Selfie camera disappears into the display – and what else the new iPhones can do

Apple users are living extremely dangerous these days. At least that's the impression the group gives when presenting its latest devices. Whether it's after a plane crash, a car accident, or even just a misstep while hiking in the wilderness, iPhones and Apple Watches are capable of calling for help.

Apple has installed a whole range of new functions in its four new iPhone 14 models and in its new Apple Watches. With new sensors, the watches and iPhones will in future be able to recognize an accident and then automatically start an emergency call via mobile phone. Fall detection has worked in a similar way so far.

Surprisingly, Apple has also announced an emergency SOS function via satellite for its iPhones, which will first be introduced for users in the USA and Canada and will be free for two years.

In an emergency, users can then point their iPhone in the direction of a satellite outdoors and send a short emergency text message. This also works in areas where there is no cell phone reception.

According to Apple, all four iPhone 14 models are capable of this. The company presented the iPhone 14 with a display size of 6.1 inches (15.5 centimeters) and the iPhone 14 Plus with a 6.7 inch (17 centimeters) on Wednesday. The same sizes are also available for the two Pro models. There is no successor to the iPhone Mini.

The group is introducing the biggest changes to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. For the first time, the models have an always-on display. Android users have known the feature on their devices for years.

The screens then also show information such as the time, the number of messages received or the weather in standby mode. In addition, the displays of the Pro models have become significantly brighter, so that they are easier to read in sunlight.

But Pro displays bring another feature that Apple calls “Dynamic Island”. Here the manufacturer makes a virtue out of necessity and integrates the recess in the screen, in which the selfie camera and sensors are located, with dynamic animations and overlays of incoming messages and information, for example a small music player when a song is being played. Or the indicator for headphones that have just been connected.

Although Apple has improved the cameras in all of the new models, the biggest leap is in the system in the Pro models, which, unlike the other iPhone 14 models, also get the new and more powerful A16 bionic chip. The main camera of the Pro models now has a resolution of 48 megapixels, four times more than the cameras that Apple has previously installed.

According to Apple, the cameras should take two to three times better photos, especially in low-light environments. For extreme situations, Apple has installed an action mode for video stabilization in all new iPhone models.

The cinema mode now also works in the high 4K resolution on the new models. The function allows you to play with sharpening and blurring by tapping on the display. This works during the video recording, but also afterwards.

In some situations, the iPhone also performs this focus shift automatically, for example when a person in the picture turns their head to look behind. Depending on the model and equipment, the iPhone 14 models cost between 999 euros and 2099 euros.

In addition to its iPhones, Apple has also announced a successor to the AirPods Pro. The earphones get a new chip that, among other things, increases the battery life by a third to up to six hours and delivers better sound quality. In addition, the noise cancellation is said to be twice as effective as before.

In the future, the transparency mode will automatically adapt to the ambient noise. And for the first time, users can adjust the volume directly on their AirPods, for which they previously had to operate the iPhone or Apple Watch.

The group has also revised its Apple Watches. In addition to accident detection, the biggest innovation of the Apple Watch Series 8 is temperature detection on the wrist, which can be particularly helpful for women. According to Apple, this not only allows you to better predict your period.

The watch also enables ovulation to be estimated retrospectively. The temperature is measured on the wrist every five seconds during sleep. The change in normal body temperature can also indicate diseases. On the outside, only the cheaper Apple Watch SE has changed, but it only gets a redesigned back.

For athletes in extreme environments, Apple is introducing a completely new model, the Apple Watch Ultra, which is also larger at 49 millimeters and is said to be more resistant with a titanium case and a flat sapphire crystal display.

A button on the side can be assigned individually. The clock has a running time of 36 hours. A new power-saving setting even extends the runtime to up to 60 hours.

The Apple Watch Ultra's display is twice as bright as other Apple Watches. In addition, three microphones ensure that telephone calls are also possible under difficult conditions. The Ultra model uses two frequencies for satellite positioning, so that the location is recorded more precisely than before.

The watch was designed for ambient temperatures from minus 20 to plus 55 degrees and can also be used as a dive computer to a depth of 40 meters. The Apple Watch Ultra costs 999 euros.