Category: Games

Apple’s big annual event to reveal new iPhones took place on Wednesday, and as expected, the company announced an array of new products coming in the near future. Apple led the event with the Apple Watch Series 4, a gorgeous-looking new version of its smartwatch. It followed that with a trio of new phones, the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR.

Below, we’re rounding up the essential information on all of the big announcements from the event. Surprisingly, there was nothing about new AirPods or the AirPower wireless charging mat; today’s keynote dealt almost exclusively with new iPhones and Apple Watch, although we did get a release date for MacOS Mojave (September 24) and some brief talk about the HomePod.

Apple Watch Series 4

A wide variety of new watch faces were showcased, including one that could feature as many as eight complications. There is also expanded support for third-party apps on the watch face; we saw how the MLB At Bat app could show the box score for a baseball game, for instance. Apple also highlighted the watches’ louder speakers and other improvements, as well as new health-related features such as the ability to detect when the wearer falls down (triggering new options for altering emergency services or contacts).

Series 4 watches release on September 21 and will be priced at $399 or $499 for the cellular version.

iPhone XS

Next during the keynote was the new iPhones. First up was the iPhone XS–pronounced “ten ess”–that serves as the follow-up to last year’s pricier iPhone X. It features an edge-to-edge screen with curved sides, coming in three finishes: gold, silver, and space gray. It features a 5.8-inch screen when measured diagonally; despite being greater than the iPhone 8 Plus’s screen size, it’s actually a smaller overall phone.

The XS screen is a Super Retina OLED display featuring a 2436×1125 resolution with many of the expected features, like True Tone and HDR10 support. The phone offers Face ID, improved speakers, better CPU and GPUs, and more. It also boasts improved cameras on the front and back, which the company spent a great deal of time showcasing. The battery lasts up to 30 minutes longer than that of the iPhone X.

Pre-orders begin on September 14, with an iPhone XS release date set for September 21. It starts at $999 and comes in 64 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB sizes.

iPhone XS Max

Alongside the iPhone XS is the XS Max. This is the new name for what’s previously been known as the Plus model–it’s essentially a larger XS. It has a 6.5-inch OLED display with a 2688×1242 resolution. And again, despite a much larger screen than the 5.5-inch iPhone 8 Plus, it’s roughly the same size as that phone. The battery life offers up to 90 minutes more than the iPhone X.

Similar to the XS, its release date is set for September 21, while pre-orders begin on September 14. The sizes are the same–64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB–and it starts at $1099.

The Elder Scrolls: Blades

While not a new announcement, Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls: Blades was featured during the keynote. Todd Howard came on stage to showcase the game and what the iPhone XS’s new A12 chip makes possible in terms of visual effects. He also reaffirmed Blades’ release date is set for sometime this fall; it’s available for pre-order now.

iPhone XR

Alongside the iPhone XS and XS Max, which are Apple’s high-end devices, the company is also introducing another new phone, the iPhone XR. This is said to offer an iPhone X-style experience (there’s no home button, for instance), but it’s equipped with an LCD screen, rather than the fancier OLED displayed offered on the XS and XS Max. The 6.1-inch display–with what’s called Liquid Retina tech–does still extend to the edges, though.

The camera has the same tech as that of the XS and XS Max, even offering Portrait mode, but with only one camera rather than two; it’s equipped with the A12 Bionic chip; and the battery life compared with the iPhone 8 Plus can last 90 minutes longer.

XR pre-orders begin on October 19, with a release date on October 26. It starts at $749, making it cheaper than the iPhone 8 Plus.

Apple Keynote 2018 News

Apple has officially unveiled its new lineup of iPhones for 2018. But before you whip out your wallet to throw money at the trillion-dollar company, you’ll want to know a few things first. This is GameSpot’s iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR pre-order guide, complete with release dates, pre-order dates, and other information you’ll need to pre-order these gorgeous phones that launch soon.

Pre-Order iPhone XS

As is common for “S” years for iPhones, this year’s evolution of the iPhone X model doesn’t shake things up in terms of design. It still has the gorgeous 5.8-inch OLED display that takes up nearly the entire front of the phone, plus stereo speakers, dual-cameras, and the True Tone display found in last year’s model.

The processor and GPU will get their standard annual boosts, and Apple says the battery will last about 30 minutes longer than last year’s model (hooray?). Despite the similarities to last year’s model, this is a slick-looking device, and you’re not going to find a more powerful iPhone for the next 12 months.

You can pre-order an iPhone XS starting at 12:01 AM PT (3:01 AM ET) September 14, and it will ship on September 21. Here’s how the pricing breaks down.

iPhone XS Pricing

• 64 GB – $999 ($49.91 per month with Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program)
• 256 GB – $1,149 ($56.16 per month)
• 512 GB – $1,349 ($64.50 per month)

Once pre-orders go live, here’s the link you’ll need to buy it directly from Apple:

If you’d prefer to get yours from your cell carrier, check their website to see if their iPhone XS page is live yet.

