Apple launches AI iPhone as Huawei casts shadow with tri-fold phone

At its developer conference in June, Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence, its take on generative AI that can conjure text, images and other content on command.

Apple has unveiled its artificial intelligence-boosted iPhone 16, showing off the long-awaited phone hours after Chinese rival Huawei’s tri-fold phone began racking up orders.

“The next generation of iPhone has been designed for Apple Intelligence from the ground up. It marks the beginning of an exciting new era,” Chief Executive Tim Cook said at a product launch on Monday.

The iPhone 16 will use the new A18 chip and have an aluminium back, as well as a new customizable button that can be used for camera controls.

Huawei’s website showed on Monday that it had garnered more than three million preorders for its Z-shaped tri-fold phone. This underscores Huawei’s ability to navigate United States sanctions and solidifies its position against Apple in China, where consumers are hankering for more AI features and are willing to pay for them.

Apple shares were down less than one percent in afternoon trading.

The company also unveiled new Apple Watches and AirPods.