Everything Apple Announced in the Wonderlust Event Ranked
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It took a long time coming, but Apple finally announced the new iPhone 15 during its Wonderlust event earlier this week.
Even though we pretty much already knew what Apple had in store for us, there were still a few surprises.
As expected, the event not only focused on the new iPhone lineup but other products and announcements as well. Of course, not every product was equally exciting. There were some announcements that didn’t really stand out as much as Apple would’ve liked.
There were only a handful of announcements, but here’s our ranking on every major Apple announcement that happened during Wonderlust.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
The Apple Watch Ultra has been the go-to Apple Watch for many of us since its launch. Thanks to the larger display, bigger battery, and exclusive features, most people fell in love with this premium Apple Watch despite its price.
Apple saw the Ultra’s success and decided to update it this year. Unfortunately, when it comes to new features, the Apple Watch Ultra didn’t get much this year.
The biggest changes are in its processor and display. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 now packs in a more powerful S9 chip.
To be fair, this chip takes performance on the Ultra 2 to the next level, and it allows it to use a new feature called Double Tap, which basically lets you control your Apple Watch by pressing your thumb and index finger together.
It also lets you use Siri without having to send your prompts outside the Apple Watch. Everything will be handled by the new chip, making Siri faster and more responsive.
When it comes to the screen, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 also packs in a display that can reach up to 3,000 nits, making it ultra-bright and perfect for those of us who love the outdoors.
Unfortunately, besides these new features and a new watch face that’ll let you see things like altitude or depth in real-time, there isn’t much new about the second-generation Apple Watch Ultra.
Apple Watch Series 9
Besides a new Apple Watch Ultra, Apple also announced the brand new Apple Watch Series 9. Granted, we already knew it was coming; Apple has made it a tradition to release a new iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time.
Unlike other years, however, the Apple Watch Series 9 isn’t that big of an update. Just like the Ultra 2, the biggest difference comes in the display and chip.
The processor is the same as in the Ultra 2, so you’ll also be able to use the new S9 chip to access better performance and the Double Tap feature. Siri will also work without your iPhone.
Likewise, the screen now gets a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits, which is better than the 1,000 nits on the Series 8 but not as impressive as the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Overall, the Series 9 got a bit more out of this year’s presentation compared to its more expensive counterpart, including a brand new pink color.
Apple Is Helping the Environment
Some of the best news during Apple’s keynote was that the company is more environmentally friendly than ever. Now, Apple claims that it runs on 100% clean energy in the manufacturing process and that it’s focusing on shipping by sea instead of by air to reduce its carbon footprint.
Not only that, but the Apple Watch Series 9 is now its first carbon-neutral product, and it’s using recycled materials across all its new devices.
Alongside this news, Apple also confirmed that it won’t deal with leather products anymore, so say goodbye to first-party leather cases or Apple Watch bands. Instead, Apple is focusing on a material called FineWoven, which is made of recycled materials that give it a soft feel.
This is all thanks to Apple 2030, a mission from the company to reduce all the emissions it produces.
Granted, this isn’t the biggest tech news the company had during the event, but it’s definitely a great announcement nonetheless.
iPhone 15 Pro
As we all expected, Apple revealed the new iPhone 15 Pro lineup during its event.
With the new iPhone Pro, there also came a bunch of new features. For starters, the new iPhone Pro models come with a titanium body that makes it more durable and lighter than ever before.
Not only that but there is also a new Action button instead of the Ring/Silent switch on the left side. You can still use the Action button to silence your iPhone, but you can also use it to trigger custom shortcuts, turn on your flashlight, and much more.
Additionally, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has an improved periscope camera that now supports 5x zoom.
On the inside, Apple introduced the A17 Pro chip, which was the first time the company has changed the name of its processor since 2017, probably to make it stand out more from the regular models.
iPhone 15
Despite all the changes the new iPhone Pro models have, the base iPhone 15 definitely takes the cake this year.
The reason is that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus got the most significant new features out of all the products Apple announced.
On the outside, you get a bunch of new colors infused in the back glass. This makes the new iPhone 15 models look beautiful, and the matte finish will give it a completely new look and feel.
Speaking of the back, Apple also ditched the 12 MP main camera for a 48 MP one. While megapixels aren’t everything, the cameras got a much-needed upgrade this year, including a new 2X optical zoom factor that’s like having a third lens.
Besides that, the two biggest changes are the Dynamic Island at the front and the USB-C port in the back. While it’s only USB 2.0, which is basically like still using Lightning for transfer speeds, you can now charge your iPhone with pretty much any common charging cable.
Overall, the base iPhone 15 models got the biggest update this year, and you won’t regret choosing it over the Pro models.
The Wonderlust Event Was Actually Pretty Great
Despite what some people are saying, Apple had a great September keynote this year. The event had a lot of cool announcements, and while not every new product is worth updating, the iPhone models still stole the show as expected.
