Apple Event Recap - New Watch Bands, iPhone SE, 9.7 inch iPad Pro
By: MithrandielApple hosted an event today, announcing some changes to their iPhone and iPad lineups that turned a few heads.CEO Tim Cook opened the event by addressing the ever growing encryption debate currently raging between the FBI and Apple. He stated that Apple built the phone "For you...the customer." and that they will not shrink from their responsibility to protect customer data.After some conversation around the staggering popularity of iOS devices, as well as Apple's continued commitment to the environment, Tim kicked product announcements off with a new watch band design - woven nylon.
At $49, this new design is sure to be popular among Sport and Watch owners alike. The cost of the sport watch also went down $50 to $299 on the entry level model.Moving on from the Watch, the phone announcement that many have been eagerly awaiting came next. The iPhone SE is Apple's latest 4-inch phone, packing immense power in a small frame. With an A9 chip, 12 MP camera and more, it's essentially an iPhone 6s in a 5s frame, which is going to be a godsend for fans of the smaller phone design.
The iPhone SE starts at $399 for 16 GB, the most affordable iPhone Apple has ever launched. The 64 GB model will be available for $499. Orders start Thursday, 3/24 and will be shipping 3/31.Finally, the last big announcement of the event was the reveal of a smaller iPad Pro. The 9,7" model packs all the punch of the larger model, including Apple Pencil and new Apple Keyboard compatibility.
The new iPad pro starts at $599 for 32 GB, $749 for 128 GB, and in a bit of a surprise move, Apple also announced a 256 GB model for $899. This 256 GB model is also available in the larger 12.9" model for $1099 and will launch 3/31.Surprisingly there was no update to the Mac lineup at today's event. Many were expecting an announcement that Skylake chips would be integrated into the macs effective immediately, but it looks like we'll be waiting for WWDC for that update.Overall, some welcome product announcements today. The 4-inch iPhone and 9.7 inch iPad Pro are sure to be a hit...but as usual, Apple stock is taking a hit in the aftermath of the event.
