Apple Releases New AI Features on iPhone 16, Fresh Colors on iMacs

Apple (AAPL) launched the first wave of Apple Intelligence capabilities on Monday with a free iOS update for the iPhone 16 and other devices.

Apple Intelligence is the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) rollout, which comes as Apple prepares to release its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings after the market closes on Thursday, with analysts watching for early iPhone 16 upgrade sales cycle data. 

Bank of America Securities analyst Wamsi Mohan wrote in an Oct. 25 note that Apple Intelligence’s addition should positively affect the iPhone upgrade cycle.

“Given the staggered launch of Apple Intelligence, we expect iPhone demand to pick up post-initial release of Apple Intelligence in late Oct.,” Mohan said. “We view the cycle as more dynamic with more material software updates.”

But a new iPhone isn’t necessarily required to support Apple Intelligence. Apple customers with older iPhone models can also use the company’s new AI features by updating their software.

Apple Launches Updated iMac

Apple Intelligence is also available on its popular desktop, the iMac, which Apple unveiled in new colors Monday with a starting price of $1,299. Deliveries of the updated model will begin Nov. 8.

The machine is powered by the company’s newest M4 chip, which Apple says makes the iMac “up to 1.7x faster for daily productivity, and up to 2.1x faster for demanding workflows like photo editing and gaming,” compared with the M1 chip.

There’s likely to be more news to come. Apple Marketing SVP Greg Joswiak teased an “exciting week of announcements,” in a post on X last week. The updates could include the MacBook Pro getting a similar refresh with M4 chips and the Mac Mini experiencing a full redesign for the first time in more than a decade, according to reporting from The Verge.