Apple held its annual iPhone event to debut the iPhone 16 line and different units. All the bogus intelligence (AI) options Apple unveiled could also be very tempting, however is the iPhone 16 sufficient of an improve to warrant a brand new $1,000+ cost?
Additionally: Four reasons I’m not upgrading to an iPhone 16 Pro from my iPhone 14
As an iPhone 14 Professional Max consumer, I am not satisfied that the brand new AI-enabled iPhone 16 Pro is well worth the improve for me. However the USB-C charging, the motion button, or new digital camera options might make the improve worthwhile to you. In the event you’re making an attempt to determine, learn on to study why it is best to improve or why it could be price holding off till the iPhone 17.
You can purchase the iPhone 16 Professional if…
1. You need Apple Intelligence
Apple’s synthetic intelligence push, aptly named Apple Intelligence, will likely be out there over the approaching months on the iPhone 16 lineup, but it surely’s not coming to the iPhone 14 Professional. Although the iPhone 14 Professional will get iOS 18, it’s going to be brief on AI options, rendering it outdated very quickly. If you would like to remain up-to-date with the most recent AI options or already use different AI instruments in your day-to-day life, the iPhone 16 Professional is probably going a worthy improve.
Additionally: The 5 best iPhone 16 Pro features that enthusiasts will care about
To run easily, the Apple Intelligence options require an A17 chip or newer and at the very least 8GB of RAM, however the iPhone 14 Professional has the A16 chip and solely 6GB of RAM.
The iPhone 16 Professional options an A18 Professional chip and 8GB of RAM, making it an ideal system to run Apple’s AI options.
2. You’d prefer to get your palms on the larger display
Apple has thinned out the iPhone 16 Professional’s bezels to the naked minimal and stretched the Professional fashions’ shows to six.3 and 6.9 inches for the 16 Professional and 16 Professional Max, respectively. This offers customers extra display actual property to observe movies, play video games, view and edit paperwork, and browse shared screens on video conferences.
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The bigger smartphone additionally signifies that the iPhone 16 Professional has a bigger battery than the 14 Professional, at 3,355 mAh in comparison with 3,200 mAh. However even with out the welcome battery improve, the brand new Professional fashions assist quicker charging than ever. The iPhone 16 Professional helps 40W wired charging and 20W of MagSafe charging, so in case you discover the iPhone 14 Professional’s charging gradual, it may very well be time to improve.
3. You’re keen on taking lovely pictures
The iPhone 16 Professional options a number of the greatest digital camera enhancements, together with the improved ultrawide digital camera. The UW digital camera moved to align with a bigger, improved Sony sensor, so it is going from a measly 12MP to 48MP.
Additionally: The iPhone 16’s new camera button is the feature I’m most excited about. Here’s how it works
In the event you love taking pictures along with your smartphone, the digital camera upgrades alone could also be sufficient to improve to an iPhone 16 Professional. The optical zoom is now 5x, an improve from the iPhone 14 Professional’s 3x zoom. The iPhone 16 Professional can even function Apple’s new seize button, which helps you to management the digital camera with gestures, like transferring your finger and tapping the touch-enabled button.
You can purchase (or hold) the iPhone 14 Professional if…
1. You’d somewhat watch for larger upgrades
Even with the Apple Intelligence options, the iPhone 16 appears to be an incremental design change somewhat than a revamp; the design and performance aren’t a radical departure from the iPhone 14 Professional. In the event you’re content material with the look, really feel, and efficiency of your iPhone 14, getting the iPhone 16 Professional doubtless will not really feel like an enormous improve, particularly since most of the AI options will come later.
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Rumors counsel the iPhone 17 might function extra dramatic design and performance updates, making it a worthwhile bounce. In addition to, upgrading after two generations might be expensive, which brings me to my subsequent level.
2. You simply completed paying it off
One of many largest causes to carry off on an improve is monetary. The iPhone 14 Professional began at $900 at launch, which is not pocket change. Most patrons select a 12-, 18-, or 24-month financing choice by way of a service or Apple on a brand new iPhone. In the event you’re certainly one of them and also you simply completed paying off your iPhone 14 Professional and really feel such as you’re not financially able to commit to a different cost plan, it could be price passing on the brand new iPhone 16 Professional.
As an iPhone 14 Professional Max consumer, I am nonetheless fairly pleased with how my iPhone performs, its battery life, and charging time. Whereas USB-C charging could be handy, I do not see myself springing for the brand new iPhone 16 Professional, although I could go for the iPhone 17 when it is launched.