Apple Event 2025 — iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro/Max,  iPhone Air, and AirPods Pro 3: Every New Feature, Dates, and Takeaways

Apple Event 2025 — iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro/Max, iPhone Air, and AirPods Pro 3: Every New Feature, Dates, and Takeaways

Apple Event — May 7, 2024

Today’s Apple event delivered a full-stack refresh: the iPhone 17 family (including the ultra-slim iPhone Air and the iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max), new AirPods Pro 3, and three Apple Watch models (Series 11, SE 3, Ultra 3). Pre-orders begin Friday, September 12, with general availability from Friday, September 19; iOS 26 lands Monday, September 15.

Catch up quick | Apple September event highlights

Here’s a quick recap of the good things coming your way: iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air — the thinnest iPhone ever, iPhone 17, AirPods Pro 3, Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch Series 11.

Introducing AirPods Pro 3 | Apple

The world’s best in-ear Active Noise Cancellation, with up to 2x more noise cancelled than AirPods Pro 2. Exceptional sound quality. All-new heart rate sensing during workouts. A more secure in-ear fit. IP57 dust, sweat, and water resistance. A clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature. Live Translation to communicate across languages. And improved battery life with up to 8 hours of listening time.

Introducing iPhone 17 Pro | Apple

Introducing iPhone 17 Pro. Built from solid aluminum, a unique unibody encases our biggest battery with our longest battery life. The most powerful chip made for iPhone is cooled by an entirely new thermal system. Ceramic Shield protects the back as well as the front, and the display is 3x more scratch resistant. The most cinematic camera we’ve ever made captures ProRes RAW video. With a 56 percent larger sensor, the 8x optical-quality zoom gets you even closer to the action. It’s the first phone to offer genlock, for precise video synchronization and creating Hollywood-level effects. The ultimate Pro. iPhone 17 Pro.

Introducing iPhone Air | Apple

This is iPhone Air. Super thin. Strikingly light. Shockingly strong. Powered by the new A19 Pro chip, which is built for Apple Intelligence. Fitted with our new 18MP Center Stage front camera and an advanced 48MP Fusion camera system that enables Dual Capture, Action mode, next-generation portraits, and much more. All with remarkable all-day battery life.

iPhone 17: ProMotion for the mainstream, a new selfie era

I like the direction here: 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR with ProMotion (120Hz), tougher Ceramic Shield 2 with 3× better scratch resistance, the A19 chip, and an 18MP Center Stage front camera that lets me shoot landscape selfies without rotating the phone. Base storage doubles to 256GB. Pre-orders open September 12; in stores September 19.

ceramic shield c4gtvcdg83ma large

Why it matters to my work: ProMotion and the brighter outdoor screen make on-site scanning UIs and live model walkthroughs feel smoother and more legible in harsh light.

iPhone 17 Pro & 17 Pro Max: sustained performance and creator-grade video

hero endframe xdzisdq1ppem xlarge

The Pro redesign focuses on sustained performance: an aluminum unibody with an Apple-designed vapor chamber, A19 Pro, and three 48MP Fusion cameras with the longest optical-quality zoom yet (up to 8×). For production work, Apple adds ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, and genlock—features I can actually plug into multi-cam shoots and precise post pipelines. Pre-orders September 12; available September 19.

Creator note: Apple also announced Final Cut Camera 2.0 with ProRes RAW and genlock support on iPhone 17 Pro/Max plus tighter Live Multicam integration—useful for controlled, time-locked capture on site.

iPhone Air: the thinnest iPhone ever

hero design xv9gyjqhdiai large

Apple added a brand-new tier: iPhone Air5.6 mm thin, titanium frame, 6.5-inch 120Hz display, and A19 Pro-class performance. It brings the 48MP Fusion rear camera and the same Center Stage front camera concept as the rest of the lineup. It’s eSIM-only worldwide, which helped enable the slim build. Pre-orders September 12; available September 19.

My read: this will be the business traveler’s favorite—light, durable, pocketable—while power users who want maximum battery and optics stick with Pro.

AirPods Pro 3: better ANC, in-ear HR, and Live Translation

Apple AirPods Pro 3 lifestyle 02 250909

AirPods Pro 3 step up with up to 2× stronger ANC vs. the previous gen, heart-rate sensing (PPG) in the buds, five ear-tip sizes (incl. XXS), IP57 durability, more battery life, and Live Translation for in-person conversations via Apple Intelligence. Pre-order today; available September 19; $249 (US).

