When Apple pulled back the curtain back on its first-generation AirPods back in 2016, the world was doubtful of the wireless future the tech giant was pushing. Still, within a few months, AirPods seemed to appear everywhere and now in 2021, wireless earbuds/headphones are standard and don’t even include a 3.5mm headphone jack anymore.
To carry that mantra forward, Apple has revamped its base-level Airpods with a few new features to help keep up with the growing competition. The new AirPods look a little more like the AirPods Pro with shorter stems and a smaller overall size.
Notably, the AirPods get rid of the touch-sensitive zones and replaces them with stems that users can squeeze to play/pause audio. This is the same implementation that OnePlus uses with the OnePlus Buds Pro, and it works well there, so I’m excited to see it come to more earbuds.
While these buds might look almost identical to the AirPods Pro, they’re notably missing the small silicon ear tips and instead look more like a traditional AirPod. While this helps keep that classic Apple EarPod feel, it doesn’t work great with sound isolation, so you’ll still be able to hear some background noise while wearing these.
These new AirPods also feature adaptive EQ to match the sound being pumped out of your earbuds to match sure that no matter the fit users can expect accurate music playback.
Apple is also pushing dynamic head tracking with the new AirPods, making them work with the 3D audio effect the AirPods Max and AirPods Pro feature.
Finally, Apple says that with the AirPods’ new MagSafe compatible charging case, users will expect 30 hours of total battery life. The AirPods are also water-resistant this time around, allowing you to wear them in light rain or while working out.
In Canada, the new AirPods start at $239.
For all of our coverage from Apple’s event, follow this link.
Apple unveiled the new iPhone lineup at its September ‘California Streaming’ event, and if you’re looking to get one in Canada, here’s what you need to know.
The new iPhones will be available directly from Apple as well as from multiple carriers. We’ll break down the offers below. Let’s start with Apple’s pricing and availability. All four new iPhones will be available to pre-order on Apple’s Canadian website starting September 17th at 8am ET/5am PT. The phones will be available on September 24th. Pricing is as follows:
Additionally, Apple is offering between $120 and $925 off the price of a new iPhone 13 model for those who trade in an iPhone 8 or newer. You can learn more about Apple Trade In here. We also have a full breakdown of all the specific pricing for iPhones, iPads and more here.
Below, you can find the pre-order pricing details for several Canadian carriers and their flanker brands. We will add more as they come available. It’s worth noting that the financing options listed below are all on 24-month terms and require customers sign up with a mobile plan.
Canadian Carriers
Rogers
iPhone 13 Pro Max – $0 down, starting at $46.50/mo financing (includes $477 Upfront Edge credit) | Full price: $1,593
iPhone 13 Pro – $0 down, starting at $42/mo financing (includes $430 Upfront Edge credit) | Full price: $1,438
iPhone 13 – $0 down, starting at $33/mo financing (includes $338 Upfront Edge credit) | Full price: $1,130 iPhone 13 mini – $0 down, starting at $28.50/mo financing (includes $292 Upfront Edge credit) | Full price: $976
Note that prices may vary depending on storage configuration. Additionally, the Upfront Edge program allows customers to reduce to upfront cost of their new iPhone if they agree to return it or pay back the Upfront Edge credit at the end of two years.
Fido
iPhone 13 mini – Starting at $176 down, $33.34/mo financing | Full price: $976
iPhone 13 – Starting at $330 down, $33.34/mo financing | Full price: $1,130
iPhone 13 Pro – Starting at $638 down, $33.34/mo financing | Full price: $1,438
iPhone 13 Pro Max – Starting at $793 down, $33.34/mo financing | Full price: $1,593
Telus
iPhone 13 Pro Max – $0 down, starting at $43.04/mo financing (includes $560 Bring-It-Back credit) | Full price: $1,593
iPhone 13 Pro – $0 down, starting at $38.71/mo financing (includes $510 Bring-It-Back credit) | Full price: $1,439
iPhone 13 – $0 down, starting at $30.88/mo financing (includes $390 Bring-It-Back credit) | Full price: $1,131
iPhone 13 mini – $0 down, starting at $26.92/mo financing (includes $330 Bring-It-Back credit) | Full price: $976
Telus’ Bring-It-Back program lets customers reduce the upfront cost of their new iPhone if they agree to return it or pay back the credit after two years. Additionally, Telus offers up to six months of Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade with purchase of a new iPhone 13 or 13 pro device.
