CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — Apple has shifted its focus toward artificial intelligence with the unveiling of its highly anticipated iPhone 16, along with a slew of new features coming with the next update to the device’s operating system. While the new phone lineup headlined Monday’s showcase, the tech giant also shared updates to its smartwatch and AirPod lineups.
Here are all the biggest announcements from Apple’s “Glowtime” event.
Apple Intelligence
Apple’s core artificial intelligence offerings are being packaged and billed as Apple Intelligence — first revealed at the company’s developers conference in June.
These features include the ability to search for images in your library by describing them, creating custom emojis, summarizing emails, and prioritizing notifications. Apple Intelligence will also upgrade Apple’s virtual assistant Siri to better understand requests and be aware of on-screen actions taking place on the phone, hopefully making it more useful.
What sets Apple apart from rivals Samsung and Google? Apple is trying to preserve its longtime commitment to privacy by tailoring its AI so that most of its functions are processed on the device itself rather than at remote data centers. When a task requires a connection to a data center, Apple promises it will be done in a tightly controlled way that ensures no personal data is stored remotely.
Most of Apple’s AI functions will roll out as part of a free software update to iOS 18, the operating system that will power the iPhone 16, which will be available from October through December. U.S. English will be the featured language at launch, but an update enabling other languages will come out next year, according to Apple.
iPhone 16 and the Camera Button
The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will offer slightly bigger displays and feature variants of the powerful A18 chip, which gives Apple the computing power its devices need to run AI functions.
The iPhone 16 “has been designed for Apple Intelligence from the ground up,” CEO Tim Cook said during Monday’s event.
The biggest physical change to the iPhone 16 lineup is the addition of a dedicated camera-control button. The button responds to clicks and gestures, allowing users to quickly snap pictures, preview a shot, or start video recording.
The button also enables a feature called Visual Intelligence, which allows the iPhone 16 to automatically search for information on things you take photos of.
The phones will start shipping on Sept. 20. The iPhone 16 will retail for $799, with the Plus model priced at $899. The iPhone 16 Pro will cost $999, while the Pro Max will sell for $1,199.
Apple Watch Upgrades
The Apple Watch Series 10 features a larger and brighter wide-angle OLED display that will allow users to view the watch more easily from an angle. Apple focused much of its presentation on the device’s ability to detect signs of sleep apnea.
The new device is also being offered in a titanium finish for the first time, joining a long-standing trend in the watch industry of offering a tougher, more lightweight, and perceived higher-quality alternative to traditional materials.
The Series 10 watch starts at $399 and will be available on Sept. 20.
AirPods Lean Toward Being a Listening Device
The new AirPods 4 series will come with an upgraded chip for better audio quality and feature enhanced active noise cancellation.
If you frequently lose your earbuds, the new AirPods will also play a sound when you locate them through the Find My app.
In a medically focused update to the AirPods Pro 2, Apple announced that the devices will be upgraded to act as an over-the-counter hearing aid. A free software update will provide this upgrade and include options to help protect hearing and administer a clinical-grade hearing test.
The AirPods 4 model costs $129, while the version with active noise cancellation will cost $179. Both will ship on Sept. 20.
