Apple seems very confident about the iPhone 16 and is betting heavily on AI to boost its sales. What can we currently learn about the next smartphones?
Apple is expecting a significant increase in sales of its next iPhone 16, banking on significant improvements in artificial intelligence. According to a recent supply chain report, Apple has increased its order of A-series chips from TSMC by 10 million units, suggesting that the company expects sales of between 90 and 100 million units for the iPhone 16, compared to 80 to 90 million for the iPhone 15..
An AI-based strategy for the iPhone 16
With the iPhone 15, Apple differentiated its models by having the Pro versions equipped with the A17 Pro chip, while the base and Plus models used the A16 chip. This year, Apple has opted for a different naming strategy. All iPhone 16 models will be called A18. However, the base and Plus versions will use a slightly improved version of the A17 Pro chip. The Pro and Pro Max models will benefit from a new chip. The A18 Pro, which will offer significant advances in graphics and AI capabilities.
One of the most important new features of iOS 18 that will be integrated into the iPhone 16 is Apple Intelligence. This advanced AI feature is currently only supported by the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. To take advantage of these new features, users of lower-end models will need to upgrade to the iPhone 16. This upgrade requirement is expected to increase sales, with Apple expecting an increase of 10 million units compared to the previous range.
The announcement of this strategy sparked mixed reactions. Some analysts see this increase in chip orders as a sign of confidence in consumer demand for new AI features. The bullet-naming strategy could also simplify marketing communications. And help consumers understand the differences between models. But others point out that a greater reliance on AI could bring challenges in terms of power consumption and performance (PlayStation Lifestyle).
