From just a simple technology on smartphones, AI has now transformed to a key element that influences user experience. From camera enhancements, voice assistants, real-time translations, to automation features, this trending technology is rapidly changing the way we use smartphones in everyday life.
In September 2025, the newly released Apple iPhone 17, along with the latest Android flagships from Google and Samsung, are some of the most prominent devices in the AI competition. In this article, SotaTek ANZ will explore the new AI features of the iPhone 17 Series, compare AI in iPhone 17 vs Android, and showcase how real users can take advantage of these features.
Apple Debuts iPhone 17
Recently, the media has been bombarded with the latest news from Apple. The iPhone 17 series has been introduced with 4 models: iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Each of these models brings significant upgrades in performance, design, and AI features, catering to a wide range of user needs.
Apple debuts iPhone 17 Series
iPhone 17: Reliable Performance with Camera Enhancements
The iPhone 17 is powered by the A19 chip, featuring a 48MP Fusion camera with a 2x telephoto lens and a new 48MP Ultra Wide camera. It boasts a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion 120Hz, providing a smooth experience. The Center Stage feature makes group selfies easier, while it supports direct translation in messages and FaceTime calls. Besides, the iPhone 17 can detect and translate text within photos in over 100 languages.
iPhone Air: Ultra-Thin Design with Powerful Performance
The iPhone Air is the thinnest iPhone to date, measuring just 5.6mm thick and weighing extremely light. It features a Grade 5 titanium frame with a glossy finish. Despite its slim design, the iPhone Air is equipped with the A19 chip, a 48MP Fusion camera, and an 18MP Center Stage front camera. Like the iPhone 17, it also supports direct translation in messages and FaceTime calls.
iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max: Top-Tier Performance with Advanced AI
Both the Pro and Pro Max models come equipped with the A19 Pro chip, an advanced cooling system with a vapor chamber, and extended battery life. The rear camera setup includes three 48MP Fusion lenses, with a new telephoto lens that offers an 8x optical zoom – the longest optical zoom on any iPhone. The 18MP Center Stage front camera enhances group selfies. Additionally, the Pro models support direct translation in phone and FaceTime calls, as well as text recognition and translation in images, supporting multiple languages.
Apple Intelligence: Deeply Integrated AI
If you are still not clear about "What is Apple Intelligence?", so Apple Intelligence is the AI platform integrated into all iPhone 17 models. It enables users to create content, translate languages, and perform other smart tasks effortlessly. The Live Translation feature allows real-time translation in messages and calls, enhancing communication across different languages.
An example of Apple Intelligence on iPhone 17 Series
In summary, the iPhone 17 series offers a diverse selection for users, ranging from the ultra-light design of the iPhone Air to the powerful AI features of the Pro models. Each version caters to different needs, from casual users to professional content creators, making it a versatile choice in the AI-driven smartphone landscape.
New AI Features of iPhone 17: Performance and Privacy-Centric
According to Apple official announcement, iPhone 17 and iOS 26 offer the following key AI features:
- A19 & A19 Pro Chips: Enhanced neural engine and GPU accelerators boost on-device AI processing performance, improving speed and efficiency in real-time translation and photo/video processing.
- AI-Based Camera Innovations:
- Center Stage Front Camera: Automatically adjusts framing during selfies or video calls, ensuring subjects remain centered.
- 48MP Rear Cameras: All models support high-resolution sensors, with significant improvements in ultra-wide and macro photography.
- Dual Capture: Simultaneously records from front and rear cameras, beneficial for creators.
- Smart User Experience:
- Live Translation: Integrates with AirPods to provide real-time conversation translation.
- Photographic Styles: iOS 26 introduces the 'Bright' mode, AI-adjusting skin tones and colors naturally.
Although there were rumors earlier in the tech world about a smarter Siri, Apple has not yet delivered the new version. The announcement at WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) promised a more advanced Siri by 2024, but it has since been delayed multiple times.
This new Siri will utilize advanced AI models to better understand content and the environment around you. It is expected to be a highly responsive assistant, capable of handling voice, text, and even visual inputs. This marks a significant leap towards multi-modal AI support, unlike any other assistant currently available in the market.
Android AI Features: Experimental and Aggressive Approach
Google and Samsung are aggressively expanding their AI capabilities in the smartphone space, adopting an experimental approach to push the boundaries of AI technology. With next-generation AI chips and groundbreaking AI tools, both companies are setting new standards for mobile intelligence.
Android AI Features
Next-Gen Chips: Revolutionizing On-Device AI
Google's Tensor G5 chip is a game-changer, running the Gemini Nano model directly on devices. This allows for simultaneous processing of text, voice, and images, bringing next-level efficiency and performance to mobile AI.
AI Assistant Evolution: Multimodal Interaction
- Gemini Live: This AI assistant utilizes camera and screen sharing for a highly interactive, multimodal experience. It can understand real-time context and engage in natural conversations, offering an unprecedented level of interaction for users.
