Apple announced some incredible new products and technologies Wednesday, but major news outlets have looked over some incredibly important details. Here are the things you probably didn’t know from the Apple event:
1. iCloud Storage Pricing Changes
Apple has changed their iCloud storage pricing, giving users much more value for their dollar. The old tiers were as follows (all prices listed per month):
- 5GB: Free
- 20GB: $0.99
- 200GB: $3.99
- 500GB: $9.99
- 1TB: $19.99
The new ones still only give you 5GB for free, but the other tiers have been updated (all prices listed per month):
- 5GB: Free
- 50GB: $0.99
- 200GB: $2.99
- 1TB: $9.99
2. iPad Mini 4
3. Discontinued Gold Color Option for Older iPhones
Apple is still offering the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 5s on their website, but they have discontinued the gold color option. Apple will still offer a gold color option for iPad Air 2. If you're looking for a gold iPhone (or rose gold for that matter), you'll be going with the iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus.
4. Color-Matched iPhone Docks and Cases
Apple introduced color-matched iPhone docks - available in silver, gold, space gray or rose gold. They also introduced new leather & silicone case colors. Silicone cases are $35 for the 6s and $39 for the 6s Plus, and they come in white, charcoal gray, stone, antique white, blue, turquoise, midnight blue, lavender, pink, orange and red. The leather cases are $45 for the 6s and $49 for the 6s plus. The new leather case colors are midnight blue, saddle brown and rose gray.
5. iPhone Upgrade Program
In an unexpected move, Apple announced a new program in US retail stores called the iPhone Upgrade Program. This program allows customers to get the latest iPhone every year for a flat monthly fee. It starts at $32.41 a month for the 16GB iPhone 6s and includes Applecare+. Customers must return the old iPhone in good working condition to upgrade.
This is very similar to Verizon’s upgrade program. You can finance your iPhone starting at $27.04 a month for 24 months. As soon as you’ve paid off the phone, you are eligible to upgrade and you keep the old device.