Apple launches 6.5-inch iPhone Xs Max, Apple Watch Series 4 and more

Apple has introduced its biggest iPhone yet, in the form of the 6.5-inch-screened iPhone Xs Max.

Unveiled at this year’s September Apple Event, the Xs Max features Super Retina display, a faster and improved dual camera system, the first 7-nanometer chip in a smartphone – the A12 Bionic chip – faster Face ID, wider stereo sound, a new gold finish and Dual SIM functionality.

Those who favour a more modest screen will be pleased to know that the Max has a smaller sibling, the iPhone Xs, which packs all the above functionality into a 5.8-inch-screened device.

Both smartphones have a custom OLED design supporting Dolby Vision and HDR10 as well as iOS system-wide color management for “the best color accuracy in the industry”.

“iPhone Xs is packed with next-generation technologies and is a huge step forward for the future of the smartphone. Everything is state of the art including the industry-first 7-nanometer A12 Bionic chip with 8-core Neural Engine, faster Face ID and an advanced dual camera system that shoots Portrait mode photos with Smart HDR and dynamic depth of field,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

“iPhone Xs is not one, but two new iPhone models, and iPhone Xs Max offers the biggest display ever in an iPhone with the biggest battery ever in an iPhone, delivering up to an hour and a half more battery life in your day.”

Both are available for pre-order beginning Friday, September 14 and in stores beginning Friday, September 21.

Apple has also introduced the iPhone XR, which comes with a 6.1-inch LCD Liquid Retina display and is available in six finishes. It features a powerful A12 Bionic chip with next-generation Neural Engine, the TrueDepth camera system, Face ID and an advanced camera system that “creates dramatic portraits using a single camera lens”. iPhone XR will be available to pre-order beginning Friday, October 19 and in stores beginning Friday, October 26.

Aside from iPhones, Apple’s Watch range has been bolstered by the new Series 4 wearable.

While retaining the original Apple Watch design, the fourth-generation has been refined. It new features a display that is over 30 percent larger, yet can be integrated into the thinner, smaller case.

The new interface promises more information with richer detail, and watchOS 5 brings advanced activity and communications features, along with increased health capabilities, including a new accelerometer and gyroscope, which are able to detect hard falls, and an electrical heart rate sensor that can take an electrocardiogram (ECG) using the new ECG app,1, which has been granted a De Novo classification by the FDA.

“We’re thrilled Apple Watch has become an essential part of people’s lives,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer.

“The completely redesigned Apple Watch Series 4 continues to be an indispensable communication and fitness companion, and now with the addition of groundbreaking features, like fall detection and the first-ever ECG app offered directly to consumers, it also becomes an intelligent guardian for your health.”