Why the Apple iPhone 8 Event Was All about the iPhone X

When the most valuable company in the world talks, it’s probably not a bad idea to listen.

Apple hosted its first ever publicity event at the new Steve Jobs Theater in California on Tuesday and, since you probably didn’t get a chance to livestream it yourself, we’re here to fill you in on what Tim Cook and Co. revealed to the world from Cupertino.

Without further delay, here are eight things you need to know after Apple’s iPhone 8 Event:

The iPhone 8 wasn’t the star of the show. The new iPhone X, pronounced “iPhone 10,” was. Named for the 10th anniversary of the iPhone, the $999 gadget has a edge-to-edge OLED display and offers wireless charging and an improved rear camera. Since Apple got rid of the home button, the X can be unlocked using a new feature called Face ID that users can also used for authentication and to pay for services. The phone will be up for preorder starting on October 27th and hit store shelves on November 3rd.
Here’s what Apple chief design officer Jony Ivey had to say about it: “For more than a decade, our intention has been to create an iPhone that is all display. The iPhone X is the realization of that vision. With the introduction of iPhone ten years ago, we revolutionized the mobile phone with Multi-Touch. iPhone X marks a new era for iPhone — one in which the device disappears into the experience.”
Don’t panic, there still is an actual iPhone 8. There’s also an iPhone 8 Plus. With the ability to offer users an augmented reality experience thanks to a Retina HD display and A11 Bionic chip, the iPhone 8 is made of durable glass and lightweight aluminum. Offering improvements like cameras with Portrait Lighting and the ability to charge wirelessly, both iPhone 8s are up for preorder on Friday and will be in stores September 22nd. The starting price is $699.
Here’s what Apple’s senior VP Philip Schiller had to say about it: “iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are a new generation of iPhone that improve on everything we love about iPhone. iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus have new glass and aluminum designs, new Retina HD displays and A11 Bionic — the smartest chip ever in a smartphone. Packed with more advanced cameras with Portrait mode and Portrait Lighting, and the highest quality video capture in a smartphone, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus enable the freedom of wireless charging, all with AR optimization like no phone ever before.”
Apple TV got an upgrade: Now offering streaming in 4K resolution, Apple’s set-top box is designed to offer customers a cinematic viewing experience from the comfort of their living room. Also supportive of High Dynamic Range (HDR content), Apple TV 4K will continue to offer viewing options from the iTunes library but will start to incorporate selections from other video services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video soon. Models start at $179 and should have the same availability and release dates as the iPhone 8.
Here’s what Apple’s senior VP Eddy Cue had to say about it: “Bring the magic of the cinema straight to your living room with the new Apple TV 4K. Customers will love watching stunning 4K HDR movies from an impressive catalog on iTunes, while also getting automatic upgrades of 4K HDR movies already in their iTunes library.”
The Apple Watch was mentioned and it had nothing to do with the Red Sox: With a faster dual-core processor and new wireless chip, the Apple Watch Series 3 comes standard with GPS cut can also be upgraded with built-in cellular technology that allows it to stream song and receive data when it is away from an iPhone. Water resistant past 160 feet, the Series 3 comes programmed with intelligent fitness features that offer both coaching and motivation. Priced at $399 for the cellular model, the Series 3 version of the watch drops the 15th.
Here’s what Apple CEO Jeff Williams had to say about it: “We believe the addition of cellular will transform the way people use Apple Watch, providing a new sense of freedom since they can stay connected with or without their iPhone. Apple Watch Series 3 combined with the power of watchOS 4 is the ultimate device for a healthy life.”