Apple event 2020 as it happened: Apple Watch 6 and iPad Air 4, but no iPhone 12
(Image credit: Apple)
Apple's iPhone 12 event may have been delayed this year, but we've now heard all there is to hear about the new gadgets coming from Apple - we've got new Watches and iPads to talk about.
For those that want to info quickly - here's the breakdown (you can find out more in the respective hubs or the live blog below):
- The main talking point was the Apple Watch SE, a low-price version of the Watch that brings the higher-end features of the Watch range but at a slightly lower price of $279.
- That's alongside the new Apple Watch 6, which should have a longer-lasting battery thanks to the new S6 chipset inside - alongside a blood oxygen sensor, which can spot diseases by monitoring the level of O2 in your blood.
- There's a new iPad Air 4 (2020), which is taking the key elements of the iPad Pro and bringing them to a lower price point - plus using the new A14 Bionic chipset we expect to power the new iPhone 12.
- And there's also a new 'new iPad', the basic model in the range, which has received a few enhancements inside the 10.2-inch screen.
- Intriguingly, we did get the vaunted Apple One subscription service, where you can bundle up your Apple services in one place and save some money - alongside that is Fitness+, which takes the metrics from your Apple Watch and puts them on your iPhone, iPad or Apple TV screen and gives you real time feedback on what's going on with your health right in front of your eyes.
(Image credit: Apple)
- The new range of software - from iOS 14 to iPadOS 14 to WatchOS 7 to tvOS 14 - are all being made available tomorrow, Wednesday September 15.
- Intriguingly, we didn't get the Apple AirTags - what's going on with them? Surely they should have made an appearance by now? But... once again a no show.
Apple WWDC 2020 live blog - as it happened
You can see it all unfold below - this is the Apple event (without an iPhone 12) as it happened.
11:03 - iPadOS 14 is coming, as well as WatchOS 7 (for that sleep app and handwashing capabilities). And don't forget l'il old tvOS 14, which is also coming alongside.
That looks like it's all done - thankfully not the full two hours, because I'm frankly getting exhausted. There's been an absolute glut to get through.
I'm intrigued by the Apple Watch 6 - will it really have the extended battery life you'd assume it would, given the sleep tracking on board? We'll see.
11:02 - Back to Tim again - here we go. iOS 14 is coming tomorrow.
11:00 - The new iPad Air feels like a fusion between the 'basic' new iPad at the bottom of the range and the iPad Pro - more power, but not an extreme amount. Still pro, but not Pro, if you know what I mean.
That makes sense given the price - it'll start at $599, and will be coming next month (so that must be something to do with the chipset, right? Lining up with the iPhone 12, perhaps?)
Also, this iPad also comes with a 100% recycled aluminum enclosure as well as recycled tin in the solder too. Apple is making a big deal of being so environmentally friendly today.
10:58 - As predicted by a number of leakers, the iPad Air 2020 is going to use USB-C, which does indeed make it more like a laptop. There's a 12MP camera on the back - single lens - with an f/1.8 aperture on there too.
The speakers are going to be going into stereo mode - one on each end, rather than the four chambers on the iPad Pro.
There's a 10 hour battery life, and it's coming with the Magic Keyboard too - arguably the best accessory ever to land on an iPad (it's miles better than the normal smart keyboard).
10:54 - There's a host of improvements that this new chipset is bringing for the iPad Air, and developers have already been getting their hands on it.
First up - one of my favorites: DJ Pro. You can scratch and control the vinyl without touching the display (not sure that you'd want to do that - but then again, it's not like you're touching an actual record).
Pixelmator is up next, and it's going to use the Neural Engine that will allow you to zoom into the display and enhance as you do, and works out how it should be sharper.
(Image credit: Apple)
10:53 - It's going to be 40% faster than the previous iPad Air - and once again, Apple is comparing it to an HP laptop. Whether an iPad does rival a laptop is still up for debate, but Apple is going all-in on how much more powerful its tablet are than comparable tablets.
10:52 - It's a 5nm process, which means a large increase in efficiency and more performance in 'nearly every aspect of the chip'. This could really improve the iPhone battery life if / when it lands in the new model.
10:51 - It's as simple as touching the button to login, using a crystal enclosure to be able to see what's inside.
It's going to get a new chipset too - the one for the iPhone 12? It's the new A14 Bionic... surely we're getting a preview here.
I wonder if that should have already been launched in the new iPhone - you know, the one that's been delayed.
10:48 - Now we're getting to the meat of it - it's the iPad Air, and it's being completely redesigned, according to Tim Cook.
It's got an all-new look - five colors, including blue, rose gold, green and the standard colors we're used to.
There's a 2360 x 1640 resolution display, the True Tone technology from other devices - but wait, what's this on TouchID? It's going to be in the power button.
That's been rumored for the iPhone for years and years - wonder if it'll come to the 'cheaper' iPhone 12.
10:45 - We're seeing what we already know about iPadOS, but the new tablet will use the A12 Bionic chipset from the iPhone XS. It's got a 10.2-inch Retina Display, and will start at $399, or $299 for educators.
It's going to be available for pre-order from today, and you can get your hands on it from Friday September 18 (just like the Apple Watch 6).
10:44 - We're talking about the new iPad - 8th generation. It'll support the Apple Pencil, and combined with iPadOS 14 too.
10:41 - We've moved onto iPad now. Tim Cook is speaking us through what the latest iPad stats are like, and how more people than ever... oh wait, here's a brand new tablet. Let's jump into it!
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