The Chinese language version of Apple Intelligence will only become available in 2025, with no words on whether it will land on the mainland
Apple’s launch of the iPhone 16 has failed to impress consumers in China hoping to get a taste of its artificial intelligence (AI) technology, as the US tech giant grapples with competition from local behemoth Huawei Technologies, which launched a rival device just hours later.
The Cupertino, California-based smartphone maker on Monday unveiled the highly anticipated iPhone 16 series, its first AI-powered smartphone line-up. While many Chinese users have expressed excitement about Apple Intelligence, the firm’s on-device AI system, others pointed out that the feature will not be available in the Chinese language until next year.
Some consumers also questioned whether Apple’s promise to roll out the AI function in Chinese-speaking regions will cover the mainland, where generative AI technology is heavily regulated. To date, China’s Ministry of Information and Industry Technology has approved 188 large language models for public use in the country, none of which are released by foreign companies.
Globally, Apple’s built-in AI is powered in part by OpenAI’s GPT models, which have not been made available in China. Apple said on its website that the launch date of its AI feature in China will depend on the decision of Chinese regulators.
“The absence of AI in China is akin to cutting one of Apple’s arms,” one commentator said on microblogging site Weibo. “With the biggest selling point unavailable, shouldn’t you charge us half the price?” read a popular comment.
Apple introduced four models of the latest version of its flagship device: the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, with prices starting at 5,999 yuan (US$843). Pre-orders will start on Friday, with shipments commencing on September 20.
Demand for the new iPhones in China is expected to come mainly from existing users because of the delayed arrival of Chinese-language AI, according to Ivan Lam, a senior analyst at consultancy Counterpoint Research.
“Apple Intelligence has not shown a clear advantage over the AI functions offered by other Chinese brands either, so the impact of AI will be limited for iPhone,” he added. Lam expects Apple’s sales growth in China to slow substantially next year, although fourth-quarter sales this year could be higher than the year-earlier period.
Arthur Guo, a senior analyst with research firm IDC, said Apple shipments in mainland China are forecast to decline 0.8 per cent to 46.7 million units this year, although iPhone sales could pick up in 2025.
The lack of major hardware innovations in the iPhone 16 also drew the scorn of some consumers in China, who compared the launch to desperately squeezing the last bit of toothpaste out of the tube. The analogy became a trending term on Weibo on Tuesday morning.
Many users compared the iPhone 16 to Huawei’s first tri-fold smartphone, the XT, which was launched just hours after Apple’s debut event. Faced with mounting competition from local brands, Apple recently fell out of the top five vendors by shipments in the world’s largest smartphone market.
Hong Yi, a programmer who uses the iPhone 15, said he will not upgrade because it is unclear when iPhone’s AI capabilities will come to China.
But Mark Ma, a media professional based in Beijing who uses an iPhone 11, plans to buy an iPhone 16. “I don’t think the new iPhone lacks capabilities,” he said, although the price did give him a pause. Still, he called the latest model “a bang on the buck”.
