Planning to buy iPhone 16 mainly for AI features? You should rethink (or at least wait)

So, you’ve got your eye on the iPhone 16, mainly for all those shiny new AI features that Apple has been hyping up. I get it. “Apple Intelligence,” new Siri, Visual Intelligence — it all sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, and who wouldn’t want that in their pocket? But before you whip out your wallet and join the AI revolution, there’s one thing you need to know: most of those futuristic features won’t be available at launch.

Yes, you read that right. The iPhone 16 begins shipping next week, but the much-talked-about Apple Intelligence, the brainpower behind many of the AI features, won’t be arriving until later. And by “later,” I mean October at the earliest, with some features rolling out as late as 2025. So, if you were planning on showing off your iPhone 16’s AI skills to friends and colleagues right out of the box, you might want to hold that thought — or at least come up with some other cool reasons to brag.

What’s holding up iPhone 16 AI features?

Apple announced a whole slew of AI goodies that made everyone’s eyes widen. Think of it as Siri on steroids, with AI notifications, Genmoji (custom AI-generated emojis), and even tools to clean up your messy photo gallery. But — and there’s always a “but” — none of these headline features will be available out of the box. Instead, we’re looking at a staggered release, with iOS 18.1 coming in October, iOS 18.2 in December, and even more trickling out in 2025. Apple’s exact words: “It’s coming… soon-ish.”

The delay isn’t limited to just the AI bells and whistles, though. Even Camera Control’s two-stage shutter, which lets you lock focus and exposure with a soft press before taking the shot, is missing at launch. Visual Intelligence, which could have been your secret weapon to identify everything from restaurants to random objects via the camera, is another “coming soon” feature. And don’t get me started on the Siri overhaul. While it inspired Apple’s recent “Glowtime” event, this more advanced Siri won’t make an appearance until iOS 18.1 drops.

Is this just Apple being Apple?

In short, yes and no. Sure, Apple has a history of announcing groundbreaking features and then giving us that dreaded “coming later” disclaimer, but they’re not alone in this. Big tech companies like Google (Pixel 8 Pro got Zoom Enhance a year after announcement), Microsoft (Recall feature on Windows), and even Meta (Quest 3’s adaptive brightness control) have all been guilty of this tactic. It’s almost become an industry standard — announce something flashy, get people talking, and then roll out the actual feature when it’s good and ready (or sometimes, almost ready).

The problem is, while it keeps the hype alive, it’s not the best experience for users. You get excited about a feature, pre-order your device, and then… wait. By the time it arrives, the excitement has fizzled out, or worse, another company has launched a similar feature that works out of the box.

The European Apple Intelligence conundrum

Before we get too caught up in Apple Intelligence, there’s one more snag you might want to consider, especially if you’re based in Europe. While Apple plans to roll out its AI features globally, Europe is facing a significant delay. In fact, many of the most anticipated Apple Intelligence features won’t even be available in European languages until sometime in 2025.

This could be frustrating if you were hoping to use AI-generated emojis (Genmoji) or the new writing tools in, say, French, German, or Spanish. For the initial launch, Apple’s advanced AI tools will only be available in English (and US English at that). So, if you’re outside the US and looking to harness the full power of Apple’s AI, it’s another reason to rethink rushing to buy the iPhone 16.

So, should you still buy the iPhone 16?

That depends on what you want from your phone right now. The iPhone 16 will still have plenty to offer — like the A18 chip, a larger display on the Pro models, better battery life, and a few other perks. But if you’re looking at AI as the main draw, you might want to reconsider — or at least hold off until Apple actually releases the features you’re interested in.

And it’s not just that they’re delayed. Some of the AI features, like Genmoji and ChatGPT integration, will roll out in beta form, meaning they’re still works in progress. Plus, as with most new software, expect a few bugs and hiccups. If you don’t want to be part of this early beta testing club, maybe waiting until iOS 18.2 (in December) or even next year’s iPhone release might be the better move.

If you have to upgrade your iPhone and you’re more interested in hardware than software, by all means, go for it. The iPhone 16 still packs a punch. But if you’re mainly eyeing it for AI, you’re better off playing the waiting game. Besides, by the time these features are fully fleshed out, the iPhone 17 might already be on the horizon.

So, to wrap it up: rethink your purchase, or at the very least, be prepared to wait. Apple Intelligence may sound like the future, but for now, it’s a future that’s still a few months (or more) away — especially if you’re in Europe.