Telecommunications giants Apple and Huawei squared off with simultaneous product launches on Tuesday, Sept. 10, Hong Kong time.
Apple introduced the new iPhone 16 at 10 a.m. US time on Monday (1 a.m. Tuesday in Hong Kong), featuring for the first time the new artificial intelligence system "Apple AI." Huawei's foldable phone, Mate XT, made its debut at 2 p.m. on Tuesday in Hong Kong.
Analysts suggest that the coinciding launch dates of these two tech giants could spark new competition in the smartphone market, especially as Apple aims to reverse its sales decline through AI enhancements.
Mate XT Resembles a Tablet
Huawei's foldable Mate XT, which recently appeared in a promotional video, resembles a tablet and has a folded thickness of about 1.5 cm. It features Huawei's proprietary Kirin 9 series processor. As of 9 p.m. on Monday (Sept. 9), Huawei's online store showed that reservations for the new phone exceeded 3.11 million, these reservation numbers do not reflect actual sales.
Apple Hopes AI Will Reverse iPhone Sales Dip
As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the iPhone 16 series focuses on updates to Apple AI, alongside regular upgrades in chip speed and camera performance. The new AI system includes an improved Siri voice assistant, capable of creating custom emojis and generating text information. Apple has also collaborated with tech company OpenAI to integrate its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, into Apple devices.
The Wall Street Journal notes that AI features have not yet become a major driver for consumers to switch to new phones. A survey by BayStreet Research at U.S. carrier stores found that another smartphone giant, Samsung, did not primarily market AI in its new releases. Another market research firm, Canalys, found that only 7% of consumers were highly inclined to purchase a phone based on AI features.
Most of Apple's new AI features are set to debut next month, meaning they will not be released alongside the new phones. Some new functions will only support English initially, potentially affecting the promotion of the new phones in non-English speaking markets.
Analysts have noted that strong sales cycles for the iPhone usually coincide with significant hardware or design changes. Recent iPhone updates have lacked major new features, and with competition from emerging smartphone brands like Huawei, Apple's sales have stalled in markets like mainland China. Whether AI technology can boost sales remains to be observed.
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Apple event expected to unveil iPhone 16 and AI tools on Oct. 10
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