'September iPhone Launch' Rule Broken...Watch and iPad Host Modest Party (Summary)

First Time Something Missing from iPhone New Product September Event
Development and Release Delayed Due to COVID-19... October Event Scheduled
iPad Air 4 and iPad 8th Generation Unveiled
iPad 6 and Apple Watch SE Also Revealed

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The iPhone did not appear at Apple's September event. While there have been cases of partial delays in the release of some models, the iPhone unveiling schedule was postponed, resulting in an event akin to a "steamed bun without filling."

On the 15th (local time), Apple held an online new product launch event, showcasing the iPad Air 4, iPad 8th generation, Apple Watch Series 6, and Apple Watch SE. This is the first time in Apple's history that no new iPhone was introduced at a September event. Although the iPhone X and others were released about a month late in 2017, this year the unveiling itself was delayed.

The unprecedented September event without an iPhone occurred due to delays in the iPhone 12 release caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Apple stated during its earnings conference call at the end of July, "Last year, we started selling iPhones at the end of September, but this year, we expect supply to be available a few weeks later." The new product unveiling event is scheduled for October 12, and the iPhone 12 release is expected to be postponed further to November or later.

The iPhone 12 Vacancy Filled with iPads

The iPad Air 4 includes Blue and Green colors.

Apple filled the gap left by the iPhone with new iPad and Apple Watch products. On this day, they unveiled mid-range iPad models and a new iPad Air.

The iPad Air 4 features a 10.9-inch display and is equipped with the latest chip, the 'A14 Bionic.' The A14 offers a 40% improvement in CPU performance and a 30% enhancement in graphics processing compared to its predecessor. It includes a neural engine that is twice as fast. With the removal of the home button, the Touch ID sensor has been integrated into the power button. The front camera is 7 megapixels, and the rear camera is 12 megapixels. The connection port has been changed to USB-C. The domestic launch price of the iPad Air 4 starts at 770,900 KRW.

Greg Joswiak, Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, explained, "The iPad Air 4 offers powerful pro features at a reasonable price with a larger 10.9-inch display, next-generation Touch ID, and the A14 Bionic chip. This iPad Air forms our most robust iPad lineup yet, providing customers with more ways to enrich their daily lives."

The 8th generation iPad features a 10.2-inch screen and is equipped with the A12 Bionic chip, improving CPU performance by 40% compared to its predecessor. The overall design is similar to the 7th generation and supports the Apple Pencil. The 8th generation iPad enables augmented reality (AR) apps to perform person occlusion (realistically rendering AR content in front of or behind people in the real world), motion tracking, and enhanced photo editing. The domestic launch price starts at 449,000 KRW. Additionally, Apple will support iPadOS 14 on all iPads starting from the 16th (local time).

Apple Watch Series 6 Measures Blood Oxygen Saturation, Affordable Apple Watch SE

Apple Watch 6 can measure blood oxygen saturation.

The Apple Watch Series 6 has improved fitness and health features and can measure blood oxygen saturation. Blood oxygen saturation indicates how well oxygenated blood circulates through the body. It is equipped with the S6 SiP based on the A13 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 11, with a 20% performance improvement, resulting in faster app launch speeds. The Apple Watch 6 also includes a short-range wireless communication feature that supports the 'Car Key' function to unlock car doors. Battery life is 18 hours, and charging speed has been improved to allow full charging within 1.5 hours, enabling use for sleep tracking. The watch display brightness is 2.5 times brighter.

The Apple Watch 6 aluminum model now includes a blue color option, and a red Product Red Apple Watch and band are also released. The domestic launch price starts at 539,000 KRW for the GPS model and 659,000 KRW for the GPS + Cellular model. Additionally, new watch faces, sleep tracking, automatic handwashing detection, and health and fitness features such as VO2 max are available with watchOS 7.

Apple Watch SE

Apple also unveiled the Apple Watch SE, which offers excellent cost performance at around 300,000 KRW. The domestic price starts at 359,000 KRW for the GPS model and 419,000 KRW for the Cellular model. It supports sleep tracking, handwashing detection, and workout measurement features available from watchOS 7 but does not support blood oxygen saturation measurement. The Apple Watch SE features a Retina display 30% larger than the Apple Watch 3, allowing users to view notifications, messages, and workout results on a bigger screen. It comes in an aluminum case and is compatible with the new bands released for the Apple Watch models. The price is similar to the Apple Watch 3, but performance is twice as fast. It will be available for purchase in 27 countries, including the United States, starting from the 18th.