Koodo
iPhone 13 Pro Max – $801 down, $33/mo on Tab Plus | Full price: $1,593
iPhone 13 Pro – $647 down, $33/mo on Tab Plus | Full price: $1,439
iPhone 13 – $339 down, $33/mo on Tab Plus | Full price: $1,131
iPhone 13 mini – $184 down, $33/mo on Tab Plus | Full price: $976
Prices will vary depending on storage size and Tab tier, with Koodo’s Tab Mid and Basic offering lower monthly costs but a higher upfront price. Like Telus, Koodo offers up to six months of Apple TV+ and Arcade with purchase of an iPhone 13 series device.
Bell
iPhone 13 Pro Max – $0 down, starting at $66.46/mo financing | Full price: $1,595
iPhone 13 Pro – $0 down, starting at $60.17/mo financing | Full price: $1,444
iPhone 13 – $0 down, starting at $47.30/mo financing | Full price: $1,135
iPhone 13 mini – $0 down, starting at $40.84/mo financing | Full price: $980
It’s worth noting that Bell offers ‘Device Return Option’ that lets users reduce the monthly cost of their new iPhone if they agree to return it or pay the difference at the end of their two year contract. However, the didn’t list that as the main price on its website.
Virgin Plus
iPhone 13 Pro Max – Starting at $795 down, $33.34/mo financing | Full price: $1,595
iPhone 13 Pro – Starting at $644 down, $33.34/mo financing | Full price: $1,444
iPhone 13 – Starting at $335 down, $33.34/mo financing | Full price: $1,135
iPhone 13 mini – Starting at $180 down, $33.34/mo financing | Full price: $980
Freedom Mobile
iPhone 13 Pro Max – $0 upfront with $53/mo Tab (24 months) and $60 phone plan | Retail price: $1,584
iPhone 13 Pro – $0 upfront with $47/mo Tab (24 months) and $60 phone plan | Retail price: $1,444
iPhone 13 – $0 upfront with $35/mo Tab (24 months) and $60 phone plan | Retail price: $1,128
iPhone 13 mini – $0 upfront with $29/mo Tab (24 months) and $60 phone plan | Retail price: $960
Shaw Mobile
iPhone 13 Pro Max – $0 down, $53/mo on $45 Unlimited plan | Retail price: $1,584
iPhone 13 Pro – $0 down, $47/mo on $45 Unlimited plan | Retail price: $1,444
iPhone 13 – $0 down, $35/mo on $45 Unlimited plan | Retail price: $1,128
iPhone 13 mini – $0 down, $29/mo on $45 Unlimited plan | Retail price: $960
Videotron
iPhone 13 mini – $0 upfront, $37.60/mo for 24 months or one-time $948 payment
iPhone 13 – $0 upfront, $43.60/mo for 24 months or one-time $1,098 payment
iPhone 13 Pro – $0 upfront, $55.50/mo for 24 months or one-time $1,398 payment
iPhone 13 Pro Max – $0 upfront, $61.25/mo for 24 months or one-time $1,548 payment
SaskTel
iPhone 13 Pro – $0 down, $36.50/mo on two-year term | Retail price: $1,429.99
iPhone 13 Pro Max – $0 down, $42.75/mo on two-year term | Retail price: $1,589.99
iPhone 13 mini – $0 down, $19/mo on two-year term | Retail price: $975.99
iPhone 13 – $0 down, $25/mo on two-year term | Retail price: $1,129.99
The recently announced Apple iPhone 13 series will let you run two different cell lines from a single device, without needing a physical SIM card — and yes, it should work with Canadian carriers.
Apple told MobileSyrup that this new dual eSIM technology should be supported by all the same wireless carriers currently offering regular eSIM services in Canada — which, according to Apple Support, include Bell, Fido, Freedom, Koodo, Lucky Mobile, Rogers, Shaw, Telus, and Virgin.
MobileSyrup also reached out to Apple Canada to confirm this statement, and will update this story once the company replies.
At the September 14th Apple event, the company revealed that both the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro will offer Apple’s first-ever support for dual eSIMS, as noted by 9to5Mac.
While eSIM technology has been around for a while now, and dual SIM a bit longer, dual eSIMS specifically are pretty new.
