Cupertino, CA – On September 9, 2025, Apple captivated audiences with its “Awe Dropping” event, introducing the highly anticipated iPhone 17 series, a revolutionary ultra-thin iPhone Air, updated AirPods Pro 3, and enhancements across the Apple Watch Series 11, SE 3, and Ultra 3, alongside significant updates to Final Cut Camera 2.0. The event, which Philip Elmer-DeWitt also covered live, sparked a blend of excitement for notable feature upgrades and some skepticism regarding pricing and marketing strategies.
Event Highlights and Overall Reception
Jason Snell of Six Colors noted the event was “more impressive than it’s been for quite a while,” commending Apple’s ability to articulate its product story despite numerous leaks. The presentation itself featured an engaging “around the world” motif for its presenters, adding to the polished production value.
The iPhone 17 Lineup: Innovations and Debates
iPhone 17 (Base Model)
The standard iPhone 17 received widespread positive feedback, with its upgrades seen as “resetting the bar” for conventional iPhones. The inclusion of a ProMotion display and Center Stage camera was particularly well-received, eliciting enthusiastic comments such as “Long overdue,” “the biggest announcement,” “great value,” and “FINALLY.” Kaiann Drance, Apple’s VP of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing, described it as a “big upgrade with powerful features,” with one commenter suggesting that “90% of iPhone users should just get this phone.” Starting at $799, the base model now offers 256GB of storage and features a new 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with an impressive 3000 nits peak outdoor brightness. Its camera system boasts an all-new 48MP Fusion Main camera and Ultra Wide camera. An eSIM-only iPhone 17 variant will be available in specific regions.
iPhone Air: A Thin Design with Mixed Reactions
The new iPhone Air entered the market with polarized reactions. John Ternus, Apple’s SVP of Hardware Engineering, lauded it as “impossibly thin and light” and a “huge leap in design and engineering,” promising “advanced features our users will love.” TechRadar’s coverage reflected significant excitement, with one writer even considering switching from their iPhone Pro Max. However, the device also faced scrutiny on social media, with some headlines describing it as “being roasted” and “baffling” users, questioning its name. The user found the visual separation between the camera array and the rest of the body somewhat undesirable. Concerns were also raised regarding its battery life, as Apple vaguely mentioned “all-day battery life” without specific metrics, and a notable disparity in battery capacity was observed between eSIM-only and physical SIM models. The iPhone Air, starting at $999, measures a mere 5.6mm thin and features a titanium design with a 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display.
iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max: Power and Aesthetics
The premium iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models garnered extensive praise. One TechRadar headline proclaimed, “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I actually think the iPhone 17 Pro looks fantastic.” Greg Joswiak, Apple’s SVP of Worldwide Marketing, highlighted it as “by far the most powerful iPhone we’ve ever made,” featuring a “stunning new design” and an “enormous leap in battery life.” Jason Snell specifically applauded the “Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro” for finally bringing a “pro-level iPhone with a real color.” These Pro models introduce a new brushed aluminum unibody design aimed at superior thermal performance, reportedly 20 times better at cooling than the titanium in previous models, notably incorporating a liquid-cooled vapor chamber. The user felt the advanced pro video features, while impressive, might be “over the top” for typical iPhone users.
Camera Innovations and Design Philosophy
Across the new iPhone lineup, advancements in camera technology and design were prominent. Jason Snell regarded the “iconic plateau” camera bump on the iPhone Air and Pro models as a “creative solution” that efficiently integrates technology and facilitates a thinner device, potentially influencing future iPhone designs. However, Snell also critically viewed Apple’s camera marketing as a “camera shell game” for implying more “lenses” than physically exist, asserting that “one camera really is one camera, not four.” The front-facing Center Stage camera, now square, wide-angle, and high-resolution, was hailed as a significant improvement for addressing common selfie challenges. The user noted the unusually large sensor for a phone camera and found the square front sensor, designed for landscape photos without tilting, particularly interesting.
AirPods Pro 3: Elevated Audio and Revolutionary Translation
The AirPods Pro 3 aim to elevate personal audio, with John Ternus stating they offer “unbelievable sound quality and the world’s best in-ear Active Noise Cancellation.” The decision to maintain the $249 price point despite significant updates was considered a “key” factor in making them a “tempting upgrade.” A standout feature, Live Translation, was described by Jason Snell as potentially “magical” and “really exciting” for the future of communication. However, Snell expressed skepticism about its current practical performance “out in the wild.” This feature will be subject to restrictions for EU users due to regulations. The user hoped for effective real-world translation, referencing past issues with similar technologies.
Apple Watch Updates: Focusing on Health and Safety
The new Apple Watch Series 11, SE 3, and Ultra 3 were generally well-received, particularly for their enhanced health capabilities. Stan Ng, Apple’s VP of Apple Watch and Health Product Marketing, called the Series 11 an “indispensable companion,” while the SE 3 was lauded for providing “outstanding health, fitness, safety, and connectivity features at an incredible value.” Eugene Kim, Apple’s VP of Apple Watch Hardware Engineering, highlighted the Ultra 3’s “innovative satellite communications” for off-grid safety. The user noted that the Apple Watch updates felt briefly discussed during the event. Yale cardiologist Harlan Krumholz praised the new hypertension notifications, stating that “Making accurate detection easy and part of daily life can help people get care earlier and prevent avoidable harm.” Jason Snell pointed out that new features like hypertension alerts and sleep scores are also compatible with older Apple Watch models (Series 9+ for hypertension, Series 6+ for sleep score), underscoring Apple’s “enormous advantages” in health efforts. The user was curious about the practical application of 5G support given its limited launch availability with Canadian providers.
Discontinuation and Strategic Chip Development
Apple confirmed the discontinuation of the iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max. Reactions varied from pragmatic acceptance, as this is typical for Pro models, to views of it as “greedy” or “clever marketing” to prevent direct comparisons with new generations. The new devices are powered by Apple’s custom-designed N1 and C1X chips. The N1 wireless networking chip facilitates Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread across all new iPhones, enhancing features like AirDrop. The C1X cellular modem, exclusive to the iPhone Air, is remarkably power-efficient and offers up to 2x faster performance than its predecessor, though it foregoes mmWave technology. Jason Snell sees these chip developments as a strategic move toward Apple’s increased vertical integration, boosting product integration and power efficiency. Apple’s “Apple 2030” plan, emphasizing recycled content and renewable energy, was highlighted across all new product announcements.
Professional Filmmaking with Final Cut Camera 2.0
The event also featured a significant update to Final Cut Camera 2.0, extending professional filmmaking tools to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. Key enhancements include ProRes RAW support, Genlock support for synchronized recording, Open Gate Recording utilizing the full camera sensor, manual adjustments for the Center Stage front camera, and Apple Log 2 Support for wider color gamut recording, further pushing the boundaries of mobile cinematography.