Apple AirPods Pro 3 lifestyle 01 250909

Why I care: live, hands-free translation and reliable ANC are fantastic on construction floors, event venues, or mixed-language walkthroughs—exactly where I often present digital twins.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 hearing health 250909

Apple Watch Series 11: thinner, tougher, smarter health

Apple Watch Series 11 hero 250909 big.jpg.large

Series 11 adds hypertension notifications (regulatory clearance “expected soon”), a new sleep score, 5G, and Ion-X glass that’s 2× more scratch-resistant, with up to 24-hour battery life. Pre-order today; in stores September 19.

Why it matters: meaningful health signals and more robust glass are exactly what I want for team members who wear a watch on site daily.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: two-way satellite on the wrist

Apple Watch Ultra 3 hero 250909 big.jpg.large

Ultra 3 brings two-way satellite messaging/SOS, the largest Apple Watch display (LTPO3), 5G, and up to 42 hours of battery (72h in Low Power). It’s made for remote work where connectivity is unreliable. Pre-order today; available September 19.

Field impact: satellite on the wrist is a serious safety net during remote surveys or after-hours checks.

Apple Watch SE 3: entry model grows up

The new SE 3 gains an Always-On display, S10 performance, fast charging, 5G, and expanded health features including sleep score. Pre-order today; available September 19.

iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence

Screenshot 2025 09 09 at 20.33.41

iOS 26 ships Monday, September 15 with the Liquid Glass design language and Live Translation across system apps—useful for cross-language communication on client sites. (Companion platform updates roll out alongside.)


Final Cut Camera 2.0 — why this is a real workflow jump

videoframe 4991

Apple also announced Final Cut Camera 2.0, and this is the bit that turns the new iPhones into proper production tools. The update brings ProRes RAW recording and genlock to iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max, adds open-gate capture (full-sensor readout for flexible reframing beyond DCI 4K), and ties directly into Live Multicam in Final Cut Pro for iPad. In plain English: higher-fidelity footage, time-locked multi-camera shoots without pain, and more freedom to reframe/stabilise later.

On top of that, 2.0 introduces manual controls for the new Center Stage front camera across the entire iPhone 17 family (including iPhone Air)—so I can shoot horizontal or vertical without physically rotating the phone, while keeping exposure/white balance/focus exactly where I want them. Apple is also adding Apple Log 2 (wider colour gamut in ProRes or HEVC), timecode options (Time of Day, Record Run, or external), and support for the new 200 mm telephoto on iPhone 17 Pro (ProRes up to 4K60). For my shoots, that’s a powerful combo: colour-matchable footage, precise clip identification, and safe standoff zoom for detail grabs.

Apple Final Cut Camera 2 0 lifestyle 250909 big.jpg.large

Crucially, genlock means I can hard-sync an iPhone 17 Pro/Max to other cameras against a single reference signal, producing frame-accurate cuts without manual nudging—exactly what I want for factory walk-throughs, training modules, and twin-embedded explainers where multiple angles must align perfectly. Apple is opening a Genlock API to third parties; Blackmagic is already on board with its Camera ProDock, which signals a healthy accessory ecosystem.

Availability and requirements are straightforward: Final Cut Camera 2.0 will roll out later this month as a free App Store update. It runs on iPhone XS or later with iOS 18.6+, while some features (like ProRes RAW and genlock) require iOS 26 and iPhone 17 Pro hardware. In parallel, Final Cut Pro 11.2 (Mac) and Final Cut Pro for iPad 2.3 will expose proper RAW controls (exposure, colour temperature, tint, demosaic) for these new captures. That’s the end-to-end story: capture, sync, grade—without leaving the Apple pipeline.

How I’ll use it at Digital Strada: I can treat iPhone 17 Pro as a B-cam that truly matches my main rigs: open-gate for safe reframes, Log 2 for colour latitude, timecode/genlock for clean multicam edits, and 200 mm tele for crisp close-ups from a safe distance. Plugged into Final Cut Pro on Mac or iPad, that becomes a lighter, faster, field-ready capture stack for 3D-twin content, site documentation, and stakeholder videos—without compromising accuracy or polish.

What I’ll do with this for clients and partners

  • Carry less, capture more: With ProRes RAW and genlock on iPhone 17 Pro, I can record color-gradeable footage that time-locks with other cameras for clean cuts in marketing reels, training content, and walkthroughs embedded in digital twins.
  • Safer remote ops: Ultra 3’s satellite messaging means contact even when a site has zero coverage—ideal for rural hospitality estates, industrial yards, or coastal assets I routinely scan.
  • Fewer friction points: AirPods Pro 3 + iOS 26 enable bilingual client reviews without extra hardware. I can keep hands free while models, punch lists, and notes flow.

Connecting to my earlier Vision Pro analysis.

