At its much-awaited September launch event on Tuesday (IST), Apple unveiled its new legion of cutting-edge devices. It introduced the iPhone Air, its thinnest-ever handset, alongside the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, the first iPhones with vapor chamber cooling. The iPhone 17 also got its share of love, while the Apple Watch line-up and AirPods Pro 3 rounded off the announcements.

Thin is in!

At just 5.6mm, the iPhone Air is Apple’s slimmest handset yet—lighter, sleeker, and wrapped in a titanium frame that helps keep it strong without feeling fragile. The 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED brings ProMotion for smoother scrolling and gameplay, and with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, it’s bright enough for streaming or snapping photos even in harsh sunlight.

Ceramic Shield 2 now guards both sides, with Apple claiming better protection against scratches and drops. Inside, the A19 Pro chip balances performance with efficiency, while the new N1 chip unlocks Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread support for smart home devices, and improved latency for online gaming.

The 48 MP Fusion main sensor adapts across four focal lengths, letting users shoot anything from wide landscapes to crisp portraits, while AI-enhanced low-light processing aims to cut noise without losing detail. The new 18 MP selfie camera introduces auto-framing for group shots, landscape selfies, and smarter portrait effects powered by Apple Intelligence.

Throw in the Action Button, a new Camera Control toggle for faster lens switching, and eSIM-only support, and the Air makes it clear: thin doesn’t mean less capable. The iPhone Air ships in space black, cloud white, light gold, and sky blue, starting at ₹1,19,900 with 256GB storage.

Three 48MP Fusion cameras — Main, Ultra Wide, and an all-new Telephoto — offer the equivalent of eight lenses

Power under pressure

If the Air is about elegance, the Pro models scream endurance. Apple’s first-ever vapour chamber cooling system sits inside both the 6.3-inch Pro and 6.9-inch Pro Max, enabling sustained high performance under heavy loads. Apple said that gamers will see smoother frame rates during marathon sessions, while video editors and 3D creators can push workflows without throttling. Combined with the A19 Pro chip, Apple claims up to 40 per cent better performance stability.

Battery life is another big win. Larger cells plus better thermal efficiency deliver Apple’s “longest-lasting iPhones yet,” making them appealing for creators on the go.

On cameras, the Pro models up the ante. The triple 48 MP Fusion system effectively offers eight focal lengths, from ultra-wide to telephoto. The Pro Max goes further with an exclusive 200 mm telephoto lens—giving users 8x optical zoom, the furthest on an iPhone so far. Add ProRes RAW, Log 2 for wider dynamic range, and genlock for multicam shoots, and the message is clear: these phones double as professional video rigs.

The front-facing 18 MP Center Stage camera matches the Air’s AI tricks, while Ceramic Shield 2 continues the durability push. The Action and Camera Control buttons return, while the aerospace-grade aluminium build makes the Pro models feel dense and premium. Available in deep blue, cosmic orange, and silver, the iPhone 17 Pro starts at ₹1,34,900, while the Pro Max begins at ₹1,49,900, scaling up to 2TB.

The daily driver! 

Apple’s mainstream iPhone gets meaningful updates with the iPhone 17. A larger 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR with ProMotion smoothness, 3,000 nits brightness, and Ceramic Shield 2 means it looks and feels more premium than ever.

The front camera is brand new: an 18 MP sensor with Center Stage, auto-framing, Dual Capture for vlogging, and even support for landscape selfies. On the rear, the dual 48 MP setup now includes both wide and ultra-wide lenses, with an integrated 2x telephoto mode and improved macro detail.

Underneath is the A19 chip, which offers faster CPU and GPU cores while unlocking on-device Apple Intelligence. That means smarter text suggestions, real-time image generation, and offline Siri—all without sending data to the cloud. Battery life is rated for up to 30 hours of video playback, a clear bump over last year. 

Colorways lean pleasantly playful – lavender, mist blue, sage, white, and black. The iPhone 17 starts at ₹82,900 for 256 GB.

Go rugged! 

The Ultra 3 cements its place as the take-me-anywhere Apple Watch. Built-in satellite communications allow SOS calls, location sharing, and text messaging even without cellular coverage—ideal for hikers or adventurers going off-grid. When on network, 5G keeps things snappy.

