Apple conference summary: Dual SIM and the biggest and most expensive iPhone ever are here

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summary

Apple released three new phones: iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and iPhone XS Max. In addition to the regular upgrades, the long-awaited dual-SIM dual-standby iPhone is finally here.

It’s the annual Apple Spring Festival Gala again. In addition to adding dual-SIM dual-standby function to the iPhone, what other special features does it bring? What is the price?

Regardless of whether you have the latest generation of iPhone, you will definitely be interested in these questions. We stayed up late to watch the press conference and brought you the most complete information as soon as possible. Without further ado, let's take a look at the key summary:

1. iPhone XR starts at 6,499 yuan, 6.1-inch LCD screen, A12 chip, single camera, six colors: white/black/blue/yellow/coral/red, physical dual SIM dual standby, orderable on October 19/released on October 26.

2. The starting price of iPhone XS is 8,699 yuan, with a 5.8-inch OLED screen, A12 chip, and three colors: silver/gold/space gray. It does not support dual SIM dual standby. It can be ordered on September 14 and released on September 21.

3. iPhone XS Max starts at 9,599 yuan, 6.5-inch OLED screen, A12 chip, three colors of silver/gold/space gray, physical dual SIM dual standby, order on September 14/release on September 21.

4. Apple Watch Series 4 starts at 3,199 yuan, S4 chip, 40/44 mm options, optional LTE version, orderable on September 14.

5. There is no product information about AirPower, and there is no update for AirPods wireless headphones…

iPhone: Dual SIM dual standby and "China only"

Every iPhone update attracts a lot of attention, and this year is no exception. Before the 2018 Apple Fall Conference, various information about the new iPhone has been circulated on the Internet, but the authenticity of these leaks remains in doubt.

In the early morning of September 13, after introducing the Apple Watch, the highly anticipated new generation of iPhone finally officially met with us. As previously revealed, Apple brought a total of three new iPhones to the conference, including iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR.

iPhone XS: Bigger, more powerful, more expensive

Following the naming convention of previous generations of products, Apple has launched the iPhone XS (Ten S) after the iPhone X. Apart from the name, the overall appearance has not changed. Like the previous iPhone X, the iPhone XS still uses a stainless steel middle frame and a glass back cover.

The difference is that iPhone X comes in three new colors, including silver, space gray, and gold. Compared with iPhone X, not only are the color options increased, but the visual effects are also significantly different. So even if you don’t know much about iPhone XS, you can still distinguish it from iPhone X by its color.

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Of course, in addition to the color schemes we mentioned above, the more important change of iPhone XS lies in the hardware configuration. As everyone predicted before, iPhone XS is equipped with the new A12 Bionic chip, which is also the industry's first mass-produced 7nm chip.

According to the information given at Apple's official press conference, the CPU performance of A12 has increased by 15% and the GPU performance has increased by 50% compared to the previous generation. In addition to the CPU and GPU, the performance of its neural network engine has also been improved, from 600 billion operations per second of A11 to 5 trillion operations per second, which is a huge increase.

In terms of the screen, the iPhone XS uses a 5.8-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 2436 x 1125, 458 ppi, and supports HDR.

The iPhone XS is still equipped with Face ID facial unlocking, and the algorithm and other aspects have been upgraded. The front camera is 7 million pixels with an aperture of ƒ/2.2. The rear camera consists of a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 12-megapixel telephoto dual-lens camera. The wide-angle lens has an aperture of ƒ/1.8 and the telephoto lens has an aperture of ƒ/2.4.

It is worth mentioning that the iPhone XS brings a feature that Apple calls Smart HDR. Simply put, when shooting moving objects, you can use smart continuous shooting and multiple synthesis to get clear photos. In addition, there is another function that after you finish shooting, you can adjust the depth of field effect by simulating the change of aperture in the later stage.

In addition, the iPhone XS series will also support stereo reception, and the video recording effect will be much stronger than before.

