In its annual hardware showcase, which is kind of a festival for the high-end hardware users, Apple has released iPhone XS (pronounced 10s), iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR following the launch of iPhone X last year. Along with this, the company also introduced the Apple Watch Series 4 to the world, which is supposed to be its most powerful watch till date. The price of the XS is set at $999-$1349, while the XS Max can be grabbed for $1099-$1449. The XS line of phones can be pre-ordered from 14th September and can be availed by September 28. There are 64 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB variants for the XSes models. The XR model would cost $749 and would be available for pre-order around next month or so.

Apple with a reputation of a technology major makes arch rivals and the tech experts wait with bated breath for the grand launch of its devices. Since iPhones have become the mark of premium technology pieces, it is always exciting to know what is in store in the next edition of the phone. In its latest announcement the Cupertino Giant has declared the roll out of the three new iPhones very much like 2017.

The iPhone XS is an improved version of the older iPhone X and features the same 5.8 inches OLED screen with barely any bezel and which is built with what the company claims as the most durable glass. The most interesting improvement in the phone is the A12 Bionic chipset which is a better replacement of A11 Bionic used earlier and the first 7 nanometer chip in a smartphone that is capable of processing 5 trillion operations per second. The body of the phone is made up of surgical grade stainless steel, glass encasing on both sides and offer greater protection from dust and water with IP68 guarantee.

According to Phil Schiller, the Head of Marketing at Apple the new XS presents a new processor for swifter performance with massive storage, improved display and finish, as well as, 30 minutes more longevity in terms of battery. He also added that the smartphone features an advanced dual-camera system with true tone flash and new sensors that are characterised with deeper and bigger pixels for excellent portrait-mode photos. Further, the front camera is two times faster that works in tandem with a dot projector creating images in depth and enabling FaceID or the facial recognition system for unlocking. Schiller was speaking at the Annual Apple event in the Steve Jobs Theater at the Apple Park on Wednesday.

Another device iPhone XS Max sports a huge 6.5 inches OLED display, which is almost bezel-less again. It has similar internal upgrades as XS and the remarkable feature of the smartphone apart from having a massive screen is its enormous battery size. Schiller claimed it to be the biggest battery Apple has ever put in a phone and it is an hour and half longer lasting than the iPhone X. Both iPhone XS and XS Max have dual-SIM support and offer the new Gold colour option apart from Space Grey and Silver.

Coming to a slightly different iPhone XR, it is apt for those who prefer lesser expensive and brighter iPhone handsets. Sporting a 6.1-inch LCD screen, which Apple terms as Liquid Retina Display, the device comes in funky colours like yellow, coral and blue. It is not the first time that the company has launched colourful smartphones, iPhone SE and 5C had bright hues, but they appeared plasticky, as well as, less durable as compared to the better built of the XR.  It has the same bionic A12 chip inside and has enhanced camera functions. The battery is a bit weaker yet would last an hour and an half more than iPhone 8 Plus. In the said event, CEO Tim Cook said that iPhone XR would allow the company to deliver the futuristic smartphones to even more people.

Apple watches that are one of the most high-end gadgets added another edition of the line with Apple Series 4.  The new product   comes with smaller bezel and larger display, better microphone and speakers. It comes in 40 mm and 44 mm sizes and has a red circle around to crown that makes it different from Series 3.  Moreover, the dual core 64-bit processor and a new sensor that measures ECG is the USP of the device. The advanced heart monitors are enabled to detect and warn against conditions like Atrial Fibrillation, which is a great innovation. The price tag of the watch ranges from $399 for GPS and $499 for cellular.

--Deepak Kumar