Apple has unveiled the iPhone 14, with emergency satellite connectivity and car crash detection technology, at a launch event in the US.
The company revealed four versions of the new handset at its Cupertino headquarters, with an audience attending in person for the first time since the pandemic.
It also showed off a new extreme sports wearable – the Watch Ultra.
The event focused on next generation iPhone, Watch and AirPod products.
Apple CEO Tim Cook was on stage at the Steve Jobs theatre inside the tech giant’s California campus – but the presentation itself was entirely pre-recorded.
iPhone 14
The company is releasing the iPhone 14 in two sizes, the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Plus.
The new handsets are capable of sending an emergency call for help via satellite. The phone will display the whereabouts of passing satellites overhead and demonstrate how to point the device at them correctly.
It can take from 15 seconds to a few minutes to send a basic message.
“The investment to add satellite capability should not be underestimated,” said Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight.
“It will likely have taken Apple years to put all the pieces of the puzzle in place, including a commercial agreement with satellite provider Globalstar, and the creation of the infrastructure needed to pass messages to the emergency services.”
Tech analyst Paolo Pescatore said he believed the innovation was good news for consumers “in hard-to-reach areas”.
“It is encouraging to see providers starting to get serious about using satellite – ultimately reliable and robust connectivity is still highly sought-after among all users,” he said.
iPhone 14 camera
The tech giant announced a new 12-megapixel camera, capable of taking photos of fast-moving subjects, and the company claims a 49% improvement in low-light capturing.
The front camera also included auto-focus for the first time, to help sharpen selfies.
According to Apple, iPhone users took more than three trillion photos in the last 12 months.
The iPhone 14 is priced from $799 (US), £849 (UK).
(Source BBC News)
