Tag: Bionic

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iPad (Generation 9, 64 GB, W-Fi, silver, 2021)

Apple released the iPad Generation 9 on September 14, 2021. The headline in Apple’s Press Release read, “Apple’s most popular iPad delivers even more performance and advanced features,” and listed its features as including “A13 Bionic, Center Stage, True Tone, and now starts with double the storage.”

Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, reported:

“iPad has never been more essential for working, learning, and communicating, and we’re excited to bring one of the biggest updates ever to our most popular iPad… With the powerful A13 Bionic, more engaging video calls with Center Stage, and double the storage, the new iPad delivers advanced capabilities, versatility, and simplicity at an incredible value.”

The A13 Bionic chip with Neural Engine not only boosted performance compared to the previous iPad by 20%, it also allowed “next-level machine learning capabilities, including Live Text…which uses on-device intelligence to recognize text in a photo that users can take action on.” Thus, this iPad was able to use an early version of Apple’s on-device “Artificial Intelligence” capabilities—even if Apple chose not to use the term “AI.”

Apple also touted the iPad Generation 9’s Center Stage capabilities, a feature that enhanced video calls that was on the minds of many users after the worldwide COVID pandemic. The iPad was equipped with a new 12MP Ultra Wide front camera that used the Neural Engine: “Center Stage automatically pans the camera to keep [the user] in view. When others join in, the camera detects them too, and smoothly zooms out to include them in the conversation.” Center Stage worked in FaceTime and third-party video-calling apps such as Zoom.

The iPad Generation 9 was offered in Silver and Space Gray, and in two storage capacities, 64 GB and 256 GB. It measured 9.8 inches (250.6 mm) x 6.8 inches (174.1 mm), and was 0.29 inch (7.5 mm) thick. The Wi-Fi model weighed 1.07 pounds (487 grams), and the Wi-Fi + Cellular model weighed 1.09 pounds (498 grams).

The iPad Generation 9 was the last iPad to use a physical Home button, and it also had Touch ID.

It used a 10.2-inch (diagonal) Retina display that was 2160 x 1620 pixels at 264 pixels per inch. It used a True Tone display that could deliver up to 500 nits brightness. This iPad had both stereo speakers and dual microphones for calls, video recording, and audio recording.

Uncharacteristically, the back camera had lower resolution than the front camera. The back camera was an 8 MP Wide camera with digital zoom up to 5x using a 5-element lens. It could capture Panoramic photos (up to 43MP), and featured HDR, photo geotagging, auto image stabilization, and burst mode. The back camera could record 1080p HD video at 25 and 30 fps.

The front camera was a 12MP Ultra Wide camera with 122° field of view. It could record 1080p HD video at 25, 30, or 60 fps.

Wireless connectivity included Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 4.2. Its 5 sensors included Touch ID, 3‐axis gyro, accelerometer, barometer, and an ambient light sensor. The iPad Generation 9 charged and transferred data using a Lightning connector and shipped with a Lightning-to-USB-C Cable that connected to its included 20W USB-C Power Adapter.

Interestingly, Apple continued manufacturing and selling the iPad Generation 9 even after they announced the iPad Generation 10 13 months later. The iPad Generation 10 was released with a considerable price increase at $459 for a base iPad—from the iPad Generation 9 base price of $329. Apple noted in the “fine print” of the iPad Generation 10 press release: “iPad (9th generation) will remain in the iPad lineup. Wi-Fi models of iPad (9th generation) are available with a starting price of $329 (US), and Wi-Fi + Cellular models start at $459 (US), in silver and space gray finishes.”

Sources: Apple (Newsroom: Generation 9, Generation 10; Technical Specifications)

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iPad (Generation 10, 64GB, 2022)

This is my 1,000th post on my Apple Collection blog!

When Apple released the iPad Generation 10, a press release noted that it featured “a large 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, the powerful A14 Bionic chip, advanced cameras, fast wireless connectivity, USB-C, support for the new Magic Keyboard Folio, and more.”

