Tag: aluminum

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Apple Watch Series 11 (46 mm, aluminum, GPS, space gray, 2025)

Among the 12 press releases of the “base” Apple Watch models (original Apple Watch through the Series 11), 7 of the 12 have mentioned health and/or fitness features in the headline (or subhead). The Apple Watch Series 11 press release leads with “groundbreaking health insights” and specified hypertension notifications and sleep score as its primary new features along with battery improvements and a more scratch-resistant display.

Stan Ng, Apple’s vice president of Apple Watch and Health Product Marketing, said in the press release that “Apple Watch is the world’s most popular watch, using advanced sensing capabilities to empower millions of people around the world to better understand their health simply by wearing it, while also serving as a fitness coach, message center, mobile wallet, and beautiful timepiece.” He added that the “Apple Watch Series 11 is an indispensable companion that supports users’ health, fitness, safety, and connectivity throughout the day and night.”

The durability of the screen is described in more detail, noting that it is “Made from a unique Ion-X (ion-exchanged strengthened) glass…treated with a breakthrough Apple-designed ceramic coating that bonds to the glass at an atomic level through a physical vapor deposition process, significantly hardening the surface.”

The Apple Watch Series 11 was released with watchOS 26, using the Liquid Glass design also available on all Apple devices as of late 2025. Some of the new features added:

  • 2 new watch faces (Flow and Exactograph)
  • A new one-handed wrist flick gesture to easily dismiss notifications
  • Live Translation in Messages with Apple Intelligence
  • A Watch version of the Notes app (finally!!)

The Aluminum case options for Apple Watch Series 11 were available in Rose Gold, Silver, Jet Black, and a new Space Gray option. Titanium case options included Gold, Natural, and Slate.

The 46 mm model measured 46mm x 39 mm and was 9.7 mm thick. The aluminum/GPS model weighed 37.8 grams.

The screen was 416 x 496 pixels at 326 pixels per inch with an always‑On Retina display with wide‑angle OLEDs. It could display up to 2000 nits peak brightness down to 1 nit minimum brightness.

The Series 11 had an impressive list of sensors:

  • Electrical heart sensor
  • Third‑generation optical heart sensor
  • Blood oxygen sensor
  • Temperature sensor
  • Compass
  • Always‑on altimeter
  • High‑g accelerometer
  • High dynamic range gyroscope
  • Ambient light sensor
  • Depth gauge to 6 meters
  • Water temperature sensor

Connectivity options included support for 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi networks with Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n); Bluetooth 5.3; GPS systems including L1, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou. It used a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip.

This example is in the Aluminum Space Gray option in the 46 mm size. It shipped with a black M/L Sport Band.

Sources: Apple (newsroom, specs)

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iPad (Generation 2, Wi-Fi, 32 GB, white, 2011)

The iPad 2 represented a major update to the original iPad by allowing the iPad to begin its move from a content-consumption device to a content-creation device, mostly due to the addition of front and back cameras. Apple’s press release led with its subhead, “All New Design is Thinner, Lighter & Faster with FaceTime, Smart Covers & 10 Hour Battery.”

Like the original iPad, the iPad 2 was described as a “magical device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading ebooks and much more.” The iPad 2 added “two cameras, a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime and Photo Booth, and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video, bringing the innovative FaceTime feature to iPad users for the first time.”

The iPad 2 had a silver aluminum back and was available with a white or black front. This example is white.

The iPad 2 had a 9.7-inch glossy LED backlit display (1024×768 at 132 ppi) and could run both iPhone and iPad-specific apps. It shipped with the A5 processor with storage options including 16, 32, or 64 GB. In addition to its front and rear cameras, it had 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi support, an accelerometer, a three-axis gyroscope, an ambient light sensor, digital compass, a speaker and a built-in microphone. The iPad 2 was 33% thinner than the original iPad and weighed 1.33 pounds.

