It’s Here: the Biggest News from Apple’s iPhone 6 & Apple Watch Event

Every year, the tech world anticipates Apple keynotes with bated breath. Respected journalists over-analyze its invitation headlines. Photographers jockey for a glimpse at new product banners at the event venue. Fans watch eagerly as the online Apple Store is replaced with a “back soon” message, suggesting that everything is subject to change.

This year was no exception. The buildup of hype surrounding the company’s fabled wearable product had reached a fever pitch by this morning, with “iPhone 6,” “iWatch,” and “Apple” each trending worldwide on Twitter. The payoff was worthwhile—Apple CEO Tim Cook took the stage in his signature navy shirt and assured us in his charming drawl that today, indeed, was going to be big.

iPhone 6

As expected, Apple introduced two new models of their 8th-generation iPhone line—the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. Both devices come with a new ultra-thin design that matches the iPad family’s rounded enclosures, a new camera design with optical image stabilization, and new display panels with thinner elements and chamfered edges—in ultra-high resolution on the Plus. The other surprise is Apple’s pricing—$199 still gets you a 16GB model, but $299 and $399 buy 64GB and 128GB respectively. The iPhone 6 Plus starts at $299 on contract, and its price points increase accordingly.

Another anticipated move was Apple’s new payment system for iPhone, Apple Pay, which leverages new NFC antennae in iPhone 6 models to consolidate iOS users’ payment cards in one place. With one tap, iPhone users can complete transactions at thousands of in-store registers across the country. Apple Pay will also be available for use within iOS applications, which presents a dead-simple option for accepting mobile payments for iOS’s millions of apps.

Watch

Today’s biggest news was also its smallest—Apple announced its long-rumored wearable product, which it calls Apple Watch. The device features a rounded square display and a “digital crown” dial for navigation. Its user interface shares themes with iOS, but is dependent on z-axis navigation through its home screen, assisted by the crown. Their smartwatch handles notifications from connected iPhones, and features a new “taptic” feedback model that Apple says feels like a gentle tap on the wrist.

The “taptic” feedback comes into play for Apple’s new Digital Touch communication technology, which allows two Apple Watch users to communicate with haptic pokes and animated drawings. Thanks to a heartbeat monitor and motion-conscious sensors, the Apple Watch can track activity and exercise over the course of the day with new Activity and Fitness apps. Apple went so far as to introduce WatchKit, a new way for developers to create custom notification interfaces and full Apple Watch apps for the wearable.

Customers will be able to choose from one of three finishes and a plethora of fitness- and fashion-oriented bands when the device launches early in 2015. There was no word from Apple on pricing for their athletic Sport or high-end Edition lines, but these devices will start at $349.

As Apple builds out its more complete ecosystem of intimately connected devices, the Apple Watch will be the fashionable crown jewel of their expanded product family. Thanks to iOS features like Handoff, Continuity, and new development tools like HealthKit, HomeKit, and now WatchKit, users of Apple devices will feel more connected and continuous than ever before. Check out our rundowns of Apple Watch, Apple Pay, and the iPhone 6.