The iPad Generation 10 was the first base-level iPad to include an all-screen design and a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display. It used an A14 Bionic chip, and both the front and back camera were 12 megapixel with an Ultra Wide front camera for an “even better video calling experience.”

This was also the first base iPad to use USB-C charging. Despite the list of new technologies, the iPad 10 supported the Generation 1 Apple Pencil, released in 2015—seven years before this iPad.

Apple highlighted creative uses of the iPad 10:

“Express yourself, draw, and brainstorm on a flexible creative powerhouse. The stunning 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display makes an incredible canvas. So you can doodle, take notes, mark up documents, and a lot more with Apple Pencil.”

The iPad 10 was available during 2022–2023 at a time when online commentators noted consumer confusion in the iPad lineup. MacRumors ran an article on October 2022 expressing the sentiment with the headline, “Apple’s New iPad Lineup Causes Potential Confusion With Inconsistent Features.”

At the time, six basic iPad models were available, with several sharing similar characteristics. As of 2023, iPad Pro models were available in 12.9- and 11-inch configurations, an iPad Air had a 10.9-inch display, this iPad 10 had a 10.9-inch display, an iPad mini had an 8.3-inch display—while Apple continued to offer the 10.2-inch iPad Generation 9.

This iPad 10 is the 64GB, Wi-Fi 6 model in Blue. The anodized texture and brightness of the color add a depth to this iPad’s finish.

Sources: Apple (Newsroom, Product), Wikipedia, MacRumors

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iPhone 8 (gold, 64GB, 2017)

The iPhone 8 was announced September 12, 2017, at the same time as the iPhone X (iPhone ten). Except for a glass back (replacing a metal back), the iPhone 8 (and the iPhone 8 Plus) were similar in design to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models that preceded them. The iPhone 8 was arguably eclipsed by the iPhone X with Apple’s first edge-to-edge screen with no Home button and a design that hinted at future designs of iPhone and iPad devices.

The iPhone 8 had a 4.7-inch Retina HD touchscreen (1334×750 at 326 ppi). Its solid-state Home button used Apple’s Taptic engine and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Its front camera was a 7-megapixel FaceTime HD camera, and its back camera was a 12-megapixel 4K camera with a six-element lens system with augmented reality (AR) support.

The iPhone 8 was first offered in gold (white front with gold glass back), silver (white front with silver glass back), and space gray (black front with dark gray glass back), and Apple later added a (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition model (black front with a red glass back).

Internally, the iPhone 8 used an A11 Bionic processor with six cores, 2 GB RAM, and was offered in storage options of 64, 128, and 256 GB. Wireless connections included 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, LTE (4G), and NFC (Apple Pay). Its only wired connection was the Lightning port (the headphone jack had been removed from the previous iPhone 7 models).

Qi wireless charging was also introduced with the iPhone 8—and also the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X, introduced at the same time.

This example of the iPhone 8 is gold.

Sources: EveryMac, Wikipedia

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iPhone 11 (64GB, Purple, with iPhone 11 Clear Case, 2019)

When Phil Schiller introduced the iPhone 11 at a special event on September 10, 2019, he described the device:

“iPhone 11 is the next generation of iPhone, packed with great new capabilities in an incredible design, including new Ultra Wide and Wide cameras for gorgeous videos and photos, the power and ease of use of iOS 13, and A13 Bionic—the fastest chip ever in a smartphone that quickly handles the tasks that matter most to people every day.”

The iPhone 11 was the first of Apple’s base model phones to include a dual-camera system. Apple described the cameras in a press release:

“iPhone 11 introduces a dual-camera system with all-new Ultra Wide and Wide cameras that are deeply integrated into iOS 13, offering the highest quality video in a smartphone and major advancements in photography for the ultimate camera experience.”

