It looks increasingly like Apple is going big on AI with the iPhone 16 line, as following reports that the iPhone 16 might have additional RAM and storage to help with AI, we’re now hearing that the A18 Pro chipset expected in at least some iPhone 16 models will be designed to boost on-device AI.
This is according to an analyst note by Jeff Pu at Haitong International Tech Research, seen by 9to5Mac. Pu says the A18 Pro “will feature a larger die area (compared to A17 Pro), which could be a trend for edge AI computing.”
Edge AI refers to carrying out AI tasks on the phone itself, rather than in the cloud, which is beneficial since it can be faster and doesn’t require an internet connection.
However, as 9to5Mac notes, increasing the die area of the chipset to achieve this can have a negative impact on energy efficiency and heat dissipation, so it could come with some downsides.
However, while it sounds like Apple is working hard on AI-focused hardware, it might leave some of the software to Google, as reports suggest that Apple may use Google Gemini to power some of the iPhone 16’s AI features.
We should find out for sure in September, as that’s when the iPhone 16 line will likely launch.
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iPhone 16: release date speculation, latest leaks, price predictions and more
The iPhone 16 leaks are starting to pile up now, ahead of an expected launch in September, and the latest rumor to reach us suggests the phone is going to come with RAM and storage upgrades – specifically to accommodate the extra AI features on board.
This comes from a report out of South Korea (via well-known tipster @Tech_Reve), which states that the base level iPhone 16 could come with either 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, or both, to give the integrated AI extra room to think, store, and process commands.
For comparison, the cheapest iPhone 15 comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage (though 256GB and 512GB versions are also available). The extra headroom is necessary for the additional work that generative AI tools need.
Only Google's smallest AI model, Gemini Nano, is compact enough to fit on a smartphone – specifically, the Pixel 8 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S24 handsets. That might change going forward, but a lot of AI calculations are currently offloaded to the cloud.
AI everywhere all at once
A recent interesting report has come out from a Korean securities firm.- Some analysts speculate that the RAM capacity of the iPhone 16 will increase due to on-device AI. However, Apple is reportedly researching to run on-device AI using NAND flash instead of RAM.- I also… pic.twitter.com/U4XYg62X3AMarch 23, 2024
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Apple prides itself on doing as much computing work as possible locally, without transferring streams of data to and from servers on the web. It means more of your info is stored solely on your phone or laptop, where it's secure and private.
If that's going to happen with the AI features that Apple has been promising, then the iPhone 16 may well need some extra grunt. As this tipster acknowledges though, nothing is confirmed yet, and Apple's plans could still change. It also raises the question of how much of this AI functionality might trickle down to older, less powerful handsets.
We don't know exactly what these AI features from Apple are going to be, but all the signs are that iOS 18 will feature a bunch of generative AI tools similar to those we've seen in other phones (and oddly enough, Google might be helping out).
Apple is likely to tell us much more at the WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference), which usually happens every year in June. After that, we'll get public betas for iOS 18, and then eventually the new iPhone 16 handsets in September.
It's a move that's sent shockwaves through the entire tech industry: the US government, through the Department of Justice (DOJ), is suing Apple for what it sees as unfairly and illegally building a monopoly around the iPhone.
You can read the full filing here, but we're going to break down the key points for you here – why Apple is being sued, what it might mean for the iPhone and the tech industry in the future, and what the arguments are on both sides.
The story is likely to dominate tech headlines for years to come, and it asks fundamental questions about what's fair and proper in the technology business – just how far should big tech be allowed to go in order to protect market share and grow revenue? And how might this change the iPhones and devices we use every day – let's dig in...
Apple lawsuit: Why is Apple being sued?
Beeper tried and failed to bring iMessage to Android (Image credit: Beeper)
In the words of the DOJ, Apple's "exclusionary conduct" over the years has made it harder for users to switch smartphones, and for other companies to innovate their own apps and products, while driving up costs for developers, businesses and consumers. Those are the three main points of attack in the case against Apple.
In more specific terms, we're talking about decisions such as Apple blocking iMessage clients on Android phones, imposing a 30% tax on every purchase made through apps, and not enabling Android support for the Apple Watch. These are the same issues that Apple is in trouble with in the EU, though there's no guarantee that the US rulings will be the same as they have been in Europe.
As per the lawsuit, Apple's unfair practices touch web browsing, video calling, news subscriptions, entertainment services, automotive services, advertising, location services, and more besides. It's clear that Apple is intensely protective over technologies like FaceTime and CarPlay – but the big question is, is it being anticompetitive?
