Reliable Apple analyst Mark Gurman has confirmed that the highly anticipated iPhone 16 series will arrive on schedule this September, even though the groundbreaking Apple Intelligence feature won’t be fully ready until October.

This decision marks a departure from Apple’s past practices. In 2011, the company delayed the iPhone 4S release to align with the launch of Siri and iCloud. However, times have changed. While Apple Intelligence is undoubtedly a significant addition, Apple seems confident that the core iPhone experience is robust enough to stand on its own without the full suite of AI-powered features.

Gurman suggests September 10th as a potential launch date for the iPhone 16, mirroring last year’s timeline. However, users eager to harness the power of Apple Intelligence will need to wait a few extra weeks for the iOS 18.1 update, scheduled for release in October.

This strategic move by Apple is a calculated risk. On one hand, delaying the iPhone launch would have ensured a fully polished product with all the bells and whistles. On the other, it could have cannibalized sales of the iPhone 15 series and disrupted the company’s annual product cycle. By opting for a timely release, Apple is betting that consumers will be willing to embrace the new iPhones without the complete Apple Intelligence package, with the promise of exciting updates to come.

While the initial Apple Intelligence features, such as improved Siri and writing tools, are undoubtedly promising, the most anticipated advancements, including Genmoji and Image Playground, are still under development. It remains to be seen how this staggered approach will impact consumer perception and adoption of the new technology.