Apple unveils iPhone 16 Pro lineup with built-in AI

Apple has launched iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, with built-in AI or Apple Intelligence, larger display sizes, and new capabilities like pro camera features, powered by the A18 Pro chip.

Apple says Apple Intelligence will enable its generative models to come to iPhone in the easy-to-use personal intelligence system. It understands personal context to deliver intelligence and focuses on ensuring user privacy. Apple Intelligence will be available as a free software update. In the Notes and Phone apps, users can also record, transcribe, and summarise audio. When a recording is initiated while on a call in the Phone app, participants are automatically notified, and once the call ends, Apple Intelligence generates a summary to recall key points.

The new Camera Control, a physical button, has a tactile switch that enables the light press gesture, and a capacitive sensor that helps users frame the shot and adjust zoom, exposure, or depth of field. This feature will unlock a faster way to interact with the advanced camera system, says the company. The Pro series features a new 48MP Fusion camera, with a quad-pixel sensor that enables 4K120 fps video recording in Dolby Vision. Apple says later this year, Camera Control will unlock "visual intelligence" to help users learn about objects and places faster. "Users can click and hold Camera Control to pull up the hours or ratings for a restaurant they pass, add an event from a flyer to their calendar, quickly identify a dog by breed."

The iPhone Pro series, which comes with a larger screen display and thinnest border, sports a titanium design to ensure a strong yet lightweight design. The lineup features a 6.3-inch display on iPhone 16 Pro and 6.9 inches on iPhone 16 Pro Max.

The Pro series boasts an A18 Pro chip, which allows faster and more efficient device performance. “Powered by the faster, more efficient A18 Pro chip and built for Apple Intelligence, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are the most advanced iPhone models we’ve ever made,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

For safety and communication capabilities, Apple's Pro series will come with the same Emergency SOS via satellite feature, which users can use to connect while outside cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.

Apple says that in line with its 2030 goal, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max feature more than 25% recycled content. The battery is made with 100% recycled cobalt and over 95% recycled lithium.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be available in black titanium, natural titanium, white titanium, and desert titanium in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage capacities. Pre-orders start on Friday, September 13, with availability beginning Friday, September 20. iPhone 16 Pro starts at ₹1,19,900 and iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at ₹1,44,900.