Earlier this year I unpacked Apple’s in-store Vision Pro demo and why it signals spatial computing’s industrial leap for 3D Digital Twins: standout accessibility (eye tracking plus wrist/finger/head pointer alternatives), strong spatial persistence and OpenUSD alignment, and a demo lineup (Lowe’s Style Studio, JigSpace, BILT, Freeform, Encounter Dinosaurs) that already maps to real workflows, design previews, interactive maintenance/training, and collaborative planning.

I also called out the IoT overlay potential and the near-term constraints (price around £3,499 and headset weight) alongside encouraging ecosystem signals (e.g., NVIDIA Omniverse streaming, ForeFlight Voyager).

Today’s updates—especially iPhone 17 Pro capture with ProRes RAW/genlock and Final Cut Camera 2.0—complement that trajectory: pocketable, time-locked field capture feeding into high-fidelity, spatial reviews on Vision Pro, end-to-end.

About Digital Strada

Digital Strada Founder at Digital Catapult UK Digital Twin Centre SME Event Glandore Belfast 1

I founded Digital Strada to turn spaces into living digital assets—from hospitality venues and workplaces to industrial sites. I combine LiDAR, photogrammetry, and operational data to deliver digital twins that help owners and operators see clearly, decide faster, and tell better stories to their customers and teams.

Impact & Services

emil indricau digitalstrada 4

My work spans end-to-end capture (Matterport, LiDAR, reality modeling) through to operational twins and Advanced Facility Operating Systems that blend 3D + IoT + FM. I package results as stakeholder-friendly experiences: sales and leasing tours, training content, maintenance overlays, and analytics that cut through noise and drive action.

Emil Indricau, Founder

IMG 5215 1

I’m Emil Indricau, and I lead Digital Strada’s projects across the UK & Ireland and the rest of the World—hands-on in capture, modeling, and experience design. My focus is practical: make spatial data useful.

That means reliable field workflows, crisp visuals, and decisions you can defend in the boardroom or on the site floor.

Follow me and Connect on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Medium, YouTube, SubStack, Digital Twin Hub, Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network, Engineering HR, UK Business Forums and the Digital Supply Chain Hub (Made Smarter Innovation | Digital Supply Chain Hub is delivered by Digital Catapult, funded by the Made Smarter Innovation challenge at UK Research and Innovation.)


Start a Project

See our Digital Twins portfolio and Contact us for a new project.

🎉 Help your customers to Experience Immersive Communication with a Digital Twin for your hotelresortrestaurantmuseumfactory, real estate project or space.

☎️ Leave a comment with your business and let’s connect to deliver a 3D Digital Twin Solution for your Facility Managemnt Team.

Start a Project of 3D Digital Twins and Immersive Experiences now.

Apple Vision Pro Demo Decoded: Spatial Computing’s Industrial Leap for 3D Digital Twins

Apple Vision Pro Demo Decoded: Spatial Computing’s Industrial Leap for 3D Digital Twins

The Apple Vision Pro demo experience at Apple Stores offers a compelling glimpse into the future of spatial computing, blending cutting-edge hardware with immersive software ecosystems. As the founder of Digital Strada, my fourth hands-on session revealed nuanced insights into the device’s accessibility, enterprise potential, and Apple’s strategic vision for XR.

img 7603

Key Features and Accessibility

The Vision Pro’s accessibility toolkit stood out, with features like Eye Tracking for hands-free navigation and Pointer Control alternatives (wrist, finger, or head movement) catering to diverse physical needs.

Adjustable headbands (Solo Knitted and Dual Loop) ensure comfort during extended use, though fit optimization is critical—Apple specialists emphasize balancing pressure between the forehead and cheeks to avoid discomfort.

Spatial Computing in Action

The demo highlighted apps with direct relevance to 3D Digital Twins:

  • Lowe’s Style Studio: Visualizes kitchen designs in mixed reality, allowing users to customize finishes/appliances in real-time.
  • JigSpace: Creates interactive 3D presentations anchored in physical spaces, ideal for product demos and training.
  • BILT: Delivers step-by-step 3D instructions for assembly/maintenance, blending digital guidance with real-world tasks.
  • Encounter Dinosaurs: Showcases high-fidelity 3D models that respond to user interactions, hinting at industrial simulation potential.
  • Freeform: Enables collaborative spatial brainstorming with resizable 3D boards.

Apple’s dedicated demo rooms, designed like minimalist cinemas, emphasize immersive storytelling while subtly reinforcing the device’s premium positioning. This curated environment mirrors the attention to detail seen in Apple’s hardware-software integration, such as the R1 chip’s low-latency passthrough and Vision Pro’s 23-million-pixel displays.

