9 travel-focused upgrades coming to Apple’s iPhone 16, AirPods, Watch lineup
Every fall, Apple unveils its highly anticipated updates to its flagship products, including the iPhone, AirPods and Watch lineup.
This year was no exception, with the tech giant hosting a special "It's Glowtime" press event on Monday at its Cupertino, California, headquarters, where TPG was in attendance.
The event didn't just usher in new phones (the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro lineup) and watches (the Apple Watch Series 10) — it also marked the first time that Apple has updated its entire AirPods lineup during a single event. (All of the new devices launch on Friday, Sept. 20.)
Each device received several upgrades, and nine of the changes are big enough to be on travelers' radars. Here they are.
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Biggest iPhone, Watch screens ever
This year, Apple seems to think that bigger is better.
The company's new iPhone and Apple Watch devices feature the largest displays to date. For the Apple Watch Series 10, the display measures about 10% larger than its predecessor. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max sport 6.3- and 6.9-inch displays, respectively.
The additional screen real estate on the iPhones was largely made possible by thinning the borders on the devices. Aside from the larger displays, the form factor has remained largely unchanged. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch Series 10 is Apple's thinnest watch yet — the device measures 9.7 millimeters thick.
The larger displays maintain a sleek profile without adding extra weight or bulk, which will likely be welcome news for travelers.
Cheapest noise-canceling AirPods
Apple updated its entire lineup of AirPods on Monday, but the biggest change comes to the entry-level models.
The new AirPods 4 received a complete overhaul, making them arguably even more appealing to travelers than before. They now come in an Active Noise Cancellation configuration, which the company says should drown out most of the ambient noise during travel. (The noise-canceling AirPods 4 will cost $179, while the regular model will cost $129.)
Though $179 is still pricey, the AirPods 4 will become Apple's cheapest headphones with this key feature, which could become a hit among those locked into the Apple ecosystem.
Find your AirPods easier
"Where'd I leave my AirPods?" That's the question my wife asks me about once a week. (Usually, the answer is her purse.)
With the new noise-canceling AirPods 4, you won't have to worry about that because the charging case has a built-in speaker that supports Find My. You'll be able to track your AirPods just like you do an AirTag, and if you misplace them, you'll be able to play a sound to help you find them.
This is a welcome upgrade for travelers who are prone to losing things along their journey.
Longest battery life for iPhone, AirPods
Longer batteries lead to happier travelers, especially when you're stuck on a plane with a broken power outlet. And this year, Apple promises big battery boosts across the entire iPhone lineup, as well as the new AirPods 4.
The iPhone sees between a one- and four-hour battery boost, depending on the model. The iPhone 16 Pro Max — the company's flagship smartphone — packs the longest battery life ever in an iPhone, according to Apple. Plus, all iPhone 16 models support faster wireless charging of up to 25 watts, enabling a 50% charge in just 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, the new wireless charging case for the AirPods 4 offers up to 30 hours of battery life — a big feat for the smallest such charging case in the entire headphone industry.
If those numbers pan out in the real world, then this battery boost would be a welcome upgrade for frequent travelers, especially those who rely on their devices for extended trips.
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Durability gets a boost
Cracking your phone screen is never fun (or cheap), especially when traveling.
Fortunately, the chances of that happening should be lower with the new iPhone 16 models. That's thanks to what Apple says is a reinforced "Ceramic Shield" display that's 50% tougher than the previous generation. This durability boost could be especially useful for travelers on the go, when drops and bumps are always a risk. It likely still won't protect you from the worst drops, but — hopefully — should lead to fewer cracked screens from more minor drops.
People can hear you better
When I'm on the road, I often take calls from the airport, airplane and hotel lobby. Those tend to be very loud places.
To make it easier for the other person on the line to hear you, Apple just introduced an enhanced "Voice Isolation" feature across the new iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10 models.
With better microphones and computer-generated algorithms, Apple says this technology will further isolate background noise, ensuring clearer calls even in noisy environments. If this proves to be true, I'm sure the person on the other side of the phone will appreciate this feature, especially when I'm at the airport.
Exploring new places is easier
When I'm exploring a new city, I often upload pictures of what I'm seeing to third-party applications to translate and learn some context about the site. This is often a cumbersome and battery-intensive process.
But the new iPhone 16 models will have this handy feature built in. Dubbed "Visual Intelligence," this artificial intelligence-powered feature allows you to point the camera at any object and learn more about it. In fact, Apple demoed this feature by pointing the phone at a dog, and the phone instantly identified the breed and displayed detailed information about it.
I, for one, look forward to checking this out the next time I'm on the road.
Big camera upgrades
Documenting your travels with photos and videos is a key part of many travelers' routines. This year, Apple dedicated a big chunk of its keynote to the camera improvements coming to its smartphone lineup.
One of the most noticeable upgrades is the all-new Camera Control button located along the right side of every iPhone 16 model. This button quickly launches the camera, serves as the shutter and can also be used to quickly fine-tune the zoom and other camera features.
Furthermore, each iPhone received new camera systems. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have a new ultrawide lens, which will help capture sweeping landscapes or intricate macro shots during your travels. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max also got an improved ultrawide lens, along with some other noteworthy camera updates.
Chief among them is the ability to record 4K video at 120 frames per second. While most travelers will notice higher-quality pictures and videos captured on these devices, tech-savvy flyers will especially appreciate this new video recording capability, which is perfect for getting crisp detail on slo-mo videos.
Apple Intelligence underlying it all
The tech giant also spent a big chunk of its 95-minute keynote focused on "Apple Intelligence" — a built-in artificial intelligence assistant that integrates across every app on your devices. (Apple Intelligence launches in October with its first wave of beta features.)
Given all the rage with artificial intelligence, it's no surprise that Apple harped on this new feature, supposedly a key marketing point of the new iPhone 16 lineup. (Last year's iPhone 15 Pro models will support Apple Intelligence, but they won't process requests as fast.)
If the feature works as Apple expects, travelers could find Apple Intelligence to be a big time saver. For example, when you ask Siri for your upcoming flight or hotel details, Apple Intelligence will automatically read your email or calendar and share the latest status so that you don't have to do the digging yourself. And when you're on the go and quickly want to reply to an email or summarize your notes, it should take just one tap on your phone, and voila.
Going forward, I'd expect the company to continue promoting Apple Intelligence.
All in all, Apple's latest lineup includes designs and features that travelers are likely to appreciate. From larger displays to enhanced durability, these new devices could emerge as the company's most appealing ones yet for those constantly on the go.
Related reading:
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- Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
- 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
- 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
- 13 must-have items the TPG team can't travel without
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