Gurman: phone 16 also launching in September despite Apple Intelligence wait

Mark Gurman, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, clarified in this weekend’s Power On Newsletter that Apple will not delay the release of new iPhone 16 models, despite Apple Intelligence launching in October. Last week, Apple Intelligence had been pushed to iOS 18, resulting in a feature set missing from the initial iOS 18 launch in September. Apple Intelligence will likely play a major role in making the new iPhone 16 models more attractive to customers. This is especially true considering that the only iPhone 15 Pro models support these features. Apple delayed the iPhone 4S release until October, for example, because the new Siri features and iCloud weren’t ready to be released in June. Even though that example is over 10 years old, it’s worth considering.
Apple releases its iPhones in September. But it faces the same conundrum. Apple Intelligence, a core feature on the iPhone 16, won’t be available until October. Apple will not delay the release of the new hardware this time around until the services are available. I’m told the iPhone launch will take place around the same time last year – a quick glance at the calendar suggests a date of Sept. 10. Users will need to upgrade to iOS 18.1 by October to start using Apple Intelligence.
Apple Intelligence was launched in beta last Monday with some initial features such as Memory Generation in Photos and Writing Tools. The new Siri interface was also released, but most of the Siri updates and ChatGPT integration is still missing. While Apple Intelligence is likely to be an upgrade for consumers, it’s not worth the delay. The all-new Siri will not be available until the iOS 18 update in the spring of next year, which is what most users are likely to be interested in. Gurman reiterates that iPhones launch around the same date as last year, probably around September 10th. The first Apple Intelligence features will be available to users after they update to iOS 18.1. FTC: We use auto-affiliate links that earn us income. You’re reading 9to5Mac – experts who provide daily news about Apple, its ecosystem and related products. Check out our homepage to get the latest news and follow 9to5Mac via Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest. You don’t know where you should start? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive stories, reviews and how-tos.