Apple iPhone 16 gets new A18 chip, camera & action buttons

With few significant changes externally, Apple's new lineup iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus is primarily designed to support its built-in AI platform ‘Apple Intelligence’. Apple says its AI platform can "understand and create language and images, take action across apps, and draw from personal context to simplify and accelerate everyday tasks."

It also offers a new way to enhance writing. Its Writing Tools built into iOS 18 will help users rewrite, proofread, and summarise text across mail, notes, pages, and third-party apps. "In the Notes and Phone apps, users can also record, transcribe, and summarise audio. Once the call ends, Apple Intelligence generates a summary to recall key points."

Like the Pro lineup, the iPhone 16 and Plus will have a new Camera Control button that helps users access visual intelligence to learn about objects or places around them. This button can launch the camera, take a photo, and start video recording. Additionally, developers will bring Camera Control to third-party apps such as Snapchat.

The iPhone 16 and Plus camera features a 48MP Fusion camera with a 2x Telephoto option. A new 12 MP Ultra Wide camera enables macro photography. Apple says using its AI, users can search for specific photos in the Photos app using natural language, and search for specific moments in video clips.

According to Apple, its new A18 chip enhances performance, enabling demanding AAA games and a boost in battery life. It is built on second-generation 3-nanometer technology to accelerate Apple Intelligence usage. Apple claims the 6-core CPU is 30% faster than the A16 Bionic chip.

Introduced in the Pro version last year, the Action button comes to iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. It allows users to open the camera, flashlight, or controls; switch between ring and silent; recognise music with Shazam; and activate voice memos, among other things. It can also access in-app functionality.

“iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus mark the beginning of a new era for iPhone with Apple Intelligence delivering powerful, personal, and private experiences to our users,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will be available in ultramarine, teal, pink, white, and black in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage capacities. Pre-orders will start on September 13, with availability from September 20. In terms of price, iPhone 16 will start at ₹79,900 and iPhone 16 Plus at ₹89,900.