Watch the event in just 1.25% of the time. Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
You might not have time to watch the full Wonderlust keynote, where Apple spent two hours talking iPhone 15 and Apple Watch. You may not even have time to read the highlights from our coverage. Just for you, we’ve edited down Apple’s keynote to just 90 seconds.
Do you need any of Apple’s new products? Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Should you buy the new iPhone 15, Apple Watch Series 9 (or Ultra 2) or AirPods? The new iPhones brought big changes this year. The Apple Watch and AirPods… not so much.
Now that the products are available to order, you might be wondering if it’s time to upgrade. That depends on what devices you have, so I’ve put together a buying guide with charts and a video to help you decide.
Apple included some features in its new products we weren't expecting. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Although tipsters worked overtime spoiling the new Apple products, revealing most of the details of the iPhone 15 series and the new Apple Watch models, Tim Cook and Co. still managed to surprise us here and there during Tuesday’s “Wonderlust” event.
Fortunately, most of the surprises were good ones.
Here are three ways Apple gave us more than we expected, but two where the tipsters steered us wrong.
Apple has a new material for its watch bands and iPhone cases. Photo: Apple
To make its products more eco-friendly, Apple introduced a new material it calls “FineWoven” today. This material, which Apple says has a “suedelike” feel, will replace the company’s existing leather accessories for the iPhone and Apple Watch.
The move is another step in Apple’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
The aluminum Apple Watch Series 9 comes in a new pink color. Photo: Apple
Apple Watch Series 9 brings a faster S9 chip that the company says will boost performance, make Siri more usable, and enable an entirely new “double tap” gesture.
“Apple Watch Series 9 has been redesigned on the inside with the all-new S9 chip, giving it a big boost in performance and capabilities,” said Deidre Caldbeck, director of Apple Watch product marketing. “It’s our most powerful Watch chip yet.”
Aside from the impressive internal updates, the 2023 Apple Watch lineup looks much the same as last year’s models.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 looks the same, but packs some big upgrades. Photo: Apple
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is here. And it builds on the original model in all the right ways.
Announced today during Apple’s “Wonderlust” event, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 packs a faster S9 chip, a newer Ultra Wideband chip and longer battery life.
We already know quite a bit about What to expect from Apple Watch Series 9. And Apple Watch Ultra 2 as well. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple will unveil the next generation of Apple Watch on Tuesday at its Wonderlust event, but you don’t have to wait to find out what the new wearables will offer: Many of the details have leaked out already.
Here’s what we know about Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the next Apple Watch SE.
There should be plenty to love at Apple's September 12 event. Image: Cult of Mac
Apple’s biggest event of the year is only a few days away. On September 12, Tim Cook and Co. will reveal at least six new Apple products and possibly more.
The event is titled “Wonderlust” — Apple clearly hopes the new iPhone 15 series and fresh Apple Watch models will fill us with an uncontrollable desire to buy.
Can’t wait to find out what’s coming? We don’t blame you. Here’s everything that leaks already revealed about the handsets and wearables on Tuesday’s agenda.
Stainless steel Apple Watches are the test case for a new manufacturing process using 3D printers. Photo: Apple
Apple is testing a 3D-printer-based manufacturing process for some of its upcoming Apple Watches that could radically change how it manufactures products generally, a new report said Wednesday.
In testing, the company is using 3D printers for the stainless steel chassis of some wearables. It may prove more eco-friendly and economical, cutting down on materials needed.
As usual, everyone's trying to divine hidden meanings from Apple's latest event invitation. Image: Cult of Mac
Apple’s “Wonderlust” event invite features the Apple logo in a windswept, sandy visage. How could the artwork relate to the expected announcements of the iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Series 9 coming during the Apple event on September 12?
Here is some off-the-wall speculation — the reasonable and the ridiculous.
Will Apple's "Wonderlust" event be wonderful? Image: Apple
Apple sent out invites Tuesday to its annual September product launch event, which will happen September 12. The tagline is “Wonderlust,” so Apple is apparently hoping we’ll all be feeling both wonder and lust when it unveils the iPhone 15 series.
We’re also expecting to see the next generation of Apple Watch models.
An iPhone cable hasn't caused this much commotion since Lightning arrived on the scene more than a decade ago. Image: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: We’re hearing all kinds of rumors about the USB-C cable(s) that will come with iPhone 15 models. Will they be colorful? Braided? Fast? Slow? We’ve got some leaks and some informed speculation — and probably just enough cable to hang ourselves with.
Erfon’s out this week, but we’ve got a special guest you won’t want to miss!
Also on The CultCast:
The Vision Pro gasp heard ’round the world!
Why you might want to wash the nasty stuff off your Apple Watch band.
Leander’s new e-book Unsung Apple Hero showcases the innovative work of Bas Ording, the Apple designer who worked closely with Steve Jobs to create the look and feel of the iPhone and more.
Griffin walks us through some useful Apple apps hiding on your Mac. (Hello again, Stickies!)
