Each fall Apple releases 4 new iPhones, however till final yr I solely had eyes for the Professional. Not the usual, not the mini or the Plus (relying on the yr), and never the Professional Max. Simply the Professional—an exquisite mixture of high-end options and a compact physique.
However in 2023 that modified, primarily as a result of my colleagues already had entry to Professional and Professional Max overview samples and it simply made extra sense editorially for me to ask for the Plus. I made this resolution with dangerous grace and low expectations, considering the telephone can be the worst of each worlds: too chunky to slide in a pocket comfortably whereas missing in specs and options. However I used to be pleasantly stunned by how a lot I loved utilizing the 15 Plus, and volunteered to strive the 16 Plus this yr—significantly as my colleague reckoned this was the only option.
However what’s it like upgrading from an iPhone 15 Plus to a 16 Plus? Right here’s what I realized from the method.
The 16 Plus seems nicer. It simply does
That sounds odd, proper? Contemplating that Apple has largely stored the identical design this yr. However I far want my new telephone’s seems due to a couple of minor aesthetic tweaks.
The colours, for one factor, are far more vibrant. I plumped for pink each instances, however the place the 2023 pink was a washed-out rose blush that appears virtually white in photographs, the 2024 pink is unbelievable. I focus on my ideas on the significance of a great pink in a separate article.
David Worth / Foundry
David Worth / Foundry
David Worth / Foundry
I additionally want the digital camera module on the rear, which because of the vertical configuration is much less obtrusive, and the truth that the Motion button means the case has no cutout on the lefthand edge. It’s only a cleaner, extra satisfying look.
The Motion button is best, however not by a lot
Right here’s one of many downsides of utilizing the 15 Plus final yr: I’m out of contact in terms of the Motion button, one in every of 2023’s flagship Professional options. I’m utilizing it for the primary time now. Apologies if the next sizzling take has gone chilly.
Right here’s my view. Having an Motion button as a substitute of a mute change is clearly higher, as a result of it seems nicer (see above), is simpler to make use of, doesn’t get clogged with mud, is presumably much less susceptible to failure, and may be programmed to carry out features apart from mute/unmute if you happen to’d want. However the final one is the primary profit regardless that I don’t actually see why you’d need to use any of the opposite core features.
Having quick access to a mute management is helpful, and whereas utilizing the 16 Plus I’ve by no means been keen to sacrifice that for a unique management. I want the flashlight much less usually, and it’s already simply accessible by way of the Lock Display; the latter level additionally applies double to the digital camera, which is accessible by way of the Lock Display or the brand new Digital camera Management. Shazam is a correct area of interest operate I can think about myself utilizing, what, a few instances a yr? For Magnifier, that determine most likely rises to 5 – 6 instances. And let’s face it, most individuals aren’t diving into Shortcuts to create their very own actions.
The one different use I can see for the Motion button is Translate. If I am going on vacation someplace the place I don’t communicate the language, I’ll change the button to that operate and use my iPhone as a helpful sci-fi translator. However for the remainder of the yr, it’s staying as a glorified mute change.
The digital camera is significantly better for close-ups, however that’s about it
The digital camera is a vital aspect of a smartphone’s armory, so I’ve been intensively testing out the 16 Plus’s photographic chops… and to be sincere, 90 p.c of the time, it’s not noticeably totally different. The principle digital camera has been rebranded as “Fusion” which, you understand, sounds good, the Extremely Huge aperture has improved from f/2.4 to f/2.2, and Photographic Kinds have been up to date. However none of that resulted, not less than in my subjective expertise, in higher photographs.
Aside from the brand new macro images characteristic. Shut-ups are significantly better and it’s not even shut (no pun meant).
If you happen to spend quite a lot of your time taking photographs of tiny painted fashions to submit on the web, this might be an enormous profit to upgrading.
I actually don’t like Digital camera Management. Not now, and doubtless not ever
So the digital camera itself isn’t all that totally different, however the way in which you entry it’s. There’s a brand new button referred to as Digital camera Management on the righthand edge and this allows you to open the Digital camera app with one click on, and take a photograph with a second click on.
