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The Engadget staff on this week's Apple news
Covering a keynote from a big tech company makes for a busy day at Engadget, and yesterday's "Loop You In" event at Apple's Cupertino campus was no exception. Our fearless senior mobile editor Chris Velazco liveblogged the presentation, and then immediately got hands-on with the newly announced iPhone SE and 9.7-inch iPad Pro. The rest of the team, meanwhile, was busy writing up all the news, which also included iOS and tvOS software updates, price cuts for the iPad Air 2 and Apple Watch, and some frank remarks from Tim Cook about the company's recent fight with the FBI. Now that the madness has subsided, it's time for us to take a step back and gather our thoughts. Here's what we actually think about it all.
Everything you need to know from Apple's 'Loop You In' event
Apple squeezed a surprising amount of news into an hourlong press conference, but hey -- not everyone has time to sift through the day's events. If that's you, well, we've got a handy video recap of the new/neat/off-the-wall stuff unveiled in Cupertino earlier today.
Apple's 'Loop You In' iPhone event, by the numbers
Another Apple event came and went today, ho-hum. The surprisingly succinct press conference highlighted the company's environmental efforts, a bit of shade thrown the FBI's way and a couple new products. Apple unveiled four new straps for its Watch, an iPhone SE that packs the power of a 6s into the chassis of a 5s and, oh yeah, a new 9.7-inch iPad Pro that, fully-loaded, will cost more than my first car. Come, see what sorts of obscenely-priced gadgets you'll need to buy if you want to keep up with the Joneses this year. Get all the news from today's iPhone event right here, and follow along with our liveblog!
Apple's smaller iPad Pro is the 9.7-inch iPad we've always wanted
Last year's iPad Pro was, without question, the most powerful tablet Apple had ever made, but let's be real: Its size made it a complete nonstarter for some people. That's why the folks in Cupertino took all the things that made the iPad Pro a pro and shoved them into a smaller chassis for everyone else to use. Heading into the event, I was skeptical about how well this would work, but I didn't need to be. After playing with the new, smaller Pro, I realize it's actually the iPad Air 2 sequel I was hoping for. Well, in most ways, at least.
The iPhone SE is a powerful little blast from the past
We've had years to get used to the the iPhone 6 family and its curvy lines, but some people still yearn for the crisper angles -- and smaller screens -- of iPhones past. For them, Apple's new iPhone SE comes across as a sort of low-cost love letter. After much wailing and gnashing of teeth, Apple took most of what was special about the iPhone 6s and stuck it into a close approximation of the handsome, chamfered body made famous by the iPhone 5. I just got the chance to put the SE through its paces, and one thing seems clear from the get-go: It's a fascinating blend of old and new that will probably sell like hotcakes.
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro vs. the competition: Which works best?
The iPad Pro is great for getting work done, but its 12.9-inch screen is a little too big for some. So now we have the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro, which takes the original Pro's souped-up internals and packs them into the same smaller form factor we're used to on the Air. But if you're looking for a petite productivity tablet, the iPad is far from the only game in town. We've stacked up the 9.7-inch iPad Pro against Microsoft's Surface 3 and Google's Pixel C to see how well each is equipped to be your daily driver.
Apple has a fast USB-C charger for your iPad Pro (updated)
One of the harsh lessons from the iPad Pro is that big batteries take a long time to charge -- forget to plug it in at night and you could be in for a hassle in the morning. Apple is finally tackling that problem today, though. Alongside the 9.7-inch Pro, it's introducing a 29W USB-C power adapter for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro that should charge your tablet much more quickly than the 12W adapter that comes in the box. You'll need a computer with a USB-C port for this to work, of course, but it could be worth the $49 to save yourself some time during every recharge. Update: As it turns out, the adapter itself is actually the same one that comes with the latest MacBook. But the Lightning to USB-C cable is certainly a new offer from Apple.
UK pricing for the iPhone SE and smaller iPad Pro
As expected, Apple unwrapped a handful of new devices and accessories today in Cupertino. We had our first glimpse of the iPhone SE, a smaller iPad Pro and a handful of new bands for the Apple Watch. If you live in the UK and are wondering how much all of this will cost, good news -- you've come to the right place. Here's a breakdown of all the new prices.
The iPhone SE vs. the competition: Small but strong
In the ongoing march to larger screen sizes, the new iPhone SE might seem like a step backwards. But it's welcome relief to people who find large handsets unwieldy. However, even if few phones aren't as little as the new 4-inch iPhone, there are still plenty of options with smaller-than-average screens and prices to match. We've stacked up the SE against some of the more notable of these petite phones to see which could be worth buying.
How does the SE stack up to the rest of the iPhone line?
The iPhone SE is the newest member of Apple's smartphone line, with a smaller size that makes it more pocket-friendly than either the 6s or 6s Plus. But, while the SE boasts a diminutive frame and familiar design, is that enough to make you choose it over its bigger siblings? Though you'll have to wait for our review for the ultimate verdict, we can at least compare the specs side by side to see how the SE stacks up on paper.