Compared to previous models, the camera system was a major leap forward for iPhone. The camera system had two 12MP cameras (Ultra Wide and Wide). The A13 chip allowed Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control, and Portrait Lighting included six effects: Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, and High-Key Mono. Panorama mode allowed photos of up to 63MP. Videos could be recorded at up to 4K (at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps). Machine learning capabilities allowed Cinematic video stabilization (4K, 1080p, and 720p) and continuous autofocus video.

iPhone 11 was available in six “stunning colors” including purple, green, yellow, black, white and PRODUCT(RED). This example is purple, a lighter shade of purple sometimes referred to as “lilac.”

This phone had a Liquid Retina HD display that measured 6.1‑inch (diagonal) display at 1792 x 828‑pixel resolution (326 ppi). The A13 Bionic chip allowed for “the best machine learning platform in a smartphone” at the time of its release. It used a 6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores, a 4-core GPU, and an 8-core Neural Engine.

The iPhone 11 was also the first base iPhone to lack a Home button. Its six sensors included Face ID, barometer, 3‑axis gyro, accelerometer, proximity sensor, and an ambient light sensor.

The design of the iPhone 11 included rounded edges and the front and back were made of glass. Apple noted, “With a back design that is precision milled and sculpted from a single piece of glass, iPhone 11 features the toughest glass ever in a smartphone.”

This iPhone is shown in an iPhone 11 Clear Case. Apple described the case as “Thin, light, and easy to grip.” According to Apple’s website:

“Made from a blend of optically clear polycarbonate and flexible TPU materials, the iPhone 11 Clear Case provides a solid, comfortable feel. The back is designed to be sturdy, while the sides are made from a softer, more flexible material that fits right over the buttons for an improved grip. And when it’s time to wirelessly charge, just leave the case on and set your iPhone on your Qi-certified charger. On the surface, a scratch-resistant coating has been applied to both the interior and exterior. And all materials and coatings are optimized to prevent yellowing over time.”

Sources: Apple (specs, Newsroom)

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iPhone X (silver, 2017)

The iPhone X was introduced ten years after the original iPhone and was described by Apple as “the future of the smartphone.” The iPhone used “X” in its name, pronounced “ten,” as a nod to Mac OS X—which also used the Roman numeral X and marked a major milestone in the evolution of the Mac operating system.

The iPhone X was announced on September 12, 2017, at the same time as the lower-cost iPhone 8, Apple’s base iPhone at the time. Somewhat curiously, Apple skipped the iPhone 9 model and continued naming its iPhone models after the iPhone X with typical numerals.

The iPhone X introduced many firsts, including:

  • It was the first iPhone to use “a gorgeous all-glass design with a beautiful 5.8-inch Super Retina display,” removing the Home button and replacing it with a swipe-up from the bottom to unlock.
  • The iPhone X was the first iPhone with an “all-screen” display. It used the “first OLED panel that rises to the standards of iPhone…for a more natural, paper-like viewing experience.”
  • The iPhone X was the first to use FaceID to unlock, authenticate, and make payments. This technology was enabled by a “TrueDepth camera” that was “made up of a dot projector, infrared camera and flood illuminator…powered by A11 Bionic to accurately map and recognize a face.”
  • The TrueDepth camera also allowed the iPhone X to bring “emoji to life in a fun new way with Animoji.” The camera “captures and analyzes over 50 different facial muscle movements, then animates those expressions in a dozen different Animoji, including a panda, unicorn and robot.”
  • The iPhone X was the first iPhone to offer wireless charging using the Qi standard. “The glass back design enables a world-class wireless charging solution.”
  • This iPhone introduced a “notch” design at the top-center to allow the display to stretch “edge-to-edge” and allow a place for the front camera system. The design choice was polarizing. The Verge wrote that “There’s a mix of surprise, sarcasm, and intrigue that Apple has chosen to go with a screen layout that leads to design compromises,” and added the oft-repeated speculation that “Steve Jobs would have never let that happen.”

