Apple hosted its second event, “It’s Glowtime” to mark the start of Techember on Sept. 9. Every September, the corporate giant traditionally releases a new lineup of iPhones and Apple Watches with incremental updates. 

Apple started the keynote with the “newly” designed Apple Watch Series 10. As the product marks its 10th anniversary, many hoped for a special edition, similar to the iPhone 10, with the Roman numeral “X.” However, Apple disheartened fans with minimal design changes and no mention of the 10th anniversary. Instead, they introduced a polished black aluminum color, Jet Black, to appease the fans. 

Besides color, Apple improved the design with a slimmer device than previous generations. They also increased screen real estate from 45mm to 46mm, which makes it the largest display in the watch’s history. In addition, they implemented a sleep apnea feature, which monitors respiratory and sleeping patterns, for Series 9 and 10. Apple’s decision to add the newest features to older models is bold, especially given its reputation for sabotaging previous generations. With no distinction between new and old models, the Series 10 feels unappealing to users with older versions. 

Apple also returned with AirPods Pro 2 – a new health experience. As usual, Apple reserved exclusive features for the earphones such as hearing tests, hearing protection, and hearing aid features, all available through the iOS 18 update to help mitigate potential hearing loss. 

AirPods 4 continues to dominate the Bluetooth earphone market, generating more revenue than Spotify, one of the largest music streaming platforms. Devotees wished for an open-ear design that eliminates the discomfort of ear tips. The company delivered but without the AirPods Pro’s most critical feature: Active Noise Cancellation. However, this year, Apple brought significant developments for AirPods 4, which now has Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and enhanced sound quality at a much more affordable price. 

The show reached its finale with the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. The base iPhone, often overlooked by the Pro models, received the newest chipsets, advanced camera features, and the coveted customizable Action Button. This year, Apple chose to close the gap between its two signature products. 

The basic model came in three new colors: UltraMarine, Teal, and Pink. In addition to funky colors, Apple added an Action Button and Camera Control Button, purportedly a Pro-exclusive feature. The device now also comes with a new camera setup that allows users to merge the lenses to take more vibrant photos than the 15s. 

However, the iPhone 16 Pro disappointed fans as Apple brought one of the most unfinished products ever shipped. Almost all of its highlight features will arrive with the future iOS 18 updates and are expected to have full access to Apple’s AI, Apple Intelligence, in mid-February of 2025. Their purported new features will be available to all models with the iOS 18 update in 2025. 

Moreover, the iPhone 16 Pro camera took a downturn with its more aggressive shadows compared to its predecessor. All in all, I recommend a refurbished iPhone 15 Pro over the iPhone 16.

Apple fans hope for groundbreaking innovation each year, especially as competitors like Google and Samsung push the envelope with foldable phones and advanced AI integration. While Apple improves incrementally each year, its functionality has a long way to go, especially with how it tends to lock users into its ecosystem. This year’s product launch felt rushed, with many new incomplete features that made the products subpar. Apple attempts to jump on the AI bandwagon, but it has failed to produce anything but broken promises so far.