iPhone 16 is only two months away: Here are nine incredible features to look forward to

Even before the official release of the iPhone 16, the next-generation Apple smartphone is making the appropriate noise. Here are some of the most highly anticipated features.

With less than two months until Apple introduces the iPhone 16 series, there is much speculation regarding what the future handsets will have in terms of hardware. While nothing is known at this time, Apple has already said that iOS 18, the operating system that drives the next iPhones, will include several AI-powered features. From ChatGPT integration to Eye Tracking capabilities, here are some amazing innovations that are rumoured to be included with the next iPhone.

     ChatGPT integration

At WWDC, Apple revealed that ChatGPT will be integrated with Siri to "deliver truly helpful intelligence." With iOS 18, Siri will use on-device Apple Intelligence, but when it comes to answering questions about photographs and documents, providing writing assistance, and other tasks, the personal assistant will employ ChatGPT. Apple claims Siri's ChatGPT integration will not record user history, providing a more private method to communicate with the AI-powered chatbot.

    Tap to Pay is coming to more apps.

Earlier this month, Apple announced that it will expose its tap-to-pay capability to mobile wallet providers in the European Union for ten years. This implies that apps other than Apple Pay will be able to use the iPhone's NFC chip to conduct mobile payments in stores, as well as unlock automobiles and event tickets.

    New and enhanced Siri

Siri, Apple's voice assistant for iOS devices, is also getting updates. The personal assistant will quickly become more conversational and grasp the question, even if it mispronounces terms. According to the business, users will also be able to customise Siri's wake word.

     Cleanup tool

Similar to Google's Magic Eraser, iOS 18's Clean Up feature can recognise and erase things from the image backdrop. While it is unclear whether the processing will take place on the device or in the cloud, this is really useful if you shoot a lot of images.

    Eye tracking

Apple is also introducing Eye Tracking to the iPhone and iPad, which allows users to manage their iOS-powered device using their eye movements. The new feature will also have various customisation options, such as a smoothing slider to adjust the speed of the pointer, Snap to Item, and Dwell Control. The FaceID camera-based feature is presently available to people using iOS 18 beta. If you're running the latest beta, here's how to set up and use Eye Tracking.

     Smart Script

Smart Script, a new iPad feature, automatically refines handwritten notes to make them "fluid, flexible, and easier to read" while preserving your handwriting style. According to the business, Apple Pencil users will be able to add space, paste typed text, and erase sentences by scratching them.

    Genmoji

Genmoji is a forthcoming AI-powered iOS feature that will allow you to build your own emoji from scratch. To create a new emoji, users must first provide a description, after which they can proceed. According to Apple, users can also build Genmoji of friends and family using their images, which can then be placed inline to messages or shared as a sticker or reaction.

     Satellite messaging via iMessage and SMS

While the iPhone currently allows users to send an SOS via satellite, the business is now adding the option to send texts using satellite service. The planned functionality supports both iMessage and SMS. If you utilise iMessage, you can send and receive messages as normal. SMS messages can be sent to anyone, but you will only receive them from emergency contacts. The functionality will be available to iPhone 14 and subsequent models.

     Updated Notes app

While Apple did not focus much on the Notes app at WWDC 2024, the company did offer a number of new features. With iPhone 16, users will be able to receive writing recommendations from the AI-powered writing assistant, voice transcriptions, arithmetic equation solutions, and collapsable headers and subheadings, to mention a few.