The iPhone X was available in two colors, silver and space gray, and offered 64GB and 256GB storage options. This example is silver. The sides of the phone were described as “surgical-grade stainless steel [that] seamlessly wraps around and reinforces iPhone X.”

The Super Retina HD display was 5.8-inches diagonal at 2436 x 1125 resolution (458ppi). The device measured 5.65 inches (143.6 mm) high x 2.79 inches (70.9 mm) wide x 0.30 inch (7.7 mm) deep, and weighed 6.14 ounces (174 grams). Its A11 Bionic chip included a Neural engine that enabled artificial intelligence machine learning.

The iPhone X camera system featured a 6‑element lens with 12 Megapixel wide-angle and telephoto cameras. Portrait mode on the iPhone X introduced Portrait Lighting (listed as a “beta” feature in specifications). Other camera features included panorama (up to 63MP), autofocus, tap to focus, auto HDR (photos), auto image stabilization, burst mode, and geotagging. It could record video at 4K (24, 30, or 60fps), 1080p HD (30 or 60fps), or 720p HD (30fps) with features including optical image stabilization, slo‑mo video (1080p at 120 or 240 fps), cinematic video stabilization (1080p and 720p), and continuous autofocus. The front TrueDepth camera offered 7 Megapixel resolution, portrait mode, Portrait Lighting (beta), Animoji, and recorded video at 1080p HD.

The iPhone X included 6 sensors, including Face ID, barometer, 3-axis gyro, accelerometer, proximity sensor, and an ambient light sensor.

Like previous iPhone models, the iPhone X included a set of custom wallpapers, two of which were featured on the product’s packaging and prominently in advertisements. 9to5Mac reported that Spanish artist Ana Montiel created the art that inspired the iPhone X wallpaper set:

“‘Fields’ is the title of Montiel’s series of paintings and exhibit that explore ‘altered states of consciousness as vehicles to go beyond the easily perceived.’ The original digital paintings were transferred to canvas and museum quality prints, and the styling came to life this past fall when Apple introduced the iPhone X with three new live wallpapers…”

The Montiel work that most closely represents one of her original works was used on the Space Gray iPhone X packaging, titled “FIELDS 9 : Tactile Irreality” (2017), an archival pigment print measuring 100x70cm. I am honored to own one of Montiel’s original prints. The iPhone X version of FIELDS 9 uses an aspect ratio to fit the iPhone screen, and it is flipped upside-down from the original, presumably to allow the time and date to be optimally displayed on the iPhone. I have opted to hang it in its original format.

Sources: Apple (Newsroom, Tech Specs), The Verge, 9to5Mac, Ana Montiel

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iPhone XR (Yellow, 2018)

Apple’s press release for the iPhone XR led with, “Featuring A12 Bionic Chip, 6.1-Inch Liquid Retina Display, Aluminum and Glass Design in Six Beautiful Finishes, Face ID and Advanced Camera System.”

The iPhone XR, pronounced “ten-R” was released along with the iPhone XS and XS Max. According to MacRumors, the XR model shares hardware with the XS models, but features were removed and/or downgraded to reduce the price of the XR.

The six available colors included (PRODUCT)RED, Yellow, White, Coral, Black, and Blue. The iPhone XR was available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB capacities. It measured 2.98 inches (75.7 mm) x 5.94 inches (150.9 mm), and was 0.33 inch (8.3 mm) thick. It weighed 6.84 ounces (194 grams).

The Liquid Retina HD display measured 6.1 inches (diagonal) with 1792 x 828-pixel resolution (at 326 ppi). The iPhone XR was powered by the A12 Bionic chip with a second-generation Neural Engine.

The primary back camera was 12 Megapixels with up to 5x digital zoom. Its features included Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and depth control, portrait lighting (Natural, Studio, Contour), optical image stabilization, panorama (up to 63MP), autofocus, and smart HDR. It could record video at up to 4K video (at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps). The front had a TrueDepth Camera at 7 Megapixels with features including Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and depth control, portrait lighting (Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, High-Key Mono), and allowed the use of Animoji and Memoji.

