Apple Unveils $999 iPhone X in Major Product Launch

Apple Unveils $999 iPhone X in Major Product Launch
Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Phil Schiller, introduces the iPhone X during a launch event in Cupertino, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam
Reuters
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CUPERTINO, Calif.—Apple Inc on Tuesday rolled out its much-anticipated iPhone X, a redesigned product of glass and stainless steel with an edge-to-edge display that Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook called “the biggest leap forward since the original iPhone.”

The phone features wireless charging, an infrared camera and special hardware for facial recognition, which will replace the fingerprint sensor for unlocking the phone. The home button found on previous iPhones is also gone, and users will instead tap the device to wake it up.

But in an embarrassing moment for Apple senior vice president Craig Federighi, the face ID unlocking did not work on his first attempt during the on-stage presentation.

Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi introduces the new iPhone X during an Apple special event at the Steve Jobs Theatre on the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2017. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi introduces the new iPhone X during an Apple special event at the Steve Jobs Theatre on the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2017. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The company has sold more than 1.2 billion iPhones over the past decade and ushered in the era of mobile computing, but last year had a substantial decline in revenue as many consumers rejected the iPhone 7 as being too similar to the iPhone 6.

Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller introduces the new iPhone X during an Apple special event at the Steve Jobs Theatre on the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2017 . (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller introduces the new iPhone X during an Apple special event at the Steve Jobs Theatre on the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2017 . Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Apple also introduced the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus, which resemble the iPhone 7 line but have a glass back for wireless charging.

The new phones feature Apple’s first proprietary graphics processor, which provides greater speed, improved cameras and some features for augmented reality apps.

The cheapest phones have 64 gigabytes of memory, up from 32 gigabytes in previous models, and will sell for $600 and $799.

Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Phil Schiller, introduces the iPhone 8 during a launch event in Cupertino, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2017. (REUTERS/Stephen Lam)
Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Phil Schiller, introduces the iPhone 8 during a launch event in Cupertino, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

The company also introduced an upgraded Apple Watch, which can make phone calls and access the internet without the user carrying an iPhone. The Series 3 watch will cost $399.

Apple did not provide sales figures for its watches, but Cook said sales had risen 50 percent from the year before and that the Apple Watch was now the best-selling watch in the world.

Gene Munster, an analyst with Loup Ventures, believes sales of the watch could double or even triple because of the new connectivity.

Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, speaks as product images are shown behind him during a launch event in Cupertino, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2017. (REUTERS/Stephen Lam)
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, speaks as product images are shown behind him during a launch event in Cupertino, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam
The upgraded Apple TV will support the high resolution display known as 4K and will also feature more programming options as Apple steps up its efforts to cut content deals and produce its own shows.

Flashy New Campus

Cook opened the event at the Steve Jobs Auditorium on Apple’s new campus with a tribute to the company’s co-founder and former CEO Jobs, who died in 2011.
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, speaks as a tribute video to the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs plays behind him during a product launch event in Cupertino, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2017. (REUTERS/Stephen Lam)
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, speaks as a tribute video to the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs plays behind him during a product launch event in Cupertino, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

The Apple building itself was considered to be Jobs’ final product, and Cook spent a few minutes boasting about the design, energy-saving features and public spaces at the new campus, including a flagship Apple Store.

The theater, never before open to the public, features an expansive glass-enclosed lobby, with two massive white stone staircases leading down to the auditorium. Inside, the decor is similar to that of Apple’s stores, with hard maple flooring and tan leather seats.

By Stephen Nellis
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, speaks during a product launch event in Cupertino, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2017. (REUTERS/Stephen Lam)
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, speaks during a product launch event in Cupertino, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, speaks as images are shown behind him during a product launch event in Cupertino, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2017. (REUTERS/Stephen Lam)
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, speaks as images are shown behind him during a product launch event in Cupertino, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam