Apple has held its first in person launch event since 2019 and introduced a new iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro range which include improved camera systems, new displays, crash detection, satellite connectivity, a faster A16 Bionic processor and even longer battery life.
The iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max were unveiled in the packed Steve Jobs Theatre at Apple Park.
Apple also launched the new Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra.
The new iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will be available to pre-order this week and will go on sale in Australia on Friday, September 16.
The iPhone 14 Plus will go on sale on October 7.
The iPhone 14 has a 6.1-inch display while the iPhone 14 Plus takes that up to 6.7-inch with both offering ceramic shield protection.
For the first time in years, iPhone customers will now be able to purchase a more affordable 6.7-inch iPhone with the iPhone 14 Plus.
This option was previously restricted to the most expensive iPhone in the range – the iPhone Pro Max.
The iPhone 14 is powered by the A15 Bionic chip.
On the camera side, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus has a 12-megapixel main camera and 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera with a larger sensor and faster aperture to deliver greater detail in all lighting conditions.
It also has a new TrueDepth front 12-megapixel camera which now includes auto focus for the first time.
Video capture has also improved with Action Mode with more advanced stabilisation so you can capture steady video without a gimbal.
iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro have two new safety features – crash detection to notify emergency services if you’re in a car crash – and satellite connectivity when you’re off the grid and out of cellular range.
Emergency SOS connects to communication satellites with new technology to show users the correct direction to point the iPhone to create a connection.
Messages are also compressed for faster transmission.
There are also preset messages for faster communication if your stranded and/or injured.
Users can also send their location through the Find My app via satellite with this new messaging feature.
iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus will be available in five colours – blue, midnight, starlight, purple and (PRODUCT)RED.
Apple has discontinued the 5.4-inch iPhone mini model.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have had the biggest change with an improved Super Retina XDR ProMotion Display that no longer includes a notch cut out.
The new screen has a small pill shaped cut-out called the Dynamic Island which allows access for the front facing camera and sensors and changes shape to suit your notifications or background activity.
Instead of a static cut out, Apple has made this typically unusable space and made it an active and shifting part of the display.
Once again, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are made from surgical grade aluminium and available in four finishes including space black, gold, silver and the new deep purple.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR displays respectively with ceramic shield protection.
The display has an even higher outdoor brightness at 2000 nits which makes it twice as bright as the iPhone 13 Pro.
iPhone 14 Pro now includes Always On Display so you can see information on the screen even when it’s locked.
On the performance side the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are powered by Apple’s brand new A16 Bionic processor – which the company says is the fastest chip ever in a smartphone.
It has a new 6-core GPU and is up to 40 per cent per cent faster while still being extremely power efficient.
But it’s in the camera department where the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have seen the largest improvement with the inclusion of a 48-megapixel camera with quad pixel sensor.
The quad pixel sensor offers more options to optimise the image and allow in more light.
The other 12-megapixel ultra-wide has a larger sensor and the 12-megapixel telephoto lenses also has a new 2x zoom mode.
The iPhone 14 Pro models will allow users to shoot in the advanced ProRes video codec to keep it in line with the video delivery format for feature films and broadcasts.
It also includes Action Mode for super steady videos.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus will have 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB memory variants.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will be offered in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB capacities.
The iPhone 14 Pro is priced from $1,749 with the iPhone 14 Pro Max starting at $1,899
The iPhone 14 will be priced from $1,399.
* Stephen Fenech travelled to Cupertino as a guest of Apple
