Everything New at the iPhone 17 Event

Apple has once again taken centre stage, turning the iPhone 17 event into more of a spectacle than a presentation. From the moment the lights went up at Apple Park the message was obvious: design, performance and innovation remain the company’s creed.

This year’s highlights prove the point. AirPods that can translate on the fly, watches that track your health with more precision than ever, and iPhones so powerful they blur the line between phone and laptop.

It is the kind of line-up that makes last year’s models feel like they belong in a drawer. Whether you are ready to upgrade on day one or still holding onto an older handset, there is something here that will catch your eye. And yes, Australia gets the full range from September 19.

So, here is what Apple unveiled.

Apple Watch Series 11

The Apple Watch has been the benchmark for smartwatches, and the Series 11 raises the bar again. It’s slimmer, tougher, and packed with features that move it beyond being a simple accessory.

The most important? Hypertension alerts. This isn’t just about counting steps or reminding you to breathe; it’s about flagging blood pressure concerns before you even book a doctor’s appointment. Pair that with the new Sleep Score system, which analyses not just duration but quality, and you’ve got a watch that actually wants you to feel better when you wake up.

Battery life stretches to 24 hours, making it easier to wear day and night. Add in the new Flow face with liquid-glass numerals refracting colour across the screen, and the Series 11 becomes as stylish as it is smart.

Australian Price: AU $649

Series 11 Highlights:

• Slimmer and stronger design
• FDA-pending hypertension alerts
• Sleep Score system with in-depth analysis
• New Flow watch face with liquid numerals
• 24-hour battery life

AirPods Pro 3

Apple started with the crowd-pleaser: AirPods Pro 3. They might look like the previous ones, but the changes are all about what happens inside your ears. The multiport acoustic system reworks airflow to deliver bass that feels deeper, cleaner and more alive. Vocals sound sharper, instruments more distinct. This is Apple at its best, taking something good and making it feel like you were missing out all along.

Then comes the feature that will make travellers grin: live translation. Speak to someone in Spanish, Mandarin or French, and your AirPods whisper the translation instantly. It’s like carrying a personal interpreter, only tucked inside your ear canal.

Oh, and they now track your heart rate during workouts. A reminder that Apple isn’t just making gadgets, it’s turning your earbuds into a personal trainer.

Australian Price: AU $399

AirPods Pro 3 Highlights:

• Multiport acoustic architecture for better bass and clarity
• Twice the active noise cancellation of last gen
• Live translation across languages
• Heart-rate sensing during workouts
• Up to 8 hours playback with ANC

Apple Watch SE 3

The SE 3 is Apple’s way of making sure everyone can get into the watch game. But don’t think of it as the budget model, this year it’s stepped up in a big way.

The big upgrade is the always-on display, which instantly makes it feel more premium. Gesture controls like double-tap and wrist flick add convenience, and the faster charging means you’ll spend less time stuck to a cable. It even plays music and podcasts directly from its own speaker, perfect for quick listening without digging for your AirPods.

Australian Price: AU $449–499

SE 3 Highlights:

• Always-on display
• New gesture controls for one-hand use
• Two times faster charging
• Media playback through speaker
• Packed with health and safety features

Apple Watch Ultra 3

For explorers, adventurers, and weekend warriors, the Ultra 3 is a machine built for extremes. This isn’t a watch you wear casually, it’s a survival tool.

The display is brighter than ever, even at awkward angles, and thinner borders mean you get more screen without the case growing any larger. The real game changer? Satellite connectivity. Off the grid, middle of nowhere, you can still message loved ones or send an SOS. Add in a larger battery good for 42 hours, and you’ve got a watch that works where most phones fail.

Australian Price: AU $1,299–1,399

Ultra 3 Highlights:

• Brighter, larger display with thinner borders
• Satellite connectivity for safety off the grid
• 42-hour battery life
• 5G for stronger connections
• Titanium build in Black or Natural finishes

iPhone 17

Here’s the iPhone that will likely end up in most pockets: iPhone 17. Apple has stretched the display to 6.3 inches, thinned the borders, and made it brighter than ever. With 3,000 nits of peak brightness, it’s perfectly legible even under Australia’s fierce summer sun.

