Yahoo Finance Apple event - as it happened: iPhone 15 brings new charging ports and ‘carbon neutral Apple 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
Apple iPhone 15 event: Everything announced at today’s launch
21:30 , Anthony Cuthbertson
At Apple’s biggest event of the year, we said hello to four new iPhones and two new Apple Watches, while also saying goodbye to leather and Lightning charging ports.
The Independent’s tech editor Andrew Griffin has a full round-up of all the biggest announcements from today’s ‘Wonderlust’ event:
Apple reveals when huge new iPhone update is coming
Hello and welcome...
10:28 , Andrew Griffin
... to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s Apple event, which is expected to include four new iPhones, a couple of new Watches and an AirPods update.
Twitter/X launches ‘Hashflags’ for Apple event
10:35 , Andrew Griffin
Twitter (or X) has launched a new “hashflag” or “hashmoji” in celebration of the Apple Event. If you like a tweet that includes the #AppleEvent hashtag, then you’ll see this custom animation.
Like, Unlike, Repeat#AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/FcIDXB5rW7
— Hashmojis (@hashmojis) September 12, 2023
It’s not clear whether Apple has paid for this. Usually, those animations have to be commissioned from Twitter.
The two companies have long had an unusual relationship: Apple has a Twitter account, but doesn’t really post. That has become even more unusual since Elon Musk took over, with the two companies publicly fighting and former marketing boss Phil Schiller even quitting Twitter.
Some things seemingly carry on, though. Apple has had animations in the past, and still does under Elon Musk.
‘See ya soon!'
15:08 , Andrew Griffin
Tim Cook, who usually tweets in the early morning of an Apple event, has now done so.
It’s almost Time! See ya soon! #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/gy47f9ZBjU
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) September 12, 2023
What does it mean? “USB-C ya soon”? Why is “Time” capitalised – for the Apple Watch? Who knows.
Why this year’s iPhone could be very controversial, part 1: Ports
15:29 , Andrew Griffin
This year could bring controversy in a number of ways. First among them is in the ports.
Apple has been using Lightning to charge its iPhones for more than 10 years, after it was introduced with the iPhone 5 in 2012. It took over from the 30-pin dock connector, which was much larger and less smart.
Now Apple is widely rumoured to be moving to USB-C in the iPhone 15 line-up. It probably doesn’t want to – the decision has been forced in part by the European Union, which has a new rule requiring all consumer devices to have the same ports. It probably wanted to wait a couple of years and then get rid of ports altogether, instead using wireless chargers.
Last time Apple changed its charging port, it caused a huge stir, with customers complaining that all of their accessories had become defunct overnight. Some suggested it was a cynical move by Apple, looking to profit with the purchase of new cables and hardware – though that is less compelling now.
Will it cause a similar stir this time around? Probably not. Many people will already have USB-C chargers (from the iPad and MacBook, if not from elsewhere). Apple will be able to point to faster charging and data transfers.
But it doesn’t control the narrative; the world does. So we (and Apple) will have to wait and see how it is received.
Why this year’s iPhone could be very controversial, part 2: Price
15:35 , Andrew Griffin
... the other big possible controversy is the price. iPhones often go up in price – but it could be even more dramatic this year.
Apple has recently been rumoured to be looking to push into higher-priced, even more premium devices. The first of them was the Apple Watch Ultra, last year. This year might bring the iPhone 14 Ultra, too, which if nothing else might just be a renamed iPhone Pro Max.
The plan seems to be to increase revenues by giving people even more options for spending money. It seems to have worked with the Apple Watch – which, anecdotally, I’ve seen on a lot more people’s wrists than I’d expected.
Previously, it had tried the opposite: cheaper versions of its devices, such as the iPhone Mini and Apple Watch SE. It might keep going with those, too. But it’s pushing at the other end of the price spectrum, as well.
Why this year’s iPhone could be lacking excitement
15:40 , Andrew Griffin
Maybe it won’t be so controversial. This year’s iPhone could also be fairly lacking in excitement. (Or, of course, it could be both dull and controversial; many things are...)
Rumours suggest that there will be no major redesign; it will look mostly like the existing phone. There will be no big changes on the inside, it seems, too.
Apple has a knack for making seemingly normal things look exciting. Will it manage it this year – and how?
No iPads to come today or any other time this year, report says
15:52 , Andrew Griffin
There’ll be no iPads at this event. That much was known. But there’ll be no new iPads this year, probably, either.
That’s according to usually reliable Apple analyst Ming-chi Kuo, on Twitter.
