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 dissatisfied maintaining with the rumors, because it gave the impression of Apple had nothing attention-grabbing in retailer different than simply bigger shows.

Nevertheless, there was one key improve with the iPhone 16 lineup that didn’t essentially seem within the rumors, and it received me to drag 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. Nevertheless, when Apple truly unveiled the cellphone, we received Dynamic Island, one thing way 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 blissful. We had USB-C, a pleasant new titanium end (which contributed to the cellphone being rather a lot lighter), the motion button, and nice battery life. We additionally received the 5x telephoto digital camera, which I discovered much more helpful than the earlier 3x telephoto.

In my head, there was no motive to improve telephones this yr, however my opinions shifted as soon as the telephones truly got here out.

Why improve?

iPhone 16 Professional offered a singular 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 cellphone than the iPhone 15 Professional Max, so from the beginning, I knew that the following iPhone I’d get would find yourself being a smaller one. Nevertheless, I had issues concerning the battery life main into it.

Smaller iPhones have historically had fairly poor battery life. Nevertheless, iPhone 16 Professional flipped that.

Based on 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 when it comes to battery life from my 15 Professional Max actually made it interesting. Plus, I’ve all the time wished a smaller cellphone, however as talked about earlier, I by no means wished to take successful in battery life.

Different causes

One other key improve with the iPhone 16 Professional is the truth that the smaller mannequin positive aspects the 5x telephoto digital camera, which was beforehand unique to the iPhone 15 Professional Max. This meant that I wouldn’t be compromising on both digital camera or battery life by going with the smaller cellphone. The digital camera improve was rumored all yr, 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 assist for Apple Intelligence, however the iPhone 15 Professional was plagued with overheating points. In all honesty, I by no means actually seen the overheating points previous launch, aside from often getting toasty whereas charging. Nevertheless, operating the iOS 18.1 beta with Apple Intelligence modified that.

I seen 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 constantly scorching, 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 had been making a distinction.

Now, it’s very potential that was only a non permanent concern, 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. Nevertheless, that distinction was obvious throughout my testing, and it performed into my choice.

Last ideas

Briefly, I’ve all the time wished a smaller cellphone, and the iPhone 16 Professional grew to become the right alternative to modify. The 6.3″ kind 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 de facto good.

For the report although, I’m not operating the iOS 18.1 beta with Apple Intelligence. For no matter motive, my cellphone was draining by battery life like loopy, and I usually wanted to recharge it a number of instances a day. Shortly after iOS 18.0.1 launched, I ended up downgrading, which supplied comparable 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 obtainable, seemingly on October twenty eighth.

As for my ideas on Digicam Management, I truly just like the characteristic. At the very least on the smaller cellphone, 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 quite than twiddling with the display screen whereas attempting to seize a fast shot.

I’m a bit break up on truly 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 shade. Although they didn’t name it ‘Gold,’ it’s nonetheless my favourite gold iPhone shade in years.

The iPhone 16 Professional is in any other case an uneventful cellphone, however the capability to lastly downsize was sufficient to make it value it for me.

How do you’re feeling concerning the iPhone 16 Professional? Tell us within the feedback.

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