iPhone 16 Didn’t Have AI Features, Pixel 9 Didn’t Have Android 15: Why Is This a Cause for Concern?

Sep 23, 2024 02:26 PM IST

The iPhone 16 series was launched without Apple Intelligence, while the Google Pixel 9 series was launched without the Android 15 update. Find out how this could affect sales.

This year, the smartphone industry has witnessed some of the biggest launches where AI entered the race. In early 2024, the Galaxy S24 series took the industry by storm with new updates and Galaxy AI. Then, we witnessed Apple’s WWDC event, which created a lot of buzz around Apple Intelligence in the iPhone 16.

Find out why delaying software updates and major feature releases can be a huge pain for businesses. (Reuters)

Now, recently, Google launched the Pixel 9 series with several new AI improvements but missed out on Android 15 during the launch, which was a disappointment for many users. Now, last week, Apple started selling the iPhone 16 series which again came without Apple Intelligence, which was the most hyped feature for the next-generation iPhone. Delays in major smartphone updates have become a major concern among brands. Find out why it could be a cause for concern.

Why is delaying major software updates a problem?

This year, Apple created a buzz around the iPhone 16 series, which was supposed to be the first AI iPhone. However, when sales began on September 20, users were told that the iPhone 16 series does not support Apple Intelligence and that they have to wait another month or until March 2025. A similar case happened with the Google Pixel 9 series, as the smartphone was launched without the Android 15 update. Previously, the next-generation software and devices were launched together so that users could try them out first-hand. This policy allowed Google to provide 7 years of OS updates. Now, Pixel 9 users will get 6 years of OS updates, which also raises huge questions about Google’s policies and the services offered under long-term support.

Now, it is being speculated that Android 15 and iOS 18.1 with AI features will be launched next month, in October. The delay may affect the sales of the next-gen smartphones as users will be able to experience the new features later than expected. On the other hand, the companies have created a lot of hype around the upcoming update and if users are not able to experience them right away, it may come as a disappointment and may also affect their decision to buy the device. While Android 15 will be officially launched next month, Apple Intelligence may take months to implement all the announced features. Hence, buyers are opting to wait for the iPhone 17 series to enjoy the advanced AI features out of the box instead of waiting for updates every few months.

The delay in the Android 15 rollout may also affect other collaborating OEMs as almost all smartphones are based on the Android UI. Hence, other brands may also experience delays in the development of their customized UI based on the new Android 15 update. A recent report also claims that Samsung One UI 7 will be delayed from its expected release schedule, which may affect the launch of the company’s upcoming smartphone models. This may become a new trend in the coming months.