iPhone 15, new Apple watch and new AirPods

That’s the end of our live reporting! We’ll try to check out the devices in person as soon as we can. Thanks for joining.

— Hayden Field

Apple announced its iPhone 15 Pro will start at its same price as last year, $999. The iPhone 15 Pro Max will cost $1,199, which is a price increase, but users will get a storage bump of 256 gigabytes.

Users can preorder the phones Friday and they will be available Sept. 22.

— Ashley Capoot

The 48-megapixel cameras will now be able to shoot in 48MP HEIF and super high resolution as a default. The 24-megapixel photos will work in low-light, highly detailed photographs.

The sensor is bigger than in previous iPhone models, and iPhone 15 Pro’s Photonic Engine allows 24, 28 and 35 millimeter focal lengths.

There will also be a 3X telephoto camera for the iPhone 15 Pro. For the 15 Pro Max, that will be upgraded up to a 5X zoom. That’s a new differentiation between the two models of the already highest-end iPhones.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max will also include a 120 millimeter focal length. Users can also connect their iPhone 15 Pro directly to their Mac computers.

— Rohan Goswami

Since Apple is switching to USB-C charging with the iPhone 15, users’ old Lightning cables will no longer work.

This means U.S. residents upgrading will have to get new cables, although many people already have them for their laptops, headphones and other gadgets. But Apple will also likely include a cable in the iPhone’s box.

— Ashley Capoot

Apple is replacing its mute switch with an “action button” on its iPhone 15 Pro model. When users press it, they can still switch between their ringer and silence, but they can also choose from a host of different actions. People can press the button and start a voice memo, for instance.

The button will also correspond with visual feedback in the iPhone 15 Pro’s dynamic island.

— Ashley Capoot

The new A17 Pro chip includes a “breakthrough” GPU, a 3 nanometer chip likely manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor. It also includes 19 billion transistors.

It will have two high-performance cores and four “efficiency” cores. The Neural Engine, Apple’s artificial intelligence accelerator, will be twice as fast and powered by 16 cores, per the company. The GPU is a six-core unit that Apple says is 20% faster than the prior version, and the company says the GPUs are focused on gaming rather than AI.

— Kif Leswing

The high-end, titanium-enclosed iPhone 15 Pro will come in black, blue and silver. Apple executives are touting how light and thin it is, while also emphasizing the strength of titanium, comparing it to the alloys used in the Mars rover.

— Rohan Goswami

The tougher titanium material will wrap the two iPhone 15 Pro models. Right now, they use aluminum, which is less durable. The titanium is brushed and, judging by the teaser video, has slightly softened edges compared to the current iPhone 14 Pro generation.

— Rohan Goswami

Apple announced that the iPhone 15 will be able to call roadside assistance via satellite.

This means users without cell service who need help on the road will still be able to get it. The service will be free to iPhone 15 users for two years.

— Ashley Capoot

The base iPhone 15 will cost $799. The larger iPhone 15 Plus will cost $899. The low-end price remains unchanged.

— Kif Leswing

“USB-C has become a universally accepted standard, so we’re bringing it to iPhone,” an Apple presenter said. It was the biggest cheer of the morning in Cupertino, California.

— Kif Leswing

The audience let out its largest cheer yet when Apple announced both USB-C charging and wired Airpods for the next-generation iPhone 15. The 2nd generation Airpods Pro will also be updated for USB-C, an executive said.

— Kif Leswing

The 16-core A16 Bionic chip first debuted on the top-end iPhone 14 Pro last year. Now, it’s coming to Apple’s entry-level iPhone 15.

— Rohan Goswami

Since Apple has stopped using leather as a material in its products, it introduced several new bands and colors based on fiber and plastic on Tuesday, many of which show that they use recycled materials through their coloring or pattern.

While ditching leather may be good for the environment, it’s a clear break from the original Apple Watch launch back in 2014, which focused on fashion, including its partnerships with luxury brands and luxury finishes such as leather.

— Kif Leswing

First introduced in the iPhone 14 Plus, the Dynamic Island is now rolling out to both the higher- and lower-end version of the iPhone 15.

— Rohan Goswami

Tim Cook is back on stage. The company is now announcing the latest in the lineup: the iPhone 15. A preview video teased an iPhone 15 in a muted pink, yellow, green, blue and, of course, black.

— Rohan Goswami

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 will be priced at $799, the Series 9 will be priced at $399 and the second generation SE will be $249, the company said.

— Rohan Goswami

Apple introduced new fine woven bands for its watch that are made without any leather, which the company says is better for the environment.

The company also collaborated with luxury brand Hermès on four new leather-free bands and announced a band collaboration with sportswear brand Nike.

— Ashley Capoot

Jeff Williams is now previewing the new high-end Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The new watch will include the new S9 chip, with precision finding through a new second-generation ultra wideband architecture, and a new display capable of 3,000 nits. It also has 72 hours of battery life and 95% recycled titanium.

The device will come with a new watch face, exclusively for Ultra 2, called Modular Ultra. Apple describes it as the most customizable watch face it has ever made.

— Rohan Goswami