Last 4 years of iPhone have seen gradual and slow upgrades, with Apple focusing on a slow-roll out of new features each year. Whether this is done from a financial perspective, or to have better control over the software, is hard to tell. Regardless, iPhone 16 is here, and in my opinion, it is better than the yearly upgrades we saw at the launch of iPhone 15.
One of the major changes in iPhone 16 is the main camera. It's an upgraded 48mp camera, with some new quirks and software processing to improve the processing and add some new features. Which is a pretty good upgrade, since main camera is the most used for most people. Although the ultrawide stays at the 12mp limit, which should not happen in 2024; but alas Apple knows iPhone 16 will sell well regardless.
The addition of A18 and 8GB RAM is a welcome move, although the reasoning doesn't sound as good. Apple claims to have done it because it was necessary to run Apple Intelligence features, rather than just add it for consumers to have a better option. Most android brands offer multiple different RAM options in their flagships, for consumers to choose for themselves. But this isn't surprising at all, it's very apple-like.
The iPhone 16 pro and pro max see upgrade as well, the A18 pro as claimed by apple "is the fastest chip in any phone", along with an upgraded 48mp ultrawide. Thankfully the pro models stopped using the 12mp ultrawide, but again keep the 12mp for the 5x telephoto.
Using new algorithms and 'Apple Intelligence' they have improved the processing and image output from all cameras. We'll have to wait for real world tests for that.
Another major improvement is that Magsafe charging now supports 25w, instead of the usual 15w charging. While wired charging speeds have been increased to 40w(according to certain leaks, which I doubt are true because the adaptor remains at max 30w for the 25w magsafe speed). Speaking of charging, the battery life in all 4 models is claimed to be improved. Although no evidence or numbers were given, they emphasized how new algorithms and the new chip help improve battery life. Which leads me to believe that the battery capacity in itself has barely increased, and instead it relies on other components and software to improve the battery life.
Overall, the software features, such as improved videography, combining and merging voice notes, improved algorithms for battery and camera processing, as well as some other things, are a welcome change. However, being perhaps the most expensive mainstream flagship phone, I would have expected some more improvements in other aspects; such as the 12mp 5x lens, battery capacity which is almost the same, the 12mp front camera which is the same sensor since 13 series, no 12GB ram option, and the screen resolution is not as crisp as the ultra/pro flagships from android OEM's.
Given that the screen size for both the pro and pro max has increased, I'd have expected more hardware to be upgraded. We'll have to wait for real world tests and find out just how much of Apple's claim actually work as intended in real world scenarios.
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