Apple unveils a heart-tracking watch alongside heart-stopping prices
At its annual iPhone fun-fest in Cupertino yesterday, Apple unveiled a new line of expensive iPhones and a redesigned, health-conscious Watch.
Bigger, brighter, and pricier
Apple’s newest iPhone — the oxymoronically named “XS Max” — is the Macmakers’ biggest smartphone yet, measuring up at 6.5 inches across and $1,099 deep (into your wallet, that is).
The Max’s siblings also have XS-ive price points (the XS at $999 and the XR at $749) — all predictably more expensive than last year’s new phones.
Apple’s annual price increases have become a rite of passage — testament to the company’s powerful brand that keeps people coming back for more, even if it means taking out a second mortgage.
Wearable companies better Watch out
Apple also unveiled its new Series 4 Watch — a bigger, faster $399 piece of wrist-candy with a built-in EKG that monitors heart rate. The new heart-monitor feature positions Apple’s watches as potential lifesavers, not mere exercise aids.
And, Apple’s entry into the health-wearable game raised some heart rates for competitors: Fitbit’s stock dropped more than 6% in response to the announcement.