Apple set to launch AI powered iPhone 16 in September

The tech giant has released an intriguing invite which suggests a big change is coming to the best selling iPhone.

Apple is rumoured to be launching a groundbreaking new iPhone next month after it teased a major announcement.

On Monday, US time, the California tech behemoth said an event would be held its headquarters at Apple Park, in Cupertino, south of San Francisco.

The announcement featured the tagline “it’s Glowtime” and said the launch would occur at 10am local time on Monday September 9 (3am AEST, Tuesday September 10).

It’s unusual for Apple to do a major launch event on a Monday. However, the following day, Tuesday September 10, is the date of the expected televised debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Apple won’t want to have to compete for airtime with that.

The invite to the event includes a graphic of the firm’s famous logo surrounded by neon swirls. This appears to be a reference to artificial intelligence.

The imagery harks back to the branding for Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June where a number of AI related announcements were made.

Apple doesn’t reveal in advance what products it is launching or revamping. However, the company traditionally announces a new iPhone model each September. The 15 launched last September so it’s almost certain the iPhone 16 will make its debut in the coming weeks.

Alongside the iPhone 16, it’s also thought Apple could launch new versions of the Apple Watch and Air Pods ear phones.

The invite imagery which Apple sent out for its September 9 event.

(It is reminiscent of imagery used at the June Apple Worldwide Developers Conference which leaned heavily on AI. (Photo by JUSTIN SULLIVAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

iPhone features

The new version of Apple bestseller is expected to be of a similar design to the 15 with a “Pro” and standard version and in two sizes.

AI is likely to be touted as a key inclusion in the iPhone 16. At the WWDC, AI – or in Apple parlance “Apple Intelligence” – was said to have boosted its chatbot Siri to make it more naturalistic and relevant.

Apple CEO Tim Cook delivers remarks at the start of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 10, 2024. (Photo by JUSTIN SULLIVAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

It could now decipher some garbled sentences – the way people sometimes speak – and have more of an understanding of what the person meant even if they misspoke.

When AI Siri is activated a glowing light encompasses the device screen which is similar to the “it’s Glowtime” logo.

It’s very possible the iPhone 16 will lean heavily on Apple Intelligence to differentiate it from the 15.

According to our tech expert at news.com.au checkout, the new phone could see improvements to the cameras, including a dedicated button for taking images, larger screens and a next generation chip so the phone works faster.