Apple has introduced a brand new iPhone which brings synthetic intelligence (AI) options at a decrease price than its flagship handsets.
The iPhone 16e has the identical processor because the bigger iPhone 16, Apple mentioned, with comparable storage choices, although a decrease spec elsewhere, together with fewer cameras.
Apple has been struggling to discover a new product that excites customers – gross sales of iPhones dropped on the finish of final yr.
It is going to be hoping that bringing enhanced AI performance to a cheaper telephone will deal with that – nonetheless analysts have been cautious concerning the gross sales increase such instruments convey.
Its identify is clearly a nod to its iPhone SE collection, which had been launched from 2016 to 2022, and had been additionally decrease priced.
Apple mentioned the iPhone 16e can be obtainable for pre-order from February 21 in 59 nations
It can launch within the UK for £599, which is £200 lower than the iPhone 16 – however greater than double the worth of the unique iPhone SE went for when it launched in 2016.
“This now turns into probably the most reasonably priced highly effective iPhones now in the marketplace,” trade analyst Paolo Pescatore instructed BBC Information.
“The transfer ought to assist speed up adoption and particularly its foray into AI with Apple Intelligence.”
Nonetheless different consultants have questioned how a lot worth customers placed on AI – an space Apple has spent $189bn (£150bn) on within the final decade.
“All we’ve to indicate for that’s the HomePod and $3,500 ski goggles,” mentioned Cory Johnson, Epistrophy Capital Analysis chief market strategist, referring to Apple’s Imaginative and prescient Professional headset, which has not offered many items.
“AI must be proper in Apple’s wheelhouse. However Apple fanboys, fangirls, and traders are proper to be disenchanted to this point”, Mr Johnson added.
A lot of the dialog across the new handset will doubtless centre round its energy, with Apple electing to make use of the identical A18 chip behind its dearer gadgets.
This implies the 16e might be able to enjoying the identical video games and operating the identical apps as different iPhones – although AI is probably going on the coronary heart of this resolution.
Apple boss Tim Cook dinner mentioned within the announcement the brand new mannequin featured “the efficiency, intelligence and privateness” Apple followers “count on” from the agency.
And he mentioned the Apple Intelligence options on the system would “assist you save time, rapidly get extra issues executed, and specific your self in new methods”.
The agency launched its spin on the tech – Apple Intelligence – with this collection of gadgets, which incorporates new instruments for writing and incorporating OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT into Siri.
It hasn’t at all times gone nicely, with the agency at one level suspending its AI-generated information alerts after they created false headlines attributed to information organisations together with the BBC.
It now presents the summaries in italics.
Apple mentioned its new telephone is “constructed for Apple Intelligence”, and pointed to sure options of the tech, like a simple technique to clear up images or search your picture library.
Different telephone producers have comparable options on their gadgets – although the iPhone 16e might be by far the most cost effective technique to entry AI on an Apple handset.
“The iPhone 16e generates a brand new income stream for Apple, and this might be significantly noticeable in key markets like India, the place iPhones are out of attain for most individuals,” mentioned Forrester principal analyst Dipanjan Chatterjee.
“There may be additionally a second-order impact of cheaper gadgets just like the iPhone 16e, bringing new clients into the Apple ecosystem.
“We have seen a restricted urge for food amongst lots of the put in base to improve from earlier variations, however the brand new telephone reduces the associated fee hurdle of becoming a member of the Apple Intelligence bandwagon.”