Its six sensors included Face ID, barometer, 3‑axis gyro, accelerometer, proximity sensor, and ambient light sensor. It shipped with iOS 14 and it included a USB-C to Lightning cable.

This example is yellow and includes Apple’s iPhone XR Clear Case.

Sources: Apple (Newsroom, Tech Specs), MacRumors

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iPhone XR ((PRODUCT)RED, 2018)

Apple’s press release for the iPhone XR led with, “Featuring A12 Bionic Chip, 6.1-Inch Liquid Retina Display, Aluminum and Glass Design in Six Beautiful Finishes, Face ID and Advanced Camera System”

The iPhone XR, pronounced “ten-R” was released along with the iPhone XS and XS Max. According to MacRumors, the XR model shares hardware with the XS models, but features were removed and/or downgraded to reduce the price of the XR.

The six available colors included (PRODUCT)RED, Yellow, White, Coral, Black, and Blue. The iPhone XR was available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB capacities. It measured 2.98 inches (75.7 mm) x 5.94 inches (150.9 mm), and was 0.33 inch (8.3 mm) thick. It weighed 6.84 ounces (194 grams). This is a (PRODUCT)RED model with 64GB of storage.

The Liquid Retina HD display measured 6.1 inches (diagonal) with 1792 x 828-pixel resolution (at 326ppi). The iPhone XR was powered by the A12 Bionic chip with a second-generation Neural Engine.

The primary back camera was 12 Megapixels with up to 5x digital zoom. Its features included Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control, Portrait Lighting (Natural, Studio, Contour), Optical image stabilization, Panorama (up to 63MP), Autofocus, and Smart HDR. It could record video at up to 4K video (at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps). The front had a TrueDepth Camera at 7 Megapixels with features including Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control, Portrait Lighting (Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, High-Key Mono), and allowed the use of Animoji and Memoji.

Its six sensors included Face ID, barometer, 3‑axis gyro, accelerometer, proximity sensor, and ambient light sensor. It originally shipped with iOS 14, and it included a USB-C to Lightning Cable.

Sources: Apple (Newsroom, Tech Specs), MacRumors

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iPhone 14 Pro (Deep Purple, 2022)

The iPhone 14 Pro was announced on September 7, 2022; began pre-orders on Friday, September 9, 2022; and was available beginning Friday, September 16, 2022. Apple’s website led with the following description of the iPhone 14 Pro:

“A magical new way to interact with iPhone. Groundbreaking safety features designed to save lives. An innovative 48MP camera for mind-blowing detail. All powered by the ultimate smartphone chip.”

The primary new technologies used in the iPhone 14 Pro included: “Always-On display, the first-ever 48MP camera on iPhone, Crash Detection, Emergency SOS via satellite, and an innovative new way to receive notifications and activities with the Dynamic Island.”

The four colors available at release were deep purple, silver, gold, and space black. The iPhone 14 Pro had a 6.1-inch “Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion” with an Always-On display (for the first time on an iPhone) that used a 1Hz refresh rate with power-efficient technologies. In practice, the Always-On display faded to a dim/dark version of the Wallpaper and allowed the time and up to four widgets to show (a widget above the time and up to 3 below the time). Other “Live Activities” showed in the bottom two-thirds of the Lock screen, including alerts and play/pause options for media.

The iPhone 14 Pro also delivered “the highest outdoor peak brightness in a smartphone: up to 2000 nits, which is twice as bright as iPhone 13 Pro.”

The Dynamic Island was also introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro. The design of this iPhone removed the “notch” that had been used since the iPhone X and moved the functions slightly lower into a pill shape. Apple described the Dynamic Island system as one “that blends the line between hardware and software, adapting in real time to show important alerts, notifications, and activities. With the introduction of the Dynamic Island, the TrueDepth camera has been redesigned to take up less of the display area.”

