Apple’s new iPhone Air is shockingly thin, and the Apple Watch can now detect hypertension

Apple’s big September hardware event delivered a slate of predictable but significant upgrades across its most popular products, headlined by the four-model iPhone 17 family and the introduction of a completely new, ultra-thin iPhone Air. The company also announced a trio of new Apple Watches, including a Series 11 with a landmark hypertension detection feature, and updated the AirPods Pro with in-ear heart rate sensing. The new devices were detailed in a presentation that largely stuck to the script, though it notably omitted a much-anticipated overhaul for Siri, leaving Apple’s next big AI push for another day.

All new iPhones, Apple Watches, and the AirPods Pro 3 will be available for preorder this Friday, September 12th, and will arrive in stores on September 19th.

So long, Plus model: Hello, iPhone Air

The biggest surprise was the debut of the iPhone Air, a new model that replaces the Plus in Apple’s lineup. Measuring just 5.5mm thick, it’s Apple’s thinnest phone ever. Despite the slim profile, it packs a 6.5-inch ProMotion display with a 120Hz refresh rate and is powered by the A19 Pro chip. The design uses a titanium frame and a new 48-megapixel “Fusion” camera system. The battery life is one area of compromise; Apple promises “all-day” usage reliant on a new software mode. The iPhone Air starts at $999 for a 256GB model.

iPhone 17 and 17 Pro get brighter screens and better cameras

The standard iPhone 17 now joins the Pro line with a 120Hz ProMotion display on its 6.3-inch screen. It also gets a significant camera boost with a 48-megapixel main camera and a new 48-megapixel ultrawide lens. For the first time, Apple’s Center Stage feature, which keeps you in frame during video calls, is coming to the iPhone’s front-facing camera.

Meanwhile, the high-end iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are focused on performance and photography. They feature an A19 Pro chip that’s reportedly 40 percent faster, a new vapor chamber for cooling, and a camera system where all three rear lenses are now 48 megapixels. The cameras are housed in a new raised “plateau” design that has already drawn some mixed reactions online.

Apple is bumping the base storage on all iPhone 17 models to 256GB. Pricing starts at $799 for the iPhone 17, $1,099 for the iPhone 17 Pro, and $1,199 for the Pro Max.

Apple Watch adds a hypertension sensor and satellite SOS

The Apple Watch family received updates across the board. The flagship Apple Watch Series 11’s standout feature is a new hypertension tool that can notify users of signs of chronic high blood pressure. Apple said it expects the feature, which is awaiting clearance from the FDA, to lead to over a million diagnoses in its first year. The Series 11 also features tougher glass and built-in 5G, starting at $399.

The rugged Apple Watch Ultra 3 gets an even larger display, 5G, and satellite connectivity for Emergency SOS when you’re off the grid. Its battery life has been extended to 42 hours. The budget-friendly Apple Watch SE 3 also got more capable, adding gesture support, on-device Siri, and an always-on display, starting at $249.

AirPods Pro 3 can now track your heart rate

The AirPods Pro 3 have been redesigned for better sound and new health capabilities. Apple says new foam-infused tips help make active noise cancellation twice as effective. The most significant update is the addition of a heart-rate sensor inside the earbuds, allowing them to track your pulse during workouts. They also feature a new live translation mode and come with an improved eight-hour battery life. The AirPods Pro 3 will sell for $249.