Regardless of enduring model loyalty and a excessive efficiency customary, the iPhone is not blazing trails prefer it as soon as did. The iPhone 16 is a worthy Apple machine however in a non-revolutionary, incremental approach. Plus, greater than a month after its annual September Occasion, the place rollouts shortly comply with bulletins, Apple hasn’t launched its Apple Intelligence AI. In the meantime, Google raced forward with AI options and integrations throughout its suite of merchandise, together with Android 15. Is Apple’s staggered launch schedule a sign that the corporate is struggling to remain related, and is Android 15 an Apple killer?
Apple is late to the AI social gathering
Apple launched the unique iPhone at its first September Occasion in 2007. Since then, the occasion has change into a staple of the tech calendar for the revealing and almost rapid launch of recent iPhones, Apple Watches, and different merchandise. Apple has introduced its newest iPhone in September for 15 out of the previous 17 years.
The 2 exceptions to the September launch occasion occurred in 2011 and 2020. In 2011, Apple introduced the iPhone 4s can be delayed till October for causes that have not been verified. Nevertheless, it was the primary iPhone launch after the passing of Steve Jobs, and there have been rumored manufacturing challenges. Then, the iPhone 12 sequence launch in 2020 was delayed till October as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
What occurred with the iPhone 16 and AI? The iPhone 16 sequence was introduced on September 9, 2024, iOS 18 was launched on the sixteenth, and the {hardware} turned accessible on the twentieth. But iPhone lovers nonetheless do not have the corporate’s heralded Apple Intelligence AI engine on their gadgets. With out AI, the iPhone 16 is not an enormous deal, and it appears unlikely the corporate would deliberately decouple the launches, no less than not if it have been assured in its AI preparedness.
Apple lovers are anticipating the launch of iOS 18.1 on October 28, 2024. The replace will reportedly deliver the primary wave of AI options to iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Professional fashions. The primary launch will search to rival Google Assistant’s conversational capabilities in Siri, provide a translation answer much like Google Stay Translate, and set the inspiration for the corporate’s AI platform.
Android 15: Additionally decoupled, additionally incremental
After I made my first foray as an Android cellphone proprietor seven or eight years in the past, good {hardware} was held again by Android’s clunky person interface, storage sale of an app retailer, and different limitations. Immediately, that is not the case. Glorious Android gadgets can be found for each finances, and so they’re powered by a user-friendly and extremely succesful working system with a head begin on AI. Nonetheless, the iPhone is the digital camera king, however Google’s Pixel gadgets and others additionally take nice snaps.
Android 15’s launch course of hasn’t been with out surprises. The OS was anticipated to debut with the Pixel 9 however was decoupled from the {hardware} launch. Furthermore, as Taylor Kerns factors out in his Android 15 evaluate, it is an incremental enchancment to a mature OS quite than a large leap ahead.
Nonetheless, Google is iterating on its Gemini app integrations with third-party apps similar to WhatsApp and Spotify, whereas Apple is not out of the gate. That does not imply Apple won’t enable third-party apps to make use of Apple Intelligence, however the firm has traditionally been sluggish with regards to third-party integrations. Having Gemini is a bonus for Google within the AI realm. Contemplating that the iPhone’s distinctive promoting level has been a superior person expertise, Google has each the means and talent to finest its rival due to Gemini.
Learn our evaluate
The Google Pixel 9 Professional is Google’s Goldilocks flagship
Not too large, not too small; excellent
How far behind is Apple?
Apple is, at finest, months behind Android when it comes to AI evolution and integration. With so a lot at stake, it is easy to mission why Apple could be particularly conscious of avoiding missteps with its AI. Apple has an extended historical past of taking a cautious strategy to new tech — it does not wish to be the primary; it desires to be one of the best. Maybe sometime, the early wait-and-see place Apple took with AI will likely be considered as clever, however now, it feels laggard.