Apple’s Latest Decisions Highlight iPhone 16 Problems

As Tim Cook’s team prepares for next week’s Glowtime event and the launch of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro phones, the Apple community is ready for an iOS-powered dazzle. Still, thanks to a series of leaks last week, it’s been questioned whether the smaller iPhone 16 can live up to the hype from September.

The specifications may not be sufficient, the software may not be ready, and a product with a better price/performance ratio may be available in the near future.

The bulk of Glowime will focus on: Apple’s approach to generative AI. The backend suite, called Apple Intelligence, will play a key role in the introduction of iOS 18 and the new iPhones. Those looking to get in on Apple’s AI game from the ground up will look to the iPhone 16. For now, it will be the cheapest iPhone that can run the software; of the current models, only the higher-spec iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max Support Apple Intelligence.

But the iPhone 16 risks falling short of Apple Intelligence over the next few years. Apple is ensuring that both of the first iPhones released with Apple Intelligence will have it Upgrade to latest A18 processor and RAM to run the software.

Current indications suggest that the iPhone 16 will run the software but there is little margin for expansion in the processor and memory. While Apple Intelligence’s initial interactions will be largely server-based, the iPhone 16 may lack the resources to support this move as Apple releases more software and shifts more processing of personal data to the device. In the coming years, the iPhone 16 could rapidly shift away from local and dedicated generative AI routines.

You also need to factor in the timescales surrounding iOS 18 and AI. Apple Intelligence software won’t be available at launch. The first public release of the core toolset is scheduled for mid-October, a month after the iPhone 16 launch. ChatGPT functionality is expected to be released in December, and the full suite will have to wait until March 2025.

Anyone purchasing the new iPhone 16 models will be buying with the promise of future-ready software. not ready at launchThis isn’t an unusual move for a smartphone launch, but it naturally carries some risk when software plays a major role in your decision-making process.

The next iPhone SE is also expected to be released in March. With Apple Intelligence being built into every iPhone 16 model and becoming a major part of its marketing strategy, the iPhone SE should also support this use of AI, meaning it will need to have at least the same features as the iPhone 16. And one of the few drawbacks of the SE series, the use of an old and dull LCD screen, is being eliminated with the next iPhone SE. OLED technology is expected to be usedNot only will you be using newer OLED technology, you’ll also be able to take advantage of all the Apple Intelligence that will help you make your purchasing decision in March.

Apple has yet to confirm the prices of the iPhone 16 family, but Current indicators there will be an overall price increase. Apple will likely point to upgraded hardware and the introduction of Apple Intelligence to justify the higher price.

If generative AI is going to guide your purchasing decision, Apple could talk about it in September, but it will take six months to see how it works in practice. If generative AI is of no interest to you, the iPhone 16 will be a machine with a higher price for a feature you don’t want.

The Apple community will certainly praise the Glowtime event and the launch of Apple Intelligence, but the software won’t arrive until March, the features limit the potential for future updates, and the more affordable iPhone SE with the same specs as the iPhone 16 will be available in March.

There will be fireworks at Glowtime, but the iPhone’s true AI revolution will have to wait until 2025.

Now read how Apple could change the debate on AI with one simple decision.