Apple Unveils New iPhone 7 And Apple Watch

Aiming to reignite excitement about iPhones after seeing sales decline for the first time, Apple executives took the stage at San Francisco’s Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on Wednesday to unveil the company’s latest generation of devices.

The most highly anticipated launch of the day was the new iPhone. 

Apple CEO Tim Cook praised the iPhone 7’s operating system, iOS 10, as the “world’s most advanced mobile operating system.” The new system boosts several new features, including a home management tool called Apple HomeKit and redesigned maps that allow you to book rides and reservations from within. The phone can be woken up from sleep simply by lifting it, Cook said.

The iPhone 7, which comes in two new shades of black, is engineered to be water and dust resistant. 

In a move long anticipated by industry insiders, the phone will have two camera lenses with a zoom capacity that mimics a professional telephoto lens. The phone’s camera includes an optical image stabilizer, a wider lens, a six-element lens, an all-new flash that can recognize artificial lighting, video stabilization, wide color capture, and a high-speed sensor. 

The company announced a new model it’s calling the Apple Watch, Series 2. The watch will be priced at $369 and can be pre-ordered Sept. 9, 2016.
Users can wear the new Apple Watch confidently in the water, the company said of its new water-resistant casing. It also boasts Apple’s brightest-ever display.

CNET editor Scott Stein praised the tweaks to Apple Watch’s operating system, Watch OS3, which will be available starting Sept. 13. “WatchOS 3 does a lot to make the Apple Watch better. I’ve used it a little, it speeds a lot up,” Stein said. 

Several new Apple Watch features include stickers, activity sharing, integrated GPS, a new mindfulness app called “Breathe,” and a built-in safety feature to contact emergency services wherever you are. 

In a nod to the gaming phenomenon no one saw coming, Apple COO Jeff Williams also confirmed that Pokemon Go is coming soon to Apple Watch. The original Apple Watch will know be known as the Series 1 and will get a boost from the same dual core processor as Series 2, with prices starting at $269.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.