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
Lululook's Titanium Link Band for Apple Watch Ultra is about as robust as they come. Photo: Lululook
Refresh your Apple Watch Ultra with this week’s brilliant giveaway from Lululook. We’re giving away one Titanium Link Band for Apple Watch Ultra. Retailing at $79.99, this band looks great with Apple’s biggest, boldest smartwatch.
Find out more about this devastatingly handsome band, and enter our giveaway, below.
The iPhone 15 might slay when it comes to data transfers and charging times. Image: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: We always expect Apple silicon to make our smartphones faster, but iPhone 15 could be a speed demon in unsuspected ways. Like, it might deliver 80 times faster data transfers through the port that replaces Lightning. Anyone who moves large files around should be thrilled with the latest iPhone 15 rumor. And that’s not all …
Also on The CultCast:
iPhone 15 might charge at extreme speeds, too.
Why is iPhone 14 taking a beating over its battery life?
Next year’s Apple Watch X could bring the major redesign we’ve all been waiting for.
Erfon does a surprise live unboxing of a great gift sent in by a CultCast listener.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
Momax Airbox stores and charges your Apple devices. Photo: Momax
Momax’s Airbox Portable Power Cabin may be the ultimate companion for your Apple devices. The clamshell case not only charges your gadgets fast with its built-in 10,000mAh battery, it also stores them on the go — including iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods or AirPods Pro.
It’ll top up your iPad quickly via USB-C as well. And there’s even a special, non-charging slot to store your Apple Pencil.
The company calls the Airbox the world’s first foldable power bank. And Momax is offering a limited-time deal that drops the price considerably — plus an additional discount for Cult of Mac readers only!
Your Apple Watch band is almost certainly disgusting. Possibly dangerously so. Photo: Cult of Mac/Wikipedia
Your Apple Watch band could be a breeding ground for potentially dangerous pathogens, according to a new study.
Scientists found that 95% of the watchbands they tested were contaminated with “bacteria of public health importance.” This proved especially true for rubber and plastic bands.
But there’s good news. The scientists also found that cleaning an Apple Watch band (or any watch band) removes all the potentially dangerous bacteria.
watchOS 9.6.1 is a small tweak, unless the bug being fixed affects you. Then it's a biggie. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Apple introduced watchOS 9.6.1 to remove a single bug affecting Apple Watch. The problem being taken care of relates to applications that track the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
The update is available for Apple Watch Series 4 and later.
The Apple Watch's 10th anniversary upgrade could be a special one. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Apple is planning some big upgrades for the 2024 Apple Watch. Reportedly called the “Watch X,” it could debut with a slimmer chassis, a new watch band mechanism and other major changes.
With the Watch X launch, Apple plans to celebrate the Apple Watch’s 10th anniversary.
This Belkin stand supports Apple Watch fast charging, but not all do. Photo: Belkin
Makers of third-party Apple Watch chargers will reportedly no longer be able to build the old, slow Apple Watch charging puck into their products. The only one available will operate 33% faster than the original Apple Watch charger.
This means that, going forward, all new Apple Watch accessories will support Fast Charge.
AirTags with new functionality and Apple Watches in new colors sound good to us. Image: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Which gets you more excited, an AirTag with new AR capabilities, a pink Apple Watch or a black titanium Apple Watch Ultra? This week’s top Apple rumors fuel our imaginations …
Also on The CultCast:
Apple touts 1 billion paid subscribers, a gigantic number that pushed the company to record-high revenue for its services division last quarter.
Leander cooks up a cheap-and-dirty way to add CarPlay to any car, even an old beater. (Still can’t get him to come on the podcast, though, because … 👀.
Tim Cook finally plays the AI card as Apple tries to cash in on the latest tech buzzword.
Griffin proves he’s a total nerd the consummate tech collector by revealing what he uses an ancient Apple Newton for these days.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 may come with both plain and black titanium cases. Photo: @ShrimpApplePro
You can expect a new color for Apple Watch Series 9 — pink — and a new black titanium case for the second-gen Apple Watch Ultra, according to a reliable leaker.
If Apple remains true to its usual scheduling, we should see both new items in September at an event unveiling the iPhone 15 lineup.
Not all iPhone rumors are created equal. Image: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Not all iPhone rumors prove exciting. In fact, a big one this week — possible iPhone 15 price hikes — sounds downright depressing. But it’s not all bad news. The “normie” iPhone 15 might get some trickle-down camera tech that could make it easier not to go Pro this year.
Also on The CultCast:
Think of all the interesting ways you could use an Action button like on Apple Watch Ultra’s on an iPhone. Well, the iPhone 15 Pro might get in on that action.
Apple’s Vision Pro loaners for developers come with some absolutely ridiculous restrictions.
We’ve got an Apple Watch tip that we bet you don’t know — how to get the time with a tap on your wrist. Perfect for those long, boring meetings when you don’t want to peek at your watch.
Hang around for the great Apple Music versus Spotify debate of 2023.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
What will the Italians think of next? They’ve produced a leather with such a mirrorlike sheen that it actually looks metallic. And Laut is using it to create quite the statement-making Laut Metallic Leather Apple Watch Band.
Check out the flashy band in three cool colors in the Cult of Mac Store and read more below.