Apple lawsuit: Does the iPhone really have a monopoly?
The iPhone 15 Pro, launched in 2023 (Image credit: Future)
That's what the lawsuit alleges, though Apple, naturally, disagrees. There's going to be a lot of debate about this: for a start, no one is exactly sure about the market share the iPhone has in the US, though most estimates range around the 60% mark. The US lawsuit introduces the rather fuzzy concept of the "performance smartphone market", in which iPhones apparently account for over 70%. Around the world, roughly a fifth of smartphones sold are iPhones, which is hardly monopoly levels.
With the lawsuit being brought in the US, most of the debate is likely to focus on Apple's home country. Whatever figures you pick, more iPhones are sold than Android phones in the United States – is that because the iPhone is better, or because Apple makes it more difficult than it should be to move to Android? That's a key question in the case.
As our own US editor-in-chief Lance Ulanoff puts it: "It seems to me that the DOJ is confusing 'monopoly' with 'ecosystem'.’ Apple's full-stack control, from silicon to components to platform to consumer hardware, is almost unmatched in the industry. The Apple ecosystem, and the considerable consumer benefits it offers, springs directly from that control."
Apple lawsuit: How has Apple responded?
Apple says it has a right to keep its App Store locked down (Image credit: Apple)
You would expect Apple to reject the DOJ's claims, and it has done so vehemently: "We believe this lawsuit is wrong on the facts and the law, and we will vigorously defend against it," Apple told us. "This lawsuit threatens who we are and the principles that set Apple products apart in fiercely competitive markets."
For just about every point being made by the DOJ, Apple's argument is that it's actually protecting users and (legally) protecting its own business in an ultra-competitive market. For example: keeping iMessage exclusive to Apple products means Apple can ensure the security and privacy of conversations on the platform, Apple would argue.
Apple has also pointed to the vast sums of money it generates for app developers – much more than developers get through Android – and believes it's far easier to switch between iPhones and Android phones than the DOJ makes out. What's more, it says that a win for the US government here would set a "dangerous precedent" when it comes to the authorities interfering in tech innovation and business freedom.
Apple lawsuit: what happens next?
Will Apple CEO Tim Cook be able to keep smiling? (Image credit: Apple)
A lot of legal wrangling, to put it simply. This is going to take years to resolve, so don't expect anything to happen to the iPhone or to iOS immediately. If Apple wants to avoid a long and drawn-out debate in the courts, it might agree to a settlement – some analysts suggest this could take between 12 and 18 months.
Consider the case of the Epic Games lawsuit against Apple, which specifically challenged Apple's insistence that all iOS developers had to accept in-app payments through the Apple App Store – and only the App Store. Appeals around that case were still being heard in January 2024, though proceedings had started in August 2020. This is a much more complicated and far-ranging case.
For now, we're still waiting for the lawsuit to be assigned to a judge. After that, Apple may well ask for a dismissal of the case on the grounds that it's without merit. It's notable that the lawsuit was filed in the state of New Jersey, which may have been a strategic choice to get the case heard by parties friendly to antitrust rulings.
What does this mean for the iPhone?
Alternative iOS app stores do exist (Image credit: AltStore)
We're still in the very early stages of this legal battle, so it's hard to know for sure how this is going to affect the iPhone going forward. We can get some clues from what's already happened to Apple in the EU: however the case is decided, it's likely Apple will need to make some changes and concessions to the DOJ.
For example, users in the EU can now install alternative, third-party iPhone app stores, besides the official Apple one. That gives users more choice about where they get their apps and games from, and developers the opportunity to charge for in-app purchases without having to give 30% of the cut straight to Apple.
Apple has also been making a few pre-emptive moves to try and avoid antitrust legislation. It now allows so-called 'super apps' – apps that offer access to many other apps, like cloud gaming portals – on the App Store. It's also adding support for the RCS standard into its Messages app sometime this year.
This is what we're likely to see in the future: a more open iPhone, that's friendlier to other platforms and devices. It's hard to know just how extensive the changes will be, but we might eventually be talking about iMessage and FaceTime on Android, or the Apple Watch supporting Android (something Apple has said it's previously looked into, by the way).
It's going to be fascinating watching how this plays out, and we'll keep you updated at every stage of the process. It seems clear though, for better or worse, that the iPhone and Apple's other devices will never be quite the same again.