Confused by the near-identical names? Here’s the difference:
First off, eSIM technology gives you the option of downloading a virtual SIM card to use on your phone, in lieu of having to insert a physical card into the slot on your device.
Next, this development opened the door for dual SIM technology, which lets you run two separate phone lines from the same device — one tied to a virtual eSIM and another via a physical SIM card.
Finally, this new Dual eSIM technology allows folks to maintain two lines on the same device, but now using two virtual eSIMS — no physical SIM card required.
Engadget warned that while combining this new Dual eSIM technology with a physical SIM card popped into the iPhone 13 series’ nano-SIM slot could, in theory, result in a three-line device, both Apple and the carriers themselves are unlikely to support that sort of sheer Cerberus-esque madness — or not yet, at least.
The iPhone 13 series is available for pre-order September 17th and launches September 24th.
Click here to see the Canadian pricing for the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Shortly after Apple’s iPhone 13 reveal event, the tech giant confirmed that iPhone users can expect the release of iOS 15 on September 20th.
iOS 15 includes a new ‘Focus Mode,’ a refreshed Safari design and a subtle revamp to how notifications work. iPad users will also receive the same updates with iPadOS 15, plus they can now move Widgets anywhere on the Home Screen and access quick notes with an Apple Pencil. iPad users can also take advantage of the App Library that debuted on the iPhone last year with iPadOS 15.
However, features like SharePlay and the new ProRes Video file type won’t be part of the first iOS 15 update and will release later. The company released the ProRaw photo file type last fall a few months after the release of iOS 14.
You can read more about iOS 15 here, iPadOS 15 here, and you can see a full list of what devices are compatible with the new software here.
Make sure to keep refreshing MobileSyrup over the next few days to stay on top of all the current Apple news.
Apple also started the presentation off with a musical performance of California Soul by Marlena Shaw, so if you want to really relive the event as you read this recap, check out the video below (you can thank our telecom reporter Alyssa Tremblay for digging the song up).
iPad mini — USB-C port that plugs into my heart
The iPad mini has been in a weird spot in the Apple tablet landscape for the last few years. It wasn’t really as cool or as powerful as an iPad Air or iPad Pro, but it cost more than a base-model iPad and had a smaller screen.
This new iPad mini is basically a tiny version of the iPad Air with an Apple A15 Bionic chipset, no home button, and fun colours. It also features a Touch ID sensor embedded in the power button on the top of the device.
Apple says that the new iPad mini is 80 percent faster than its 2019 predecessor, but the most important addition is its new USB-C port. This allows it to connect to far more accessories and makes it a more useful tool for people in professional workspaces.
Across the board, the iPhone 13 series features a smaller notch, and Apple says the new Ceramic Shield glass is the toughest smartphone glass around, making the new iPhones even more resistant to breaking. There are also new colours like ‘Sierra Blue,’ but overall the phone looks very similar to last year’s iPhone 12.
The only real change comes in the cameras, which have been updated to perform better under low-light. The new ultrawide sensor in the iPhone 13 Pro can also be used as a macro shooter, a fun mode I’ve utilized with Android devices. The Pro camera systems also feature a 77mm equivalent zoom lens offering 6x the zoom from being fully zoomed out with the ultrawide. Both phones also get access to a new ‘Cinematic Mode’ that I’ll explain in more detail below.
Vloggers and TikTokers are going to get a kick out of this, I think. Apple’s new camera feature allows users to rack focus automatically based on what their head is doing in the frame. You can also manually enable this feature after you capture the file, suggesting that Apple is using software-based bokeh.
In Apple’s demos, the depth-of-field effect looked pretty effective in some scenes, and it will be interesting to see how it performs when the feature is available.
The Apple Watch Series 7 includes features like a slightly larger screen and a more curved design, but overall, there aren’t that many changes to Apple’ssmartwatch this year.
Apple did show off some new interface features that take better advantage of the larger screen with minimized bezels, including a a swipe-based keyboard that lets you type messages. The Series 7 can also charge 33 percent faster, which is a nice addition to the wearable since it’s designed to be worn all the time.
Overall, this likely won’t be anything that will sway Series 6 owners, but it might be tempting for people with older Apple Watches.
You can learn even more about it in our announcement post here.
Where were the new AirPods?
The tech world was anxiously awaiting to see if Apple would release new AirPods at this event, but curiously, the company must be saving them for another day.