My downside with that is twofold. First, as talked about beforehand, it isn’t particularly wanted: the Digital camera app is already straightforward to open by swiping proper from the Lock Display. Second, the button is positioned in a clumsy a part of the chassis the place my ring finger presses it unintentionally once I decide up the telephone in my left hand, and the place my proper index finger can’t simply attain it when holding it two-handed in panorama orientation. It’s only a bit too far alongside the sting to be snug. (This can be a difficulty unique to the Plus mannequin with its longer edges. I haven’t tried out the usual iPhone 16.)
David Worth / Foundry
David Worth / Foundry
David Worth / Foundry
That’s earlier than we get to the superior controls. If you happen to do a “gentle press” on the Digital camera Management, it permits you to modify the publicity, depth of discipline impact, zoom, type, and so forth. Doing two gentle presses permits you to change between these. However these actions are so counterintuitive, so fiddly to get proper, that I’ve no real interest in utilizing them… which implies I’m unlikely to ever get higher. The excellent news is you possibly can flip it off.
Wind noise discount doesn’t appear to do a lot
All 4 of the 16-series telephones have a brand new characteristic Apple calls wind noise discount, “which makes use of highly effective machine studying algorithms to scale back undesirable noise for higher audio high quality.” I recorded myself speaking into my telephone like an fool on a windy, wet day with each the 15 Plus and the 16 Plus, however once I watched again the movies I didn’t discover any distinction: in each instances, the wind was barely noticeable however the noise from passing automobiles very a lot was.
Check out the specs sheet and also you’ll discover that (not less than in principle) we’re leaping ahead two generations of processors this yr: from the A16 Bionic on the 15 Plus to the A18 on the 16 Plus. Apple is cagey in regards to the exact specs of its proprietary chips, however my pace benchmarking backed up the concept that it is a main step ahead. The 16 Plus was about 25 p.c quicker than the 15 Plus throughout the Geekbench 5 and Geekbench 6 CPU assessments, and an astonishing 45 p.c quicker within the GB5 Compute take a look at.
Whereas that’s a formidable enchancment on paper, nevertheless, the real-world impact is scarcely noticeable. There merely aren’t any iPhone duties proper now that want that a lot theoretical pace, and you’re prone to discover, as I do, that the 16 Plus doesn’t really feel any quicker in observe.
It does provide you with an additional yr or two of future-proofing, nevertheless. Apps will develop extra demanding to reap the benefits of the larger processing energy showing in the marketplace. And naturally, there’s Apple Intelligence. Talking of…
The iPhone 16’s pink coloration seems good all the way in which round.
The iPhone 16’s pink coloration seems good all the way in which round.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
The iPhone 16’s pink coloration seems good all the way in which round.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
And we’re nonetheless ready for Apple Intelligence
It feels odd to be coming to this final as a result of Apple Intelligence is the tentpole characteristic, the improve round which Apple constructed your complete iPhone 16 launch. However it’s not right here but, and doubtless gained’t be for a number of extra weeks. It’s laborious to know what to make of this.
Most clearly, you possibly can hardly anticipate clients to be as eager to improve if the primary characteristic doesn’t arrive till virtually two months after launch. However extra insidiously, you’re asking folks to purchase their iPhone on the power of a characteristic that no one exterior Apple Park has examined, and which can not (maybe we must always say “virtually definitely gained’t”) instantly stay as much as the hype. Apple has needed to construct its personal AI platform largely from scratch and we can’t anticipate it to operate in addition to ChatGPT and different established rivals from day one. AI wants time and coaching information, and Apple hasn’t had a lot of both; it may take years for Apple Intelligence to hit its stride.
Apple’s hardcore followers are generally accused–not completely with out cause–of shopping for the newest iPhone on launch day whether or not or not it’s a worthwhile improve. However not less than, up to now, these followers had a tough thought of what to anticipate. This time Apple is getting them to crack open their wallets earlier than anybody has sighted the primary characteristic, and this appears dangerous for everybody.
Conclusion: Value an improve?
If you happen to’ve obtained an iPhone 15 Plus, I wouldn’t advocate that you simply improve to the iPhone 16 Plus. It doesn’t really feel any quicker, the digital camera is barely higher in a single particular use case, and I don’t price Digital camera Management in any respect. The colours are nicer, however that doesn’t justify spending this a lot cash.
If you happen to should improve, not less than wait till Apple Intelligence launches on the finish of October. Then we are able to see if the primary occasion is well worth the value of admission.