Apple is leaning full-tilt into artificial intelligence.
The company revealed the iPhone 16 on Monday, along with a full slate of new AirPod and Apple Watch products. Its primary selling point — along with the typical new tech and software features — is Apple Intelligence, a suite of tools that Apple says will help you express yourself, save time and relive memories.
There’s a lot riding on it. Apple’s stock price has risen 13 per cent since it previewed its AI strategy in June, with hopes that the new tech will help reverse a recent slump in iPhone sales.
So here are the biggest takeaways from Apple’s big announcement on Monday.
Apple Intelligence is here
Apple touted its new AI tool for its ability to rewrite messages, find camera roll photos with a simple search, summarize notifications and emails, and make Siri more practical.
The new tech will also be integrated into the camera. Users will be able to point their camera at a business and discover its hours, or at a flyer for an event and instantly log it in their calendar.
The iPhone 16 will feature two new buttons.
The first is being called an action button. It can be customized to perform different tasks — including recording a voice memo, identifying a song or translating a phrase. It can even lock and unlock your car.
The second is the camera control button, which launches the camera with one click. You will also be able to slide your finger across the button to adjust the zoom or change other camera settings.
Apple is promising a CPU in the iPhone 16 up to 30 per cent faster than its predecessor, and a GPU up to 40 per cent faster. Both will be more energy efficient, too.
The screens will be protected with a new ceramic shield that’s twice as tough as any other smartphone glass, Apple said.
The camera boasts a 48 megapixel “fusion” camera with ultrawide and macro modes.
A bigger screen is coming to the Apple Watch
The Apple Watch Series 10 will feature the product’s largest display, thinnest body and fastest charging.
It will also include a new tool to detect sleep apnea, which largely goes undiagnosed, Apple said.
AirPod Pros will include a clinically-validated hearing test — and can act as hearing aids
The new AirPod Pros will also include new health tools.
The second-generation earbuds will have a clinically-validated hearing test that takes only five minutes to complete. After completing the test, the earbuds can be transformed into hearing aids, allowing you to hear the things around you better.
It will all be available later this month
All these devices will be released on Sept. 20.