The iPad 2 was also released with the Smart Cover. The Smart Cover used magnets to attach and, when closed, automatically put the iPad 2 into Sleep mode, and would wake the iPad when opened.

Source: EveryMac, Apple

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iPhone 17 Pro TechWoven Case (Purple, 2025)

The TechWoven Case was introduced in September 2025 along with the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Apple described the new material: “The TechWoven Case has a new technical woven fabric that uses multiple colored yarns, creating a dimensional texture and rich depth of color, while a protective coating provides resistance to scratches and stains.”

This TechWoven material was described by some reviewers as a replacement to FineWoven, the material Apple released in 2023 to replace its leather accessories when the company removed the material from its offerings as part of its carbon neutral “Apple 2030 climate goal.” FineWoven was generally regarded by many reviewers as unsuccessful and TechWoven was referred to as the replacement of the replacement with headlines such as “Apple Seeks to Repent for FineWoven Fail With New TechWoven Cases” and bylines that included, “Apple’s TechWoven case is cloth and, more importantly, not the old FineWoven mess.”

Apple described the iPhone 17 Pro TechWoven Case as offering “beautiful personalization and protection for your iPhone 17 Pro.” They noted:

“This case is made from a custom technical woven fabric, made from 100 percent recycled polyester. Multiple colored yarns are woven together on a Jacquard loom creating a dimensional texture with a rich depth of color. The sides of the case are coated with a lightly textured TPU for better grip. The refined anodized aluminum buttons provide precise and responsive feedback.”

This case also featured two connection points so it could be securely attached to the Crossbody Strap that was introduced at the same time as this case.

The iPhone 17 Pro TechWoven Case had “built-in magnets that align perfectly with iPhone 17 Pro” and offered a “magical attach experience and faster wireless charging.” This example is purple.

Sources: Apple (newsroom, climate goals, product info), Vice

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iMac 21.5-inch (Core i5, Late 2013)

This 21.5-inch iMac (Model A1418) ran a Core i5 “Haswell/Crystalwell” Intel processor with 4 2.7 GHz cores on a single chip. It used 8 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3 SDRAM and housed a 1 TB (5400 RPM) hard drive.

In a press release from September 24, 2013, Apple announced that they had “updated iMac with fourth generation Intel quad-core processors, new graphics, next generation Wi-Fi and faster PCIe flash storage options. The updated iMac brings the latest technology to the stunningly thin design and gorgeous display of the world’s leading all-in-one desktop.”

The 21.5-inch display was a 1920 x 1080 LED-backlit 16:9 widescreen IPS display. Its cover glass was fully laminated to the LCD and anti-reflective coating. The design of the rear case was aluminum and is thicker in the middle and tapers to a razor thin 5 mm at the edges. This iMac had a FaceTime HD front webcam, stereo speakers, but lacked an optical drive.

This iMac shipped with OS X Mountain Lion. This Mac OS featured “Messages, Notification Center, system-wide Sharing, AirPlay Mirroring, Dictation, Game Center and the enhanced security of Gatekeeper to your Mac. With iCloud built into the foundation of OS X, Mountain Lion makes it easier than ever to keep your content up to date across your Mac, iPhone®, iPad and iPod touch.”

Connectivity included four USB 3.0 ports, dual Thunderbolt ports, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n compatible), and Bluetooth 4.0.

This iMac model shipped with a compact aluminum Apple Wireless Keyboard and either a Magic Mouse, a Magic Trackpad, or a traditional wired Apple mouse.

Sources: Apple, EveryMac

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iPhone 17 Pro (Cosmic Orange, 256GB, 2025)

The iPhone 17 Pro was introduced on September 9, 2025, during a pre-recorded Apple event titled “Awe Dropping” that featured an animated/interactive Apple logo on a black background. The Apple logo resembled a thermal image, perhaps hinting that one of the products introduced might feature a new type of cooling system. That idea became a reality with the iPhone 17 Pro’s new “vapor chamber that is laser-welded into a strong, light, and thermally conductive aluminum unibody” was introduced.

