Apple will launch its new iPhones and a slew of other products on September 15, the company announced on Tuesday.
"Time Flies. Please join us for a special Apple event from Apple Park," the media invite received by The National said.
The Cupertino-based tech giant is facing delays because of supply chain disruptions caused by the coronavirus outbreak. It officially confirmed production glitches in July when its chief financial officer Luca Maestri said during an earnings call that this year’s launches will be a “few weeks later”.
Here is what to expect from the upcoming Apple event that will be held virtually because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Apple’s first 5G iPhones
The new iPhones 12 series will be Apple's first 5G-enabled handsets.
Fifth-generation components, which promises internet speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second – more than 100 times faster than what 4G offers, will raise production costs by up to $100 (Dh367).
However, the iPhone manufacturer will offset the price by cutting on supply chain expenses as it aims to attract budget-conscious customers, according to analysts.
Many smartphone manufacturers such as Samsung, Huawei, LG and OnePlus already sell 5G-enabled phones.
Prices and specs
The entry-level phone in the new series will be 13.7-centimetre iPhone 12 that will be priced at $649, at least $50 cheaper than the entry-level handset in Apple’s 11 series launched last year.
The flagship device of the new series, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, with a 17cm screen, will cost $1,099. The iPhone 12 Max and iPhone 12 Pro, both with 15.5cm screens, will be priced at $749 and $999, respectively.
Battery size will vary between 2,227 milliampere hours and 3,969-mAh. Smaller battery is always a major drawback for Apple users as it’s usually over 4,300-mAh in premium handsets of other companies.
New iPhones without adapter and earbuds
The new iPhones may come without a power adapter and wired earbuds, according to Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at Hong Kong’s TF International Securities.
Removing the in-box accessories will balance the cost of the 5G components and help Apple sell its new iPhones at a lower price, according to Mr Kuo. It will also reduce the size of packaging, thereby cutting down on freight charges.
Cheaper offerings may help Apple compete with rival mid-range smartphones from Samsung and Huawei and meet its goal of 200 million shipments this year.
The cheaper iPhone XR, which retails from Dh1,800, was the best-selling smartphone of 2019, according to the technology researcher Omdia. The company shipped 46.3 million devices of the model last year, surpassing its previous best sales record of 30 million units for the iPhone SE in 2016.
Availability
Apple will begin initial production of its 5G iPhones in mid-September, narrowing the production delay to just weeks instead of months, Japanese newspaper Nikkei Asian Review reported.
Mass production is expected to begin between the end of September and early October.
However, the new iPhones will reach consumers in phases.
The company will start shipping iPhone 12 and 12 Max in the week starting October 19, while Pro devices will be sold in November, according to Jon Prosser of YouTube channel Front Page Tech.
Mr Prosser, who is widely viewed in the technology industry as a reliable source of information on forthcoming products, has more than 284,000 subscribers to his channel.
Last year, all the new iPhone models were revealed and launched together.
Watch Series 6
Apple, which accounted for nearly half of all smartwatches sold in the first half of this year, will focus more on health-conscious users.
The new smartwatch will come with an embedded sleep tracking feature and an enhanced electrocardiogram (ECG) functionality. The company is also developing an application to accurately measure the blood oxygen saturation levels.
Google-owned Fitbit, one of Apple’s main competitors in the wearable sector, is offering a similar feature but cannot measure the exact oxygen saturation level.
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The rarest Apple collection in the Middle East
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
T20 World Cup Qualifier A, Muscat
Friday, February 18: 10am - Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm - Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am - Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm - UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am - Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm - Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm – semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm – final
UAE squad: Ahmed Raza (captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia
All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, which awards the prestigious peace prize, held its final meeting on Monday, the Nobel Institute said Thursday, a day ahead of the announcement of the 2025 laureate.
This means a decision was made about the laureate or laureates before the conclusion of an agreement between Israel and Hamas, which included a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
President Donald Trump pushed for the ceasefire as part of a 20-point plan to resolve the Gaza war.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
Rating: 4/5
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff
By Sean Penn
Simon & Schuster
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jawan
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Scoreline
UAE 2-1 Saudi Arabia
UAE Mabkhout 21’, Khalil 59’
Saudi Al Abed (pen) 20’
Man of the match Ahmed Khalil (UAE)
THREE
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