2024-09-14 06:09:06
Apple’s September launches don’t have any big surprises this year. iPhone/Pro 16, Apple Watch 10, black Ultra 2, new AirPods/Pro and more teasers for Apple intelligence. That’s it. There were no dramatic “one-of-a-kind” announcements, and further developments dominated the presentation. – Which is not interpreted as criticism. The scale of the model around the Apple smartphone world, and the AI plans that are entering the hot stage, offer enough to talk about and attract attention.I would like to avoid any analysis and evaluations about the new iPhone 16/Pro, as well as AI hype. I am more interested in the innovations surrounding the Apple Watch and AirPods in this Apple presentation. As an Apple Watch 6 (Titanium Edition) owner, I’m wondering if it’s worth switching to the new generation after four years. I haven’t used the AirPods yet (apart from a few listening tests). Can that change now?
Apple Watch 10: (R)evolution?
Indeed, although many MTN users in the comments classified Apple’s video presentation as boring, I also watched the presentation with great interest and then felt a tingling in my fingers that made me want to use the Apple Store application immediately . Both for the new iPhone 16 Pro, and for Watch 10 and even for AirPods. In general, Apple’s marketing strategy worked well for me. But this appeal quickly fades once I let the flood of information sink in for a while and look at the increasing features. So the iPhone 16 Pro was quickly forgotten again. As the owner of the iPhone 14 Pro, the general advantages seem to be less for me, especially if the camera features – especially the new button for controlling the camera – of the 16 offer some very attractive advantages for me.
Apple Watch 10 is much more attractive. A large display, easy-to-read, flattering case and stylish new titanium finishes are delicious. But there is also a real downer: the battery life has not improved (again) and is still only 18 hours. In my watch 6 and with my application profile (I don’t wear the watch at night, for example), that’s enough for almost two days. But just barely. Just like with the Apple Watch Series 0, which I still have fully functional and wear occasionally. If you want more endurance, you have to go for Ultra. But for me, apart from the battery performance, it doesn’t offer any particular added value.
The “ever thin casing” (on the Apple Watch) is acceptable, but the difference is so small (1 mm) that it’s hardly noticeable, especially since the thickness of the casing of the Apple Watch doesn’t bother me at all. A slightly larger case (46 instead of 44 mm) with a larger display is also nice, but it’s not really buying for me as a selling point.
Side note: You can currently have the thinnest mechanical watch beautiful here. We don’t need to discuss sense and nonsense, or about the price. But the 1.65 mm is a different beast than the 9.7 mm of the new Apple Watch.
So, overall I would be happy about the Watch 10 – which also includes other improvements such as optimized reading and some usability features – but is it really worth it? After sorting it a bit back and forth in the store and thinking about how and what I would use the watch for, I decided not to put it in the shopping cart or save it for later. I will wait for generation 11 or 12.
New AirPods
Apple’s in-ear and over-ear headphones have always been good products. There is no doubt about that. We don’t even need to talk about the success of AirPods. They dominate the market like no other brand. But none of the models from Cupertino that I have heard so far have been able to completely convince me. From a sound perspective, there are always better or at least comparatively good offers at a cheaper price. And Apple’s firm refusal to increase the data rate for wireless transmission via Bluetooth and the AAC protocol (keyword: aptX Lossless) and thus better exploit the power of what are certainly very good speakers does not make me happy either . Instead, Apple engineers are trying to improve the listening experience with more and more “computer sound,” which to my ears doesn’t always result in a more natural sound. However, there is also an attempt with AirPods Pro 2 in the near future. I will meet on that.
Audiophiles like me have never been Apple’s target audience. It is common listeners who often do not notice the difference between highly compressed music and CD quality or even HiRes, but are more attracted to simpler versions. And AirPods offer more of that than any other. From easy connection to multiple Apple devices to enhanced noise canceling functions, Apple is hitting all the right buttons for fantastic sales figures with AirPods.
Apple’s division of the AirPods line into open-ears (even if they can’t compare to open-ears like the Shokz), on-ears and over-ears is still a success. This offers the right listening and wearing comfort for almost every taste and demand.
New AirPods 4which is offered either without (149 euros) or with noise canceling (199 euros), Apple has made a whole series of technological innovations without throwing the popular basic idea into the water. Features like 3D audio with dynamic head tracking are also on board. Advanced microphones for clear phone calls even in noisy environments are welcome, as is optimized performance and advanced charging via USB-C or wireless. In short: I have little doubt about the success of AirPods 4.
For those who are already from September 23 AirPods Pro 2 With USB-C (in-ear), there are no improvements on the hardware side, but exciting features will be added via software in the fall. AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C, which also costs 279 euros (currently 244 euros in Amazon), but other things are also worth a closer look, namely the audio that is not lost.
…Wait a minute! Stand! I’m sorry, what? What is missing?
While I’m talking about Apple’s refusal to increase the data rate through Bluetooth, something seems to be going on here. Or? This is where things get a little interesting. At least Apple writes on those Product page publicly “In conjunction with Apple Vision Pro, AirPods Pro 2 delivers Lossless audio with low-latency for an unparalleled audio experience.“and more from “white, unplugged”. Footnote after it: “Available with Apple Vision Pro (depending on availability in the respective country) when paired with AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe charging case (USB‑C) and the latest firmware.”
This is a pretty vague statement that is still ignored by many media outlets. Based on Apple’s formula, I assume “CD quality” here, ie 16 bit, 44.1 uncompressed. And it seems that the Apple Vision Pro, which also has an H2 chip, is currently the only source (sound) from Apple that supports lossless transmission via Bluetooth. But until now two headphones, namely AirPods Pro 2 with USB.
After some research, Brian Tong found this interview online with Ron Huang, Apple VP of Sensing and Connectivity and Eric Treski, Apple’s Director of Product Marketing.
Watch from 26 minutes.
Therefore, the H2 chips in the Apple Vision Pro and in the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C work at 5 GHz, while the H2 in the AirPods Pro 2 with Light only works at 2.4 GHz (like presumably also in the AirPods 4). 5 GHz transmission enables the high bandwidth needed for lossless audio. But for now this is only possible in conjunction with Vision Pro and AirPods Pro 2 USB-C. It is clear that the new iPhone 16/Pro does not have such an H2 device and therefore no transmission is lost. Just as little as on Macs or iPads.
The AirPods Max, whose only innovations this year are the USB-C port and new colors, also do not offer this option because they still have the H1 chip from 2019. It will probably least It will take a generation for Apple to untie the knot and for what is not lost to become a topic that they will promote aggressively. After all, “earth is in sight”.
Another feature of AirPods Pro 2 is the main topic in the video presentation: a Integrated hearing test and hearing aid service. From autumn onwards it should be possible to restore these functions through a software update. Apple wrote in a footnote: “The hearing aid feature is awaiting approval from global health authorities. Hearing test and hearing aid features are supported on AirPods Pro 2 with the latest firmware paired with a compatible iPhone or iPad running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 and later and are intended for ages 18 and older. The hearing aid feature is also supported on compatible Macs running macOS Sequoia and later. Hearing aids are intended for people with mild to moderate hearing impairment.”
Conclusion: Watch 10 and AirPods are on the shelf for me
In the end, reason probably wins. Apple’s September innovations undoubtedly offer many interesting improvements in hardware and software, which are generally very experimental. But at the end of the day, I will at least leave my wallet open for now and instead feel a little for the miniaturized and maybe even fanless Mac mini with M4 (see this message), for which I will have real use .
See you soon, Apple.
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