Apple unveils iPhone 14 at 'far out' event

By Catherine Thorbecke, Samantha Kelly and Aditi Sangal, CNN

Updated 7:58 a.m. ET, September 8, 2022
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3:21 p.m. ET, September 7, 2022

Everything Apple announced at its 'Far Out' event

By CNN Business' Samantha Murphy Kelly

(Apple)
(Apple)

Apple unveiled four new iPhones during a press event on Wednesday, along with three new Apple Watches, an updated AirPods Pro and a feature that could save lives when cell service isn't available.

Here's a closer look:

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus: Apple fans can now buy a larger-sized iPhone without paying the Pro price. The new iPhone 14 (6.1 inches) and the iPhone 14 Plus (6.7 inches) feature longer battery life, the same chip as last year's iPhone 13 Pro model (the A15) and a new camera system, including a 12 MP main camera with bigger pixels, a faster aperture and improved sensors. Other features: front-camera auto focus capabilities; a new action mode that lets users keep videos stable while moving; and the removal of the physical SIM card, opting instead for a digital, "e-SIM" card.

Cost: iPhone 14 starts at $799 and the larger iPhone 14 Plus model starts at $899. Colors: midnight, starlight, blue, purple and Product Red.

iPhone 14 Pro: Apple's premium iPhone line redesigned the polarizing notch in favor of a pill-shaped one. Inside holds the true-depth camera, and includes a brand new feature that Apple is calling "dynamic island," for interactive widgets on your lock screen and access to music controls, timer and other features. The models will come in four colors: space black, silver, gold, and deep purple.

AirPods Pro 2: The latest wireless earbuds have a longer lasting battery, feature a button at the bottom of the case that alerts you to its location and improved and dynamic noise-cancellation technology. Cost: $249; hits stores on Friday.

Three new Apple Watches:

Apple Watch Ultra ($799): The high-end smartwatch is designed for outdoor enthusiasts. Think: deep sea scuba divers and triathletes. It features a brighter display, is more water resistant, comes with an advanced compass and gets 60 hours of use time.

Meanwhile, the Series 8 — which starts at $399 for GPS model and $499 for cellular — narrows in on women's health, with revamped period cycle tracking tools that can predict ovulation. It can also detect when a user has been in a car crash.

The Apple Watch SE, which starts at $249 for GPS models and $299 for cellular, also features crash detection technology, and is faster than the previous model.

Satellite connectivity: Emergency SOS via Satellite could be a life saver for people needing to communicate when off the grid. By pointing an iPhone 14 toward a satellite in the sky, which the phone will help locate, users will be able to send and receive information to get emergency help even if cell service isn't working.

2:40 p.m. ET, September 7, 2022

iPhone 14 Pro unveils notch-free 'dynamic island' feature

From CNN's Aditi Sangal and Adrienne Vogt

(Apple)
(Apple)

The iPhone 14 Pro will come in four colors: space black, silver, gold, and deep purple.

The device's front eliminates the much-maligned notch, has a true-depth camera, and includes a brand new feature that Apple is calling "dynamic island."

The feature will be like a widget on top of your home screen, where you'll be able to see alerts in a concise way without distracting you from what you're already doing on your phone.

You can get a game's updates or know when your ride share has arrived without leaving the app you're in, Apple's Alan Dye said.

"Each alert has its own personality so they are easy to identify in a glance," he added, saying it "displays dynamic activity, always active and visible."

The island is interactive so you can have easy access to controls for music, a timer, and other tools.

The iOS 16 lock screen will also work with dynamic island, Dye said.

(Apple)
(Apple)

Apple also revealed a 48-megapixel camera with a quad-pixel sensor that will "optimize for detail." 

The new sensor groups every four pixels into one large one, according to Apple, and there's an up to two-times improvement in low light compared to the iPhone13 Pro.

2:18 p.m. ET, September 7, 2022

iPhone 14 will start at $799, 14 Plus will start at $899

From CNN Business' Catherine Thorbecke

(Apple)
(Apple)

The latest iPhone 14 will start at $799, Apple announced, which is the same starting price as last year's iPhone 13 but with all of the new features. The larger iPhone 14 Plus model will start at $899.

The news brings relief for those who were worried about price hikes. Ahead of the event, some expected Apple to jack up the price of the latest iPhone 14 due to supply chain hiccups and inflationary pressures.

