Apple announced a series of product updates Tuesday at its annual fall event in Cupertino, California. For travelers, some remodeled equipment stands out above the rest.
Apple’s popular headphones have improved, while the company’s latest iPhones and watches have also introduced design changes and new features.
If you’ve been sticking with upgrading your technology, you might be wondering if you can update to hype and whether it’s worth splurge for travelers.
Well, I can’t answer these questions for the time being – keep watching the updates whenever I test some new products – but if you trust Apple’s marketing, maybe these devices might be worthy of the heavy traveler’s update.
This is what was announced, and nothing happened.
AirPods Pro 3
The next-generation AirPods Pro is launched on Tuesday.
The sound quality has been improved, but the more noticeable change is twice as high as the existing model, which is probably the music of the traveler’s ear (Pardon the Pun).
Other changes include a more compact profile of the earbuds, additional fitting options, and better resistance to the elements when they are out.
AirPods Pro 3 also supports a new feature called Live Translation, which automatically converts conversations into preferred languages in real time. This means that if you are traveling abroad, you can use AirPods for real-time translation without having to enter everything in the translation app.
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The AirPods Pro has become one of the best-selling headphones worldwide thanks to its portable bud shape and pocket-sized charging case. With the improvement of cancellation, you should better overwhelm more background noise on the subway, airplane and even sidewalks.
Apple has updated the Airpods Pro for the last time, and these changes may appeal to travelers who are still using legacy models, especially if Apple can support the claim that it offers the best noise of any wireless earbuds.
iPhone 17 family
Apple updates the iPhone family every year using the latest technology. Over the years we’ve seen new designs and other years, just smaller lower level updates that aren’t that splashy.
But amid the big shift in the tech giant, this year’s event ushered in a brand new iPhone model, the iPhone Air.
Historically, instead of using the “air” nickname for the iPhone family, Apple restricted it to the iPad and MacBook lineup.
But with the introduction of iPhone Air, travelers will offer a more portable Apple smartphone option.
True to its name, this model is Apple’s thinnest model, with a thickness of just 5.6mm. After the event, my hands were in my hands, which made me do a double attitude as I was used to bigger smartphones. I even compared it to four premium credit cards stacked together. The air is about thin.
But the tradeoff in slim forms is the camera system.
Personally, I’m always capturing pictures and videos while on the go, so even if I’m attracted by the portability of the iPhone Air, I might stick to a stronger family of professionals, which is also a compelling update.
The basic iPhone 17 model and the more powerful 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are redesigned with a larger camera, a larger battery, and more.
I’m particularly excited about the measures to eliminate physical SIM cards on many new iPhones. The new (ISH) digital standard ESIM makes Sims swap Sims (basically your phone number), and travel is very easy.
For the first time Apple has used eliminating the remaining space in the physical simulation slot to increase battery space.
Apple Watch Ultra 3
Finally, Apple also updated its watch lineup, introducing new Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE 3 models.
Although there are fewer pillars in travel, watches undergo two connectivity changes, which may attract some travelers.
The first is to introduce 5G wireless technology into this year’s watch. You may not need speed to play YouTube videos on your Apple Watch, but a faster connection means the chances of losing notifications on the go will be lower.
Plus, satellite connections are first on the watch lineup, which means you can contact emergency services, send messages and share your location in real time, even if you don’t have cellular services. This feature is limited to the more expensive Ultra 3 models, but it may be really useful if you often find yourself off the grid.
Still missing: airtags 2
Despite months of rumors, Apple did not update its beloved item tracker on Tuesday.
Rumors suggest that Apple is on the verge of introducing a larger range of new Airtags, which may help when crowded airports or when retrieving bags from full trunk conveyors.
Plus, the next-generation Airtag is expected to debut its speakers, which should make it easier to hear your lost bag or item.
Other upgrades may be included, but I think we need to wait for these upgrades for a longer time.
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