Apple’s new iPhone 16, launched on Monday, faced criticism in China for its lack of AI features, as the company contends with increasing competition from domestic tech giant Huawei. While Apple highlighted AI-enhanced capabilities in its global announcement, the iPhone 16’s Chinese version will not have AI functionality until next year, which sparked significant debate on Chinese social media platforms.

On Weibo, discussions centred on the absence of AI, with users questioning the value of the new model compared to Huawei’s imminent launch of a three-way foldable smartphone. Some users expressed disappointment that Apple hadn’t yet partnered with a local AI provider to enhance the iPhone‘s functionality in China.

Despite the AI criticism, analysts believe that the lack of immediate AI integration is unlikely to impact short-term sales. Experts pointed to Apple’s strong customer loyalty and predicted that users of older iPhone models will still drive demand for upgrades. However, they warned that the company must develop a robust AI ecosystem in China to stay competitive in the long run.

Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 will begin on Friday through platforms such as JD.com, with deliveries expected from 20 September. Meanwhile, Huawei’s latest models continue to gain popularity in China, posing a growing challenge to Apple’s market share.