Apple Unveils iPhone 16 with AI Features Rolling Out Soon

Apple has announced the launch of its iPhone 16, which is set to introduce new AI-driven tools aimed at placing advanced technology at the forefront of its flagship smartphone. The tech giant hopes the innovative features will attract consumers as it seeks to strengthen its position in the competitive artificial intelligence space.

On Monday, CEO Tim Cook revealed that the iPhone 16 is the company’s first smartphone built from the ground up with artificial intelligence at its core, showcasing its breakthrough capabilities. Set to hit shelves on September 20, with pre-orders beginning this Friday, the iPhone 16 launch is Apple’s response to the increasing importance of AI in consumer tech.

With the latest iOS18 operating system, Apple is looking to revive sluggish iPhone sales by offering generative AI features, such as enhancements to Siri and other tools, which it hopes will encourage users to upgrade their devices.

According to Wall Street analysts, these new AI features, including advanced voice assistants, photo editing tools, writing aids, and free access to ChatGPT via a partnership with OpenAI, could boost iPhone sales in the coming year.

Monday’s unveiling event was closely watched by investors eager for updates on when the AI features will become available. Although Apple shares dipped following the presentation, the company assured that certain aspects of its new Apple Intelligence suite will be launched next month in US English, with localized versions for markets like the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa arriving by December. Additional language support, including Chinese, Japanese, French, and Spanish, is expected next year.

Paolo Pescatore, analyst at PP Foresight, noted that the competition in AI is heating up, stating, “We’ve seen it with camera advancements, and now the focus has shifted to who can build the best AI platform. Major players like Google, Microsoft, and Meta are investing heavily, though the return on investment remains uncertain.”

The iPhone 16 will be available in four models: Pro, Pro Max, Plus, and a base version. The Pro and Pro Max versions will boast larger screens and more advanced cameras, with prices starting at $799 for the base model, $999 for the Pro, and $1,199 for the Pro Max.

At the heart of the iPhone 16 is the new A18 chip, which Apple says will significantly boost performance to handle AI models locally on the device. The chip, based on Arm’s next-gen V9 architecture, is designed to meet the demands of cutting-edge AI technology.

Sribalan Santhanam, vice president of Apple’s silicon engineering group, highlighted that the A18 chip pushes Apple ahead by two generations, offering up to 30% faster speeds compared to the iPhone 15’s processors, and even rivaling high-end desktop computers. The Pro models of the iPhone 16 will feature an enhanced A18 chip, which Santhanam claimed will be the fastest CPU in any smartphone.

In addition to the iPhone 16, Apple announced the release of the Apple Watch Series 10, which will also be available from September 20. The Series 10 offers a bigger display, slimmer design, quicker battery charging, and a new S10 chip geared toward machine learning. It will also introduce a sleep apnea detection feature, with approval from the US Food and Drug Administration expected soon. Prices for the Series 10 start at $399.

Apple’s new AirPods Pro 2 headphones will also see upgrades, including a hearing aid function, a clinical-grade hearing test feature, and hearing protection, pending FDA clearance.

Leo Gebbie, an analyst at CCS Insight, underscored the importance of the iPhone 16 in light of slowing consumer demand for new smartphones. “The iPhone 16 is crucial for Apple,” he said, adding that the Apple Intelligence AI platform “will be central to the future of the iPhone over the next decade.”

Gebbie also noted the growing perception that smartphone updates have become repetitive. “Apple is not immune to this trend and is betting on software and AI to breathe new life into its key product, sparking renewed interest and driving upgrade purchases.”