Other iPhone 17 Pro features highlighted in the press release included:

  • “Both models feature A19 Pro, the most powerful and efficient chip for iPhone yet, enabling the advanced camera systems, next-level mobile gaming, and Apple Intelligence.”
  • “Three 48MP Fusion cameras — Main, Ultra Wide, and an all-new Telephoto — offer the equivalent of eight lenses, including the longest optical-quality zoom ever on iPhone at 8x, and the innovative 18MP Center Stage front camera takes selfies to the next level.”
  • “Both models feature the Ceramic Shield 2 front cover with 3x better scratch resistance, and for the first time, Ceramic Shield protects the back of iPhone.”

The iPhone 17 Pro (and Pro Max) featured new colors including a silver that uses two “refined” tones with the camera body and ceramic shield, an “elegant” deep blue, and a “bold” cosmic orange.

I found the cosmic orange option difficult to resist because previous Pro-model iPhone devices have not been available in colors that were not dark, desaturated, or otherwise dull.

This event included Apple’s first mention of the “plateau” that houses the camera on the back of the phone—previously informally referred to as the “camera bump.” (The plateau was also mentioned in the introduction of the iPhone Air in this Apple event.) Apple explained the protruding feature on the iPhone 17 Pro: “On the back, the plateau creates additional space for internal components — making room for a larger battery.”

Apple further described the vapor chamber cooling system:

“Deionized water is sealed inside the vapor chamber, which is laser-welded into the aluminum chassis to move heat away from the powerful A19 Pro, allowing it to operate at even higher performance levels. The heat is carried into the forged aluminum unibody, where it is distributed evenly through the system, managing power and surface temperatures to deliver incredible performance while remaining comfortable to hold.”

The display of the iPhone 17 Pro is described as a Super Retina XDR display in 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch sizes. It includes a new protective layer called Ceramic Shield 2 that Apple describes as “tougher than any smartphone glass or glass-ceramic, with…3x better scratch resistance and improved anti-reflection to reduce glare.” The display is an Always-On ProMotion (up to 120Hz) delivering up to 3000 nits of brightness. The same Ceramic Shield technology on the display is also on the back of the device, delivering a stronger finish that allows better conductivity for the MagSafe connector.

In addition to the new A19 Pro chip that is up to 40% more powerful than the previous generation Pro chips, the device contains the N1, “a new Apple-designed wireless networking chip that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.”

Like many previous iPhone releases, the camera system was touted significantly throughout the release. Apple noted that the iPhone 17 Pro delivers “eight pro lenses in a user’s pocket.”

Back cameras:

  • 3 48MP Fusion cameras for sharper, more detailed images
  • 1 48MP Telephoto camera with a sensor 56% percent larger than the previous generation for brighter/more detailed photos
  • 1 4x 100mm optical zoom lens
  • 1 8x 200mm optical zoom lens

Front camera:
1 Center Stage front camera with “the first square front camera sensor on iPhone, offering a wider field of view and higher resolution — up to 18MP for photos — to capture more detail.”

Apple’s product website for the iPhone 17 Pro featured an impressive set of photos illustrating the various native zoom levels and equating them with their “8 pro lenses” claim:

  • 8x = 200mm
  • 4x = 100mm
  • 2x = 48mm
  • 1.5x = 35mm
  • 1.2x = 28mm
  • 1x = 24mm
  • 0.5x = 13mm
  • Macro

The iPhone 17 Pro video capabilities were also discussed with features such as Dolby Vision HDR, 4K 120 fps, ProRes, and support for ACES. In addition, the iPhone 17 Pro now adds ProRes RAW, Log 2, and genlock—a technique to precisely synchronize video across multiple cameras by industry leader Blackmagic.

