There’s not just one new iPhone coming, but three, and that’s not all. We’ll talk about the iPhone 11 range, the new iPad, and Sonos’ big news, plus a little more. All in five minutes.
Transcript
It’s the middle of September, and this is The Wrap, Australia’s fastest technology roundup, and if you’re looking to buy a new phone this year, there’s a fairly solid chance you’ve been waiting for September to make your decision. You see, September is the time when Apple announces its new iPhones, and this year was no different.
September 10 in America, or the very early hours of September 11 saw the launch of the new iPhones, among other things. There were three of them, much like we all expected, because there have been lots of rumours, and many of them were spot on.
Three new iPhones, and no more Roman numerals, as the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max — read as Ex Arr, Ex Ess, and Ex Ess Max — become the iPhone 11. Not the iPhone Eye Eye, but the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. Yes, the names aren’t exactly Apple’s best, but the hardware is.
No matter which one you choose, there’s a new processor, the Apple A13 Bionic, which is up to 20 percent faster.
On the more budget focused model — and budget is a fairly loose term there — the iPhone 11 replaces the iPhone XR, getting the same 6.1 inch LCD screen, but with a slightly different body made from some highly resistant glass, water resistant and all.
The camera is where most of the changes are, as one becomes two. The one camera on what was arguably Apple’s best phone last year, the XR, can now go ultra-wide and standard, giving you a little bit of room as you move out. There’s also a bigger camera up front, and it can do slow motion selfies, for whatever that’s worth.
Of course it’s not the only phone Apple’s releasing, and there’s also the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max, names that don’t come off very Apple, especially since we’ve lost that whole “plus” moniker moving forward.
A little bit different, they’re actually closer to the iPhone XS range, which has now been retired. The 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max are basically the same as each other, except one is bigger. The iPhone 11 Pro is a 5.8 inch phone — like the XS — while the 11 Pro Max is a 6.5 inch iPhone — like the XS Max.
And they’re similar because they sport similar bodies, that newly upgraded A13 chip, and not just two cameras, but now three. On the 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, you can go ultra wide, standard wide, and close, giving Apple the same flexibility as what we’re seeing from other phones this year, including those made by Samsung, Huawei, LG, and others.
The camera design is also interesting, because it takes up a bit of a square bump at the back. It may not appeal to all, though it looks a little like a Bolex 16mm film camera from the 1930s. It’s definitely unique, and given how many brands are using the vertical camera approach Apple tried in the iPhone range, it makes some sense why Apple is trying something different.
Remember that Apple’s slogan from 1997 to 2002 was “think different”, so we could be seeing that from the iPhone 11 Pro’s camera design.
As to how it performs, we can’t tell you yet, because we don’t know. The Galaxy Note 10+ was a great phone, but it didn’t have an amazing camera. So far, the camera to beat is the Huawei P30 Pro, but that may not matter. Apple just has to match it, or get close. Really, it just has to beat Samsung’s camera to grab people, so here’s hoping.
There’s also a new iPad this week, as the standard iPad sees not only a bigger size, but support for the Apple smart keyboard cover, making it just that much more versatile for folks who plan to write on it. At $529, it costs a little more this year, but not enough to complain about.
And there’s a new version of the Apple Watch, too, sporting a screen that is always on, and a compass. Because that’s still a thing.
Apple’s new bits and pieces weren’t all that was new, because Sonos cut the cords on speakers this week, unveiling the wireless Sonos Move. The Move is interesting because it is both a Bluetooth speaker and a wireless Sonos, and it sounds great. It’s bigger than you might expect, bigger than a Sonos One, but still fairly portable, and it’s out later this month.
There’s also a new Bang & Olufsen speaker, a very pricey special edition in the Beosound 1 New York Edition, if you have a spare $2700, and Huawei has new wireless noise cancelling earbuds coming. There’s clearly a lot happening and a lot coming, and the back half of this year is going to be interesting for technology. Hey, we still have two more phone launches to get through. At least.
Lots to look forward to, all in the leadup not just for Christmas, but for 2020, next year.
But that’s all that we have time for on this episode, so you’ve been listening to The Wrap, Australia’s fastest technology roundup. You can find out about the stuff on this show and more at the website. A new episode of The Wrap can be found every Friday on Podcast One, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, but until then, have a great week. We’ll see you next time on The Wrap. Take care.
