Apple’s latest iPhone announcement signals the start of a two-track future

European regulations require Apple to produce a drastically different phone experience for users of the iPhone—suggesting a splinternet-like split.

Apple announced on Monday a souped-up iPhone 16 that boasts an all-new A18 chip that is 30% quicker than the previous generation, as well as a range of AI-powered tools through the company’s branded Apple Intelligence program—including “computational photography” and visual intelligence, its version of Google Lens.