- Magic Cue: Google's AI proactively offers suggestions for responses and actions across various apps, including messengers, calendars, and emails, making communication more efficient and personalized.
- Circle to Search: This feature allows users to select a word or image on the screen in a circular shape, instantly providing search results. It’s a seamless and intuitive way to interact with your device using AI.
AI-Powered Communication & Productivity
- Real-Time Call Translation & Speech Synthesis: The integration of AI in real-time translations and voice synthesis enhances communication across language barriers, empowering users to connect effortlessly.
- Gboard AI Tools: Google's keyboard offers advanced AI tools for changing sentence styles, grammar correction, and tone adjustment, making communication smoother and more personalized.
- Pixel Journal: Google’s Pixel devices introduce an AI-driven journal feature, helping users track emotions and write reflective diary entries with ease.
AI Camera Innovations
- 100x AI Zoom: With AI-powered zoom, users can achieve incredibly sharp detail even at extreme zoom levels, redefining mobile photography.
- Generative AI Editing Tools: Pixel devices enable AI-based photo and video post-processing, offering a creative suite for users to enhance their visual content.
Concerns and Limitations
However, while these features are groundbreaking, they heavily rely on cloud computing, raising concerns around privacy and battery efficiency. Moreover, some of these advanced AI tools are only available on the latest devices, limiting their accessibility for all users.
In summary, Google and Samsung are at the forefront of integrating AI in smartphones, pushing the envelope with next-gen chips and multimodal AI assistants. Despite concerns over privacy and battery usage, their aggressive approach is reshaping the way we interact with mobile devices, setting new trends in AI technology.
Apple iPhone 17 vs Android AI Features: A Comprehensive Comparison
|
Category |
Apple iPhone 17 (iOS 26) |
Android Flagships (Pixel 10, Galaxy AI) |
|
AI Hardware |
A19 chip, on-device AI accelerators |
Tensor G5, Gemini Nano multimodal AI |
|
AI Assistant |
Siri, Real-time translation support |
Gemini Live, Magic Cue — proactive, context-aware |
|
Camera AI |
Dual Capture, Center Stage, Photographic Styles |
AI Zoom, Circle to Search, Generative editing |
|
Privacy |
On-device processing focus, minimal data collection |
Mixed on-device + cloud, data integration |
|
User Experience |
Stable, polished, and consistent |
Innovative, but varies by device |
AI Feature Tips for iPhone 17 vs Android Users
For iPhone 17 Users:
- Utilize Dual Capture in the camera app for simultaneous front and rear recording.
- Activate Center Stage during FaceTime for automatic framing.
- Experience real-time translation with AirPods during conversations.
For Android Users:
- Use Circle to Search for fast, context-based searches.
- Make queries with Gemini Live using screen sharing and camera input.
- Enhance document creation with Gboard AI for grammar correction and tone adjustment.
Future Outlook
When it comes to Apple, it is expected to enhance Siri's capabilities by integrating advanced AI models, including OpenAI ChatGPT, into its ecosystem. This integration aims to provide a more intuitive and conversational user experience across Apple devices. The company is also focusing on expanding Apple Intelligence into new domains. For instance, Apple Vision Pro is being utilized in healthcare to assist surgeons with 3D visualizations and in training environments to simulate medical procedures.
On the other hand, Google and Samsung are advancing multimodal AI through the Gemini assistant. This AI can process voice, text, and visual inputs, enabling users to interact with their devices in more dynamic ways. Samsung is also working with Perplexity AI to potentially replace Google's Gemini assistant in future Galaxy devices, aiming to diversify its AI offerings and reduce reliance on Google.
Also, both Apple and Android ecosystems should emphasize on-device AI processing to enhance privacy and reduce latency. And both companies can expand their AI capabilities across a broader range of devices, including smartphones, wearables, and AR/VR headsets, to create a more integrated and seamless user experience.
Conclusion
The AI competition in the smartphone market has shifted from feature comparison to broader ecosystem strategies. Apple's iPhone 17 focuses on seamless hardware-software integration, prioritizing on-device AI and privacy for a reliable, secure user experience. Meanwhile, Android, led by Google and Samsung, is pushing the envelope with innovative multimodal AI assistants and camera features, bringing fresh, creative technologies to market.
The battle is especially fierce in camera AI, with both ecosystems aiming to redefine smartphones as tools for content creation, not just photography. Ultimately, the choice depends on whether users value privacy and stability (iPhone) or prefer exploring new possibilities through cutting-edge AI innovations (Android).
As smartphones evolve into personalized AI-driven digital partners, companies like SotaTek ANZ can help businesses in Australia and New Zealand leverage AI to build smarter, more efficient solutions, enhancing the user experience across various industries.
