Apple fanatics will have to wait another few weeks for the new iPhone, after the company used its annual September event to launch new Apple Watches, iPads and services.
Apple has routinely launched its latest iPhone in September over the past decade – usually celebrated with a live event from the company’s California headquarters.
But with COVID-19, things were very different this year.
In a prerecorded video titled ‘Time Flies’, Apple CEO Tim Cook and his team debuted the Apple Watch Series 6, the iPad Air, and a new Apple One services bundle.
But perhaps the most noteworthy new product is the Apple Watch SE, which will retail for $429 – far cheaper than other Apple Watch models.
Apple is positioning the new device as a ‘budget’ smartwatch, following the launch of its more affordable $749 iPhone SE earlier this year.
There will also be more price-friendly options for iPad users, with Apple launching a $499 model.
The event also demonstrated Apple’s growing shift towards services.
Alongside Apple TV+, Music, News+, Apple users will now have access to Fitness+.
For $14.99 (or for free for three months with the purchase of a new Apple Watch), users will have access to a range of at-home fitness classes, spanning yoga, cycling, dance, strength and core training, and rowing.
For the first time, Apple will also be bundling its services together for users.
‘Apple One’ will give access to Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and 50GB of iCloud storage for $19.95 a month.
There is also a family plan which can give six people access to these services and 200GB of storage for $25.95.
so where’s the iPhone?
It had previously been rumoured that Apple would have to delay the launch of the new iPhone (expected to be the iPhone 12) due to COVID-19.
And these rumours turned out to be entirely correct.
While Apple did not mention the new phone as part of the ‘Time Flies’ event, analysts have tipped an October launch for the new iPhone (or more likely, iPhones).