The iPhone 16 is set to be Apple’s next flagship smartphone series, which is anticipated to launch later this year. Although Apple has not officially revealed details about the new handsets, one of the major anticipated features is Apple Intelligence—a suite of artificial intelligence (AI) functionalities designed for Apple devices. Recent rumors suggest that despite some Apple Intelligence features being available in beta, they might not be included in the iPhone 16 series at its initial launch. This has led to speculation about a potential delay for the new iPhone series. However, a new report indicates that the iPhone 16’s release will proceed as scheduled.
iPhone 16 Launch Details
In his Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman confirms that despite the delay of Apple Intelligence features, the iPhone 16 series will not be postponed. Consistent with Apple’s typical release schedule, the iPhone 16 series is expected to be unveiled at a September event. Historically, Apple has released its new iPhone models and the latest operating system (OS) updates in September. However, there have been instances, such as with the iPhone 4S in October 2011, where the launch was delayed due to additional software refinements.
Gurman also provides insights into the rollout of Apple Intelligence. According to him, while the iOS 18 update, which is likely to be released alongside the iPhone 16 series, will not feature the complete suite of Apple Intelligence, it may be introduced with the iOS 18.1 update in October. Even then, some of the high-profile features showcased at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024, such as the Image Playground—an AI tool for generating images based on prompts—may be omitted.
Furthermore, there is speculation that some advanced Apple Intelligence features, including potential enhancements to Siri—Apple’s voice assistant—might not be available until 2025. These features could be provided to developers in the January 2025 iOS 18.4 beta update before becoming publicly accessible later in the year.