Pre-Order iPhone XS Max

The iPhone XS Max is a larger version of the XS, with a sizable 6.5-inch OLED display. Aside from that, it has the same features available in the XS. You can pre-order an iPhone XS Max at 12:01 AM PT (3:01 AM ET) on September 14, and it will ship on September 21. Here’s how the pricing breaks down.

iPhone XS Max Price

• 64 GB – $1,099 ($54.08 per month with iPhone Upgrade Program)
• 256 GB – $1,249 ($60.33 per month)
• 512 GB – $1,449 ($68.66 per month)

Once pre-orders open up, here’s the Apple link you’ll need to lock in your purchase:

If you’d prefer to pre-order yours from your carrier, check their website to see if their iPhone XS Max listing is available yet.

Pre-Order iPhone XR

If you want a brightly colored iPhone, the XR is the model for you. The iPhone XR is a more affordable version of the XS, with lower-end versions of some of the components. Its screen is an LCD instead of an OLED, and it only has one camera on the back instead of two. It comes in smaller storage capacities than its more expensive siblings, but it’s available in a wide selection of colors. In terms of size, it lands right between the XS and XS Max, with its 6.1-inch display. The iPhone XR launches October 26, but you can pre-order one starting at 12:01 AM PT (3:01 AM ET) on October 19. Here’s the pricing for this model.

iPhone XR Price

• 64 GB – $749 ($37.41 per month with iPhone Upgrade Program)
• 128 GB – $799 ($39.50 per month)
• 256 GB – $899 ($43.66 per month)

Once pre-orders go live on October 19, here’s the Apple link you you can use to secure one for yourself:

Check your carrier’s site to see if this model’s page has gone live yet.

Apple Keynote 2018 News

Apple has shown off the next iteration of its Apple Watch, which has been “redesigned and re-engineered.” Revealed during its keynote, the company showed off the Series 4‘s bigger screen, which utilises a new user interface to make use of the additional real estate. We also got a release date and prices for the various models, along with the new iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR.

To make the most of the extra space, there are now new customization options for faces and Complications. The modular face can now surface more detailed information from stocks and healths apps. The Breathe app will now be available as a watch face and will guide you through a deep breath exercise when you raise your wrist. Other dynamic watch faces that interact with the larger screen and its curved edges.

The Digital Crown now has haptic feedback and the speaker has been redesigned to be 50 percent louder, which is handy for phone calls and talking to Siri. The microphone has been shifted away from the speaker to reduce echo, while the back of the Series 4 Apple Watch is made of black ceramic and sapphire crystal. Radio waves can pass through the front and the back, which means better reception.

Inside the device is the S4 chip with a dual-core 64-bit processor, which deliverers 2x faster performance. The accelerometer gyroscope has been improved significantly too, to the point where it can tell when a wearer has fallen over. If it senses you’re immobile for more than a minute it starts informing emergency services.

Three new heart features were also announced. The first is a notification when your heart rate is too low. Apple Watch can also screen your heart rhythm in the background and send you information if it detects atrial fibrillation. The final new feature is the ability to take electrocardiograms (ECG); this is the first time an ECG product has been offered over the counter to consumers, according to Apple. Built in electrodes in the back of the watch and the Digital Crown detect electrical signals from the heart and the S4 chip processes this information, before surfacing it to the wearer in the Health app. This information can be exported as a .pdf file and given to doctors. All this data, Apple says, will be protected, as the information is encrypted on the devices and in the cloud.

The Apple Watch Series 4’s battery life has the same 18-hour battery life as its predecessors, even with the enhancements.

Series 4 will be available in silver, gold, and space grey. A stainless collection will also be available, alongside a gold stainless finish. Band colours and styles that are already available will still fit the new watch. Apple Watch Series 4 starts at $399 with GPS, $499 with cellular and will be available to order from September 14 and picked up from September 21. The Series 3 Apple Watch will drop in price to $279. The latest version of WatchOS, meanwhile, will launch on September 17.

Apple Keynote 2018 News

During Apple’s 2018 iPhone keynote, Bethesda’s Todd Howard took the stage to show how The Elder Scrolls: Blades will run on the new iPhone XS. The segment followed details about the improved technology in the newly announced XS and XS Max, including the new A12 Bionic chip, which has increased processing power and a GPU that’s 50% faster than last year’s equivalent.

The focus of the segment was how the new iPhone tech will enhance the mobile gaming experience. Howard discussed how the XS’ OLED screen allows for a high amount of visual detail in both light and dark areas of the game; he also highlighted precision touch controls for sword movements and haptic feedback for attacks. Also during the keynote, former NBA star Steve Nash appeared to promote a new basketball training app that was showcased on the XS.

Originally announced at E3 2018, The Elder Scrolls: Blades is described as a “uniquely mobile experience” with “console-quality graphics.” It has the same kind of combat as previous Elder Scrolls games as well as a town-building mechanic and PvP.

The Elder Scrolls: Blades is coming to iOS and Android this fall. It will be free and is currently available for pre-order on Bethesda’s website. For more on what Apple had to share, check out our full coverage below.

Apple Keynote 2018 News