The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Apple over allegedly monopolistic smartphone practices. The federal agency is not alone in the matter, bringing 15 states and the District of Columbia into the mix as well. Apple, as you might imagine, disputes the allegations. Potential impacts are myriad, from consumer messaging to smartphones to smart watches. […]
We’ve been hearing for a while that Apple is working hard to bring AI features to the iPhone 16 line, but rather than developing these from scratch it seems that Apple might rely at least partially on Google’s AI models.
This is according to a report at Bloomberg (via 9to5Google), which states that Apple is in “active negotiations” to license Google Gemini, Google’s latest large language model (LLM) and AI chatbot.
It’s not clear exactly what features Apple would use Google Gemini for, but the report gives the example of text and image generation, which could mean things like AI-generated wallpapers or article summaries.
The same AI everywhere
If Apple does license Gemini then we could find that all the leading smartphone brands have similar AI features, since as well as using its own AI on the Google Pixel 8 line, Google Gemini is also used for some of the AI features on the Samsung Galaxy S24 series.
That has resulted in near-identical AI features being offered on the Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24, with some even sharing the same branding, such as Circle to Search, which is available across both lines.
It seems unlikely that Apple would deliver the same features with the same branding though; rather, we’d expect the company to leverage Google Gemini to power AI tools of its own creation.
And that’s if this partnership goes ahead – Apple has reportedly also been in talks with OpenAI, so it might use a different LLM instead.
Apple's own AI
Either way, Apple probably won’t be completely reliant on another company’s AI models, as the company is reportedly spending over $1 billion a year on AI development; and – as spotted by Thurrott – the company recently revealed that it has been working on a set of LLMs called MM1, designed for natural language inference, answering questions based on visuals, and captioning images.
So it sounds like even though Apple hasn’t announced any major AI features yet, it has been quietly working on some – although if it’s also approaching Google and OpenAI, it’s perhaps not as far along as Google is.
We might get a clearer idea at Apple's WWDC 2024 developer event, which is likely to be held in June and will probably include the announcement of iOS 18. Or, failing that, we should see some of what Apple has been working on alongside the announcement of the iPhone 16 line, which we're expecting to happen in September.
There are probably very few people who think that the iPhone 15 Pro Max 1) is too cheap, and 2) doesn’t look enough like the Apple Vision Pro headset. If you find yourself in that camp, however, you’re in luck: someone has just modified Apple’s flagship iPhones in the most ridiculous way imaginable.
High-end modification company Caviar is responsible for this latest creation, offered in both iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models (via Cult of Mac). The result is an iPhone that takes on aspects of the Vision Pro – at least in appearance if not in capability. That means it incorporates design ideas from Apple’s headset, but sadly won’t let you watch spatial videos on a giant virtual screen.
So, the Vision Pro’s curves, circular vents and orange highlights make an appearance, while the blue shade used on the device’s front display can be found on the lower section of the iPhone. The device doesn’t perform any better, of course, as the changes are purely visual.
The price for this modified iPhone? A mere $8,060 for the base iPhone 15 Pro model. Opt for the iPhone 15 Pro Max and bump the storage up from 128GB to 1TB and you can expect to pay a whopping $9,560. Alternatively, you can get Caviar to modify an existing iPhone for $5,910 – although Caviar is offering a 15% on all purchases if you pay with cryptocurrency. The modified iPhone is limited to 99 units so, uhh, you’d better be quick.
The Caviar touch
(Image credit: Caviar)
This isn’t the only absurd modification Caviar has made to high-end tech products. The Vision Pro iPhone is part of the company’s Future collection, which also includes a Samsung S24 Ultra redesigned to look like a Tesla Cybertruck.
And while we can see the similarities between its latest iPhone mod and the Vision Pro, we can’t escape the feeling that it also looks a bit like the iPhone is wearing a collared suit.
Regardless, it’s just the latest in a long line of bizarre creations from Caviar. Wondering what’s coming next? Anything seems possible.
Apple's walled garden is being further dismantled – in EU member states at least. Apple has announced that iPhone (and iPad) users in the EU will soon be able download apps directly from websites, just as you can on Windows or macOS.
The new options for app distribution (via MacRumors) also give developers more control over how in-app transactions are handled outside of the official App Store, as well as allowing third-party app stores to offer apps or games from a sole developer.
