Forget the new iPhone 16 Pro, Apple had something much better

The iPhone 16 Pro may have been “built from the ground up for Apple Intelligence,” but of the iPhone 16 family it’s not the only iPhone option for iOS’s new AI creation capabilities.

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will run Apple Intelligence. Rather than paying a premium for new flagships in the hope that the AI ​​software will deliver on Apple’s promises, the 15 Pro models offer broadly the same experience as the 16 Pro models. As it’s a generation behind, consumers could expect it to be discounted and become the “affordable Pro” model for those who want AI in their iPhone.

Instead, Apple canceled the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.

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It’s worth noting that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are the only iPhones running A17 Pro chipset. The accompanying iPhone 15 and 15 Plus run the A16 chipset. The iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Plus remain in range; all of which use the A15 chipset.

The last iPhone still available is the third-generation iPhone SE, with the A15 chipset. However, there are strong indications that Apple will refresh the iPhone SE in March 2025, which means that the stock of the current SE should run out.

Canceling the iPhone A17s won’t rid Apple of the chipset entirely—parts will be needed for many years to come, though lifetime of support would have been factored into the production and design roadmap. If we put aside the issue of support and focus on the new iPhones that Apple sells, it has reduced the complexity of its chipset by twenty-five percent. Depending on the specifications of the fourth generation iPhone SE, it may have reduced it by almost forty percent.

I’m sure managing the supply chain this way played a part in the decision, but I’d suggest there’s a psychological reason to sit next to the practical.

The rise of genetic artificial intelligence has led to various AI-based features becoming key smartphone selling points, selling points that Apple has not been able to fully exploit. Eight months after Google launched the AI-centric Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, Apple unveiled the awkwardly named Apple Intelligence at its Worldwide Developers Conference. Next month, consumers will experience the first small part of it, though the full suite won’t be available until March 2025, roughly seventeen months after Android.

And if you want to join the rise of genetic artificial intelligence in a new iPhone and experience the gradual rollout of Apple Intelligence, you have no choice but to buy one of the iPhone 16 family.

Experiencing steady growth in iPhone sales during the last one few yearsApple is taking advantage of the opportunity presented by genetic artificial intelligence to impose an update cycle on those who want to use the new technology. Of course, Apple Intelligence will run across the entire iPhone 16 family. While it’s supported on older handsets, only devices using the A17 chipset will get the backported AI-building software.

Both handsets that were equipped with the A17 chipset have just been cancelled.

While this won’t affect those who already own either of the handsets, those looking to upgrade and get Apple Intelligence have just missed out on arguably the best value option available to those who need an upgrade but want to wait and see. Apple Intelligence is worth the extra investment of a new iPhone.

They may be able to find an iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max in a final network or specialty store sale, but that option won’t be around for long. If you want Apple Intelligence, you have no choice but to buy the newest and most expensive iPhones on the market.

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