The four different iPhone 16 models will all come equipped with special chips needed to power a suite of AI tools that Apple hopes will make its marquee product even more indispensable and reverse a recent sales slump.

Apple’s AI features are designed to turn its often-blundering virtual assistant Siri into a smarter and more versatile sidekick, automate a wide range of tedious tasks and pull off other crowd-pleasing tricks such as creating customised emojis within seconds.

After receiving a standing ovation for Monday’s event, Apple CEO Tim Cook promised the AI package will unleash “innovations that will make a true difference in people’s lives.”

But the breakthroughs won’t begin as soon as the new iPhones – ranging in price from $A1201-1801 –hit the stores on September 20.

Most of Apple’s AI functions will be part of free software updates to iOS 18, the operating system that will power the iPhone 16 rolling out from October through December.

US English will be the featured language at the launch but an update enabling other languages will come out next year, according to Apple.

Just as Apple elevated fledgling smartphones into a must-have technology in 21st-century society, the company is betting it can do something similar with its tardy arrival to AI.

To set itself apart from the early AI leaders, the technology baked into the iPhone 16 is being promoted as “Apple Intelligence.”

“Apple could have waited another year for further development, but initial take-up of AI-powered devices from the likes of Samsung has been encouraging, and Apple is keen to capitalise on this market,” said PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore.

As it treads into new territory, Apple is trying to preserve its long-time commitment to privacy by tailoring its AI so that most of its technological tricks can processed on the device itself instead of relying on giant banks of computers located in remote data centres.

When a task needs to connect to a data centre, Apple promises it will be done in a tightly-controlled way that ensures that no personal data is stored remotely.

For users seeking to access even more AI tools than offered by the iPhone, Apple is teaming up with OpenAI to give users the option of farming out more complicated tasks to the popular ChatGPT chatbot.

Besides its latest iPhones, Apple also introduced a new version of its smartwatch that will include a feature to help detect sleep apnea as well the next generation of its wireless headphones, the AirPods Pro, that will be able to function as a hearing aid with an upcoming software update.

Here are some of the details as reported by leading IT media:

New iPhone 16 features

A Camera Control button that reacts to different pressure levels like a full-sized camera’s shutter button. Pressing lightly will track focus, a harder press will take a photo and a longer press will record a video.

Bigger screens on the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models, now 6.3 and 6.9 inches, up from 6.1 and 6.7.

New look Apple Watch

Apple has marked the Apple Watch’s 10th anniversary with the Watch Series 10, which is lighter and thinner than before and has 30 per cent more screen area.

It has a redesigned speaker system and a more efficient charging coil to allow for a 80 per cent battery charge in 30 minutes, while watchOS adds sleep apnea detection among other features.

AirPods upgrades

Noise cancelling now available in AirPods 4, although in a version more expensive than the base model. Personalised spatial audio available, with ability to take a call by nodding the head, while a new charging case gives a total battery life of 30 hours.

For AirPods Pro 2, a new feature cuts decibels in loud environments. Apple also offers a test to gauge hearing loss as well as certification to let AirPods double as hearing aids.

Siri and Apple Intelligence

Revamps to be delivered in an imminent software upgrade. One new feature shown at the launch is the ability to point the phone at a business, sign or flyer and ask Siri for more info, with results for a restaurant, for example, including hours, menu, reservation links, etc.

– with AAP