Study: What SEA thinks of Apple's iPhone 16 launch

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On 9 September, Apple unveiled its latest iPhone, the iPhone 16 to the world at its annual tech event. The phones boasted a series of new features including Apple Intelligence, enhanced camera capabilities, anew multifunctional button and a tougher ceramic shield.

According to media intelligence firm CARMA in an exclusive report, the volume of iPhone 16 conversations peaked on its launch date.

Netizens shared their excitement about the new features and improvements in the devices, such as the camera control button, larger displays, thinner bezels, and faster A18 chip.

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CARMA also found that 35% of all iPhone mentions globally came from Asia.

Interestingly, the launch of the iPhone 16 also caused a spike in social media mentions of Samsung by three times and Huawei by two times, said CARMA.

Sentiments in Singapore.

In Singapore, Singaporean netizens compared Apple to its competitors such as Huawei. In fact, Huawei's Mate XT tri-fold smartphone had over four million pre-orders, while Apple's iPhone 16 launch was less exciting for investors, especially with its AI features still in test mode.

Users also commented on on Apple's incremental innovations in comparisons to Huawei's foldable technology.

Discussions of the key iPhone 16 features were also overshadowed by concerns about the price and lack of major design changes it said.

Positive sentiments were primarily driven by discussions on the AI feature 'Glowtime', camera control and iPhone 16's design.

Sentiments in Malaysia

Across the border in Malaysia, the main focus for netizens was the price drop for the iPhone 16 series which made it more affordable than the previous iPhone 15 series. Users were also excited about the new colour options, particularly the pink.

Key features of the iPhone 16 were also discussed such as the Apple A18 Pro Chip, the screens and the triple camera system. The phone's titanium build was also seen as a premium addition.

Sentiments in Indonesia

Over in Indonesia, Indonesians shared their concerns over high smartphone prices while some reminisced about older phones.

Netizens in Indonesia were talking about the new iPhone's camera quality, especially its new visual intelligence features, which was a "major" talking point, said CARMA.

Indonesian users said that they consider the improved camera a significant upgrade and a reason to favor the iPhone over competitors such as the Google Pixel 9.

Many Indonesians though were critical of the high price of the iPhone 16, making references to local economic conditions and comparisons to alternatives such as Huawei or Xiaomei.

Despite admiring the two other phones, some questioned the value of spending so much on a smartphone.

CARMA added that there is a "strong" sense of nostalgia among Indonesians with many reminiscing older iPhones models such as the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 4. This reflects an emotional connection to the brand despite growing frustration with raising prices.

Sentiments in the Philippines

In the Philippines though, social media sentiments were largely negative despite consumers being impressed with the phone's new features. The iPhone 16's camera control function was the standout feature for Filipino netizens, where users could gather information about places, menus and reservations simply by pointing their cameras, said CARMA.

Similar to Singapore, Apple's AI software was another highlight, particularly for its ability to improve Siri and generate text or images using natural language prompts. Memes were also a common response to the iPhone 16's high price in the Philippines.

While many were excited about the new features, some users questioned the need for an upgrade, especially given the lack of major innovations in recent years. Comparisons with other smartphones, such as Huawei show that price-conscious consumers are exploring alternatives, said CARMA.