SAN RAMON, California (AP) – Apple unveiled its next line of iPhones, which includes a model that offers twice the storage available in previous versions and other modest updates from last year’s editions, which resulted be a great success among consumers who devour the latest innovations. technology during the pandemic.
The pre-recorded video event on Tuesday gave Apple a chance to present a sleek story after a turbulent few weeks. Recent blows included a security vulnerability in the device this could allow hackers to secretly take control of iPhones and other Apple devices; a reaction to the company’s plans to scan iPhones for images of child sexual abuse and the resolution of a federal judge this further removed the competitive barrier that Apple built around its app store, which generates billions of dollars in profits each year.
As has been the case since the late Apple co-founder introduced the first iPhone in 2007, Apple executives have spoken reverently about the latest model, though not much different from the version Apple released almost a year ago.
Like last year’s model, the new iPhone 13 will come in four different designs, with prices ranging from $ 700 to $ 1,100. It is scheduled to be in stores on September 24th.
“It’s an incremental upgrade,” Gartner analyst Tuong Nguyen said. “Some of the new features are impressive, but most are not noticeable or practical for most users.”
Possibly the most notable change from the latest high-end iPhone 13 will be an option for full terabytes of storage (i.e., 1,000 gigabytes) on the device, up from the previous high of 512 gigabytes. That’s enough to store about 250,000 photos, or about 500 hours of high-definition video.
Having a lot of storage could become more important for many consumers with the advent of high-definition video and ultra-fast 5G wireless networks that will make downloading content faster and easier, Nguyen said. .
Apple also promises better cameras on the iPhone 13, including an enhanced ultra-wide-angle lens, a cinematic-like video feature, and technology for better night photography. (The latter reflects a feature that Google has long offered in its line of Pixel phones, which have not yet been big sellers.) As usual, the latest iPhones also have longer-lasting batteries.
“We continue to make the iPhone more capable,” boasted Apple CEO Tim.
Such incremental upgrades have become routine for Apple and other device makers in recent years as the pace of smartphone innovation slowed, even as the prices of some phones have surpassed $ 1,000. This trend has caused more consumers to stay on their older smartphones for longer periods.
But the launch of last year’s iPhone 12 triggered one of Apple’s biggest sales boosts since 2014, possibly because the pandemic helped make people at home realize it was time to ‘get a newer, better model than the one they used. During the first six months of this year, Apple’s iPhone sales have increased by almost 60% over the same period last year.
This boom has helped recently raise the price of Apple shares to record highs, giving the company a market value of about $ 2.5 trillion, more than double what it was before it started. the pandemic 18 months ago.
Shares of Apple fell 1% on Tuesday in a signal that investors were not excited about what they saw in the new iPhones.
While the iPhone remains by far Apple’s main money maker, the company has tried to complement its success with peripheral products like its smartwatch. The Cupertino, California-based company used Tuesday’s showcase to offer a preview of its upcoming Apple Watch, which will feature a thinner, rounded, brighter screen.