Double standards again? iPhone 16 will be different in Hungary

The newest iPhone 16 will be significantly different in Hungary and Europe than in the United States. The reason is the divergent legal environment.

According to Tom’s Guide, the iPhone 16 series will bring us a lot of innovations, and we only have to wait a few more days for Apple to reveal the new device. However, this will be the first time that the producer will make two different variants of the phone complying with differing rules in North America and the European Union.

Apple is to announce four different models on 9 September: the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. However, thanks to a new law passed in the European Union, the iPhone 16 will be different in Hungary than in e.g. North America.

“The EU’s Digital Market Act (DMA) is a pro-competition law that stipulates large tech companies (so-called “gatekeepers”) can’t lock their customers into particular pieces of hardware or software to foster competition”, Tom’s Guide wrote. Partly, that is why Apple moved away from Lightning and implemented USB-C on the iPhone 15 series. As a result, even the appearance of the phones in North America and Europe will be different.

AI features will be missing from the new iPhone in Hungary

“For example, in Europe, the iPhone 16 will arrive with a Default Apps Section where users can uninstall any stock browser, mail app or payment platform and install a different one of their choosing. European users will also be able to install third-party app stores like AltStore that’ll easily let them reintroduce Fortnite to their iPhone”, the media outlet highlighted.

Furthermore, Apple will not make Apple Intelligence features available in the European Union due to the DMA. “Due to the regulatory uncertainties brought about by the Digital Markets Act, we do not believe that we will be able to roll out three of these [new] features — iPhone Mirroring, SharePlay Screen Sharing enhancements and Apple Intelligence — to our EU users this Year”, the company wrote in a June statement.

Apple Intelligence is the company’s suite of AI-enabled tools and one of the biggest reasons for this year’s update. Thanks to this, the new phone will have an A18 or A18 Pro chipset and at least 8GB RAM.

Read also:

• Vodafone receives gigantic fine in Hungary – read more HERE
• Mobile operators Yettel, Telekom, Vodafone to increase prices sharply in Hungary – details in THIS article