The iPhone 17 Pro measures 5.91 x 2.83 inches, and is 0.34 inch thick. It weighs 7.27 ounces.

Sources: Apple (press release, product page)

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Apple Watch Series 3 (42mm, GPS, Space Gray aluminum case, 2017)

The Apple Watch Series 3 models looked identical to the Apple Watch models before them (original, Series 1, and Series 2), were available in the same sizes (38 mm and 42 mm), but were more powerful. The Series 3 had a faster processor, GPS, a barometric altimeter, and Siri support. This Apple Watch Series 3 is a Space Gray, 42 mm model.

The Series 3 Apple watch was the first to offer cellular service as an option, although this model is the GPS-only version. Apple described the Series 3 Watch in a press release:

“The third-generation Apple Watch is an amazing health and fitness companion with intelligent coaching features, water resistance 50 meters and a new barometric altimeter that measures relative elevation. Apple Watch Series 3 comes in two models, one with GPS and cellular, and one with GPS, both featuring a 70 percent faster dual-core processor and new wireless chip.”

This Apple Watch had a 312×390 OLED screen with Ion-X glass and a 7000 series anodized aluminum housing. Apple estimated the battery life at “up to 18 hours.”

The Apple Watch Series 3 used Apple’s S3 processor, “which allows for quicker app launch times and smoother graphics, and, for the first time, enables Siri to speak using the built-in speaker.” It also included a new W2 wireless chip that made Wi-Fi 85% faster and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 50% more power efficient. The watch shipped with watchOS 4.

Source: EveryMac, Apple

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Apple Watch Series 1 (38 mm, rose gold aluminum case, ink leather link band, 2016)

The Apple Watch Series 1 models were similar to the original Apple Watch (also known as “Series 0”), but used a more powerful dual core processor. Like its predecessor, this Apple Watch was controlled with a Digital Crown and a Force Touch display, and it needed to be paired with iPhone 5 (or newer).

This Apple Watch Series 1 model is a 38 mm version (a 42 mm version was also available) and used a 272 × 340 display.

The Apple Watch Series 1 was originally sold in four standard configurations:

  • silver aluminum case with white Sport Band
  • gold aluminum case with cocoa (dark brown) Sport Band
  • rose gold aluminum case with midnight blue Sport Band
  • space gray aluminum case with black Sport Band

This Apple Watch Series 1 has a rose gold aluminum case and is photographed with an ink Leather Link band.

Source: EveryMac.com

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Apple Watch SE (Generation 2, silver, 44 mm, GPS, Winter Blue Sport Band, 2022)

The Apple Watch SE Generation 2 was released along side of the Apple Watch Series 8 on September 7, 2022, and was described by Apple: “The redesigned Apple Watch SE delivers the core Apple Watch experience at a new starting price.” Apple positioned the SE Generation 2 as:

“…a great way for users to start their Apple Watch journey, use with Family Setup, or gift to their loved ones. Powerful upgrades include the S8 SiP advanced dual-core processor, the same processor that is in Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra, making it 20 percent faster than the previous generation, along with Crash Detection and international roaming.”

Notably, the Apple Watch SE Generation 2 used a back case made of a nylon composite material that made the Watch lighter, but arguably decreased the durability offered by the ceramic backs of the other models. While the Series 8 case sizes of the time increased to 45 mm and 41 mm, the Apple Watch SE Generation 2 remained at 44 mm and 40 mm.

While the Series 8 used an Always-on Retina display, the SE Generation 2 retained a Retina display that showed only when you looked at your wrist. Although the SE Generation 2 lacked the ability to run the ECG app, it had many of the same features of the Series 8 and even used the same S8 processor. The Vitals app on the SE Generation 2 included heart rate, respiratory rate, and sleep duration, but lacked wrist temperature and blood oxygen sensors. The SE Generation 2 included Emergency SOS, international emergency calling, fall detection, crash detection, water resistance up to 50 m, Siri, Find My, and the same 18-hour battery life ast the Series 8.

