Until now, Apple Intelligence has been reserved for the cool kids – aka, the people with the latest, most powerful iPhones. Now, the $599 (£599, AU$999) iPhone 16E is here to shake that up.
Apple’s latest version of its budget phone line invariably cuts corners when it comes to design and camera specs, but it doesn’t hold back with AI. Equipped with an A18 chip — just like the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus — the more affordable phone can power a suite of Apple Intelligence features including notification summaries, writing tools and a smarter Siri. That means more people will now get to tap into the incessant AI buzz, without breaking the bank.
Apple packing this budget-friendly device with its most advanced AI capabilities demonstrates just how serious it is about getting these features into more people’s hands. While AI has been used to lure people into upgrading to the latest and greatest (and most expensive) iPhones, Apple has suddenly created a fresh, less steep path for people to see what it’s all about. Â
Loading a budget phone with AI is nothing new; Google’s Pixel 8A and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 FE both pack AI-powered tools, as do various other lower-priced Android phones. But Apple stepping into the ring with its own supercharged, budget-friendly device only helps to expand AI’s approachability and attainability.Â
For many people, generative AI can come off as impractical, foreign or simply unnecessary. But if the barrier to entry is lowered, and you don’t have to spend around $1,000 on an iPhone to see what all the fuss is about, then there’s more of an opportunity for people to see if and how the tech fits into their lives.Â
Making AI more practical
What makes the iPhone 16E stand apart from its pricier counterparts is its focus on delivering a solid baseline product, without all the frills — or dollar signs. The inclusion of Apple Intelligence is undoubtedly a signal that from here on out, AI should be seen as a core component of the iPhone, whether you’re spending $600 or $1,600.Â
My hope is that this leads to AI feeling more practical and less superfluous as it develops. I’ll hate on Genmoji until the day I die, but I doubt someone who simply wants the essential functions of an iPhone also wants to generate a custom emoji of a turtle on a skateboard smoking a pipe (If you do in fact want this, more power to you).Â
Rather, it’s those more useful AI functions like the Clean Up tool in Photos or a more conversational and helpful Siri that can really endear people to AI. While iPhone owners resolutely want longer battery life or better cameras over AI, there are some perks in Apple’s toolbox that can make good iPhone features even better.Â
And if Apple really is focused on making Apple Intelligence a core functionality of all its devices, it’ll now have a wider audience to draw feedback from as it continues to shape those features.