The new A19 chip delivers faster performance and improved efficiency, keeping things smooth while extending battery life. Cameras are sharper and more versatile, with a new 48MP Ultra Wide and the clever Center Stage front camera that stabilises your selfie videos with cinematic flair.

And Ceramic Shield 2 makes it tougher, with triple the scratch resistance. This isn’t just evolution, it’s refinement, and it makes the iPhone 17 one of the most practical yet desirable upgrades Apple has ever offered.

Australian Price: AU $1,299

iPhone 17 Highlights:

• 6.3-inch ProMotion display at 120Hz
• 3,000-nit peak brightness for outdoor use
• New A19 chip with faster Neural Engine
• 48MP Ultra Wide Fusion camera
• 8 extra hours of video playback vs iPhone 16

iPhone Air

If design is Apple’s calling card, the iPhone Air is its masterpiece. At just 5.6mm thick, it’s the thinnest iPhone ever. Yet somehow, it’s still strong thanks to its titanium frame.

Inside, the A19 Pro chip brings MacBook Pro levels of performance. Pair that with the stunning 6.5-inch ProMotion display and you’ve got power and beauty in a body so light you might forget it’s in your pocket.

The camera system is clever too: a 48MP Fusion sensor with a built-in 2x telephoto lens. And despite its featherweight design, the Air still manages all-day battery life, with an optional slim MagSafe pack boosting playback to a staggering 40 hours.

Australian Price: AU $1,499

iPhone Air Highlights:

• Thinnest iPhone ever at 5.6mm
• Titanium frame for strength
• 6.5-inch ProMotion 120Hz display
• A19 Pro chip for high-performance tasks
• All-day battery with slim MagSafe add-on

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max

For those who want the absolute best, the Pro line delivers. The new vapor-chamber cooling system keeps performance at its peak, while the aerospace-grade aluminium frame and Ceramic Shield back make it as durable as it is elegant.

The Pro Max in particular is a battery monster: up to 39 hours of video playback. That’s long enough to fly from Sydney to London, land, and still have juice left for the taxi ride.

Cameras are where the Pro models shine. All three are 48MP Fusion units, and the Pro Max adds the Tetraprism telephoto lens with advanced stabilisation. Filmmakers and creators get tools like ProRes RAW and Genlock, turning the iPhone into a serious piece of professional equipment.

And for storage junkies, there’s a 2TB option. Enough to carry your entire digital life in your pocket.

Australian Prices:

• iPhone 17 Pro: AU $1,799
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: AU $1,999–2,499

iPhone 17 Pro Highlights:

• Vapor-chamber cooling for peak performance
• Up to 39 hours of video playback (Pro Max)
• Triple 48MP Fusion camera system
• ProRes RAW and Genlock for creators
• Storage up to 2TB

Price & Availability (Australia)

• AirPods Pro 3: AU $399
• Apple Watch SE 3: AU $449–499
• Apple Watch Series 11: AU $649
• Apple Watch Ultra 3: AU $1,299–1,399
• iPhone 17: AU $1,299
• iPhone Air: AU $1,499
• iPhone 17 Pro: AU $1,799
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: AU $1,999–2,499

Preorders open Friday, with availability starting September 19.

Final Word

The iPhone 17 event showed Apple doing what it does best, moving the line forward without ever looking rushed. AirPods now double as language tutors and workout monitors, the Watches are edging closer to being pocket-sized doctors, and the iPhones themselves have crossed into territory once owned by laptops and professional cameras.

The theme across the board is refinement with purpose. Brighter screens, tougher materials, smarter silicon, longer battery life, each improvement makes sense and none of it feels like fluff. It is the kind of polish that turns good products into essentials.

From the everyday practicality of the iPhone 17 to the sleek ambition of the Air and the sheer muscle of the Pro Max, the line-up feels less like an upgrade cycle and more like a clear statement: Apple is not following trends, it is dictating them.

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