Key Points:
- High AI Potential in China: Apple’s AI features are most likely to be approved in China with iOS 18.
- New Capture Button Design: iPhone 16’s silicone cases will seamlessly support the new Capture button.
- Competition in China: Apple faces rising competition from Huawei, despite its prestige in the market.
Apple’s iPhone 16 is expected to bring exciting new features, with a focus on AI and design updates. While these innovations may not be fully available in Europe, Chinese users are likely to see them first, particularly after the iOS 18 update. This is largely due to Apple’s strong emphasis on privacy and on-device processing, which aligns well with China’s regulatory requirements. According to analysts, Apple’s proprietary AI, known as Apple Intelligence, has the best chance among foreign AI models to gain approval in China.
In contrast, Apple’s approach in the United States involves partnering with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and the company is reportedly considering investing in OpenAI’s next funding round. However, ChatGPT is not available commercially in China, where only local AI models have been approved. Rumors suggest that Apple might collaborate with Baidu, similar to Samsung’s strategy in China, though this could delay the rollout of Apple’s own AI features in the country.
Despite growing competition from local brands like Huawei—whose smartphone shipments in China soared by 44% while Apple’s dropped by 6%—Chinese consumers still view Apple as a luxury brand. Many are eager to upgrade from their iPhone 14 Pro Max to the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max, which promises a larger screen and faster processor, whether it includes Apple Intelligence or not.
In addition to AI advancements, the iPhone 16 will introduce a new Capture button on some models. This button, designed to enhance photography by providing more control in landscape mode, will be capacitive and capable of responding to different gestures and pressure levels. Apple’s silicone cases for the iPhone 16 will be designed without cutouts for this button, ensuring seamless use without interference.
While this new Capture button has been seen in CAD renders and dummy models of all four iPhone devices, it’s rumored that it might only be available on the Pro versions. The iPhone 16 series is also expected to feature slightly larger displays, a new A18 chip that supports Apple Intelligence, and 8GB of RAM, which is crucial for powering AI capabilities.
As Apple prepares to unveil these features at its “It’s Glowtime” event on September 9, anticipation is building for what could be the company’s most innovative iPhone yet.
