USA TODAY International Edition
Apple rolls out iPhone XS and XS Max on Sept. 21
Bigger screens, more powerful chips featured
Apple introduced three new models of its popular iPhone on Wednesday during an event at its headquarters in Cupertino, California, including the iPhone XS and XS Max, which launch on Sept. 21.
The iPhone XS and XS Max will arrive in three versions: 64GB, 256GB and 512GB of internal storage. The XS will start at $999, while the XS Max starts at $1,099.
Pre-orders for the devices open Friday.
Both smartphones, along with a lower-cost iPhone XR launching next month, officially send off the era of the smaller iPhone screen. The smallest screen available among all models is 5.8 inches, compared to the 4.7-inch display on the iPhone 8, released last year.
The iPhone XS will feature a 5.8-inch super retina display, while the XS Max will boast a 6.5inch screen. Both phones are as big as an iPhone 8 Plus.
The phones will also feature a more powerful chip, dubbed A12 Bionic, described by Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller as “the smartest and most powerful ever” for a smartphone. The phones also have a 7megapixel front-facing camera and two rear-facing cameras, similar to the iPhone X.
Meanwhile, the budget-friendly iPhone XR will ship on Oct. 26 starting at $749 for the 64GB model. Pre-orders will open Oct. 19. It’s available in six finishes, including blue, coral and yellow. It will feature a 6.1-inch LCD liquid display and a single 12-megapixel camera on the back of the device.
Apple also introduced a new version of its Apple Watch, the Series 4, which will include an electrical heart sensor capable of taking an electrocardiogram. The feature has been approved by the FDA, said Apple chief operating officer Jeff Williams. The watch will also be able to detect if you’ve fallen and can’t get up. The Series 4 will launch Sept. 21, starting at $399, with the cellular model going for $499.