There are rumours of one or maybe two other Apple product reveal events scheduled for this fall, so we still might see them this year. Still, new AirPods new being revealed alongside a new iPads and iPhones was peculiar, to say the least.
Apple hosted its September product event on September 14th where it unveiled the new iPhone 13 line-up.
There are a bunch of new features and changes, but as usual, we’ll also see a price drop on older iPhone models. If you’re in the market for an upgrade, it may be worth comparing the iPhone 13 and 12 lines to see if the new features are worth the extra money, or if you can scoop up an older model for less.
Let’s start with the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max. Perhaps the biggest upgrade with these over the 12 Pro and Pro Max is the new 120Hz ProMotion display. The higher refresh rate should make the 13 Pros feel much smoother than before, especially when scrolling or gaming. An added benefit of the adaptive refresh rate is it can scale down to 10Hz when you’re not interacting with the phone to reduce battery consumption.
Other improvements include Apple’s more powerful A15 Bionic chip, a larger battery and improved 5G. Apple also talked up the improve cameras, with a focus on macro photography and ‘Cinematic Mode.’
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 13 Pro Max
Display
6.1-inch, Super Retina XDR, OLED True Tone display, 2532 x 1170 pixels, HDR 10, Dolby Vision
6.1-inch, Super Retina XDR, OLED True Tone display, 2532 x 1170 pixels, HDR 10, Dolby Vision, 120Hz refresh rate
6.7-inch, Super Retina XDR, OLED True Tone display, , 2778 x 1284 pixels, HDR 10, Dolby Vision
6.7-inch, Super Retina XDR, OLED True Tone display, 2778 x 1284 pixels, HDR 10, Dolby Vision, 120Hz refresh rate
TrueDepth Camera Sensor, Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
iPhone 13
Face ID, Three axis gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer
iPhone 12 mini
Face ID, Three axis gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer
iPhone 13 mini
Face ID, Three axis gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer
SIM Type
iPhone 12
Nano SIM, eSIM
iPhone 13
Nano SIM, eSIM
iPhone 12 mini
Nano SIM, eSIM
iPhone 13 mini
Nano SIM, eSIM
Launch Date
iPhone 12
October 13, 2020
iPhone 13
September 24, 2021
iPhone 12 mini
October 13, 2020
iPhone 13 mini
September 24, 2021
Misc
iPhone 12
Colours: Black, Green, Product Red, Blue, White |
iPhone 13
Colours: Black, Pink, Product Red, Blue, White |
iPhone 12 mini
Colours: Black, Green, Product Red, Blue, White |
iPhone 13 mini
Colours: Black, Pink, Product Red, Blue, White |
As for the iPhone 13 and 13 mini, Apple’s more affordable iPhones also sport the new A15, offer longer battery life and improved cameras. The non-Pro iPhone 13 models gained the sensor shift tech from last year’s iPhone 12 Pro line, which should help with low-light performance. Unfortunately, neither the iPhone 13 or 13 mini have 120Hz displays, which is a bummer.
Oh, and perhaps most important of all, all the new iPhones have about 20 percent smaller notches. Apple hasn’t gone for a hole-punch camera cut-out or under-display tech yet, but hey, I’ll take any notch reduction I can get.
Really, whether or not the new iPhones are worth it over last year’s models comes down to what you care about in a phone. If you want the absolute cutting-edge camera performance, the 13 Pro phones are for you. Similarly, if high refresh-rate displays are something you care about, the 13 Pro devices will be your best option. If you’re more interested in getting a good deal, or don’t really care about the camera or refresh rate, you may be better off saving some money and picking up a discounted iPhone 12.
If you’re interested, you can learn more about the iPhone 13 Pros here and the regular iPhone 13 models here.
Apple kicked off their September 14th product event with a dramatic musical number — complete with violins, desert vistas, and copious drone shots — featuring a lively cover of a funk-soul classic.
The song is “California Soul” by Marlena Shaw, an American jazz vocalist legend known best for her work in the 1960s-70s.
Today, at the age of 78, Shaw is still actively performing and recording music.
In the lead-up to the event, Apple released teaser images stamped with the phrase “California Dreaming”, a riff on the 1966 song “California Dreamin’” by The Mamas & The Papas.
Click here to follow all of MobileSyrup‘s coverage of the September 14th Apple product event.