Strategic Implications for Digital Twins

As a 3D Digital Twins developer, the Vision Pro’s spatial persistence (anchoring virtual objects in real-world coordinates) and OpenUSD compatibility align with our workflow for creating immersive asset models.

The device’s ability to overlay real-time IoT data onto 3D environments could revolutionize industries like:

  • Construction: Virtual site inspections via apps like BILT.
  • Manufacturing: Interactive training simulations using JigSpace’s CAD models.
  • Healthcare: Preoperative planning with volumetric scans.

While the Vision Pro’s starting price of £3,499 price and 600–650g weight limit mass adoption, Apple’s developer labs and rumored lower-cost model (targeting ~£2,000 by 2026) signal long-term commitment.

Partnerships with NVIDIA AI for Omniverse streaming and enterprise-focused tools like ForeFlight Voyager further validate its role in professional workflows.

Conclusion

The Vision Pro demo transcends gadgetry—it’s a blueprint for spatial computing’s future. For Digital Strada, integrating Vision Pro’s 3D anchoring and SharePlay collaboration into our Digital Twins platform could enable clients to interact with infrastructure models in real-world contexts.

While current adoption faces hurdles (cost, battery life), Apple’s ecosystem play—mirroring iPhone’s app-driven growth—positions Vision Pro as a catalyst for industries transitioning from 2D schematics to immersive 3D Digital Twins.

As spatial computing matures, aligning our Digital Twins pipelines with visionOS’s capabilities will be critical to leading the next wave of Industrial Revolution.

Start a Project here:
👉 https://digitalstrada.com/start-project/

🚀 Founder of Digital Strada was glad to have joined Digital Catapult’s Digital Twin SME Network Event at Glandore Belfast

🚀 Founder of Digital Strada was glad to have joined Digital Catapult’s Digital Twin SME Network Event at Glandore Belfast

Romania’s Digital Transformation Journey in Schengen: A 3D Innovation Perspective

Romania’s Digital Transformation Journey in Schengen: A 3D Innovation Perspective

Digital Strada Founder Joins Software NI Working Group: Sector Futures – Shaping the Future of Northern Ireland’s Tech Sector

Digital Strada Founder Joins Software NI Working Group: Sector Futures – Shaping the Future of Northern Ireland’s Tech Sector

Revolutionizing Industrial Ecosystems with 3D Digital Twins: A Visual Communication Asset for Manufacturing

Revolutionizing Industrial Ecosystems with 3D Digital Twins: A Visual Communication Asset for Manufacturing

👨‍💼 As the Founder and Solutions Architect of Digital Strada, a UK-based 3D digital twins and 3D laser scanning company, I’m excited to share how our services can transform visual communication within industrial ecosystems.

🚀 Recent insights from the World Economic Forum have highlighted the potential of digital technologies in reshaping manufacturing landscapes, and I’d like to explore how 3D digital twins can specifically benefit factory owners and managers in enhancing communication and decision-making processes across their industrial ecosystems.

The Power of 3D Digital Twins in Industrial Ecosystems 💡

🌐 3D digital twins are visually rich, interactive virtual replicas of physical assets, such as factories, buildings, and equipment.

🏗️ Detailed 3D models offer an invaluable comprehensive view of a facility’s layout, infrastructure, and assets at an Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) level of detail. This enables manufacturers to visualize their industrial ecosystems more effectively, communicate ideas clearly, and make informed decisions about facility management and modifications within their broader industrial network.

🔄 Here are the top 10 reasons why leaders in industrial ecosystems should consider implementing 3D digital twins as visual communication assets:

