Apple Watch gets cellular and Apple TV goes 4K
While the most eagerly awaited unveilings from Apple's September 12 keynote were the new iPhone 8, 8 plus and X smartphones, the firm also revealed new-gen versions of its Apple Watch, which finally gets cellular connectivity, and Apple TV, which finally gets a 4K upgrade.
Apple Watch Series 3
The new-generation Apple Watch finally fulfils one of the public's major requests -- the ability to use smartwatch features without needing an iPhone in range, thanks to onboard mobile data. The freshly unveiled Series 3 model brings cellular connectivity, letting users add a SIM card to the watch for use like a regular smartphone, for making calls, sending messages, managing calendars, etc. Storage in the cellular version is also upped from 8GB to 16GB -- enough to store hours of music to listen to when commuting or working out. In fact, another new feature of the Apple Watch Series 3 is 50m water-resistance, making swimming with the device a possibility. Users can even interact directly with Siri, Apple's intelligent personal assistant, to set activity goals, track heart rate and monitor sleep quality.
Minimum requirements for the Apple Watch Series 3 with GPS + cellular are an iPhone 6 with iOS 11. All models in the new range will be available to order from Friday, September 15, with shipping expected to start a week later. The Apple Watch Series 3 starts from $329 for the GPS model or £399 for the GPS + cellular model. Note that Hermès series models, with handcrafted leather straps, are available from $1,299. Cellular connectivity for the Apple Watch Series 3 may not be available from all mobile operators.
Apple TV 4K
It has taken until late 2017 for Apple TV to upgrade to 4K HDR, the top-end resolution in the current consumer market. The 4K format lets users watch videos shot in resolutions of up to 4,096 x 2,160 pixels, while the HDR (High Dynamic Range) standard boots the range of brightness levels for images that are bursting with color. As a result, the new Apple TV lets users get the best out of applications offering this kind of content, such as Netflix. On the hardware side, speakers, headphones and even games controllers can all be hooked up to the device.
Apple TV is priced from $179 (32GB) to $199 (64GB). Like the Apple Watch, it's available to preorder from September 15.
- Watch Apple's keynote from September 12, 2017: apple.com/apple-events/september-2017