The watch also debuts Apple’s largest display yet: an LTPO3 wide-angle OLED with thinner bezels and a power-efficient 1Hz always-on mode. That efficiency, paired with a larger battery, delivers up to 42 hours of standard use or 72 hours in Low Power Mode.

On the health front, new hypertension notifications provide early warnings of chronic high blood pressure, while sleep score brings nightly insights into rest quality. Paired with Workout Buddy (Apple Intelligence-powered coaching) and dual-frequency GPS for ultra-precise tracking, the Ultra 3 aims squarely at serious athletes and adventurers. Priced at ₹89,900, it comes in natural and black titanium.

SE 3: Wrist temperature sensing can provide insight into overall wellbeing and adds to the other key health metrics available in the Vitals app

Value for money

The SE 3 watch gets a notable bump, powered by the S10 chip. It finally gains an Always-On Retina display, faster charging, and 5G cellular for better standalone use. Gesture control expands too, with double-tap and the new wrist flick gesture making navigation smoother.

Health tracking steps up with sleep score, retrospective ovulation estimates, and wrist temperature monitoring. Workout Buddy also makes its way here, offering personalised audio motivation during sessions. Tougher Ion-X glass makes it more resistant to scratches, and parents can set it up with “Apple Watch For Your Kids,” giving children call, message, and safety features without constant access to a smartphone. Starting at ₹25,900, it comes in 40 mm and 44 mm aluminium cases.

New insights on the Apple Watch Series 11 include sleep quality with sleep score, and hypertension alerts

Thinner, tougher, smarter

The Series 11 is Apple’s thinnest, most comfortable watch yet, but it doesn’t sacrifice endurance. It offers up to 24 hours of battery life and supports fast charging, while 5G connectivity boosts independence from the iPhone.

Durability improves with new Ion-X glass that Apple says is twice as scratch resistant. watchOS 26 introduces features such as sleep score, Workout Buddy, refreshed watch faces, and smart gestures including wrist flick and double tap. Small touches such as Liquid Glass animations on the Flow watch face and real-time translations in Messages round out the experience.

Available in aluminium (jet black, rose gold, silver, space gray) and titanium (natural, gold, slate), Series 11 starts at ₹46,900.

AirPods Pro 3 lets you measure your heart rate and offers live translation across languages

Sound and smarts

AirPods Pro 3 represent Apple’s biggest leap in personal audio over the years. A redesigned fit with foam-infused tips in five sizes (including XXS) ensures stability for workouts, while IP57 resistance makes them sweat- and splash-proof. Inside, a new multiport acoustic system delivers punchier bass, a wider soundstage, and crisper vocals. Adaptive EQ automatically tunes playback for your ears.

Noise cancellation is dramatically improved—Apple says ANC is 2x stronger than AirPods Pro 2 and 4x better than the originals. Battery life climbs to 8 hours with ANC, while the case extends total playback further.

For the first time, AirPods can measure heart rate during workouts, syncing data with the Fitness app which feeds into Apple’s AI-powered Workout Buddy. They also debuted Live Translation which allows users to carry on cross-language conversations in real time. Made with 40 per cent recycled materials, AirPods Pro 3 is priced at ₹25,900.

Availability in India

All the new iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods Pro 3 are available for pre-order starting September 12, with in-store availability from September 19.

The bigger picture

Zooming out, this year’s Apple line-up feels more varied than ever. The iPhone Air is pitched as the design-lover’s choice, all sleek lines and portability, while the Pro models are unapologetically performance driven machines built for creators and gamers. The regular iPhone 17 holds its ground as the dependable, slightly playful everyday iPhone.

The Apple Watch family mirrors that strategy: the Ultra 3 for explorers and endurance athletes, the Series 11 for mainstream users who want premium smarts in a thinner build, and the SE 3 for those entering the ecosystem without overspending. Meanwhile, the AirPods Pro 3 double down on health, fitness, and AI-driven communication, completing the circle.

Taken together, the message is clear: Apple is no longer just iterating—it’s differentiating. Design, performance, durability, and intelligence now stand as distinct pillars across the product range, letting users choose not just an Apple device, but the Apple identity that fits them best.

Published on September 10, 2025