
Earlier this month, Apple held their annual September event to introduce new iPhones, new Apple Watch, and AirPods Pro 3.
In short, the prerecorded event was used to introduce the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, both in mind breaking Cosmic Orange, Apple Watch SE 3, Series 11, and Ultra 3. Apple also introduced AirPods Pro 3, with improved Active Noise Cancellation and, in a first for AirPods Pro, a workout heart rate sensor.
Other products that were rumored, such as a new Apple TV box, MacBook Pro laptops, and AirTags 2, will have to wait for another chance in the limelight. There’s aways October.
What Did I End Up Buying?
This year, I got a little carried away with a pre-order extravaganza.
Going into the event, I was looking for just about any excuse to replace my old Bluetooth Palm Buds Pro ear buds. (Yes, that Palm, but in name only.) The plan was to retire the Palm buds and cycle down my AirPods Pro 1 ear buds to be my at the office ear buds for listening to music from my iPhone. While watching the Apple video, I paused it and placed the pre-order for engraved AirPods Pro 3. My AirPods Pro 1 buds will work nicely at the office. Back to the video.
Apple Watch was up next. Watch SE 3 is a nice upgrade for people who wanted to get into the Apple Watch without spending too much money. I like the big screen and the large battery on Apple Watch Ultra 3, but my weekly pickleball games hardly need the kind of protection that a thick chunky watch like Ultra 3 provides. But, if I’m being honest, I just don’t love the look of the Ultra. If Tim or John gave me one, sure, I’d use it, but I can’t see myself buying one with the raised ledge and digital crown guard.
Apple Watch Series 11 is where it’s at. Available in aluminum and titanium again this year, I went to go with a “Sport” silver aluminum Series 11 upgrade from my Series 10. (Remember the Sport, Watch, and Edition monikers?) It’s a small spec bump to be sure, but with a trade in and a fresh battery, it seemed worth it. Also, through the power of watches’ 26 running on a Watch Series 9, 10, 11 or an Ultra 2 or 3, the FDA has approved a hypertension (aka high blood pressure) warning algorithm. Apple Watch can’t diagnose high blood pressure, but it can warn you if, after 30 days of readings, that you might want to follow up with a doctor for further review. Apple Watch. The device that will save your life. That’s a pretty great marketing subtext. At the end of the segment, I paused the video again and placed a Watch Series 11 pre-order with a trade in for an in-store pickup on launch day. Back to the video.
But the main attraction for the September event is the new iPhones. This year, Apple unveiled iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, and the ultra-thin iPhone Air. The iPhone 17 is a great all-around iPhone. Most people and corporate purchasing departments should buy this iPhone by default. If you want the absolute thinnest and lightest iPhone, the iPhone Air is for you. If you are an iPhone power user, iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are for you. In what I can only describe as an amazing twist of fate, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are available in Cosmic Orange (!!), Deep Blue, and Silver. Black, Gold, and Rose Gold are on hiatus this year. As are all of variants of Grey. I’m not sure what happened in Cupertino, but someone scored a major victory and snuck colorful paint jobs past Tim Cook for the Pro models! Pro models should come in fun colors like the no adjective iPhone line.
Let’s face it, I was always going to get the new Pro Max model because I want to have the best possible camera with an optical zoom with me at all times. But this year, there are some really nice upgrades. The Pro Max comes with an all-new unibody design, just like MacBook Pro laptops. There is an all-new front facing Center Stage selfie camera, improved rear facing 48MP Pro Fusion camera system with 8x optical zoom. You can get a quick rundown of the models and their features on the iPhone Compare page.
Wrap Up
Apple unveiled some really nice upgrades for anyone who plans on getting new gear this year. Most people don’t, and shouldn’t, upgrade their iPhone every year like I do. To be fair, I don’t upgrade my Macs or iPad every year. But you only get to go around once in this life, and I want to make sure that I have the very best everyday camera system with me to capture the moments that my family and I will hopefully cherish for many years to come, so I upgrade ever year.
Here’s what on my shopping list this year:
*iPhone 17 Pro Max in Deep Blue
*Apple Watch Series 11 Silver Aluminum
*AirPods Pro 3
*Apple Clear Case with MagSafe
*Nomad Traditional Leather Case
*Nomad Leather Mag Wallet with Find My Tracking