The Apple Watch SE Generation 2 (GPS) was available only in Aluminum and in three colors, Midnight, Starlight, and Silver. The 44 mm size measured 44 mm x 38 mm x 10.7 mm and weighed 32.9 g; while the 40 mm size measured 40 mm x 34 mm x 10.7 mm and weighed 26.4 g. The screen sizes were 368 x 448 pixels (977 square mm display area) for the 44 mm option and 324 x 394 pixels (759 square mm display area) for the 40 mm option.

This Apple Watch SE Generation 2 example is a silver GPS model and shipped with a Winter Blue Sport Band.

Sources: Apple (Newsroom, compare, specifications), Wikipedia

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Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm, aluminum, GPS, jet black, 2024)

Although the Apple Watch Series 10 was the most significant update to the Apple Watch to date, the design changes were not radical, and the new features were more aptly described as evolutionary—not revolutionary. That being said, the Series 10 was arguably the most elegant Apple Watch design so far. Apple described the Series 10 in a press release:

“The world’s bestselling watch is thinner than ever, featuring the biggest, most advanced display yet; sleep apnea notifications; faster charging; and water depth and temperature sensing.”

The most striking features of the Series 10 included the display and its relative thinness. The display was 46 mm (with a 42 mm option also available), and was reported to be up to 40% brighter when viewed at an angle. Compared to the Series 9, the size was just 1 mm larger, but notably, the larger Series 10 model was just 3 mm smaller than the Apple Watch Ultra (49 mm), and the smaller option at 42 mm was the same size as the larger option of the original Apple Watch (Series 0). At the same time, the 46 mm Series 10 had a larger screen—416 x 496 pixels, 1220 square mm display area—than the 49 mm Apple Watch Ultra 2—410 x 502 pixels, 1185 square mm display area. The Series 9, by contrast was 396 x 484 pixels with a 1143 square mm display area.

The thinness of the Series 10 was noticeable, even though it was only 1 mm thinner overall. The 45 mm Series 9 was 10.7 mm thick, while the 46 mm Series 10 is 9.7 mm; however, the Series 10 rounded-rectangle case was thinner with thickness of the round sensor accounting for the measurement. The Apple Watch Series 10 was also 2.3 grams lighter than the Series 9 (46 mm aluminum GPS model).

Regarding finishes, the Series 10 dropped the Stainless Steel option and replaced it with a lighter Titanium option in three colors: slate, gold, and natural titanium. The Aluminum models included the classic silver color, brought back a rose gold option, and introduced a new “Jet Black Aluminum” option that matched the previous glossy sheen of the black stainless steel models at a nearly $400 lower cost and reduced weight.

The Series 10 added some water features similar to the Apple Watch Ultra line, including a water temperature sensor; a depth gauge and app; and support for the Oceanic+ app for snorkeling.

The Series 10 added two new audio-related features. First, the new media playback feature added an enhanced speaker so users could listen to music and podcasts directly through the speaker on the Watch. Second, a new microphone added voice isolation for using the speakerphone and voice recording features.

Finally, I would like to note that the first generation (sometimes called the Series 0) of the Apple Watch was released nearly 10 years before the Series 10 (April 24, 2015), and the Series 10 will likely be the “current” available model at the 10-year mark. Thus, the Series 10 can represent 10-year anniversary of the product line. Since Apple offers an easy way to compare their different Watch models, here are some highlights to show how far the Apple Watch has come in nearly 10 years:

