[Asia Economy Reporter Joselgina] "It is different from any other product." "There is no product like the iPad anywhere." "The iPhone has completely changed the world." "The most professional iPhone in history."
The voice of Tim Cook, Apple CEO, who took the stage, was full of confidence. On the 14th (local time), at Apple’s special event held at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, USA, he introduced new products such as the ‘iPhone 13’, ‘Apple Watch 7’, and ‘iPad Mini’, repeatedly emphasizing their differentiation from competing products. In particular, he highlighted the innovation fostered by the Apple ecosystem, saying, "We create the best products and services to help people do great things every day."
After the video produced under the theme ‘California Streaming’ ended that day, Cook CEO appeared on the empty stage dressed in jeans and a knit sweater, introducing California as "a land of people with great ambitions and big dreams" and "a land of optimists who want to achieve progress and create things that change the world."
He emphasized, "This is a very important part of Apple’s identity and inspires everything we create and practice." California Streaming was the theme of the event that day. He also posted a photo on his Twitter, presumed to be taken at Joshua Tree National Park, saying, "Good morning from a slightly different place this time," previewing the event.
More than 2 million people watched the event live on YouTube alone. The first thing Cook CEO introduced was the online video service (OTT) Apple TV Plus (+). He defined Apple TV+ as "a place where the world’s most ingenious storytellers gather." Immediately after, the full-scale introduction of new products began with the iPad. Cook CEO emphasized, "There is no product like the iPad anywhere," and "Users can do more with the iPad."
The 9th generation iPad features a 10.2-inch Retina display and advanced technologies such as Center Stage. It is also equipped with a 12MP ultra-wide front camera. The newly unveiled iPad Mini features a larger 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display than its predecessor, while the bezel has been thinned to maintain its compact size. With technologies such as 500 nits brightness, wide color gamut support, anti-reflective coating, and front lamination, it delivers clear images and videos, and its performance has improved by 80% compared to the previous generation thanks to the A15 Bionic chip.
Cook CEO also expressed confidence in the new smartwatch, Apple Watch 7. He described the Apple Watch as "an indispensable daily companion" that "connects you to the people and things you care about." Furthermore, even after introducing all product lines, he praised the Apple Watch 7 as "arguably the best smartwatch in the world." The Apple Watch 7 features a thinner bezel, a 20% larger display than its predecessor, and faster charging speed. It uses a crack-resistant front crystal, boasting the best durability among all watch series to date. It is over 50% thicker than Watch 6, effectively preventing cracks caused by external shocks while maintaining visual clarity.
The highlight was, of course, the iPhone 13. During the approximately 1 hour and 17 minutes event, more than 30 minutes were focused solely on introducing the iPhone 13 series. Cook CEO also made the most remarks about the iPhone.
He emphasized, "The iPhone has completely changed the world," and "People use the iPhone every day. From difficult work tasks to capturing moments in life, watching favorite TV shows, enjoying games, checking global news, and contacting friends." He added, "This is why we want to make the best iPhone," evaluating that the newly unveiled iPhone would provide an experience incomparable to anything else.
In particular, Cook CEO mentioned the advantages of the iPhone 13, including easy and simple usability, beautiful and sturdy design, water resistance, long battery life, industry-leading performance, the best camera, and personal privacy features. He added, "People love the iPhone. The iPhone continues to evolve," and "It will be stronger, capable of more, and more enjoyable to use."
The iPhone 13 series consists of four models, just like its predecessor: the ‘iPhone 13 (6.1-inch)’, ‘iPhone 13 Mini (5.4-inch)’, ‘iPhone 13 Pro (6.1-inch)’, and ‘iPhone 13 Pro Max (6.7-inch)’. There were no major changes in appearance. However, the size of the camera notch at the top of the display was reduced by 20% compared to the previous model. The A15 Bionic chip installed in the iPhone 13 features a 6-core CPU and 4-core GPU, improving processing performance by 50%. Camera functions were also enhanced.
Regarding the iPhone 13 Pro model, Cook CEO said, "It is the best in its class, packed with cutting-edge technology for those who want to make the most of their iPhone," and confidently described it as "the most professional iPhone in history, the best iPhone we have ever made."
The domestic retail prices start at ▲iPhone 13 Mini 950,000 KRW ▲iPhone 13 1,090,000 KRW ▲iPhone 13 Pro 1,350,000 KRW ▲iPhone 13 Pro Max 1,490,000 KRW. Pre-orders will begin on the 17th in over 30 countries including the United States, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany, with in-store sales starting on the 24th. In Korea, the official release will be on the 8th of next month.
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