Apple Unveils New iPhone 17 Models and Apple Watch Updates

Strategic Insights -

Apple is introducing a reshaped lineup of iPhone 17 models and across-the-board updates to its popular smartwatches, aiming to keep customers loyal and locked in ahead of a crucial holiday shopping season. The new products were unveiled by Apple CEO Tim Cook, who kicked off the gadget-heavy keynote at 1 p.m. Eastern time.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new iPhone 17 is said to have a slightly larger, higher-quality screen, along with upgraded processor and camera capabilities.
  • The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are being redesigned, with a horizontal camera bar to house more sophisticated sensors, including upgraded telephoto cameras for sharper long-range shooting and the ability to record video in 8K.
  • The Plus-sized iPhone model may be dropped in favor of a new, slimmer variant called the iPhone 17 Air, which is likely to have one main 48-megapixel camera and the same, non-Pro chip set found in the standard iPhone 17.
  • The Apple Watch Series 11 is expected to have under-the-hood changes to performance, and possibly new health features like a basic blood pressure sensing tool.
  • The Apple Watch SE is slated to get bigger screens and a new chip set that should yield a performance boost, while the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will have a larger screen, support for a specific kind of 5G cellular service, and satellite connectivity for off-the-grid messaging.

Statistics:

  • Apple expects tariffs to add about $1.1 billion to its costs during the current quarter.
  • Analysts predict the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models to cost an additional $50 over prior launches.
  • Samsung's trimmer version of its Galaxy S25 smartphone did not sell as briskly as expected, with no comment from the company.

Sources:

  • MacRumors
  • Bloomberg article on Apple's new products
  • Korean media outlets reporting on Samsung's sales
  • Apple's iOS 16 beta software