Apple launches AirPods 5, Watch Series 12 at first event under new CEO Ternus

Apple ↘ 0.28% used its annual September keynote on Wednesday to announce a suite of new wearables and audio products alongside its headline iPhone launches, marking the first major product event under new CEO John Ternus.

AirPods 5

The new AirPods 5 feature a redesigned open-ear fit intended to accommodate more ear shapes, along with active noise cancellation and 50 percent better noise reduction than last year's model. The earbuds also include improved transparency mode, immersive audio upgrades, and live translation powered by the new Siri AI.tech.yahoo

Apple priced the AirPods 5 at $129 — the same as last year's non-ANC AirPods 4 — with a second model offering longer battery life and a wireless charging case for $149. Pre-orders opened Wednesday, with availability set for September 18.tech.yahoo

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4

The Apple Watch Series 12 arrives with what Apple calls a Health Sensing System, featuring a new sensor array with larger LEDs designed for more accurate heart-rate data. Apple said its internal testing showed the new sensors outperformed all competing wearables.tech.yahoo

The accompanying Health app has been redesigned around Apple Intelligence, offering AI-driven suggestions along with a "Health Age" metric and a "Longevity" component that tracks how fitness and health habits affect long-term outcomes. New capabilities include VO2 tests using the phone's camera, with the revamped app rolling out later this year.justjared+1

The watches also introduce "audio intelligence," using an on-board microphone to detect sounds like sirens, and a "live rewind" feature that plays back the last 15 seconds of conversation. A Siri Recap function can record and transcribe conversations when enabled.tech.yahoo

The Series 12 runs on the new S11 chip with a faster CPU and GPU derived from the A20 Pro processor, and features glass that Apple says is 60 percent tougher than before. New color options include grey, black, dark bronze, gold, pearl white, and blue ceramic. Battery life remains at 24 hours.tech.yahoo

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 promises two days of battery life, including 18 hours of workout tracking, and comes in black and natural titanium.tech.yahoo

Pricing and Availability

The Apple Watch Series 12 GPS model starts at $399, and the Ultra 4 starts at $799. Pre-orders for both opened Wednesday, with all three products scheduled to ship September 18.tech.yahoo