Apple is lowering the costs of its newest iPhones in Australia however not in the US, because it introduces new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional fashions.
The brand new units, which the corporate stated can be out there from Friday, 20 September, will see a drop in worth of as much as $100 in comparison with final 12 months’s iPhone 15 lineup.
The usual iPhone 16 would begin at $1,399 in Australia with a base storage of 128GB.
That could be a $100 drop from final 12 months’s iPhone 15, which started at $1,499 with the identical base storage.
The bigger Plus variant of the iPhone 16, in addition to each the Professional and Professional Max variants, will see $50 worth drops in comparison with final 12 months.
The iPhone 16 Plus will begin at $1,599, down from $1,649 in 2023.
The iPhone 16 Professional will begin at $1,799, down from $1,849 final 12 months.
The bigger iPhone 16 Professional Max will now begin at $2,149 with the identical 256GB base storage as final 12 months’s iPhone 15 Professional Max, which began at $2,199.
Within the US, the usual iPhone 16 would stay at $US799 ($1,200), whereas iPhone 16 Professional would begin at $US999 ($1,500), Apple stated.
Alvin Lee, a senior analyst with Australian agency Telsyte, stated native worth reductions for the iPhone 16 have been seemingly influenced by change charges, with “some consideration” additionally given to financial situations in Australia.
“Apple has maintained its place as the highest smartphone vendor in Australia within the final seven years,” he informed Info Age.
“Robust ecosystem integration and buyer retention have contributed to iPhone’s industry-leading repeat buy charge in Australia, which has persistently reached 85 per cent or increased since 2020, in accordance with Telsyte measurements.”
Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 line would start at 10pm AEST on Friday, 13 September, Apple stated.
Each the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional will characteristic a brand new devoted Digital camera Management haptic button, together with enhancements to their cameras and processors.
The iPhone 15, 14, and SE fashions will stay within the firm’s lineup at decrease costs.
iPhone 16 lacking Apple Intelligence at launch
Apple introduced its synthetic intelligence platform Apple Intelligence at its Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC) in June, however confirmed right this moment that the options wouldn’t be out there on its new units once they launch in late September.
CEO Tim Cook dinner stated throughout Tuesday’s announcement that Apple’s new era of iPhones had been “designed for Apple Intelligence from the bottom up”, however the firm confirmed beta variations of “the primary set of Apple Intelligence options” can be launched through a free software program replace in October.
The primary group of Apple Intelligence options will launch in beta in October. Picture: Apple
Apple confirmed a redesigned model of its Siri private assistant and AI writing instruments can be included within the first set of options launched, however it was unclear if another programs can be included.
The primary batch of Apple Intelligence options might be included in iOS 18.1 for iPhone, iPadOS 18.1 for iPad, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 for Macs.
Additional options can be “rolling out within the months to come back”, Apple stated.
The corporate beforehand introduced different options for Apple Intelligence reminiscent of AI audio transcription (together with on telephone calls), AI photograph enhancing, and the power to generate personalised emoji and a few stylised photographs.
Apple Intelligence would solely be out there on iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional units, in addition to the iPhone 15 Professional and iPads and Macs with M1 chips or later, Apple stated.
Whereas Apple Intelligence would initially solely work in US English, the corporate confirmed “extra languages and platforms are coming over the course of the subsequent 12 months”, together with assist for Australian English a while in 2024.
Analyst Tom Mainelli, group vice chairman at IDC, stated Apple had positioned “a substantial amount of emphasis on the promise of future AI capabilities on its new iPhone lineup”.
“Whereas most of the new options will arrive later this 12 months, the geographic scope might be restricted, which may impression the corporate’s potential to drive a worldwide shopping for cycle,” he stated.
IDC forecast in August that Apple would see 4 per cent year-over-year progress in 2025 due to Apple Intelligence, following comparatively flat 0.8 per cent progress in 2024.
It stated Apple was dealing with “growing competitors in China” and wanted to ascertain native AI partnerships in that nation whereas additionally demonstrating AI use instances to customers worldwide.
Apple’s Tuesday occasion additionally noticed the announcement of recent AirPods fashions and the Apple Watch Collection 10, which the corporate stated would include a sleep apnea detection characteristic that was awaiting regulatory approval within the US.
It was unclear if the characteristic would come to watches bought in Australia and the characteristic was not talked about within the native press launch asserting Apple Watch Collection 10.
- This story first appeared on Info Age. You may learn the authentic right here.