iPhone 14 launch: Here are the devices Apple revealed at its ‘Far Out’ event yesterday

After almost a year of anticipation from tech fans, Apple last night unveiled its highly-anticipated new flagship smartphone and a slew of other shiny devices at its annual autumn bonanza. 

At the ‘Far Out’ event on Wednesday evening, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced four variations of the iPhone 14, three Apple Watches and its next generation of wireless earphones. 

The iPhone 14 family can connect to satellite internet, which can be used in remote areas where there is no phone service, and also detect a severe car crash and automatically dial emergency services. 

But criticism of the new iPhone 14 has focused on the price. In the UK, the flagship iPhone 14 model starts at £849, which is £50 more expensive than the iPhone 13 released a year ago. 

Members of the public have already slammed the tech giant for charging more than £800 for one of the new smartwatches in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. 

Here’s MailOnline’s round-up of everything Apple revealed last night, including what the experts make of the new devices – and whether they’re worth the money. 

Apple unveiled four new iPhones, three new Apple Watches and an updated AirPods Pro during a press event on Wednesday in Cupertino, California, United States on September 7, 2022. Pictured, the iPhone 14

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus come in five eye-catching colours: midnight, starlight, blue, purple and product red

iPHONE 14

At the event last night, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced four iPhone 14 models – the standard iPhone 14 model, the iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. 

The standard model retails for £849 and comes with a 6.1-inch screen, while the Plus costs £949 and has a 6.7-inch screen. 

Meanwhile, iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are more expensive, largely because they have more advanced cameras and a sophisticated pill-shaped notch at the top of the screen, called ‘Dynamic Island’. 

Dynamic Island hides the front-facing camera but also changes size to show important alerts, notifications, and activities, blurring the line between hardware and software, according to Apple. 

‘The single pill-shaped Dynamic Island now gives Apple fans a smooth replacement to the notch and is a clever way to utilise screen real estate that was previously wasted,’ said Ru Bhikha, mobiles expert at Uswitch.com

‘We should eventually see this design trickle down to more basic Apple phones in the coming years.’ 

iPhone 14 Pro has a 6.1-inch screen (same as the standard model) and costs £1,099, while Pro Max has a 6.7-inch screen (same as the Plus) and costs a mammoth £1,199. 

Meanwhile, iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max (pictured) have more advanced cameras and a sophisticated pill-shaped notch at the top of the screen, called ‘Dynamic Island’

Dynamic Island is a pill-shaped black notch that conceals the front-facing camera but also changes size to show important alerts, notifications and activities

According to Apple, Dynamic Island, which is only on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, blends ‘the line between hardware and software’

All the iPhone 14 models support satellite connectivity that will let users send satellite SOS messages if they’re caught in an emergency without service.

They also have technology that can detect when users are in a car crash and automatically call emergency services, thanks to a dual-core accelerometer that can detect G-force measurements when vehicles are hit.  

iPhone 14 cameras also have a 49 per cent improvement in low-light capture[, while ‘TrueDepth’ for the front-facing camera focuses on objects and people within the frame, along with the Ultra Wide camera that captures more of the scene.  

All the iPhone 14 models support satellite connectivity that will let users send satellite SOS messages if they’re caught in an emergency without service

For models sold in the US, Apple is also removing the SIM tray, and instead is relying on an eSIM (one that’s embedded directly into the device). 

‘Apple’s transition to an eSIM-only variant of iPhone 14 in the US will provoke intense debate,’ said Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight. 

‘Network operators globally will be watching closely to see whether the move sees a shift in Apple’s balance of power over US carriers.

‘CCS Insight predicts that if the eSIM-only iPhone is successful in the US, Apple will take this approach to advanced markets in Europe and beyond with iPhone 15 in 2023.’ 

One big focus of criticism of the new iPhone 14 from the public and experts alike is that they don’t appear to be hugely different from the iPhone 13 family. 

Analysts also questioned whether the iPhone 14 justifies an upgrade in the midst of the cost of living crisis. 

Paolo Pescatore, analyst at PP Foresight, told MailOnline: ‘With household bills all heading in the wrong direction, it still represents a real test of consumer appetite in forking out for these latest shiny devices. 

‘As well as the true power of Apple’s brand in a tough economic climate with everyone tightening their belts.’

A barrage of global attention accompanies the hotly-anticipated reveal of the new iPhone every September, and this year was no exception

However, he added that: ‘While these subtle improvements may go unnoticed, they remain paramount to improving the entire experience for iPhone users.’ 

