It's September again. While that may not mean a lot to some (namely Android users), for fans of Apple's iOS products, September is the usually when the tech giant graces the world with a glimpse at its latest line-up of new phones, tablets and smartwatches, due to be available in the holiday season. This year's announcement event -- as always -- was live-streamed for Apple fans all over the world. In Thailand, the announcement presentation began late at night on Sept 12, with the highlights being the much-anticipated iPhone 8 and iPhone X (pronounced "ten").
Kicking off the event with a bang, Apple wasted no time introducing its latest flagship, the iPhone X. With an announced starting price of US$999 (33,000 baht) for 64GB and $1,149 for 256GB, the iPhone X is meant to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the iPhone, first released in late 2006. The phone will come with a 5.8-inch 2436x1125p Super Retina display, which stretches from one edge completely to the next. The Home button has been removed, replaced with swipe-based commands, filling the front face completely with its screen (except for the little divot on the center-top that houses the camera and flash).
Speaking of the camera, the iPhone X will ship with a dual 12MP back camera, which will -- for the first time in an iOS product -- support 4K video recording. The camera will be important for the new FaceID function, allowing users to unlock their phones simply by looking at them, a solution Apple touts as magnitudes safer than the fingerprint-based TouchID of the iPhone 7. Pre-orders will begin on Oct 27, and they are expected to ship on Nov 3.
As a cheaper alternative, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus -- essentially slightly upgraded versions of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus -- will be priced at $699 and $799 respectively. The devices will come with new glass backs (for wireless charging), A11 bionic processors and improved cameras, as well as other improvements. You can pre-order tomorrow, with an expected shipping date of Sept 22.
Other products unveiled at the event include the Apple 4KTV, an enhanced version of their set-top box product, as well as the Apple Watch Series 3. The event also announced forthcoming updates to the iOS operating system with iOS 11 and watchOS4 (for the Apple Watch), due to be released on Sept 19.