Apple drops the iPad Air 2 price to $399
Sure, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro might have been the star of the show at Apple's spring event, but that isn't stopping Cupertino from giving the budget-conscious crowd something nice. The company has dropped the price of the iPad Air 2 from $499 (£399) to $399 (£349) -- yes, that's the same price as the smaller, slower iPad mini 4. It still starts with a modest 16GB of storage, like it or not, but $499 (£429) now gets you a healthier 64GB capacity. If you can live without the Pro's performance upgrades and input options, this might be your iPad of choice. Get all the news from today's iPhone event right here.
Apple's CareKit helps patients better manage their illnesses
During its "Loop You In" event today, Apple revealed a new way for people -- and their doctors -- to better manage their health. Building off of its successful ResearchKit program, the company debuted CareKit, what Apple COO Jeff Williams described as "a framework to build apps that empower people to use data to understand their health."
Apple iOS 9.3 update available today with 'Night Shift'
During its "Loop You In" event, Apple announced that iOS 9.3 will be available to all starting today, following a preview for developers. The new version of the operating system adds the color-temperature-changing Night Shift, along with Touch ID and password support for the Notes app. The News application also got some love with trending topics. Lastly, CarPlay has been updated with better Maps and an easier way to select music.
Apple introduces a smaller iPad Pro starting at $599
As rumored, Apple has been working on a smaller version of last year's iPad Pro. Today, at its "Loop you in" event, the company revealed the new 9.7-inch tablet. Similar to the 12.9-inch model, this iPad Pro comes with a Retina screen and, of course, is compatible with the Apple Pencil. The display has a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 and features TrueTone technology, which adjusts the brightness depending on the color temperature of the light around you. Phil Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide marketing at Apple, claimed on stage today that it has the lowest reflectivity of any tablet.
Apple's 4-inch iPhone SE starts at $399, arrives next week
There's a lot of love out there for the tiny iPhone 5s -- Apple says it sold over 30 million of them last year -- but there's no doubt that its 2013-era hardware is getting rusty. Enter the iPhone SE, Apple's first concerted effort at building a small phone in the age of big smartphones. It looks pretty much the same as the iPhone 5s, but it packs in the more powerful A9 and M9 chips from Apple's current flagship, the iPhone 6s. There's also an upgraded 12-megapixel camera with Live Photos and 4K video, as well as Apple Pay support (the 5S had Touch ID, but lacked the secure hardware for Apple Pay). The iPhone SE starts at $399 (£359) for the 16GB model -- Apple's cheapest iPhone pricing ever -- and there's also a 64GB model for $499 (£439).
Apple TV updated with folders, dictation and Siri for App Store
Today at Apple's "Loop You In" event the company had plenty to announce, including an update for its Apple TV. The headline features for the fourth version of the software are its App Store and new Siri Remote, and its next update will make both of those easier to use. Consistent with what we've seen in recent beta tests, Tim Cook just announced that an update arriving today will add folders, dictation, Siri voice search for the App Store, access to users' iCloud Photo Libraries, and support for Live Photos.
Apple Watch gets a price cut to $299, along with new bands
It's been just over a year since Apple announced the Watch, but we're not getting a new model just yet. Instead, Apple used its "Loop You In" event to announce a few new bands. The most dramatic change in style comes from the new nylon straps with a unique "four-layer construction." Leaks suggested they'd be something like the military-inspired "NATO" bands popular in the '70s, but instead they'll arrive in a range of neon colors: blue, pink and orange.
Apple's 'Liam' robot takes apart your iPhone for recycling
Apple has come under fire for its use of conflict minerals in iPhones (so have many other device manufacturers, to be fair). Today at its "Loop You In" event, the company revealed how it aims to reduce its environmental impact. It comes by way of "Liam," a robot that disassembles old iPhones into their core components. The tungsten from the device's alert module will become a cutting tool, for example, while the silver contained therein is used for solar panels -- possibly including the ones powering the company's Thailand operations.
Tim Cook starts today's Apple event with some words for the FBI
"We will not shrink from this responsibility." That's how Apple CEO Tim Cook started today's live "Loop You In" event, with a message about privacy, security and encryption. Cook said that Apple has a responsibility to protect its customers' data, noting that many people view their mobile devices as extensions of themselves. His words were aimed at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Apple has consistently and publicly refused the FBI's order to unlock the iPhone 5c used by one of the shooters in last December's San Bernardino terrorist attack. The FBI and Apple are locked in a legal battle over the issue.
We're live from Apple's 'Loop You In' event!
Nothing brightens up a dreary March day like the promise of some shiny new hardware, and Apple should have us covered there. Tune in at 1PM ET/10AM PT for some sweet liveblog action from Apple's "Loop You In" event in Cupertino, and be sure to stick around for some hands-on impressions as soon as the presentation winds down. Need a quick refresher? We expect to see a smaller iPhone and a more compact iPad Pro this morning, not to mention a series of software updates that span across Apple's hardware line-up. Our fingers are also crossed for some mention of a new Apple Watch and more juicy tidbits about Apple's ongoing fight with the FBI, but we'll just have to wait and see. Join us, won't you?
