Apple Launches iPhone 17, Apple Watch 11, AirPods Pro 3, & More
Apple has released a series of updated products during their September 9 special event, with the focus being on new iPhone 17 models including iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro, along with new Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch SE 3, and AirPods Pro 3.
The event itself follows Apple’s new normal script of being ultra produced and scripted with a huge cast of employees giving little presentations on whatever product they’re telling you about. There’s also plenty of cutscenes, video panning, and slow motion twirls of various products in various stages of production, lots of nearly AI-looking scenes of Apple executives talking in sterile environments soundtracked to what some people would call music, and tons of corporate marketing speak, which if you’ve already seen a modern Apple event you’ve seen this one too then, just swap out some product names and slides.
All the new products that are announced were what the mainstream rumor mill expected, with refreshed iPhone models, Apple Watch models, and updated AirPod Pro 3. If you want to get caught in the weeds of new chips and marketing lingo (“successive anodizing baths” etc), you can certainly do that, but basically every newly updated device is better than its predecessor. If you were hoping for a semi-synthetic humanoid robot assistant or intergalactic space ship, or some other ultra advanced technology indistinguishable from magic, well maybe that’ll be out next year, or next decade, or next century, because for now you get an improved iPhone and Apple Watch instead.
iPhone 17 Lineup Announced
As expected, the new iPhone 17 series is faster with better features than prior iPhone models. This should come as a shock to nobody, as Apple has yet to release a new iPhone that is slower with fewer features than a prior model (well, except when they removed the headphone jack anyway and yes I am still bitter about that).
You’ll find the base model iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone Air, with the latter model being a new model introduced into the iPhone lineup that is thinner and lighter than the other iPhone models (remember when Apple used to just have one new iPhone model and it was always faster, thinner, and lighter than the prior iPhone model? Simpler times!).
Each new iPhone has a better camera and faster chip than prior models, with some new software-limited features too encouraging you to get a new iPhone.
All new models of iPhone 17 can be pre-ordered this Friday September 12, and will be widely available on September 19. Prices start at $1099 for iPhone 17 Pro, $999 for iPhone Air, and $799 for iPhone 17.
New Apple Watch Models
Apple Watch has been updated as well and Apple Watch Series 11 includes some new features you might appreciate, like a high blood pressure notification, which won’t give you your blood pressure reading directly, but will attempt to inform the user if over time their blood pressure is elevated. Kind of like the a-fib notifications. Also, the latest Apple Watch 11 is faster with better battery life than prior models and offers 5G connectivity.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 is also updated to be faster and better, with a slightly bigger screen too, and 5G connectivity.
Apple Watch SE 3 is new as well, which is also faster and better than prior SE models, but not so great that it overtakes the Series 11.
Perhaps the most exciting announcement for existing Apple Watch users is that Apple Watch Series 9 and newer will gain the high blood pressure notificaiton via watchOS 26 software update next week.
Apple Watch Series 11 starts at $399 and is available next week.
AirPods Pro 3
AirPods Pro 3 are freshly updated and include better audio, plus a heart rate monitoring feature, which is kind of intriguing to have on a pair of headphones. There’s also improvements to active noise cancellation and battery life.
iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, & MacOS Tahoe 26 Release Dates Announced
Apple also announced that iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26 will be available for everyone to download on September 15, so get your devices backed up and ready to go for that.
And there’s your basic overview of what Apple announced today; updated iPhones, updated Apple Watch models, updated AirPods Pro. Exciting times! More to come.
