Apple introduces new Apple Watch and iPads

For the first time Tuesday night, Apple introduced new products with an online show rather than live from the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino. The event is a well-choreographed production, and it started with a surprise: instead of making it a big secret, Tim Cook made it clear from the start: today it will be about smartwatches and iPads.

Externally, apart from the new colors, the new Apple Watch Series 6 is no different from its predecessor Series 5. Among other things, it will be available in a shade of blue and red. Its casing is made entirely from recycled aluminum, and the unit is the new Apple S6 processor, which is said to deliver 20 percent more power than the Series 5 chip. As always, Apple is also introducing new dials and bracelets for the new model. . A new feature called Family Settings is designed to help parents set up an Apple Watch for their children from their iPhone.

Technically, the most important new feature of the Series 6 is an integrated pulse oximeter, a sensor that can measure the level of oxygen in the blood. A measurement takes 15 seconds and offers the possibility of detecting an oxygen deficiency early on and assessing fitness.

Normal readings are between 93 and 99 percent. Measuring oxygen in the blood during sleep, for example, can provide information about what is known as obstructive sleep apnea, a form of snoring in which a relaxed tongue muscle blocks the windpipe. In practice, mountaineers, for example, measure their oxygen saturation to quickly recognize impending altitude sickness.

The Apple Watch Series 6 will cost from 418.15 euros.

In addition to the Series 6, the Apple Watch SE was shown for the first time. Until now, Apple has always offered an older model as a cheaper alternative with the introduction of a new Apple Watch. Parallel to Series 5, there was Series 3 two years older at prices from 229 euros, Series 5 cost between 449 and 1849 euros. Now, with the Apple Watch SE, there is for the first time a low-cost standalone model.

The Apple Watch SE should cost from 291.50 euros. Its processor is twice as fast as the Series 3, is waterproof and has fall detection, but it has no EKG function or blood oxygen measurement.

In addition to the new Smartwatches, which should be available from Friday, Apple announced the new Fitness + subscription service. Here you should be guided with music and videos during virtual trainings. In the United States, the service costs $ 10 a month or $ 80 a year. No date was given for a presentation in Germany.

Additionally, Apple One was announced, a combined subscription combining Apple Music, Apple TV +, Apple Arcade, and cloud storage space. Prices range between 15 and 20 euros per month depending on the size and storage space.

With the new iPad Air, Apple is bringing its mid-range tablets closer to the Pro-class models. On the one hand, it is powered by the all-new A14 Bionic processor, which is built on 5-nanometer technology and is therefore a step above the current iPad Pro in terms of performance.

Its screen is 10.9 inches and has a resolution of 2360 x 1650 pixels. Because its frame is also very narrow, the fingerprint sensor has been relocated to the power button on the side.

The design is very reminiscent of current iPad Pro models, the recycled aluminum casing is comparatively angular, and only a 12-megapixel camera sticks out from the back. You have to do without the lidar scanner, which is important for augmented reality (AR). However, you don’t have to do without the USB-C port on Pro models, which can be used to quickly charge devices and connect them to accessories such as digital cameras or hard drives.

As with the pros, the new iPad Air can be upgraded to a portable typewriter with a € 330 Smart Keyboard Folio. Or to the drawing board with the second generation Apple Pencil. Apple puts the starting price of a model with 64 GB of storage and WiFi at 632.60 euros. But you can only buy it from October.