Thinnest iPhone ever, new AirPods: What Apple unveiled at ‘Awe Dropping’ event

Apple has unveiled its new iPhone 17 range and its slimmest iPhone ever.

The launch took place on September 9 at the company’s yearly event, where Apple also shared details on its latest Apple Watches and the updated AirPods Pro.

As seen each year, the four new iPhone 17 models come with improved cameras and stronger batteries compared to the previous versions.

So, which products did Apple present? What are their key features?

In this explainer, we look at the key takeaways from the event.

Let’s find out:

From iPhone 17 to AirPods Pro 3: All the new launches

Tuesday’s event marked the first iPhone lineup to be revealed since US President Donald Trump returned to office and introduced tariffs that affect goods sold by companies and bought by consumers daily.

Here’s a look at the products Apple announced:

iPhone 17

The iPhone 17 brings several fresh updates.

Both the front and rear cameras have been improved, with the front camera across the range now offering a wider field of view along with a new sensor.

The base model now starts at 256GB storage, and Apple has added new colour options as well.

Durability has been improved with Ceramic Shield 2. The display is also larger at 6.3 inches, up from 6.1 inches on the iPhone 16, and comes with thinner bezels.

The phone runs on the new A19 chip, which includes a 16-core neural engine, a six-core CPU, and a five-core GPU.

Apple says the phone offers all-day battery life with up to eight extra hours of video playback compared to the iPhone 16, helped by iOS 26’s Adaptive Power Mode.

The front camera now supports 4K and HDR recording.

In India, the iPhone 17 starts at Rs 82,900, with the 512GB version priced at Rs 1,02,900. Pre-orders open on September 12 and sales begin on September 19.

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max

The iPhone 17 Pro has been given a fresh look with an aluminium frame, Ceramic Shield 2 glass on both sides, and a new vapour chamber cooling system designed to keep the phone running smoothly by moving heat away from its internal parts.

Apple says the displays on both the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are three times more resistant to scratches than before.

The devices are powered by the A19 Pro chip, and Apple has boosted the RAM from 8GB on last year’s Pro models to 12GB.

According to Apple, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max come with the “best camera system we’ve ever made.”

Prices in India start at Rs 1,34,900 for the iPhone 17 Pro (256GB), while the iPhone 17 Pro Max begins at Rs 1,59,900. Pre-orders open on September 12, with sales beginning September 19.

iPhone Air

One of the biggest reveals of the event was the all-new iPhone Air , described by CEO Tim Cook as “a total game changer.”

This is the first major redesign since the iPhone X in 2017. It comes with a titanium frame that Apple calls “space grade.”

At 5.6 millimetres thick, it will be sold in white, gold, black, and sky blue finishes.

Apple says the iPhone Air is stronger than earlier iPhones and runs on the A19 Pro chip.

“Despite being much thinner and lighter, iPhone Air still gets amazing all-day battery life,” the company said.

The device offers up to 27 hours of video playback, as per Apple’s website.

In India, the iPhone Air starts at Rs 1,19,900 for the 256GB model. It will be available from September 19.

AirPods Pro 3, Watch Series 11 and Watch Ultra 3

Alongside the iPhones, Apple also rolled out updates to its other products, including the AirPods Pro 3, Apple Watch Series 11, and Apple Watch Ultra 3.

The AirPods Pro 3 now come with live translation powered by on-device AI, allowing users to hear translations of conversations in different languages. Google has earlier offered a similar feature in its Pixel products.

The AirPods Pro 3 are priced at Rs 25,900 in India and will be available from September 19.

The Apple Watch Series 11 introduces a new “sleep score” feature, as well as hypertension alerts. The latter tracks heart rate patterns to detect signs of high blood pressure.

In India, the Apple Watch Series 11 starts at Rs 41,900, with sales beginning September 19.

Apple’s premium sports watch, the Ultra 3, now offers the company’s largest display yet and the longest battery life of any Apple Watch to date.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is priced from Rs 89,900 in India, with pre-orders already open and sales starting September 19.