

[12 September 2023 18:15 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Apple iPhone 15 event: Apple Watch Series 9 to be brightest ever

Apple is making its Series 9 smartwatch its brightest smartwatch ever, doubling the number of nits compared to the previous Series 8 generation.

(Apple)

[12 September 2023 18:17 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Apple iPhone 15 event: Series 9 Watch introduces ‘double tap'

This is a handy feature: double tap. It allows wearers of the Apple Watch Series 9 to control the smartwatch with the same hand that it’s being worn on.

This means if you’re holding a coffee or dog lead in your other hand, you’ll still be able to answer calls or scroll through widgets by tapping your index finger against your thumb.

(Apple)

[12 September 2023 18:27 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Apple iPhone 15 event: Apple Watch is firm’s first Carbon Neutral product

We’re moving away from hardware for a moment to hear about Apple’s environmental pledges.

“Our mission is to make products customers love and protect the planet at the same time,” one employee says.

Starting this year, all Apple Watch manufacturing will be powered by 100 per cent clean energy, while more recycled materials will be used in its production. It is also Apple’s first ever carbon neutral product.

[12 September 2023 18:29 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Apple event live: All the new Apple Watch features

Here’s a rundown of all the new updates for Apple Watch Series 9:

(Apple)

[12 September 2023 18:32 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Apple event live: Apple Watch Ultra 2 unveiled

The new Apple Watch Ultra 2 is here, which comes with “incredible new features to elevate any adventure”.

It comes with the brightest display Apple has ever created, 1,000 nits brighter than the standard Apple Watch Series 9.

(Apple)

[12 September 2023 18:34 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Apple event live: All the new Apple Watch Ultra 2 features

Here’s everything you need to know about the Apple Watch Ultra 2:

(Apple)

[12 September 2023 18:35 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Apple event live: release date revealed for new Apple Watches

Orders open today for the new Apple Watches, and will be available from 22 September.

You can read all about them in our article here:

[12 September 2023 18:39 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

Apple event live: iPhone 15 unveiled

Kaiann Drance, vice president of iPhone marketing at Apple, is here to tell us about the new iPhone 15.

The iPhone 15 is twice as bright as the iPhone 14 and is 6.1 inches for the standard model and 6.7 inches for iPhone 15 Plus.

It also comes in five colours: pink, yellow, green, blue and black.

(Apple)