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 evaluate samples and it simply made extra sense editorially for me to ask for the Plus. I made this resolution with unhealthy grace and low expectations, pondering 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 shocked by how a lot I loved utilizing the 15 Plus, and volunteered to attempt 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 discovered from the method.
The 16 Plus seems to be nicer. It simply does
That sounds odd, proper? Contemplating that Apple has largely stored the identical design this yr. However I far choose my new telephone’s seems to be due to a couple of minor aesthetic tweaks.
The colours, for one factor, are way more vibrant. I plumped for pink each occasions, however the place the 2023 pink was a washed-out rose blush that appears virtually white in images, the 2024 pink is unbelievable. I talk about my ideas on the significance of a great pink in a separate article.
David Worth / Foundry
David Worth / Foundry
David Worth / Foundry
I additionally choose the digicam 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 relation to the Motion button, one in all 2023’s flagship Professional options. I’m utilizing it for the primary time now. Apologies if the next scorching take has gone chilly.
Right here’s my view. Having an Motion button as a substitute of a mute swap is clearly higher, as a result of it seems to be nicer (see above), is simpler to make use of, doesn’t get clogged with mud, is presumably much less liable to failure, and will be programmed to carry out capabilities apart from mute/unmute in case you’d choose. However the final one is the primary profit regardless that I don’t actually see why you’d wish to use any of the opposite core capabilities.
Having easy accessibility to a mute management is helpful, and whereas utilizing the 16 Plus I’ve by no means been prepared to sacrifice that for a unique management. I would like the flashlight much less typically, and it’s already simply accessible by way of the Lock Display screen; the latter level additionally applies double to the digicam, which is accessible by way of the Lock Display screen or the brand new Digital camera Management. Shazam is a correct area of interest perform I can think about myself utilizing, what, a few occasions a yr? For Magnifier, that determine in all probability rises to 5 – 6 occasions. And let’s face it, most individuals aren’t diving into Shortcuts to create their very own actions.
The one various use I can see for the Motion button is Translate. If I am going on vacation someplace the place I don’t converse the language, I’ll swap the button to that perform and use my iPhone as a helpful sci-fi translator. However for the remainder of the yr, it’s staying as a glorified mute swap.
The digicam is significantly better for close-ups, however that’s about it
The digicam is a vital component 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 completely different. The primary digicam has been rebranded as “Fusion” which, you realize, sounds good, the Extremely Huge aperture has improved from f/2.4 to f/2.2, and Photographic Types have been up to date. However none of that resulted, a minimum of in my subjective expertise, in higher images.
Apart from the brand new macro pictures characteristic. Shut-ups are significantly better and it’s not even shut (no pun supposed).
For those who spend a number of your time taking images of tiny painted fashions to submit on the web, this may very well be an enormous profit to upgrading.
I actually don’t like Digital camera Management. Not now, and doubtless not ever
So the digicam itself isn’t all that completely different, however the way in which you entry it’s. There’s a brand new button known 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 screen. Second, the button is positioned in an ungainly a part of the chassis the place my ring finger presses it unintentionally once I choose 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 comfy. (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. For those who do a “mild press” on the Digital camera Management, it enables you to modify the publicity, depth of area impact, zoom, fashion, and so forth. Doing two mild presses enables you to swap between these. However these actions are so counterintuitive, so fiddly to get proper, that I’ve little interest in utilizing them… which suggests I’m unlikely to ever get higher. The excellent news is you’ll be able to 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 circumstances, 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 (a minimum of in concept) 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 concerning the exact specs of its proprietary chips, however my velocity benchmarking backed up the concept that it is a main step ahead. The 16 Plus was about 25 p.c sooner than the 15 Plus throughout the Geekbench 5 and Geekbench 6 CPU assessments, and an astonishing 45 p.c sooner within the GB5 Compute check.
Whereas that’s a powerful enchancment on paper, nonetheless, the real-world impact is scarcely noticeable. There merely aren’t any iPhone duties proper now that want that a lot theoretical velocity, and you might be more likely to discover, as I do, that the 16 Plus doesn’t really feel any sooner in apply.
It does offer you an additional yr or two of future-proofing, nonetheless. Apps will develop extra demanding to make the most of the larger processing energy showing available on the market. And naturally, there’s Apple Intelligence. Talking of…
The iPhone 16’s pink colour seems to be good all the way in which round.
The iPhone 16’s pink colour seems to be good all the way in which round.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
The iPhone 16’s pink colour seems to be 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 all the iPhone 16 launch. However it’s not right here but, and doubtless gained’t be for a number of extra weeks. It’s onerous to know what to make of this.
Most clearly, you’ll be able to hardly anticipate prospects 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 individuals to purchase their iPhone on the energy of a characteristic that no one exterior Apple Park has examined, and which can not (maybe we should 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 not anticipate it to perform 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 totally with out motive–of shopping for the most recent iPhone on launch day whether or not or not it’s a worthwhile improve. However a minimum of, prior 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?
For those who’ve bought an iPhone 15 Plus, I wouldn’t suggest that you simply improve to the iPhone 16 Plus. It doesn’t really feel any sooner, the digicam is just 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.
For those who should improve, a minimum of wait till Apple Intelligence launches on the finish of October. Then we will see if the primary occasion is definitely worth the value of admission.
