Yearly, iPhone fans eagerly await Apple’s newest launch. However this yr, as Apple introduces the iPhone 16, the thrill feels underwhelming. A couple of months in the past, I wrote about why you shouldn’t buy the iPhone 16 for Apple Intelligence, and now that the launch is right here, I stand by my preliminary evaluation.
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Regardless of guarantees of AI developments, the iPhone 16 appears extra like a stepping stone than a game-changer. Even in my family, the choice to improve has divided us — whereas I am upgrading for work as a result of I cowl the expertise, my spouse has made it clear: she’s skipping this one.
Nice {hardware}, however a transitional Apple Intelligence product
Let’s not diminish the product for what it’s: the iPhone 16 is undeniably nice {hardware}.
However except you are utilizing a very previous telephone — like my colleague David Gewirtz’s iPhone 12, which is 4 generations behind — it’s best to strongly take into account skipping this era. Why? As a result of Apple Intelligence, whereas promising, remains to be in its infancy.
This is a breakdown of the iPhone 16 lineup:
Specs |
iPhone 16 |
iPhone 16 Plus |
iPhone 16 Professional |
iPhone 16 Professional Max |
Show |
6.1 inch, 60 Hz, OLED, 2,000 nits |
6.7 inch, 60 Hz, OLED, 2,000 nits |
6.3 inch, 120 Hz (ProMotion), OLED |
6.9 inch, 120 Hz (ProMotion), OLED |
Processor |
A18 (3 nm, 60% sooner than iPhone 12, 30% sooner than iPhone 15) |
“ |
A18 Professional |
A18 Professional |
Neural Engine |
2x sooner AI duties |
2x sooner AI duties |
15% sooner than A17 Professional |
15% sooner than A17 Professional |
RAM Improve |
+17% RAM (8GB whole) for AI processing |
“ |
“ |
“ |
Thermal Efficiency |
Normal |
Normal |
30% higher (graphite layer for gaming) |
30% higher (graphite layer for gaming) |
Base Storage |
128 GB |
128 GB |
128 GB |
256 GB |
Cameras |
48-MP primary, 12-MP ultrawide w/ Macro, 2X optical zoom |
48-MP primary, 12-MP ultrawide w/ Macro, 2X optical zoom |
48-MP Fusion Digital camera, 48-MP ultrawide, 12-MP telephoto (5X optical zoom) |
48-MP Fusion Digital camera, 48-MP ultrawide, 12-MP telephoto (5X optical zoom) |
Digital camera Enhancements |
2X optical zoom through 48-MP cropped sensor |
2X optical zoom through 48-MP cropped sensor |
48-MP Fusion reads sensor knowledge 2x sooner; much less movement blur; 4K slow-motion at 120 fps |
48-MP Fusion reads sensor knowledge 2x sooner; much less movement blur; 4K slow-motion at 120 fps |
Audio Modes |
Normal |
Normal |
Studio, Cinematic |
Studio, Cinematic |
Materials |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
Titanium |
Titanium |
Worth |
$799 |
$899 |
$999 |
$1,199 |
Along with newer, bigger, and brighter OLED screens throughout the board, the most important enhancements to the iPhone 16 are to its cameras. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus now provide 2X optical zoom through a cropped part of the 48-MP primary digital camera’s sensor.
On the Professional fashions, you will discover a 5X optical zoom lens, and the brand new 48-MP “Fusion Digital camera” reads knowledge twice as quick, which reduces movement blur and improves the standard of motion pictures. The Professional fashions additionally assist 4K slow-motion video recording at 120 frames per second, making slo-mo footage crisper than ever earlier than.
Additionally: 4 best iPhone 16 features that make Apple’s standard model worth the upgrade
However are these enhancements sufficient to justify an improve? In all probability not in the event you already personal an iPhone 14 or 15.
Developer involvement and AI maturity
Whereas the {hardware} is spectacular, the AI options — centered round Apple Intelligence — depart one thing to be desired, particularly for these anticipating a extra mature expertise.
Apple Intelligence is tied to Apple’s personal 3-billion-parameter basis mannequin. It is a comparatively small giant language mannequin in comparison with what’s obtainable within the cloud. Whereas Apple has indicated it might permit different LLMs to run on-device sooner or later, you are at the moment restricted to Apple’s system. And whereas Apple has introduced ChatGPT assist for Siri, that runs within the cloud, not on-device.