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus come in five colours – midnight, starlight, blue, purple and red. iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will be available in deep purple, silver, gold, and space black. 

Unfortunately for Brits, prices of the new phones are more expensive in the UK than the US, thought to be due to the strength of the US dollar. In the US for example, the standard model is $799, but in the UK it’s £849. 

If the UK price for the standard iPhone 14 model were equivalent to the US price, it would be around £695. 

Ben Wood at CCS Insight said: ‘Although iPhone pricing in the US has remained flat, we caution that in markets such as the UK, Apple will be obliged to increase pricing in local currency given the strength of the US dollar.’

According to Wood, if Apple had matched the pricing of last year’s iPhone 13, the company would find huge volumes of phones being ‘transhipped’ – sold into one country but end up being bought and shipped out of the country for profit.

Preorders for all four iPhone 14 models start September 9. They will be available on September 16, apart from the Plus, which becomes available on October 7.  

APPLE WATCHES

Apple announced three new smartwatches – the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch SE 2 and Apple Watch Ultra. 

The £419 ($399) Apple Watch Series 8 has an Always-On display – meaning the screen shows a small amount of quickly glanceable information when it’s idle.  

It also has a strong crack-resistant front crystal, a temperature sensor that provides estimates of when a female wearer is ovulating and the same crash detection technology as the iPhone 14.

From left, an Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch SE on display at an Apple event on the campus of Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, September 7, 2022

Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled the Series 8 (pictured) with an always-on display and provides up to 36 hours on a single charge – twice as much as the Series 7

Apple said: ‘The redesigned Apple Watch SE [pictured] delivers the core Apple Watch experience at a new starting price’. Apple Watch SE starts from £259 or $249

Meanwhile, the Apple Watch Ultra (pictured) is the Cupertino company’s most durable smartwatch to date – and its most expensive, at £849 or $799

Apple Watch SE delivers some of the Series 8’s advanced features, including crash detection, at a lower price (starting from £259 or $249). It does have the ovulation feature, but it’s less comprehensive than on the Series 8. 

The battery of the Series 8 can also go for longer – up to 36 hours from a single charge – than that of the SE 2, thanks to a low power mode. 

Meanwhile, the Apple Watch Ultra is the Cupertino company’s most durable smartwatch to date – and its most expensive, at £849 or $799. 

A rugged smartwatch for ‘extreme athletes’, it has flat sapphire front crystal and a titanium case that wraps around the display, as well as side buttons that work even when the user is wearing gloves. 

Apple Watch Ultra can endure temperatures that fall below 0°F or those that spike above 100°F and has a new, advanced map to help explorers stay on their path. 

The Ultra’s own low-power setting can also extend battery life up to 60 hours. Ultra also has the same crash detection and ovulation estimate technologies as the Series 8. 

Apple Watch Ultra is a rugged smartwatch for ‘extreme athletes’ with a titanium case that wraps around the display and side buttons that work even when the user is wearing gloves

Ru Bhikha at Uswitch.com said the Apple Watch Ultra is ‘clearly aimed at seasoned adventurers’. 

‘The new addition is more rugged and less curved, with an entirely flat display, made of stronger materials,’ he said.

‘With bright orange accents comparable to the Ploprof Omega, the Ultra aims to be taken seriously among luxury divers. One for those wanting to keep up with the Indiana Joneses.’

Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch SE are available to order now, with availability beginning Friday, September 16. The Ultra, meanwhile, is on sale a week later, on September 23. 

AIRPODS 

Right before Apple revealed the highly anticipated smartphones, the company debuted the next-generation AirPods Pro with ‘unrivalled audio quality’ and ‘enhanced active noise cancellation’. 

The second generation Apple AirPods Pro are pictured on display on the campus of Apple Park in Cupertino, California, September 7, 2022

They cancel out twice as much noise and include a new charging case with built-in ‘Find My’ technology.

Designed for those who never know where their AirPods are, the ‘Find My’ technology allows users to locate their AirPods when lost. 

‘The new AirPods Pro deliver even better sound quality, a more immersive listening experience with Personalized Spatial Audio, and transformative audio features like Adaptive Transparency,’ Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of worldwide product marketing.

‘With up to double the noise-cancelling power of their predecessor, the world’s bestselling wireless headphones just got even better.’ 

Apple said the AirPods Pro have better battery power, with six hours on a single charge.

The new earbuds are available to order now and will be in stores on September 23. Like Apple’s other new products, the UK price is higher than the US equivalent (they cost £249 or $249).