Apple announces iPhone 16 and Plus with new camera button, AI features, and enhanced performance

Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, introducing a variety of new features focused on enhancing user experience. The company stated that the devices are “built from the ground up” for Apple Intelligence, showcasing advancements in camera control, AI capabilities, and performance upgrades.

One of the key innovations is the new capacitive Camera Control button, which allows users to easily capture photos and videos. “You can press the Camera Control to snap a photo or slide your finger to adjust zoom,” Apple explained during the presentation. This button integrates smoothly with the camera app, enabling access to AI-powered features, such as zoom control and quick settings for the viewfinder.

The iPhone 16 lineup also includes a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera and the ability to capture 3D videos and photos for viewing on Apple Vision Pro. The devices are powered by the new A18 chip, which Apple claims is “up to 30% faster” than the previous A16 Bionic chip, offering improved performance and better energy efficiency.

In addition to hardware improvements, Apple Intelligence features include Genmoji, Image Playgrounds, automatic notification prioritization, and updates to Siri. Expanded language support is also planned, beginning with U.S. English, with more dialects and languages expected next year.

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus start at $799 and $899 respectively, with pre-orders opening this Friday and official availability starting September 20.