Yawn, to be perfectly honest. Apple’s energies are clearly focused on the Vision Pro.
The good news is if you own an iPhone 14 and/or Apple Watch Series 8, I don’t think you need to feel any fear of missing out. I will be upgrading my iPhone 11 Pro but I’ll stick with my Apple Watch Series 4 for now.
Quick recommendations:
- iPhone: I think the basic iPhone 15 is fine for those looking to upgrade. Two key additions are Dynamic Island and close-enough telephoto mode. And, of course, USB-C replacing Lightning, which seems surprisingly controversial. Go for the iPhone 15 Pro if you’re a serious iPhone photographer. Apple also seems to be aiming this year’s Pro model at gamers. If that’s you, buy a basic iPhone and a Steam Deck and be much happier.
- Apple Watch: I don’t find anything about the Series 9 particularly compelling. The claw gesture thing is interesting, but also seems like an easy to trigger gimmick. I still think the Apple Watch SE is sufficient for most people.
I’ll be updating the iPhone Buying Guide and Apple Watch guide soon.