September 15, 2021
Apple launched a brand new iPhone 13 and a new iPad mini on Tuesday that expands 5G connectivity and showcases faster chips and sharper cameras without raising prices.
The new iPhone 13 will feature a new chip called the A15 Bionic, which has features such as automatic text translation, an improved display, longer battery life and a Cinematic mode that automatically changes focus while recording videos.
The phone will sell for $699, and participating wireless carriers will offer up to $700 off for qualified trade-ins. The iPhone 13 Pro starts at $999 and the Pro Max starts at $1,099, with trade-in offers of up to $1,000. All three models will be in stores on September 24.
While prices remain unchanged from last year, some carriers, such as AT&T, will offer the phones at no additional cost with subsidies of up to $1,000 if customers swap a previous model and obtain an installment plan.
Verizon Communications and T-Mobile US offer similar deals, albeit with slightly smaller subsidies of up to $700, with the largest subsidies for customers who turn in iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 models.
As with Apple’s other product launches, the Series 7 smart watch will now have a larger display and faster charging, starting at $399 and hitting the stores later this fall.
The tech giant also updated its iPad Mini with 5G connectivity and a new design that makes the device look like the upscale iPad Air and Pro models. The price of the new iPad Mini has risen by $100, but now has new features such as compatibility with the company’s Apple Pencil and a faster chip than the larger basic iPad. Apple also updated its base iPad model with a brand new camera. The new iPad starts at $329 and the Mini at $499. Both will be in stores next week.
The Apple Watch has become a cornerstone of the tech giant’s $30.6 billion accessories industry, which increased to 25% in the latest financial year as iPhone revenues slumped slightly.
Apple’s biggest launch of the year comes at a time when the tech giant is facing several legal issues in its business practices, such as charging software developers commissions on in-app payments, which has dragged the company into a legal battle.
For more information, read the original story in Reuters.