今年年底前不大可能有新款iPad。
--
New iPad models are unlikely before the year's end.— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) September 12, 2023
How much will the iPhone cost – and what deals can you expect?
16:28 , Andrew Griffin
Here, from our colleagues over on Indy Best, is a rundown of how much the iPhone 15 might cost – and what deals might be to come.
What’s rumoured for the iPhone?
16:29 , Andrew Griffin
New cameras, new processors, a sort of new design and a new port. Here’s everything that’s rumoured for the iPhone 15 (all four of them).
Everything Apple is set to reveal
16:30 , Andrew Griffin
We’re pretty sure we’re getting a whole set of new iPhones. What else is to come at today’s event?
(Probably a couple of watches, and some AirPods that also switch to USB-C. And maybe another look at the headset?)
Apple Store goes down ahead of event
16:47 , Andrew Griffin
With just over an hour to go, the Apple Store has gone down. Users will see a dusty animation, similar to the one in the invite. (That appears to show the colours of the iPhone 14 Pro and the dust might be a reference to a new manufacturing process, but nobody knows for sure.)
Unusually, the Apple Store is up more than usual. The iPhone page is still live, for instance – but if you click to buy anything then it will show you the message about it being down. That’s the same with all Apple products, including those that aren’t expected to be updated today, such as the Macs.
How to watch today’s Apple event
16:48 , Andrew Griffin
Apple provides a host of options for watching today’s event. You can do so on its own events page, for instance, or you can use the Apple Events app on the Apple TV.
The easiest way, however, is probably through YouTube. You can find the video below. If you click through, you can even click to classify yourself as waiting and get a notification when the presentation starts.
Apple iPhone 15 event: company’s share price tumbles
17:10 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Apple’s share price has fallen by around 7 per cent since the start of the month, though the rare setback for the world’s most valuable company may be completely unrelated to today’s event.
The slide began when reports emerged that China might ban government employees from using iPhones in an effort to reduce its dependence on US technologies - similar to what the US has been doing with certain Chinese technologies. China is Apple’s largest international market, accounting for roughly 20 per cent of its revenues, and the news wiped around $200 billion from Apple’s market cap.
Despite the dip, Apple’s share price is still up by nearly 40 per cent since the start of the year. Nevertheless, executives and shareholders will be hoping for a boost today to get out of the latest slump.
Apple iPhone 15 event: Change of charger could see spike in e-waste
17:22 , Anthony Cuthbertson
The widely-rumoured change to USB-C charging for the iPhone 15 could see a spike in e-waste, as Apple customers upgrading to the latest device will no longer be able to use their old cables.
While this shift to a more standardised charger is designed to ultimately reduce e-waste, environmental experts are encouraging iPhone users to be considerate with any redundant technologies.
Scott Butler, executive director, Recycle Your Electricals, tells The Independent that there are enough cables stashed in UK homes to circle the Earth five times. Here’s what he had to say about what to do with old cables:
Charging cables are a great example of a hidden electrical that when broken are too often thrown away in the bin instead of being recycled. We’ve all got drawers of cables at home that no longer work with the device we’ve now got.
What most people don’t know is these unused cables contain precious metals like copper and they can be recycled. If you’re getting a new phone and your old cable isn’t compatible, check out where it can be recycled and turned into something new by visiting the Recycle Your Electricals postcode locator.
Scott Butler, executive director, Recycle Your Electricals
Apple iPhone 15 event: Which new feature caused the biggest stir?
17:33 , Anthony Cuthbertson
There’s a host of rumoured features and upgrades for the new range of iPhones - from new charging ports to a tweaked design - but will any of them match the buzz surrounding previous announcements?
Analysis from Mobiles.co.uk has revealed which iPhone features caused the biggest stir from previous events, with the number one spot held by the unveiling of the Dynamic Island last year. It generated close to 5,000 online news articles, more than 1,000 more than the next most-written about feature, Always On. You can see the full top 10 here:
Apple iPhone 15 event: Is Apple about to become the world’s number one smartphone brand?
17:47 , Anthony Cuthbertson
The unveiling of Apple’s latest range of iPhones comes at a difficult time for the global smartphone industry. Projections last month from Counterpoint Research suggest shipments will fall this year to their lowest level in a decade, dropping from a peak of 1.57 billion units in 2017 to just 1.15 billion in 2023.
The drop may actually work out well for Apple, as it leaves the company in a good position to become the world’s number one smartphone brand for the first time ever.
“So far this year it’s been record low upgrades across all carriers,” said Jeff Fieldhack, a research director at Counterpoint Research. “The iPhone 15 launch is a window for carriers to steal high-value customers.”