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In other aspects, the dimensions of the iPhone XS are 143.6 × 20.9 × 7.7mm and the weight is 177g. According to Apple's official statement, its usage time is up to 0.5 hours longer than that of the iPhone X.

iPhone XS Max

In addition to the iPhone XS, this time Apple also brought the iPhone with the largest screen in history - iPhone XS Max. It is equipped with a 6.5-inch OLED full screen with a resolution of 2688 x 1242 and 458ppi. The larger screen size also means that its body is larger than the iPhone XS.

According to official data from Apple, the dimensions of the iPhone XS Max are 157.5 × 77.4 × 7.7mm and weighs 208g. In comparison, the dimensions of the iPhone 8 Plus are 158.4 × 78.1 × 7.5mm and weighs 202g.

That is to say, the iPhone XS Max is roughly the same size as the iPhone 8 Plus, despite the significantly larger screen size. However, it should be noted that the iPhone XS Max is thicker and 6g heavier than the iPhone 8 Plus. So the grip may be a shortcoming.

Of course, after adopting a larger screen, the iPhone XS Max has also made some efforts in battery life, and the usage time is up to 1.5 hours longer than the iPhone X.

As for the configuration, the iPhone XS Max and iPhone XS are consistent, both offer three storage specifications: 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB.

iPhone XR: The price/performance ratio is indeed high, but the border is indeed wide

In addition to the regular upgraded iPhone XS and the "large" upgraded iPhone XS Max, Apple also released a colorful and cheap model, the iPhone XR.

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The iPhone XR adopts a design style similar to the iPhone X/XS/XS Max, with a notch on the front, Face ID built into the notch, and a glass back cover. However, as a cheap model, the iPhone XR has reduced some specifications.

The screen size of iPhone XR is 6.1 inches, but the material has been changed to LCD, the ppi has been reduced to 326, and the 3D Touch pressure-sensitive screen that has been equipped since iPhone 6s has also been removed from iPhone XR.

In addition, although the iPhone XR has what may be the narrowest "chin" among LCD screens, it is still wider than the iPhone X/XS/XS Max. Coupled with the design of equal width black borders around the screen, the iPhone XR is inferior to the other products in terms of visual comprehensiveness.

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For the middle frame, the iPhone XR has switched from stainless steel to more cost-effective aluminum alloy, but this also allows the iPhone XR to offer a wider range of colors.

iPhone XR is available in 6 colors including special edition red, yellow, white, coral, black, and blue. The back cover and middle frame are the same color, while the front panel is all black.

What is a little surprising is that the iPhone XR uses the same A12 Bionic chip as the iPhone XS/XS Max, and the rear main camera has not shrunk (single pixel 1.4 microns, f/1.8, optical image stabilization). However, the secondary camera used for zoom has been removed, but the algorithm can still achieve simulated background blur.

The iPhone XR also has what may be the best battery life of the three new iPhones. Officially, it claims that "the usage time is up to 1.5 hours longer than the iPhone 8 Plus." However, the weight of 194 grams and the thickness of up to 8.3 mm may be the price paid for the long battery life.

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The 6.1-inch iPhone XR is obviously a "volume-selling" machine. Similar performance and lower price are the reasons why the iPhone XR has become a hit.

More importantly, there are still a large number of iPhones in the market that are in urgent need of upgrading. Market research company Mixpanel recently released a report stating that the most popular iPhone is the iPhone 7, followed by the iPhone 6s, and models before the iPhone 8 account for more than 70%, while the latest iPhone X only accounts for 12%.

In other words, nearly 70% of old iPhone users are still motivated to upgrade, and the iPhone XR is for them.

Dual SIM Dual Standby

The international versions of the three new products, including iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR, all use the physical SIM card slot + eSIM card mode. The iPhone XS for China does not support dual SIM cards, while the iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR support dual SIM cards, but they all have a stacked physical SIM card slot design (SIM cards can be placed on both the front and back).

