According to expert analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 16 is expected to feature "a significant upgrade in microphone specifications."

The point of the new microphone, Kuo explains, is to allow Siri to work more effectively. This is because Apple is expected to use the voice assistant as the main interface for AI features on the new iPhone. with AI-generated content becoming a trend across the tech industry, Kuo believes that the iPhone 16 will also emphasize AI features, and this microphone upgrade is, in his opinion, the clearest sign so far.

The upgraded microphone will apparently bring an improved signal-to-noise ratio (allowing for clearer voice to Siri while minimizing background noise) and enhanced water resistance. Kuo added that Apple partners AAC and Goertek should supply the components for this.

We have already seen an AI-focused phone launch this year in the form of the Google Pixel 8 Pro, and Samsung's Galaxy S24, slated for launch in early 2024, is also rumored to focus heavily on AI capabilities. iPhone 16 is still quite some time away from launch, but we have heard that the iOS 18 software update will also focus on AI capabilities, while Apple will continue to focus on running all AI tasks on the device to enhance security at the same time. [The Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Ultra will reportedly offer a wide range of AI features. For example, AI Translate Call will allow users to call someone who speaks another language and get real-time voice and text translation.

Other generative AI features will also be available. Samsung Gauss, a generative AI model developed by Samsung Research, can assist in composing emails and summarizing documents. This AI can also generate and edit images and convert low-resolution images to high-resolution.

Kuo also believes that Apple may start adding new microphones to other devices, which he has not stated, but one would have to imagine at least future iPads and MacBooks will be included. He also suggests that other smartphone manufacturers might start upgrading their microphones for similar reasons.

Hopefully, the rumor mill will continue to grind in the coming months, bringing us more iPhone 16 rumors that will help flesh out what Apple's new AI capabilities are. iPhone 15 Pro action buttons will be added to all models, a new capture button will also be added, and we will see larger displays and 5x optical zoom on both the Pro and Pro Max models, the tipster source claims.