WHAT DID APPLE UNVEIL?
Apple introduced its first attempt at a smartwatch, which it calls the Apple Watch, and its two largest iPhones yet, with 4.7 and 5.5-inch screens. It also announced a new payment system to let users make in-store purchases by tapping their iPhone or Apple Watch at the counter.
WHEN ARE THEY AVAILABLE?
The two iPhones - the smaller called the 6; the larger called the 6 Plus - hit shelves on September 19, the same day as the US. There's no Australian release date for the Apple Watch, but it's expected to go on sale in the US early next year.
HOW MUCH?
Apple has scrapped the 32GB option, instead choosing 16GB, 64GB and 128GB. The smaller iPhone 6 will cost $869, $999 and $1129, respectively. The larger iPhone 6 Plus will cost $999, $1129 and $1249, respectively. There's no local pricing yet on the watch, but it will start at $US349 ($A377.60) in the US.
WHAT DO THE IPHONES ADD?
The biggest change is screen size. Apple's four-inch models have struggled of late against high-end rivals with five inches and more. In terms of sharpness, the iPhone 6 has 38 per cent more pixels, and the 6 Plus 185 per cent more pixels, than the iPhone 5S. Both are also slimmer than the 76-millimetre iPhone 5S. The 6 is 69mm; the 6 Plus is 7.1mm. The processing chip has more grunt, battery life is better, and the cameras are stronger and focus faster, Apple says.
WHAT ABOUT THE WATCH?
It's the first big new product line Apple has launched since the iPad in 2010. You need an iPhone 5 or above to use it. It relays information, such as text messages, from your phone to your wrist. Instead of relying on multi-touch gestures, the interface is controlled by clicking and twisting a knob that sits on the side, resembling those found on analogue watches. It'll come in two sizes and users can choose from a range of different wristbands.
AND THE PAYMENTS SYSTEM?
Apple is looking to spur the fledgling mobile payments market with something it calls Apple Pay. It'll work with the new iPhones and the Apple Watch via near field communication (NFC) technology. The idea is to let users link their gadgets to a credit or debit card. They can then wave their phone at the counter and verify the payment via the phone's fingerprint reader. Apple announced a host of partners in the US, but it's not yet clear how the system will work in Australia.