So will Apple’s event be enough to reignite interest in the flagging smartphone market?
“The September event never disappoints – no doubt it will be action-packed and another slick Apple experience,” Paolo Pescatore, an analyst and founder of PP Foresight, tells The Independent. “All attention will be on the new iPhone line-up which remains a core product for the company. For some, they will be seen as incremental updates. Being able to differentiate between models will be paramount to drive premium pricing.”
You can read more about the collapse of global smartphone demand here:
iPhone 15: Global smartphone demand collapses as Apple aims to take top spot
Apple iPhone 15 event: 10 minutes until showtime
17:50 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Just 10 minutes to go now until Apple begins its biggest unveiling event of the year.
You can find the live stream now at the top of this page if you want to watch along.
Apple iPhone 15 event: Live stream attracts huge interest
18:01 , Anthony Cuthbertson
We’re underway! For the next couple of hours Apple chief executive Tim Cook and his colleagues will be leading us through all of the latest announcements.
Interest seems to be particularly this year, with more than a million people currently tuned in to Apple’s YouTube channel to find out what’s about to be unveiled.
Apple iPhone 15 event live: Tom Cook gets the show underway
18:05 , Anthony Cuthbertson
After an emotional video about Apple Watch and iPhone owners being saved by the emergency features on the devices, Apple boss Tim Cook gets us underway in typically enthusiastic style:
“Good morning!” he says.
Apple iPhone 15 event: First up, Apple Watch
18:08 , Anthony Cuthbertson
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.
Apple iPhone 15 event: Apple Watch to feature its most powerful chip
18:12 , Anthony Cuthbertson
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.
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 iPhone 15 event: Apple Watch Series 9 to be brightest ever
18:15 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Apple is making its Series 9 smartwatch its brightest smartwatch ever, doubling the number of nits compared to the previous Series 8 generation.
Apple iPhone 15 event: Series 9 Watch introduces ‘double tap'
18:17 , Anthony Cuthbertson
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 iPhone 15 event: Apple Watch is firm’s first Carbon Neutral product
18:27 , Anthony Cuthbertson
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.
Apple event live: All the new Apple Watch features
18:29 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Here’s a rundown of all the new updates for Apple Watch Series 9:
Apple event live: Apple Watch Ultra 2 unveiled
18:32 , Anthony Cuthbertson
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 event live: All the new Apple Watch Ultra 2 features
18:34 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Here’s everything you need to know about the Apple Watch Ultra 2:
Apple event live: release date revealed for new Apple Watches
18:35 , Anthony Cuthbertson
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:
Here’s the brand new Apple Watch
Apple event live: iPhone 15 unveiled
18:39 , Anthony Cuthbertson
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 event live: no more leather in iPhone or Apple Watch devices
18:42 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Apple will no longer use leather in its products.
Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives, noted that leather is a popular material for accessories. But it has considerable environmental impact, she noted, especially at the scale that Apple uses it.
As such, it has committed to phasing out those materials. Instead, it will rely on new materials that have been especially developed.
For the Apple Watch’s sport loop, for instance, it has changed the material to use 82 per cent recycled yarn.
You can read more about it here:
Apple to stop using leather in all new products
Apple event live: iPhone 15 to come with improved camera
18:45 , Anthony Cuthbertson
The camera on the iPhone 15 is getting a few upgrades, to enable “next-generation portraits” and improved colour and low-light performance.
Improved focus and depth control will also allow more editing options with photos after they’ve been taken.
“iPhone 15 makes it easy to take great looking photos and videos every day.”
Apple event live: iPhone 15 camera specs
18:46 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Here are all the specs for the new iPhone 15 camera:
Apple event live: iPhone 15 comes with noise cancellation and improved satellite features
18:51 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Apple’s new iPhone 15 will come with new noise cancellation to block out background distractions while on calls.
There’s also new emergency features, most notably roadside assistance via satellite. This allows users to get help if they breakdown in areas without phone signal or WiFi. The satellite features will be free for two years for anyone who buys an iPhone 15.
Now on to chargers...
Apple event live: iPhone 15 and Earpods to get USB-C charger
18:54 , Anthony Cuthbertson
What everyone already knew: Apple is switching to USB-C ports for the iPhone 15. Apple Earpods are also getting it, so they can connect without an adaptor.
This brings Apple in line with all other major smartphone manufacturers, following a directive from the European Union last year to standardise chargers.
Apple event live: All iPhone 15 specs
18:55 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Here’s everything you need to know about the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus:
Apple event live: iPhone 15 Pro unveiled
18:58 , Anthony Cuthbertson
On to the iPhone 15 Pro. It is “the most pro iPhone we’ve ever created”, according to Tim Cook.