  1. Enhanced Stakeholder Communication in Industrial Ecosystems 🗣️
    Digital Strada’s 3D digital twins provide an intuitive, visual platform for communicating complex facility information to stakeholders at all levels of the industrial ecosystem. From supply chain partners to regulatory bodies, everyone can easily understand and interact with the facility’s layout and features.
  2. Improved Project Planning and Visualization Across the Industrial Network 📊
    When planning facility upgrades or renovations that may impact the broader industrial ecosystem, our 3D digital twins allow you to visualize proposed changes in context. This helps in making more informed decisions and reduces misunderstandings between different teams and partners involved in the project.
  3. Effective Training and Onboarding for Industrial Ecosystem Participants 🎓
    New employees and partners within the industrial ecosystem can familiarize themselves with the facility layout and equipment locations through interactive 3D models, even before stepping onto the factory floor. This visual approach enhances learning and reduces the time needed for physical orientation.
  4. Enhanced Safety Briefings for the Industrial Ecosystem ⚠️
    Use the 3D digital twin to conduct virtual safety walkthroughs, highlighting potential hazards and emergency routes that may affect various participants in the industrial ecosystem. This visual approach makes safety information more engaging and memorable for all stakeholders.
  5. Streamlined Contractor Briefings within the Industrial Network 👷
    External contractors and service providers within the industrial ecosystem can be given virtual tours of relevant areas before arriving on-site. This helps them prepare more effectively, reducing time spent on physical orientations and minimizing disruptions to ongoing operations.
  6. Improved Cross-Departmental and Inter-Company Collaboration 🤝
    The 3D digital twin serves as a common visual reference point for different departments and companies within the industrial ecosystem. Whether discussing production flow changes, maintenance schedules, or safety protocols, all teams can refer to the same visual model, enhancing understanding and cooperation.
  7. Enhanced Presentation of Facility Capabilities to Industrial Ecosystem Partners 🎥
    When showcasing your facility to potential clients, investors, or partners within the industrial ecosystem, a 3D digital twin provides an impressive and comprehensive view of your capabilities. It allows you to conduct virtual tours and highlight key features without the need for physical visits.
  8. Simplified Regulatory Compliance Demonstrations for Industrial Ecosystem Oversight 📋
    While not at a millimeter-level accuracy, our AEC-level 3D models can still be used to visually demonstrate compliance with various regulations that govern the industrial ecosystem. This can be particularly useful when communicating with inspectors or auditors.
  9. Efficient Space Utilization Planning within the Industrial Network 🏢
    The visual nature of 3D digital twins makes it easier to identify underutilized spaces and plan for better usage, considering the needs and interactions within the broader industrial ecosystem. Teams can collaboratively explore different layout options and visualize their impact before making physical changes.
  10. Enhanced Historical Documentation of Industrial Ecosystem Evolution 📚
    As your facility and its role in the industrial ecosystem evolves over time, the 3D digital twin serves as a visual record of changes. This can be invaluable for understanding the facility’s development, planning future changes, and maintaining institutional knowledge within the industrial network.

The Digital Strada Advantage for Industrial Ecosystems 🌟

At Digital Strada, we specialize in creating visually rich and interactive 3D digital twins using advanced scanning and modeling techniques. Our services go beyond simple 3D rendering – we provide a comprehensive visual communication tool that can be easily understood and utilized by various stakeholders across the industrial ecosystem. 🔧Our approach involves:

  1. Comprehensive 3D Scanning of Industrial Facilities 📸
    We use advanced equipment to capture the overall layout and key features of your facility, focusing on creating a visually accurate representation at an AEC level of detail that highlights its role in the industrial ecosystem.
  2. Interactive 3D Modeling for Industrial Communication 💻
    Our team of experts processes the scan data to create an engaging, navigable 3D model of your facility, optimized for visual communication within the industrial network.
  3. User-Friendly Interface for All Industrial Ecosystem Participants 👥
    We ensure that the 3D digital twin is accessible through an intuitive interface, allowing easy navigation and interaction for users with varying levels of technical expertise across the industrial ecosystem.
  4. Customization for Industrial Ecosystem Communication Needs 🎨
    We work with you to highlight key areas or features in the model that are most relevant to your communication objectives within the industrial network.

Conclusion 🏁

In today’s complex industrial ecosystems, clear and effective communication is crucial. 3D digital twins offer a powerful solution, providing a visually rich, interactive representation of your physical assets that can be used for a wide range of communication and decision-making processes across the industrial network.

🌐 3D models AEC-level detail is more than sufficient for most communication needs in industrial settings. They serve as an invaluable tool for enhancing understanding, facilitating collaboration, and improving decision-making across all levels of your organization and its place in the broader industrial ecosystem.

🤝At Digital Strada, we’re committed to helping UK, Ireland and European  manufacturers harness this technology to drive innovation in visual communication within industrial ecosystems. By partnering with us, you’re not just investing in a 3D model – you’re investing in a transformative tool that will enhance how you communicate about your facility, both internally and externally, strengthening your position in the industrial network.

💪 Don’t let your competitors gain the edge in effective communication within the industrial ecosystem. Contact Digital Strada today at digitalstrada.com to learn how we can help you create a 3D digital twin of your manufacturing facility and unlock its full potential as a visual communication asset for your entire industrial network. 

 

🚀 See our Digital Twins portfolio and Contact us for a new project.

🎉 Help your customers to Experience Immersive Communication with a Digital Twin for your hotelresortrestaurantmuseumfactory, real estate project or space.

☎️ Leave a comment with your business and let’s connect to deliver a 3D Digital Twin Solution for your Facility Managemnt Team.

Pin It on Pinterest