It's the web downloads that are the biggest change here though, and they'll be enabled via a software "later this spring" according to Apple – so probably March or April. The most recent iOS 17.4 update landed last week, enabling third-party app stores to run on the iPhone in the EU for the first time.
This is all in response to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the EU, which is forcing Apple to make it easier for other developers to distribute apps on the iPhone. None of these changes are coming to the US, Australia, or the UK – though the UK has its own version of the DMA in the pipeline.
Caveats attached
Apps are now available outside the App Store (Image credit: Apple)
The enabling of web app downloads on iOS (and iPadOS) doesn't mean anyone will be able to stick an app online ready to download: developers must have been in the official developer program for at least two years, and have an app with more than a million installs in the EU in the year prior.
There will be ongoing requirements that need fulfilling too, such as being transparent about data collection policies and having a web domain registered with the App Store. Apple is still going to be able to exercise some control over the apps you can and can't download through a web browser.
Apple's line, as it has always been, is that opening up app access in this way threatens the privacy and security of users because it gives Apple less control over third-party apps. The company is complying with the DMA, but very grudgingly.
The EU has also just whacked Apple with a huge fine of €1.8 billion – about $1.96 billion / £1.54 billion / AU$2.98 billion – for preventing other music streaming services (like Spotify) from offering cheaper deals on iOS. That decision is currently being appealed.
In the 17 years since it launched, the original iPhone has become something of a collector’s item, with sealed models frequently selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Now, another one is about to go up for auction, and it could well break records when its final price is decided.
As per reporting from 9to5Mac, an original 4GB iPhone model from 2007 – still sealed in its plastic wrapping – is about to go under the hammer at LCG Auctions. Bidding started at $10,000 (and sits at $11,000 at the time of writing), with the auction house estimating its final price could land somewhere north of $100,000.
That’s a little short of the record for this model – that stands at $190,373 for an iPhone that was sold in July 2023 – but is still a huge return on a device that cost $499 when it was first released. Bidding closes at 5PM EST on March 24, so we’ll have to see if it can smash the previous record in that time. Ultimately, there’s one very good reason why it might be able to do just that.
A sought-after collector’s item
(Image credit: LCG Auctions)
A first-edition iPhone still in its original packaging is an attractive object for any collector due to the device’s historical provenance. The first iPhone completely revolutionized the smartphone industry, leading to a wave of imitators and signalling the downfall of previously powerful rivals like BlackBerry and Nokia. It’s undoubtedly one of the best phones ever, and there are a lot of people who would like to get their hands on a piece of history like that.
But the iPhone that is up for auction at the moment has another thing going in its favor: it has 4GB of storage. This configuration was only sold for two months before Apple discontinued it and dropped the price of the larger 8GB version. That makes it a very rare model to get your hands on – a fact that no doubt contributed to the price of the previous record-breaking auction.
LCG Auctions describes the 4GB edition as the “Holy Grail amongst iPhone collectors.” It is in an excellent state with very few imperfections, something that could lead to it fetching a high price when the auction ends.
That said, a new record valuation is not guaranteed, as another 4GB model sold for $133,435 a few months after the $190,000 model went up for auction. But even so, this particular iPhone is likely to attract a sky-high price from a keen collector – it’s just a matter of time until we find out exactly how much they’re willing to pay.
At this point it’s pretty much expected that whatever new chipset Apple launches with its latest phones will be better than the top Android alternative, but for the first time in a long time that might not be the case this year.
That doesn’t sound like a particularly massive boost, and while we’d take this claim with a pinch of salt (especially as this is a new leaker who doesn’t have much of a track record yet), it’s in line with another recent leak.
A18 Pro = A17 Pro + 10% https://t.co/2tuAlLbNdzMarch 10, 2024
However, there are some major caveats to bear in mind. For one thing, the Snapdragon’s Geekbench result was apparently achieved with a 4.3GHz clock speed, which would likely require a greater power draw than is viable on a smartphone. So we’re skeptical that the chipset will actually be capable of this.
A big upgrade in at least one way
Also, putting aside whether the A18 Pro is more powerful than the Snapdragon or not, and whether it’s much of an upgrade in pure power terms on the A17 Pro, it might at least get a major AI boost.
So even if it’s not significantly speedier at running games and the like, the A18 Pro might at least be capable of handling various AI tasks that aren’t available on current iPhones.