  • Size—Original: 42 mm and 38 mm; Series 10: 46 mm and 42 mm (the smallest available option now matches the size of the largest original Apple Watch)
  • Screen brightness—Original: 450 nits; Series 10: 2000 nits (Series 10 is over 300% brighter than the original Apple Watch)
  • Heart health notifications—Original: High/low heart rate notifications; Series 10: High/low heart rate notifications, ECG, Low cardio fitness notifications
  • Water resistance—Original: Splash resistant; Series 10: Water resistant to 50 m, depth gauge to 6 m, water temperature sensor
  • Battery—Original: Up to 18 hours; Series 10: Up to 36 hours in low-power mode (twice the battery life)
  • Finishes—Original: Aluminum, Stainless Steel, 18K Gold; Series 10: Aluminum, Titanium (the $10,000 and $12,000 Edition models were dropped after the original “Series 0” Watch)
  • Weight—Original: 42 mm 30 g; Series 10: 46 mm 36.4 g (Series 10 is 21% heavier)
  • Thickness—Original: 42 mm 10.5 mm; Series 10: 46 mm 9.7 mm (Series 10 is 8% thinner)
  • Screen size—Original: 42 mm 312 x 390 pixels, 740 square mm; Series 10: 46 mm 416 x 496 pixels, 1220 square mm (the Series 10 screen is 65% larger)
  • Number features—Original: 13 features; Series 10: 36 features (although this metric is subjective, many of the features listed by Apple include multiple points)

Sources: Apple (Press release, product, specifications, compare), Wikipedia

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Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm, Cellular, Green Aluminum, Clover Sport Band, 2021)

The Apple Watch Series 7 is similar to the Series 6 that preceded it, but has a larger, edge-to-edge display, a more durable case, and faster charging capabilities. Like all previous Apple Watch models, the Series 7 uses Apple’s Digital Crown and a touch display with haptic feedback. Apple described the Series 7 as having “a reengineered Always-On Retina display with significantly more screen area and thinner borders.”

The Series 7 introduced two new sizes, 45mm and 41mm. This example uses a 45mm display. The display is a 396×484 LTPO OLED (approximately 1.9 inches) and is “Always On.” The display is protected by Apple’s scratch-resistant Ion-X glass.

Apple described the color choices:

“Apple Watch Series 7 introduces five beautiful new aluminum case finishes, including midnight, starlight, green, and a new blue and (PRODUCT)RED, along with a range of new band colors and styles. Stainless steel models are available in silver, graphite, and gold stainless steel, along with Apple Watch Edition in titanium and space black titanium.”

The Apple Watch Series 7 has a ceramic and sapphire crystal back. Upon release, Apple offered eleven pre-configured options:

  • Green Aluminum with Clover Sport Band
  • Starlight Aluminum with Starlight Sport Band
  • Midnight Aluminum with Midnight Sport Band
  • Blue Aluminum with Abyss Blue Sport Band
  • (PRODUCT)RED Aluminum with Red Sport Band
  • Gold Stainless Steel with Dark Cherry Sport Band
  • Gold Stainless Steel with Gold Milanese Loop
  • Silver Stainless Steel with Starlight Sport Band
  • Silver Stainless Steel with Silver Milanese Loop
  • Graphite Stainless Steel with Abyss Blue Sport Loop
  • Graphite Stainless Steel with Graphite Milanese Loop

Two aluminum Apple Watch Series 7 Nike options were available at release as pre-configured options:

  • Starlight Aluminum with Platinum/Black Sport Band
  • Midnight Aluminum with Anthracite/Black Sport Band

Two Apple Watch Series 7 Hermès options were available at release:

  • Space Black Stainless Steel case with patterned blue and black leather Circuit H Single Tour Band
  • Silver Stainless Steel case with brown leather Single Tour Deployment Buckle

In addition to the included Hermès-designed bands, Apple Watch Series 7 Hermès devices with black housings include a black Hermes Sport Band and models with silver housings include an orange Hermes Sport Band.

This example is cellular 45mm Green Aluminum and shipped with a Clover (medium green) Sport Band. The cellular version of the Apple Watch can send and receive calls without a tethered iPhone for an additional cost of about $10 per month.

Sources: Apple, EveryMac