It’s been a few month since Apple launched the iPhone 16 lineup. As an iPhone 15 Professional Max person, I used to be actually fairly upset maintaining with the rumors, because it seemed like Apple had nothing fascinating in retailer different than simply bigger shows.
Nonetheless, there was one key improve with the iPhone 16 lineup that didn’t essentially seem within the rumors, and it bought me to tug the set off.
This isn’t the primary time this phenomenon has occurred to me. Most not too long ago, the iPhone 14 Professional appeared like a particularly boring improve, with the notch merely being changed with a twin punch-hole cutout. Nonetheless, when Apple really unveiled the telephone, we bought Dynamic Island, one thing much more thrilling. It was distinctive software program implementation on prime of an in any other case boring {hardware} change.
As an iPhone 15 Professional Max person, I used to be fairly comfortable. We had USB-C, a pleasant new titanium end (which contributed to the telephone being loads lighter), the motion button, and nice battery life. We additionally bought the 5x telephoto digicam, which I discovered much more helpful than the earlier 3x telephoto.
In my head, there was no purpose to improve telephones this 12 months, however my opinions shifted as soon as the telephones really got here out.
Why improve?
iPhone 16 Professional offered a novel alternative for me to downsize. The iPhone 16 Professional lineup has bigger 6.3″ and 6.9″ shows, in comparison with the 6.1″ and 6.7″ shows of iPhone 15 Professional. I didn’t actually desire a bigger telephone than the iPhone 15 Professional Max, so from the beginning, I knew that the subsequent iPhone I’d get would find yourself being a smaller one. Nonetheless, I had issues in regards to the battery life main into it.
Smaller iPhones have historically had fairly poor battery life. Nonetheless, iPhone 16 Professional flipped that.
In response to a Tom’s Information battery take a look at, iPhone 16 Professional had across the similar battery life because the iPhone 15 Professional Max, each lasting simply over 14 hours of their testing.
Clearly, the 16 Professional Max lasts even longer, with round 18 hours of their take a look at. However, the truth that I wouldn’t be downgrading by way of battery life from my 15 Professional Max actually made it interesting. Plus, I’ve at all times needed a smaller telephone, however as talked about earlier, I by no means needed to take successful in battery life.
Different causes
One other key improve with the iPhone 16 Professional is the truth that the smaller mannequin beneficial properties the 5x telephoto digicam, which was beforehand unique to the iPhone 15 Professional Max. This meant that I wouldn’t be compromising on both digicam or battery life by going with the smaller telephone. The digicam improve was rumored all 12 months, however the truth that it got here to fruition made the choice simpler.
And final, Apple Intelligence. Sure, the iPhone 15 Professional and its A17 Professional chipset have help for Apple Intelligence, however the iPhone 15 Professional was plagued with overheating points. In all honesty, I by no means actually observed the overheating points previous launch, apart from sometimes getting toasty whereas charging. Nonetheless, operating the iOS 18.1 beta with Apple Intelligence modified that.
I observed that my iPhone 15 Professional Max was operating noticeably hotter than my iPhone 16 Professional, each operating the identical iOS 18.1 beta 4 on the time. Initially I simply blamed the beta for my 15 Professional Max being so persistently sizzling, however as soon as I had the 2 telephones facet by facet, it grew to become obvious. The A18 Professional chipset and the brand new thermal system within the iPhone 16 Professional have been making a distinction.
Now, it’s very doable that was only a short-term challenge, and that the iPhone 15 Professional gained’t have the identical thermal issues operating Apple Intelligence when the ultimate model of iOS 18.1 is launched. Nonetheless, that distinction was obvious throughout my testing, and it performed into my resolution.
Ultimate ideas
Briefly, I’ve at all times needed a smaller telephone, and the iPhone 16 Professional grew to become the proper alternative to modify. The 6.3″ type issue is comfy in my hand whereas not feeling like a tiny show, and the battery life, for the primary time ever in a small professional iPhone, is basically good.
For the file although, I’m now not operating the iOS 18.1 beta with Apple Intelligence. For no matter purpose, my telephone was draining by way of battery life like loopy, and I typically wanted to recharge it a number of occasions a day. Shortly after iOS 18.0.1 launched, I ended up downgrading, which offered related battery life to my 15 Professional Max.
I’m wanting ahead to giving Apple Intelligence one other spin on my iPhone when the general public launch is on the market, probably on October twenty eighth.
As for my ideas on Digital camera Management, I really just like the characteristic. Not less than on the smaller telephone, I don’t discover the positioning of the button awkward in any respect. I’ve set the slider to regulate publicity, which I discover fairly helpful, because it’s straightforward to regulate in a pinch relatively than twiddling with the display whereas making an attempt to seize a fast shot.
I’m a bit cut up on really urgent down on the button to seize a photograph although, and discover myself various between the button and the show relying on the context.
I additionally fairly just like the Desert Titanium coloration. Although they didn’t name it ‘Gold,’ it’s nonetheless my favourite gold iPhone coloration in years.
The iPhone 16 Professional is in any other case an uneventful telephone, however the means to lastly downsize was sufficient to make it price it for me.
How do you are feeling in regards to the iPhone 16 Professional? Tell us within the feedback.
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