2:13 p.m. ET, September 7, 2022

Apple unveils satellite connectivity

From CNN Business' Samantha Murphy Kelly

(Apple)
(Apple)

Apple unveiled the long-rumored satellite connectivity feature called Emergency SOS via Satellite. The tool is intended to help people communicate when their cell service isn't working -- a process that Apple said years to make a reality.

The company said it designed and built specific technology so iPhone 14 devices can connect to satellites when not near a terrestrial tower. By allowing users to point their device toward a satellite, which the phone will help locate, users will be able to send and receive information to get emergency help.

The company said it created a short text compression mechanism to condense messages that take about 15 seconds to send if a user has a clear view of the sky. (It may take a few minutes longer if something like foliage is in the way.)

Apple said local providers will be alerted to help call for help.

2:05 p.m. ET, September 7, 2022

Latest iPhones eliminate physical SIM cards

From CNN Business' Catherine Thorbecke

(Apple)
(Apple)

Apple announced that its latest iPhone lineup eliminates the need for a physical SIM card and instead uses a digital, "e-SIM" card.

With this option, you can store multiple e-SIMs on the same device and have multiple cellular plans and phone numbers on the same phone. It also prevents others from removing the physical SIM card if your iPhone is lost or stolen.

Apple said all US models of iPhone will no longer have the SIM tray.

2:19 p.m. ET, September 7, 2022

New Airpods Pro will be available for $249 starting Sept. 9

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

(Apple)
(Apple)

Apple's latest generation of AirPods Pro will be available for $249 starting Sept. 9.

Here's what's new:

  • A light swipe up and down the headphone will increase or decrease volume.
  • AirPods will have 6 hours of listening time with a single charge, which is better than the original AirPods Pro.
  • Each headphone is now equipped to make a noise to help you find it.
  • There is also a speaker at the bottom of the case that will make a loud noise to help you find it.

The new AirPods Pro also come with improved and dynamic noise-cancellation technology, Apple's Mary-anne Rau said Wednesday. The Airpods are able to cancel out double the amount of noise than the original AirPods Pro.

The device's H2 chip "delivers advanced computational audio previously unable to run on a device this size," she added.

There's an adaptive transparency mode, which dynamically reduces harsh environmental noise. The AirPods Pro will react instantaneously to any high decibel noise you're exposed to.

Apple also touted more detail and clarity in sound, personalized spatial audio profile options and a smaller ear tip for listeners.

2:00 p.m. ET, September 7, 2022

Introducing the new iPhone 14 lineup

From CNN Business' Catherine Thorbecke

(Apple)
(Apple)

Apple unveiled its new smartphone lineup on Wednesday, including the new iPhone 14 with a 6.1-inch screen and the iPhone 14 Plus with a larger 6.7-inch screen.

"As you can see we're going big with iPhone 14 and even bigger with iPhone 14 plus," CEO Tim Cook said as he introduced the lineup.

The latest iPhones feature longer battery life and "ceramic shield" smartphone glass.

The new iPhone 14 uses the same chip as last year’s iPhone 13 Pro model (the A15), the first time it’s repeated a chip in years. It comes with a 12 MP main camera with bigger pixels, a faster aperture and improved sensors.

For the first time, the new front camera has auto focus, allowing it to focus at multiple distances in low light for better individual and group selfies. It also has a new action mode that lets users keep videos stable while moving.

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro comes in five colors: midnight, starlight, blue, purple and Product Red.

1:42 p.m. ET, September 7, 2022

Apple is launching an $799 smartwatch called Watch Ultra

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

(Apple)
(Apple)

Apple unveiled a new higher-end $799 smartwatch designed for outdoor enthusiasts,

The new model, called the Apple Watch Ultra, is the "most rugged Apple Watch ever," COO Jeff Williams said on Wednesday. It's designed for “exploration, adventure and endurance,” he said, adding that it "has been in the works for years."

The watch features the biggest, brightest display ever on Apple Watch, making it easier read in the harshest sunlight. It is more water resistant, can be used while wearing gloves and gets 36 hours of battery life on a single charge -- and 60 hours if used with the new battery optimization setting coming this fall.

Apple Watch Ultra will also feature a wayfinder. It includes compass in the dial to work in night, ocean and other topographical conditions, according to Williams.

1:40 p.m. ET, September 7, 2022

Apple unveils new affordable Watch SE models

From CNN Business' Catherine Thorbecke

The Apple Watch SE.
The Apple Watch SE. (Apple)

Apple unveiled updates to the more affordable Apple Watch SE. These smartwatches have the same crash detection tech and WatchOS 9 operating system, but come at a starting price of $249 for GPS models and $299 for cellular models.