Some iPhone 16 AI features won't launch for another six months

Pre-ordering the iPhone 16 ? Don’t be surprised if some of the hyped AI features aren’t available until months after you unbox it.

Since this summer, Apple has been making a song and dance about Apple Intelligence , the new artificial intelligence perks designed to rival the AI tricks on Samsung and Google’s phones .

The software, which is limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models and iPhone 16 lineup, will eventually be able to rewrite and summarize text, create custom video and photo slideshows, generate emojis, and possibly transform Siri into a more capable digital helper with better conversational skills.

When will Apple Intelligence launch?

But, at launch, there will be no Apple Intelligence features on the iPhone 16. That’s because the new software will begin trickling out as a beta release in October as part of iOS 18.1 , an update to Apple’s latest iPhone operating system. Some of the best tools will arrive even later.

Still, that hasn’t stopped Apple from trying to build more buzz with a flurry of marketing campaigns and teasers.

There’s no mention of the staggered rollout in Apple’s latest set of ads for the new iPhone 16’s AI capabilities.

The new promotional spots, featuring The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey, showcase how tricks like enhanced Siri and email summaries can help users navigate awkward moments. In one of the ads, Ramsey uses the video memories function to create a visual eulogy for a dead pet fish.

What about the new Siri?

However, at least one of these touted tricks (the new and improved Siri) won’t be available until Spring 2025, roughly six months from now, as part of iOS 18.4.

Apple has also pushed back the AI image-generation tools (including Genmoji, for creating emoji on the fly) until December 2024, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

Why can’t you get the new treats straight away? Apple is reportedly taking extra time to fix bugs and ensure the new AI features work smoothly before they hit the market. It needs to give developers a chance to test these features thoroughly and navigate complex global regulations , especially in the EU.

Additionally, Apple is rolling out the features gradually to align with the new hardware and make sure everything is polished and privacy-friendly.

At launch, the iPhone 16 will be "built for Apple Intelligence", per Apple, meaning it has the hardware capabilities (including a new A18 chip) to support the new AI features that are in the pipeline.

But, there is a silver lining: while some regions face even longer delays, including the EU and China, Brits can actually start enjoying Apple AI sooner, thanks to fewer local hurdles.

Is the iPhone 16 worth buying?

In their absence, Apple will be relying on other improvements to sell its new iPhones. There’s a new camera control button across the range, which lets you snap pics and videos with a click and zoom with a swipe.

The standard iPhone 16 also boasts a “Fusion” camera with a 48MP resolution like the iPhone 15, but it now offers enhanced zoom capabilities that maintain high image quality. Apple describes it as “two cameras in one”.

An upgraded version is included in the Pro models, with a faster quad-pixel sensor that can capture more detailed 4K videos at a smoother 120fps in Dolby Vision. The ultra-wide snapper has also been bumped up to 48MP from 12MP previously.

Staying with the high-end devices, the iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts the largest ever screen for an iPhone (6.9-inches) and the longest-ever battery life, per Apple.

iPhone 16 price

Here’s how much you can expect to pay for all four models when pre-orders open at 1pm this afternoon (September 13):

iPhone 16: £799 (128GB) / £899 (256GB) / £1,099 (512GB)

iPhone 16 Plus: £899 (128GB) / £999 (256GB) / £1,199 (512GB)

iPhone 16 Pro: £1,099 (256GB) / £1,299 (512GB) / £1,499 (1TB)

iPhone 16 Pro Max: £1,199 (256GB) / £1,399 (512GB) / £1,599 (1TB)

Apple Store goes down ahead of iPhone 16 pre-orders launch

iPhone 16 pre-orders open tomorrow: When and where to get it

Android 15: top 10 features coming to phones and tablets