It is the lightest Pro model thanks to a new titanium design. It also comes with the thinnest borders ever in an iPhone, making it “a delight to hold in the hand”.
Like the standard iPhone 15, it comes in two sizes: 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches.
Apple event live: More about the new iPhone 15 and USB-C introduction
19:03 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Our tech editor Andrew Griffin has stories on the new iPhone 15 and the introduction of USB-C charging ports. You can read them here:
Apple is changing the plug on the bottom of your iPhone
Apple event live: Watch the unveiling of USB-C charging ports
19:04 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Here’s the moment Apple unveiled the new way to charge its latest iPhones:
Apple event live: Everything you need to know about the iPhone 15 Pro
19:21 , Anthony Cuthbertson
The iPhone 15 Pro is being geared towards gamers, photographers and filmmakers, with the new camera coming with improved focal lengths and better low light performance. It comes with four times resolution compared to the previous generation, as well as a 5x optical zoom on its telephoto camera lens.
Spatial video capture allows videos to be captured in 3D to relive them with Apple Vision Pro.
Prices start at $999 for the iPhone 15 Pro and $1199 iPhone 15 Pro Max, with both available for preorder from today.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new iPhone 15 Pro:
You can read all about it here:
Here’s the new iPhone Pro, made out of an entirely new material
Apple event live: Prices on iPhone range updated
19:22 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Here are the updated prices on Apple’s range of iPhones:
Apple event live: ‘Thank you for joining us'
19:25 , Anthony Cuthbertson
And that’s it! Tim Cook is back to say goodbye.
“Thank you for joining us, have a great day,” he says.
We’ll have a full round up of everything announced soon.
Apple event: Watch the full live stream
19:34 , Anthony Cuthbertson
If you missed the unveiling of the new iPhone 15 and Apple Watch range, or just want to watch it again, the full stream is available right here:
Apple iPhone 15 event: New privacy features ‘setting new standards'
20:03 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Something that went relatively under the radar compared to the main hardware announcements today is the new privacy and security features, which experts have described as a “testament to Apple’s strong commitment to user control and transparency”.
Here’s what Josh Stein, vice president of security product strategy at the software firm Jamf has to say about it:
They are redefining what it means to be a leader in the technology industry and setting the standards when it comes to privacy and security, which other major technology companies will now be required to meet.
It places an emphasis on privacy by design but not interfering with the user’s experience. Apple has always focused on integrating privacy and security controls that are easy for end users to understand and configure.
The updates to the new features address concerns around the interconnectedness of devices and the need to safeguard one another from online risks. For example, Apple’s Intelligent Tracking Prevention technology removes trackers from links that are shared in Messages, Mail, and Safari. Additionally, the Communication Safety API allows certain images and videos to be scanned for inappropriate content while still maintaining user privacy. Such privacy and security features empower users to take control of their online data.
Josh Stein, Jamf
Apple iPhone 15 event: ‘No headline-grabbing updates’
20:21 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Some more post-event analysis coming through, with Ben Wood, a chief analyst at CCS Insight, lamenting a lack of “headline-grabbing updates”. However, he does praise the switch to a USB-C connector, describing it as a “victory for common sense”.
Here’s what he had to say:
The lack of headline-grabbing updates will disappoint some, but isn’t a surprise given the maturity of the iPhone and Watch. It reflects just how refined the iPhone and Watch devices are and how tough it has become to deliver truly disruptive updates every year.
The move to a USB-C connector is a success story for EU regulators over big tech despite efforts by Apple to resist it in 2020. It will irk some people but ultimately, it’s a victory for common sense becoming the standard connector for all consumer electronics devices.
Ben Wood, CCS Insight
Apple event: Share price fails to recover
20:49 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Today’s event has failed to provide the boost that Apple executives and shareholders were hoping for, after the share price tumbled last week amid reports that the Chinese government will ban employees from using iPhones.
Apple’s share price remains down by around 7 per cent since the start of the month, but it is still up by nearly 40 per cent since the start of the year, and more than 4,000 per cent up since the first iPhone was unveiled in 2007. Here’s what the bigger picture looks like:
Apple event: iPhone 15 and Apple Watch prices and release date
21:08 , Anthony Cuthbertson
The iPhone 15s and Apple Watches announced today are already available for pre-order, and will be available in stores from next Friday, 22 September.
Here’s all the details about the price and release dates for Apple’s latest smartwatches and phones:
Apple reveals when huge new iPhone update is coming
Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 price: When you can pre-order in the UK