Still, the likes of the Google Pixel 8 and Samsung Galaxy S24 already have significant AI capabilities, so Apple is playing catch-up on that front. If it doesn’t exceed what Samsung and Google have already achieved here, and can’t match the next major Snapdragon chipset for power, then the A18 Pro really might be a disappointment.
With the iPhone 16 line not due until September though it’s still early days for leaks. So hopefully in the coming months we’ll hear far more promising news about the chipset powering these phones.
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Apple doesn't have what one would really call a mid-range phone; sure the iPhone SE 2022 costs $429 / £419 / AU$719, which is arguably at the low end of mid-range (and the high end of the best cheap phones), but its spec sheet isn’t exactly impressive. Then you have the iPhone 15 starting at $799 / £799 / AU$1,499. This leaves a gap between these two price points for a mid-range Apple phone. There are plenty of Android alternatives, but nothing bearing a shiny partially-bitten apple.
But this is where the iPhone 13 comes in. Now two generations old, it’s still being sold by Apple, only its price has tumbled from the original $799 / £779 / AU$1,349 sticker price to a far more palatable $599 / £599 / AU$1,099 – trade in an old iPhone in and you can cut more off this new price.
And I still feel the iPhone 13 is well worth considering if you’re after an iOS-based smartphone but don’t have the money for the latest mode or Pro versions. While the likes of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max offer the best overall iOS experience and I think are worth their flagship price, things are trickier to justify with the iPhone 15.
Take away the Dynamic Island – still a bit ho-hum with what it can do so far. Ignore the, admittedly welcome, move from Lightning to USB-C connectivity. Then you’re left with a new iPhone that’s rather similar to the iPhone 13.
There are two rear cameras in main and ultrawide configurations – the iPhone 15 main camera now comes in at 48 megapixels, but the 12MP sensor on the iPhone 13 still delivers great photos in all manner of lighting conditions, with a difference in quality only likely noticeable for people who really go looking for it. I very much doubt you’d be disappointed with the iPhone 13’s camera performance unless you’ve done something crazy like come from a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Speaking of performance, the iPhone 13 comes with the A15 Bionic chip, whereas the iPhone 15 sports an A16 Bionic taken from the iPhone 14 Pro; this means a little more power over the base iPhone 14. But as someone who regularly uses an iPhone 13 Pro, which also has the A15 Bionic, I struggle to notice much difference in day-to-day performance between it and the powerful A17 Pro in my iPhone 15 Pro Max. In truth, one only needs the extra oomph for running games like Death Stranding, which has been ported over from the PC and games console arena to Apple’s high-end phones.
So the iPhone 13 may be two years old with change, but I still think it’s a viable iPhone to get now that it’s cheaper than ever. Take a look at the box below as that’ll flag the best iPhone 13 prices in your area.
Overpriced and underspeced
However, even if you have the money to spend, I don’t think I’d recommend an iPhone 15. While our iPhone 15 review does praise Apple’s latest ‘standard’ phone, and it has a lot of things to like, such as slightly contoured edges and some camera tweaks beyond a 48MP bump, I feel it’s lacking for its price.
Apple’s dogged determination to stick with a 60Hz display when many of the affordable models on our best Android phones list sport 90Hz or 120Hz displays, makes the iPhone 15 hard to swallow at its price. I also simply don’t think it offers enough when for $200 / £200 / AU$400, the iPhone 15 Pro throws in an extra camera, a much more powerful chip, a dedicated Action button, a 120Hz LTPO display, and a lovely titanium chassis.
I think if you’re of the mindset that you can live without the specs the iPhone 15 Pro offers, then I think you could easily do without the few extra features the iPhone 15 brings to the table over the more keenly priced iPhone 13.
As it’s one of the most popular models on our best iPhone list, it looks like plenty of people agree that the iPhone 13 is a compelling phone even in 2024. From my perspective, it makes a viable mid-range iPhone, at least until Apple updates the iPhone SE.
One thing almost every iPhone SE 4 leak agrees on is that the phone will have a new design, and thanks to some leaked CAD (computer-aided design) renders, we’ve now had a clearer look at what that design might be.
Shared by 91Mobiles, which claims to have obtained them through “industry sources”, these renders – some of which you can see below – show a phone that looks a lot like an iPhone 14.
That means the large top and bottom bezels of the iPhone SE (2022) are gone, and have been replaced by a notch at the top of the screen, housing Face ID and the front-facing camera. This notch is apparently a similar size to the one on the iPhone 14, and like that phone the iPhone SE 4 supposedly has a 6.1-inch screen (up from 4.7 inches on the iPhone SE 2022).