Apple continued, “Without impeding content on the screen, the Dynamic Island maintains an active state to allow users easier access to controls with a simple tap-and-hold. Ongoing background activities like Maps, Music, or a timer remain visible and interactive, and third-party apps in iOS 16 that provide information like sports scores and ride-sharing with Live Activities can take advantage of the Dynamic Island.”

The iPhone 14 Pro camera system added a 2x camera (in addition to the 0.5x, 1x, and 3x options on the iPhone 13 Pro). The iPhone 14 Pro also offered a new “48MP Main camera with a quad-pixel sensor that adapts to the photo being captured, and features second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization.”

Other new camera features included a front TrueDepth camera with an ƒ/1.9 aperture for better low-light photos and video, adaptive True Tone flash with an array of nine LEDs, and Action mode for “incredibly smooth-looking video that adjusts to significant shakes, motion, and vibrations, even when video is being captured.”

All iPhone 14 models added Crash Detection that used a variety of built-in sensors (dual-core accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, GPS, and microphone) to “detect a severe car crash and automatically dial emergency services when a user is unconscious or unable to reach their iPhone.” Additionally, Emergency SOS via satellite was added, “which combines custom components…to allow antennas to connect directly to a satellite, enabling messaging with emergency services when outside of cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.”

The iPhone 14 Pro models are powered by the A16 Bionic chip that includes two high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores, an accelerated 5-core GPU with 50% more memory bandwidth, and a new 16-core Neural Engine capable of nearly 17 trillion operations per second.

Many of the new features of the iPhone 14 Pro were enabled by iOS 16, released along with the entire iPhone 14 line.

This iPhone 14 Pro example is Deep Purple.

Sources: Apple (iPhone 14 Pro, Newsroom)

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iPad packaging (Generation 9, 2021)

The iPad Generation 9 was released on September 14, 2021. Apple described the device: “The 10.2-inch iPad features A13 Bionic, Center Stage, True Tone, and now starts with double the storage, all at an incredible value.”

This packaging is from a 10-pack education purchase. It is the same envelope-like container that is included with a single iPad in retail packaging, but only one is included in a bulk 10-pack purchase. The items include the following (all measuring 4 3/16 x 6.75 inches):

  • Cardboard envelope
  • 4-color pamphlet (the inside briefly describes features including Apple Pencil, Top Button, Touch ID, Lightning Connector, Control Center, and Dock and App Switcher; the back describes the Smart Connector and Tips app)
  • 2-sided regulatory sheet
  • Apple stickers (2 white stickers on one sheet)

Sources: Apple (Newsroom)

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Apple Studio Display internal packaging (2022)

This version of the Apple Studio Display was announced on March 8, 2022, along with the Mac Studio. Apple described the display: “A big, beautiful window into new worlds, Studio Display draws you in from the moment you turn it on. It has a slim, all-screen design. And it’s packed with a phenomenal set of features so everything you do springs to life with gorgeous color and spectacular detail.”

The 27-inch display featured a 5K Retina display at 5120×2880 resolution (218 pixels per inch), a built-in 12MP Ultra Wide camera, a high-fidelity six-speaker system, and was powered by the A13 Bionic chip.

This packaging was included inside the Apple Studio Display and housed an included all-black Thunderbolt cable and a selection of paperwork, including:

  • Regulatory notes and safety information (two 2-sided sheets)
  • A color booklet explaining the display’s basic features
  • Apple stickers (2 black stickers on one page)

Please note that the all-black Apple logo stickers were considered somewhat rare in 2022 and were general only included with “Pro” Apple hardware.

This cardboard package measures 95 x 165 x 37 mm. Inside, it includes a pocket for the paperwork and a unique, all-cardboard structure to neatly pack the 1-meter Thunderbolt braided black cable.

Apple (Newsroom, product page)