The reason is very simple. According to Apple's previous upgrade strategy for "S" products, the 5.8-inch iPhone XS will use the same mold and internal layout as the currently sold iPhone X. The difference is probably some conventional upgrades in hardware such as color or processor.

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From iFixit's earlier disassembly, we can see that the iPhone X uses a double-layer motherboard design. The interior of the body is very compact, with basically no extra space for operation. If the iPhone XS wants to support dual cards, the eSIM card may be the best solution.

But the problem is that the promotion of eSIM cards in China is not ideal, so this solution is not suitable for the domestic market. If a physical card slot is used, the motherboard will undoubtedly need to be redesigned, which is not easy to achieve given the limited internal space.

In addition, there is another problem that cannot be ignored. Once the iPhone XS supports dual SIM cards, its power consumption will increase, and Apple needs to work harder on battery life. But as we mentioned earlier, it is very difficult to make room for a larger capacity battery.

Therefore, in the opinion of Geek Choice, it is not surprising that the 5.8-inch iPhone XS does not support physical dual SIM cards. However, since the 6.1-inch iPhone XR and 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max have more internal space, it is relatively easier to add the circuits required to support dual SIM cards on the motherboard.

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Price and Release Date

At 3 pm on September 14, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Plus will be available for pre-sale at the Tmall Apple Store and Apple's official website, seven days in advance.

In order to encourage consumers to upgrade their iPhones every year, Tmall announced the official launch of the "Value Preservation Buyback" program on September 14. After using two iPhone XS devices with the "Value Preservation Buyback" logo purchased on the Tmall platform for one year, if they are not damaged, repaired and in good condition, Tmall's designated recyclers can buy them back in cash at a 40% discount.

In addition, Tmall has also launched a variety of services such as value-preserving repurchase, 12-period interest-free coupons, phone bill coupons and Huabei credit limit increase, taking into account everything from buying new phones to selling second-hand phones.

It is worth mentioning that the older iPhone models have also been reduced in price to varying degrees. The starting price of iPhone 7 is 3,899 yuan, while the starting price of iPhone 8 has dropped to 5,099 yuan. If your budget is insufficient or you don’t like the “notch screen”, these two models are worth considering.

The iPhone XS 64GB/256GB/512GB versions are priced at 8,699 yuan/10,099 yuan/11,899 yuan respectively.

The iPhone XS Max 64GB/256GB/512GB are priced at 9599 yuan/10999 yuan/12799 yuan respectively.

The starting prices of iPhone XR for 64GB/128GB/256GB are 6499 yuan/6999 yuan/7899 yuan.

Among them, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max will start pre-order on September 14 and officially go on sale on September 21; iPhone XR will be a little later, with pre-order starting on October 19 and officially going on sale on October 26.

From the consumer's perspective, although the iPhone XR is relatively cheaper, its hardware configuration is somewhat different from the other two products, so it may not be very attractive to many old iPhone users.

The iPhone XS does not support dual SIM cards, which means that if you care more about dual SIM cards, it is not an ideal choice.

From a product perspective, the iPhone XS Max is undoubtedly a product with relatively balanced performance in all aspects, but it requires more budget. So, if you want to buy the ideal iPhone, it may still not be cheap.

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Apple Watch Series 4: Better looking, smarter

Since its debut as the "One More Thing" when the iPhone 6 was released in 2014, the Apple Watch has completed three generations of product changes, forming a very stable product line, and Apple has also grown into the most important manufacturer in the wearable field.

As you can see, the appearance design of Apple Watch has not changed much in the past four years, but its functions have become more and more complete and its independence has become stronger. Its product attributes are no longer satisfied with being just a mobile phone accessory.

The good news is that the appearance of the Apple Watch Series 4 released this morning has undergone some visible changes. In short, the new watch has become much rounder; in addition, the previous Apple Watch size was 38mm and 42mm, but this time the new product has been changed to 40mm and 44mm, which is 2mm higher overall, and the display area has also increased accordingly.

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As the dial gets bigger, Apple Watch Series 4 gets a new UI, a new "breathing" dial, and a new digital crown that vibrates when turned (more realistic). Of course, Apple Watch Series 4 will be equipped with the latest watchOS 5 system.