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(Image credit: 91Mobiles)
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(Image credit: 91Mobiles)
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(Image credit: 91Mobiles)
Unsurprisingly then, the iPhone SE 4 is also said to have similar dimensions to the iPhone 14, with the upcoming phone apparently being 147.7 x 71.5 x 7.7mm. The iPhone 14, for reference, is 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8mm.
However, around the back these renders show a more familiarly SE design, with just a single-lens rear camera, albeit possibly a larger lens than on the current model, going by these images. Finally, these renders also show the expected USB-C port, which would be a change from the Lightning port on the iPhone SE (2022).
No Dynamic Island or Action Button
So based on these renders, the iPhone SE 4 will probably be like a cheaper iPhone 14, with the cost being reduced through only having one rear camera, among possibly other inferior specs.
We’ve also heard from multiple sources that it could have an Action button (which is something that currently only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have). But that’s not present on these renders.
That said, there's no mute switch visible either, and presumably the upcoming iPhone SE would have one or the other.
Plus, while a Dynamic Island always seemed unlikely (as that would be a huge upgrade for Apple’s cheapest iPhone line), we wouldn’t rule out an Action button. Credible sources have said it will have one, and even 91Mobiles acknowledges that it might, despite this not being visible here. If so, then it would have at least one feature that even the iPhone 14 doesn’t have.
However, leaks suggest we won’t see the iPhone SE 4 until 2025, so these are all still very early rumors, and even if they’re accurate, Apple’s plans could change before launch. We’d take all of this with a pinch of salt then, but as things stand currently, an iPhone 14-like design is seeming the most likely path the iPhone SE 4 will take.
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iOS 18 tipped to be compatible with the same models as iOS 17
That would mean support for iPhones from the XR onwards
Major software update expected to be announced in June
With iOS 18 expected to be one of the biggest updates in iPhone history, the obvious follow-up question is – which models will support it? Well, we now have a good idea thanks to a new rumor from a credible source.
A now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter) from MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris says that iOS 18 will be compatible with models from the iPhone XR onwards. The XR was released in 2018 and has an A12 bionic chip, which means the rumor suggests that the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max will also be compatible.
If true, that means the iOS 18 compatibility list would match the one for last year's iOS 17 update. And that'd be good news, as Apple usually drops support for older devices with each new iteration of iOS. For example, iOS 17 dropped support for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X.
iOS 18 and iPadOS 18: rumored compatibility
(Image credit: Apple)
iOS 18 iPhone XR, XS and XS Max or later
iPadOS 18 iPad Pro (2018 or later)
iPad Air (2019 or later)
iPad mini (2019 or later)
iPad (2020 or later)
The three latter phones all ran on the A11 Bionic chip, but it seems that the A12 has a longer shelf life for software updates. If the rumor is correct, then Apple will have given the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max six years of software updates (and counting).
However, the news could be less positive for owners of older iPads. According to the same MacRumors source, iPadOS 18 could drop support for iPads running on the A10X and A10 Fusion chips.
If so, these incompatible models would include the iPad Pros launched in 2017 (including the iPad Pro 10.5 2017 and iPad Pro 12.9 2017), plus the standard iPad 9.7 (2018) and iPad 10.2 (2019). iPadOS 18 is likely to arrive at WWDC 2024, which typically runs every June – although we're yet to get a confirmed date for the event.
Which phones will get AI features?
(Image credit: Apple)
While it's good news that iOS 18 potentially won't see Apple drop software support for older models, that doesn't mean the iPhone XR will get exactly the same experience as the iPhone 15.
As we've seen before, older iPhones can hit a performance ceiling when running the latest versions of iOS, even if they technically support all of the latest features. And given that some of the biggest iOS 18 changes are expected to be AI-powered, some new tricks may still be restricted to more recent models (in reality).
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple's senior management has called its next operating system "ambitious and compelling" with some "major new features and designs".
What kind of features? Reliable leaker Revegnus has suggested that Apple is using a proprietary LLM (large language model) to “completely revamp Siri into the ultimate virtual assistant", while Messages, Apple Music and Pages are also expected to get major AI upgrades.
The question is how many of these new features will run on-device or via the cloud. Given Apple's privacy-focused stance, it seems likely that it'll err towards the former, but we'll likely find out for sure in June. For now at least, your iPhone XR, iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max will live on to see another year, it seems.
