4 issues I’ve realized proudly owning an iPhone 16 Professional for a 12 months

Though I’ve lined Apple tech for a few years at this level, fall 2024 might be probably the most deeply I’ve ever been concerned within the iPhone hype cycle. Previous to then, I used to be content material to purchase older fashions, or not less than wait just a few weeks after launch, as I did with the iPhone 13. However final 12 months, I made a decision I not solely needed a flagship system — the iPhone 16 Pro — however to get it on launch day. That meant dropping sleep to pounce on pre-orders, then obsessively checking on order standing, proper by way of to the day my telephone was delivered. I would already converted to it full-time by the point my shift was over.

I am largely happy with my resolution, the eye-watering pricetag however. I’ve come away with quite a few classes, although, each in regards to the 16 Professional and iPhone possession generally. They’ve already influenced my angle in the direction of this 12 months’s iPhone 17 lineup, and even the iPhone 18 collection due in 2026.

5

All the time-on show tech is the most effective Professional function

An all-day, on a regular basis comfort

One of many issues I used to be most wanting ahead to with a Professional was StandBy mode. Sure, StandBy technically works on any iPhone, however it’s not almost as helpful with out an always-on show. With AOD tech in tow, an iPhone turns into a type of makeshift good show, letting you test the time, date, climate, and typically different data with out having to get shut. I am a lightweight sleeper, so with the ability to roll over and see the time with out having to select something up is genuinely helpful.

Even higher, because it seems, is having an always-on lockscreen. I knew I would be making use of lockscreen widgets, however glancing at my iPhone for the climate and my Apple Watch battery has step by step change into a behavior, all of the moreso since I’ve began driving electric unicycles and must know whether or not it is too scorching, too chilly, or too wet/snowy. Throughout my workday, having the Notification Middle “stick” onscreen means I am much less more likely to miss an vital piece of data, whether or not in my private or skilled life. It nearly makes me marvel how I ever lived with out it.

The excellent news for society at massive is that Apple is lastly bringing always-on-display tech to cheaper iPhones as of the iPhone 17, assuming the rumors are appropriate. It is arduous to justify the Professional cut up when so many Android telephones have already beat Apple to the punch. With this modification in thoughts, I’d take into account downgrading from a Professional sooner or later with a view to save money.

4

Apple’s telephoto cameras aren’t pretty much as good as they need to be

Hopefully, that is poised to alter

A drumbeat I am going to hold pounding without end is {that a} telephoto is way, much more helpful on a smartphone than an ultra-wide. One of many first rules of photography is to fill the body along with your topic, and in lots of instances, the most effective or solely manner of doing that’s with zoom. After I was doing skilled photograph work, an 80-200mm f/2.8 lens was my default — I nearly by no means introduced out my 10-20mm ultra-wide except I used to be taking pictures cramped interiors.

For that purpose, I used to be excited to lastly personal an iPhone with a telephoto digicam, however Apple’s implementation within the iPhone 16 Professional leaves one thing to be desired. The sensor Apple makes use of merely cannot deal with a lot exterior of preferrred lighting circumstances. Noise and/or blur rapidly rear their heads, regardless of processing and optical picture stabilization — typically in circumstances that my previous Nikon D300 would’ve been in a position to deal with. And whereas 5x zoom is ok, it is nonetheless robust to get as shut as I would prefer to some topics.

There may be some promise for the longer term. The iPhone 17 Professional ought to improve from a 12-megapixel telephoto to a 48-megapixel one, and down the road, Apple could also be getting ready a sensor shut in sensitivity to the human eye. Shade me skeptical — even when I’ve the finances for a Professional, I am going to wish to see photograph samples first.

3

2

Apple Intelligence is a bust besides for 2 options

ChatGPT to the rescue

At this level, Apple has publicly acknowledged its failures with Apple Intelligence thus far. It is nonetheless a tentpole for the iPhone 16 collection, however Siri upgrades like contextual consciousness and App Intents have formally been delayed into 2026. The corporate has additionally altered its advertising and marketing, for example pulling a high-profile advert that includes Final of Us star Bella Ramsey. Behind the scenes, Apple is shaking up its company construction in a bid to get again on monitor.

I do not make a lot use of the Apple Intelligence options we did get. I am knowledgeable author, so Writing Instruments are redundant, and I’ve even much less use for issues like genmoji and electronic mail summaries. Notification summaries and precedence alerts can sometimes be useful, however solely when the AI will get it proper. Apple infamously stopped summarizing information notifications for some time as a result of the outcomes may very well be wildly inaccurate.

There are solely two options I actually take pleasure in, the most effective being ChatGPT integration. Till iOS 18.2, Siri would typically level you to the net for something however probably the most fundamental of data questions. Now I can maintain down the facet button and get a direct reply to nearly something, though I’ve to doublecheck some information. The opposite function is Visible Intelligence, which may simplify making telephone calls or Calendar occasions, and describe objects in entrance of you. Due to ChatGPT, you’ll be able to ask elaborate follow-up questions as effectively.

1

Processor energy is more and more unimportant

Bandwidth is the brand new king

Many eons in the past, processor upgrades have been one of many issues iPhone followers cared most about. They enabled vital new features, or not less than made apps considerably faster to run or set up. For some time, certainly one of my unscientific measures of progress was how rapidly and easily an iPhone might begin navigating in Google Maps.

I first seen diminishing returns after I upgraded from an iPhone XR to an iPhone 13, and that pattern has solely intensified with the 16 Professional. It is uncommon that I discover any enhancements in velocity. Certainly, I not too long ago switched to a 5G carrier, and that had a extra dramatic influence on in-car navigation than splurging on $1,000 {hardware}. About the one respects by which processor energy nonetheless issues are 3D gaming, AI, and video, and I would slightly play a recreation on my Steam Deck or laptop if I will make it a spotlight.

All this makes it much less possible I will purchase an iPhone 18, a lot much less a 17. Who is aware of, although — could Apple Intelligence will finally change into the promoting level Apple thinks it’s, at which level I’d desire a quicker telephone to crunch Siri instructions. Even then, numerous that’s going to be taking place within the cloud.