One of the biggest highlights of Apple Watch Series 4 is its support for ECG electrocardiogram testing, which means that the watch can detect more accurate heart rate information and warn of some heart diseases in advance. In addition, Apple said that it has passed FDA certification, which means that the test data meets medical standards. When performing ECG testing, users need to press the digital crown with the hand that is not wearing the watch, and cooperate with the sensor at the bottom of the watch to form a circuit to complete the entire testing process. (PS The Chinese version does not seem to be able to use this function yet)

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In terms of hardware, Apple Watch Series 4 uses Apple's new S4 chip (twice as fast). It is worth mentioning that Apple Watch Series 4 is also equipped with a new gravity sensor, which can alarm in time when it detects a user falling (very valuable for the elderly). Due to the addition of a larger screen and more hardware functions, Apple is still very conservative about the battery life data of Apple Watch Series 4. At the press conference, it was stated that it can be used "all day", and the official website data shows that daily use is 18 hours.

Previously, there was a view that Apple Watch would replace iPhone as the new center of Apple's ecosystem. Although this goal is unrealistic in the short term, after the recent generations of updates, Apple Watch has become more and more independent in terms of software and hardware, and it does have a trend of "standing on its own". For ordinary consumers, it is also obvious that Apple Watch has become more and more practical. This time, Apple Watch Series 4's focus on "personal health" is bound to greatly increase its practical value (or its value in health and medicine).

Not long ago, IDC released the wearable market data report for the second quarter of 2018. There is no doubt that Apple continues to lead, and the month-on-month growth has reached 38.4%. In fact, Apple has maintained its leading position in the wearable product market for a long time. At last year's press conference, Apple also announced that it has become the world's largest watch manufacturer. In the field of wearables, or more specifically in the field of smart watches, Apple's new product trends are bound to affect the decisions of other manufacturers. Let us wait and see.

Finally, let’s talk about the price of the new product. The GPS version of Apple Watch Series 4 starts at US$399, and the LTE version starts at US$499.

In addition, the price of Apple Watch Series 3 has been reduced to $279. The Chinese version of the GPS version starts at 3199 yuan, and the LTE version starts at 3999 yuan. Pre-orders will be available on September 14 and the official release will be on the 21st.

Software and AR Applications

In a hardware-focused press conference, software updates were not the focus, but Apple still brought three interesting AR applications: Bethesda's "The Elder Scrolls: Blades" mobile game, basketball practice application "Homecourt", and Big Bee Arcade "Galaga".

The news of the mobile version of The Elder Scrolls was first announced at the E3 game show in June this year, and it was shown again at the Apple conference. This is a first-person role-playing game that inherits most of the features of the Elder Scrolls series and is designed specifically for mobile phones. In the demonstration video, you can see that below the screen are the display values ​​of life, stamina, and magic. Players can control the characters to attack monsters, and in the last shot, there is also a familiar dragon. The Elder Scrolls: Blades showcases the capabilities of the A12 Bionic processor, presenting a console-level visual and control experience on a mobile phone.

The second AR application is a tool for basketball practice. Apple invited NBA star Steve Nash to speak on the platform. Using AR technology, "Homecourt" can detect the basket and the player's movement posture, and then accurately calculate the hit rate when shooting. It can also analyze the player's shooting posture, timing and other data to assist players in better practice.

The third one is the AR version of the famous arcade game Galaga, which is also the most eye-catching one among the three games. Galaga supports multiplayer games, and players can use their mobile phones to engage in fierce shooting competitions in the real world. Previously, Galaga was just a simple 2D shooting game, but with AR, it can be turned into 3D, and various aircraft, ammunition, and enemies are also displayed around you. The battle is very intense, which is very suitable for playing with friends at gatherings.

The above is a summary of the highlights of this Apple conference. I wonder which new product everyone is most interested in?

Comprehensive Geek Park and iFanr