Apple Announces New 10.2-inch iPad, Apple Watch Series 5, and More

Apple’s annual product refresh has just wrapped up, and it was a big one. Apple announced new online services, and updated versions of several mobile devices. We’ve already got a full rundown of the new iPhone 11, but here’s everything else Apple announced including the new iPad, Apple Watch, and more.

The new iPad

Apple’s fall event usually focuses on the iPhone and Apple Watch, but the company also squeezed in a new tablet: the 10.2-inch iPad (above). Surprisingly, this device keeps the physical home button and larger bezels than the current iPad Pro models.

Apple is notoriously bad at providing details and specifications in events, so it’s unclear if the new iPad has a Lightning port, but that seems likely. The device will have a Smart Keyboard case and support for the first-gen Apple Pencil. The new one charges wirelessly on the iPad Pro, so it won’t work with this tablet. Inside, the new iPad has the A10 Fusion chip, which is just a bit less powerful than the A10X Fusion in the iPad Pros.

This device will replace the current 9.7-inch entry-level iPad, which sold for $329. This tablet will cost the same, but education customers can get it for $299. It will sit between the iPad Mini and the iPad Air in Apple’s lineup. It’s also the first iPad made from 100 percent recycled aluminum. You can pre-order the new iPad today, and it will ship at the end of the month.

In addition, Apple announced its redesigned iPadOS (above) will launch on Sept. 30. Original revealed earlier this year, iPadOS will add tons of new features to make Apple’s tablets feel more like a “real” computer. There’s a desktop version of Safari, a more power files app, and better multitasking. iPadOS will launch on the new 10.2-inch iPad, but it will come as an update to all iPads from the iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 4, and fifth-gen iPad or later.

Apple Watch Series 5

Apple says the Series 5 watch has the same 18-hour battery life rating as the Series 4, and that’s with always-on mode activated. This substantial battery life improvement is apparently thanks to a new low-temperature polysilicon and oxide display and low-power display driver.

This is also the first time Apple has offered an Apple Watch made from recycled material. You can get the device in recycled aluminum or titanium, in addition to the stainless steel and ceramic options carried over from the Series 5.

The Series 5 starts at $399 for the standard model and $499 for LTE. They go on sale Sept. 20. The Series 3 will stick around at a lower $199 price, and the Series 4 is going away.

TV and games

Apple TV+ focuses on original content like Jason Moma’s See and Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston’s The Morning Show. The catch, however, is that you’ll need an Apple device like the Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, or a Mac at launch. The Apple TV+ app will come later to Samsung TVs, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and others. If you buy a new Apple device, it will come with a year trial of Apple TV+ as well.

The event also included more information about Apple’s iOS game subscription service, known as Apple Arcade. The service launches on Sept. 19 worldwide and includes more than 100 games, all of them exclusive to iOS. It too will run you $4.99 per month. There will be no ads, and you can share a subscription with up to six family members.

Continue reading

The Xbox Series S Is Handicapped by Its Storage Capacity

The Xbox Series S has been favorably received, for the most part, but the console's low base storage makes the Xbox Series X a better value for a lot of people.

In Massive Shift, Apple Announces New Macs With ARM-Based M1 Chip

Apple saw huge success the last time it switched architectures to Intel, but this time? The jury's still out, but one thing is certain: Apple is about to make a lot more money.

Apple’s New M1 SoC Looks Great, Is Not Faster Than 98 Percent of PC Laptops

Apple's new M1 silicon really looks amazing, but it isn't faster than 98 percent of the PCs sold last year, despite what the company claims.

What Does It Mean for the PC Market If Apple Makes the Fastest CPU?

Apple's M1 SoC could have a profound impact on the PC market. After 25 years, x86 may no longer be the highest-performing CPU architecture you can practically buy.