The 2025 ‘Awe Dropping’ event introduced the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 series, AirPods Pro 3 with heart tracking, and new Apple Watches, with iOS 26 updates arriving September 15.
File Photo
Apple’s annual fall event is always one of the most anticipated moments in the tech calendar. This year’s showcase, titled the “Awe Dropping” event, truly tried to live up to its bold name.
Fans had been waiting to see what the company would deliver, and although one much-rumoured feature, a major Siri upgrade, did not appear, Apple still managed to surprise with a number of new products and updates.
Advertisement
The event gave the world its first look at the all-new iPhone Air, slimmer than any iPhone before it. It also unveiled the redesigned iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models, a standard iPhone 17 with long-awaited features, new AirPods Pro with health sensors, and major changes in the Apple Watch lineup.
Advertisement
Alongside this, Apple confirmed the release dates for its next set of software updates that will reach millions of devices very soon.
For the first time in the history of the iPhone, Apple has introduced an “Air” model, similar to what it has done with MacBooks and iPads. The iPhone Air is now the thinnest iPhone ever created, measuring just 5.6 millimetres in thickness and weighing only 156 grams. Built with 80 percent recycled titanium, it is not just light but also strong.
The device comes with a 6.5-inch ProMotion display, powered by the new A19 Pro chip. On the camera front, it carries a single 48-megapixel lens that can switch between four focal lengths, showing Apple’s confidence in computational photography. It also brings in a brand-new N1 wireless networking chip and a C1X cellular modem, both designed in-house by Apple.
But this slim profile comes at a cost. Unlike other iPhones, the iPhone Air does not carry a dual camera system, its battery is smaller than its siblings, and it only supports eSIM, completely removing the physical SIM slot.
Despite these limitations, Apple is placing the iPhone Air as a new category, meant to sit between the regular iPhone and the Pro models.
In India, the iPhone Air starts at ₹1,19,900 for the 256GB version, with the price going up to ₹1,59,900 for the 1TB variant.
The regular iPhone 17 has finally received a feature that fans have been asking for over several years. It now comes with a ProMotion display, which means smoother scrolling, improved visuals, and better animations compared to earlier models. This makes the base model iPhone feel much closer to the Pro line in terms of experience.
The iPhone 17 is priced at ₹82,900 for the 256GB version and ₹1,02,900 for the 512GB model.
Perhaps the most striking change in design came with the new iPhone 17 Pro models. Apple has moved away from the familiar “stove-top” style camera bump that was first seen in the iPhone 11 Pro and became its identity for years.
The company has introduced what it calls the “plateau” design. This means a flat glass panel runs across the back of the phone, with the Apple logo shifted slightly lower to align better with the MagSafe coils.
For the first time in years, Apple has also switched back to aluminium for its Pro models instead of titanium. The reason, according to Apple, is better heat management.
Along with this, a new vapor chamber cooling system has been added, helping the phone handle heavy performance without overheating.
The new design allows for larger batteries, especially in the Pro Max. Apple says the iPhone 17 Pro Max can deliver up to 39 hours of video playback, making it one of the longest-lasting iPhones ever.
The camera system has also received a big upgrade. All three rear cameras are now 48 megapixels. The telephoto lens has a larger sensor and uses a next-generation tetraprism setup. This enables 8x optical zoom at 200 millimetres and 4x zoom at 100 millimetres, perfect for portrait shots. The digital zoom goes as high as 40x.
The Pro series will come in two sizes: 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches. Apple has kept the colour options limited this year, offering only deep blue, cosmic orange, and silver.
Prices start at ₹1,34,900 for the Pro model and ₹1,49,900 for the Pro Max. For users needing the highest storage, there is even a 2TB Pro Max option at ₹2,29,900.
Apple has given the AirPods Pro a big leap forward with the AirPods Pro 3. These are not just about music anymore but about health and smart features.
The earbuds now come with heart rate monitoring, made possible through tiny infrared sensors. They can also track over 50 types of workouts and sync all of that information directly with the iPhone’s Health app.
Noise cancellation has been made four times stronger compared to the original version, and Apple has improved the fit with five different ear tip sizes, including an extra-small option for those who need it.
Durability has also been upgraded with IP57 water resistance. Apple has added a new feature called Workout Buddy, a virtual coach that helps during exercise sessions.
Perhaps the most exciting addition is real-time translation, with support for five languages at launch.
The AirPods Pro 3 will last up to eight hours on a single charge with active noise cancellation turned on. They will be available in India from September 19 at a price of ₹25,900.
Apple’s newest standard smartwatch is more health-focused than ever. The Apple Watch Series 11 introduces a feature that can track blood pressure patterns over time and notify the user about risks of hypertension. It uses long-term readings from the optical heart sensor to provide these warnings.
The watch also includes a new Sleep Score system, which gives detailed insights into sleep quality, built on data collected from over five million nights of studies. Other improvements include 5G connectivity, stronger scratch-resistant glass, and a battery that can last up to 24 hours.
The Series 11 will start at ₹46,900.
For people who love outdoor adventures, Apple has designed the new Watch Ultra 3. It now supports satellite connectivity, which means it can send emergency messages and share your location even when there is no mobile network available.
Apple says it has re-engineered the antenna and radio system. They aim to make sure it works well with satellites in low-Earth orbit.
The Ultra 3 also features the largest Apple Watch display yet. It comes with thinner bezels and new LTPO3 technology. The battery lasts 42 hours in regular use and can stretch up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode. The price starts at ₹89,900.
Apple’s budget-friendly smartwatch, the Watch SE, has also been updated. The SE 3 now includes an Always-On display, making it more convenient to use. It also comes with 5G support, faster charging, and better durability.
In terms of health features, the SE 3 can now score sleep quality, give ovulation estimates, and detect sleep apnea. The watch will start at ₹25,900 in India.
Alongside the new hardware, Apple announced its latest operating systems. iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, and watchOS 26 will all roll out from September 15.
These updates bring a fresh design language that Apple calls “Liquid Glass.” The idea is to add more translucency to apps and menus, making the interface look cleaner and more modern.
Three clear themes stood out in the event. First, Apple is continuing to make devices thinner and lighter, seen most clearly in the iPhone Air.
Second, health and wellness are becoming central to Apple’s product strategy, whether it is heart rate tracking in AirPods, hypertension warnings in the Apple Watch, or sleep scoring across the lineup.
And third, smart integration is expanding, with new features like real-time translation and satellite communication making Apple devices more helpful in everyday life.
The devices will begin arriving in the coming weeks, with India included in the first wave of markets. Prices remain on the higher side, but Apple continues to prove that its launches attract global attention for good reason.
Advertisement
