Apple is aiming for a big jump in phone sales this year. Reports say they want to ship at least 90 million iPhone 16s, which is 10% more than the 81 million iPhone 15s they shipped last year. This ambitious goal shows Apple’s confidence in the iPhone 16, likely because of new features powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
Apple Shoots for Big iPhone 16 Sales Bump with AI Power
The key to this plan seems to be the super-fast A18 chip, expected to be in all iPhone 16 models. This chip will likely run “Apple Intelligence,” a set of AI tools that make using the phone even easier. Right now, only the most expensive iPhone 15 Pro models have enough power for these advanced AI features.
It’s not yet clear how much the iPhone 16 will cost. The iPhone 15 starts at $800. So analysts guess the basic iPhone 16 with Apple Intelligence will cost around the same. But a big question mark is how well Apple Intelligence will work in China, a very important market. Apple is reportedly talking to big Chinese AI companies like Baidu, Alibaba, and Baichuan AI, but they haven’t announced a partnership yet. Not having a Chinese AI partner could hurt iPhone 16 sales there.
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Another challenge for the global launch is that Apple Intelligence won’t be available in many languages at first. It will only be in English, which could affect sales in Europe. In June, Apple said they needed more time to make sure Apple Intelligence follows the rules of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, which controls how big tech companies handle information. This delay could put Apple behind competitors who might offer AI features in more languages sooner.
To sum things up, Apple’s big production targets for the iPhone 16 series show their focus on adding AI. Their success depends on how well the A18 chip works, getting a strong AI partner in China, and following the rules in Europe. While Apple Intelligence has the potential to make using the phone much better, Apple will need to navigate these tricky market factors to reach their sales goals.