San Francisco : Apple on Wednesday unveiled two upgraded versions of its iPhone and a new waterproof smartwatch, seeking to reignite growth for the iconic technology maker.
The iPhone 7 and larger iPhone 7 Plus, with new camera technology, 50-meter water resistance and other features, were the highlight of an Apple media event in San Francisco.
The new devices come with Apple seeking to reverse declines in sales of the iPhone in an increasingly saturated global market, and boost its Apple Watch -- in a slump since the enthusiasm of last year's release wore off.
Customers will be able to order iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus beginning Friday, September 9, with availability beginning Friday, September 16, in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UAE, the UK, US Virgin Islands and the US.
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available in Andorra, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Kosovo, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Maldives, Malta, Monaco, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia and Slovenia beginning Friday, September 23. iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will also be available to customers in India beginning Friday, October 7.
Apple chief executive Tim Cook said the new smartphones take advantage of the latest iPhonesoftware, iOS 10.
"We are about to launch iOS 10, our biggest iOS release ever. It is jam-packed with new features," Cook said.
"Now of course the world's most advanced mobile operating system deserves the most advancedsmartphone, and here it is."
The flagship devices will be sold at around the same price as the models they replace, starting at $649(BD244.66) for the iPhone 7 for US customers, with deliveries in 25 countries beginning September 16.
One new iPhone feature -- which may ruffle some feathers -- is the removal of the headphone jack, requiring audio to be delivered via Apple's proprietary "lightning" connector or by wireless.
"From the start we designed lightning to be a great audio connector," Apple vice president Phil Schiller told the unveiling event.
"We are taking the headphones in iPhone 7 and 7 Plus to lightning, and including them in the box with the device."
Apple will also include an adaptor to allow consumers to use existing headphones with theiPhone.
The iPhone 7 Plus, Apple's version of a "phablet," includes dual cameras to improve optical performance and photo quality, the company said.
While Apple has touted total iPhone sales of one billion, the number sold in the quarter ending June 25 fell 15 percent from a year earlier, highlighting concerns over growth for the key profit driver.
