Apple has unveiled its artificial intelligence-boosted iPhone 16, showing off the long-awaited phone hours after Chinese rival Huawei’s tri-fold phone began racking up orders.
“The next generation of iPhone has been designed for Apple Intelligence from the ground up. It marks the beginning of an exciting new era,” Chief Executive Tim Cook said at a product launch on Monday.
The iPhone 16 will use the new A18 chip and have an aluminium back, as well as a new customizable button that can be used for camera controls.
Huawei’s website showed on Monday that it had garnered more than three million preorders for its Z-shaped tri-fold phone. This underscores Huawei’s ability to navigate United States sanctions and solidifies its position against Apple in China, where consumers are hankering for more AI features and are willing to pay for them.
Apple shares were down less than one percent in afternoon trading.
The company also unveiled new Apple Watches and AirPods.
The new Series 10 Watch starts at $399, is thinner than its predecessor and has an up to 30 percent larger screen than previous generations. Apple highlighted the watch’s ability to help with sports and health issues, including finding longer-term conditions such as sleep apnea as well as detecting and responding to emergencies such as a fall.
Apple also launched a new version of the more rugged Watch Ultra 2, starting at $799. The new AirPods 4 have been redesigned for more comfortable wearing and improved acoustics. And Apple rolled out hearing-aid features that it has submitted for regulatory review in the US.
Apple fans globally have been waiting to see the new phones with AI, which Cook hinted at as he began the show. “We are thrilled to introduce the first iPhones designed from the ground up for Apple Intelligence and its breakthrough capabilities,” Cook said in opening remarks.
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