Apple’s Latest Decisions Highlight iPhone 16 Issues

As Tim Cook’s team gears up for next week’s Glowtime event and the launch of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, the Apple community is ready for a bit of iOS bling. But thanks to a slew of leaks last week, the question is whether the smaller iPhone 16 will live up to the September hype?

The specifications may not be sufficient, the software is not ready, and a better value for money may appear in the near future.

Much of Glowime will focus on Apple’s approach to generative AI. Apple’s Intelligence suite, known as backronymed, will be a key part of the push for iOS 18 and new iPhones. Those looking to get in on the ground floor of Apple’s AI game will want to look to the iPhone 16. For now, it will be the cheapest iPhone capable of running the software—of existing models, only the highly specialized iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will support Apple Intelligence.

However, the iPhone 16 risks being insufficient for Apple Intelligence in the next few years. Apple says the first iPhones released with Apple Intelligence will have both the latest A18 processor and more RAM to run the software.

Current indications suggest that the iPhone 16 will support software, but with very little headroom for processor and memory upgrades. While the initial Apple Intelligence interaction will be mostly server-based, as Apple releases more software and moves more personal data processing onto the phone, the iPhone 16 may not have the resources to support this move. The iPhone 16 could quickly move away from local and private generative AI routines in the coming years.

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

Anyone who buys the new iPhone 16 models will be buying them with the promise of software that will be ready in the future, not ready for launch. That’s not an unusual move for a smartphone launch, but it’s one that naturally comes with some risk if software plays a major role in the decision-making process.

The next iPhone SE is also expected to arrive in March. Since Apple Intelligence is coming to every iPhone 16 model and is becoming a key part of the marketing strategy, the iPhone SE should also support this use of AI, which means it will have to have at least the same specs as the iPhone 16. And one of the few drawbacks of the SE series — the use of an older and matte LCD screen — is being addressed, with the next iPhone SE expected to use OLED technology. Not only will it use the newer OLED technology, but you’ll also have access to the full Apple Intelligence suite in March to help you make a purchasing decision.

Apple has yet to confirm pricing for the iPhone 16 family, but current signs suggest there will be an across-the-board price increase. Apple will likely cite improved hardware and the introduction of Apple Intelligence as justification for the higher price.

If generative AI is going to drive your purchase decision, Apple can talk about it in September, but it will take six months to see how it works in practice. If you’re not interested in generative AI, the iPhone 16 will be a higher-priced machine for a feature you won’t want.

The Apple community will certainly praise the Glowtime event and the launch of Apple Intelligence. However, the software will not arrive until March, the specifications limit the potential for future updates, and the more affordable iPhone SE with the same capabilities as the iPhone 16 will go on sale in March.

Glowtime will have its fireworks, but the real revolution in AI on the iPhone will have to wait until 2025.

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