Additionally: Every iPhone model that will be updated to Apple’s iOS 18 (and which ones won’t)
Apple has given developers access to its AI APIs, however we’re nonetheless within the early levels of what Apple Intelligence can do. A lot of the thrilling options – like Genmoji and App Intents — will not be obtainable till iOS 18.2. Even iOS 18.1, which unlocks a number of the AI features, will not arrive till a minimum of October.
Do not like Apple’s apps? No Apple Intelligence for you.
The most important downside — aside from the truth that you want new iPhone {hardware} to take advantage of it — is that Apple Intelligence is deeply tied to Apple’s personal apps, limiting its usefulness for customers who depend on third-party apps like Gmail, Google Docs, or Microsoft 365.
Apple hasn’t given builders the flexibility to combine their very own AI fashions on the system, so except third-party apps undertake Apple’s APIs, you will not profit from Apple Intelligence’s options in the event you’re not fully locked into Apple’s ecosystem. Google and Microsoft, which each have strong cloud-based AI options — Gemma 2 for Google’s Gemini and GPT-4 for Microsoft’s Copilot — are unlikely to change to Apple’s APIs anytime quickly.
Cloud-based AI writing instruments: No want for brand spanking new {hardware}
Whereas Apple emphasizes its on-device AI processing, many AI instruments individuals already use right this moment are cloud-based, that means they do not want the most recent {hardware}. As talked about earlier, an vital distinction about cloud-based gen AI writing instruments is that they’ve rather more strong LLMs backing them up, to the tune of tons of of billions of parameters, in contrast with the 3B parameter mannequin in Apple Intelligence.
Additionally: iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Is it worth an upgrade?
Google’s AI writing instruments are at the moment obtainable on iOS and Android by way of Gmail. Whereas the corporate has not dedicated to it publicly, this performance inside “Gemini Apps” will probably be expanded to the cellular variations of Docs and different Google Workspace apps shortly.
Grammarly, one other cloud-based instrument based mostly on Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI platform, gives proofreading and modifying throughout over 500,000 apps, together with Gmail, Slack, Microsoft Workplace, and Google Docs. On iOS, it really works as an installable keyboard; on Mac, it is obtainable as a desktop plugin for Safari, Chrome, and Edge.
Microsoft’s SwiftKey iOS keyboard additionally brings Copilot AI-powered textual content era and rewriting to the platform, making these instruments accessible throughout all iPhone fashions — not simply the iPhone 16.
Good erase and privateness: Apple vs. Google
I am additionally not loopy in regards to the up to date Apple Intelligence-enhanced Pictures app in iOS 18. It has been tough to regulate to, and the Clean Up tool — Apple’s sensible erase characteristic — whereas intriguing, hasn’t been the sport changer I anticipated. The instrument leaves artifacts in most of the pictures I’ve tried it with on my iPhone 15 Professional Max, which detracts from the expertise.
Additionally: The 7 best iOS 18 features that will make updating your iPhone worthwhile
Google’s Magic Eraser, obtainable in Google Pictures for iOS, performs equally with out requiring on-device AI processing. That mentioned, Apple’s on-device AI processing gives a privateness benefit — your knowledge stays on the system and would not require further bandwidth. That is notably helpful in the event you depend on 5G knowledge as an alternative of Wi-Fi.
Do you have to improve?
Should you’re utilizing an iPhone 12 or older, the iPhone 16 could possibly be value upgrading to for the {hardware} alone. However in the event you’ve received an iPhone 14 or 15, I would strongly suggest holding out for the iPhone 17. That is when Apple Intelligence will probably be mature sufficient to make an actual affect.
Additionally: iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Should you upgrade to the latest model?
Current rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Professional can have much more RAM — an estimated 12GB — in comparison with the 16 Professional’s 8GB. It is a robust indicator of simply how resource-intensive the absolutely realized Apple Intelligence shall be. If the iPhone 16’s RAM has already elevated by 17%, the soar to 12GB for the iPhone 17 Professional reveals that Apple expects AI duties to require considerably extra reminiscence as they evolve.
Until you desperately want a brand new telephone, do not rush into shopping for the iPhone 16. The iPhone 17 will probably deliver the true leap ahead in AI integration, making the iPhone 16 a transitional product at greatest.