Apple: Next-Generation Watches, New AirPods at Launch Event

photo of Apple Watch — (Image credit: Courtesy of Apple (Note: Not a representation of the Apple Watch Series 7.))

This Monday, September 9, Apple (AAPL) hosted the “It’s Glowtime” special event which was streamed online and took place at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. EDT) at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park.

Apart from the unveiling of the new iPhone 16, the event revealed the next-generation Apple Watch models and the new AirPods 4, along with a light upgrade to the AirPods Max and updates to the AirPods Pro 2 that include a hearing protection and hearing aid feature.

Here’s an overview of several of the best products debuted by Apple this Monday.

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Apple Watch models

Along with all the excitement brewing over the new iPhone 16, Apple also announced its new Apple Watch series, including the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Apple has released a new Apple Watch every year since the original was unveiled in 2015, and for good reason. The Apple Watch accounted for over 34% of all smartwatch shipments in 2022, and 60% of the revenue for the entire market, globally, according to data from Counterpoint.

Apple Watch Series 10

The Apple Watch Series 10 is now the thinnest Apple Watch ever, at just 9.7mm thick. It also features a larger and brighter screen — 30% bigger and 40% brighter than the Series 9. The new model also charges faster, but battery life still only lasts 18 hours.

New, notable features include a sleep apnea detector, improved background noise suppression and water temperature and depth sensors. The starting cost is $399.

Apple Watch Ultra 2

The Apple Watch Ultra 2, called the "ultimate sports watch" by Apple, now comes in a “satin black” color and boasts several new features.

Along with the sleep apnea detector available on the Apple Watch Series 10, the Apple Watch Ultra now offers a Training Load feature that measures the intensity and duration of workouts, automatic stroke detection and lap count for pool swims, an advanced compass app and support for offline maps. The starting cost is $799.

Apple has tweaked the Smart Stack interface, added better communication and safety features and other exclusive features via the announcement of WatchOS 11 during WWDC 2024 this past June, which you can download for now.

Apple AirPods 4

The fourth generation of Apple AirPods was also showcased at the event, with two versions announced — the standard model and a model featuring noise cancellation. AirPods 4 costs $129, while the active noise cancellation model costs $179.

Both models will look identical but with a new design that combines the best of AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro, with a shorter stem and a better fit for all users. Notable features include a new A2 chip, personalized spatial audio and the ability to nod your head yes and shake your head no in response to Siri, making them completely hands-free.

Other features include USB-C for charging, up to 30 hours battery life and a charging case with a built-in speaker for improved Find My support.

For the past 18+ years, Kathryn has highlighted the humanity in personal finance by shaping stories that identify the opportunities and obstacles in managing a person's finances. All the same, she’ll jump on other equally important topics if needed. Kathryn graduated with a degree in Journalism and lives in Duluth, Minnesota. She joined Kiplinger in 2023 as a contributor.