The iPhone 16 series brings incremental upgrades over the iPhone 15 models, with modest improvements such as a slightly brighter and dimmer display, a faster A18 Pro chipset, and better battery life while watching videos.
Apple has also increased memory to support upcoming AI tools, but overall, the advancements feel more like keeping pace with industry trends than significant leaps forward. Users looking for substantial changes will find the update underwhelming, as these improvements only provide small boosts rather than transformative changes.
One area where Apple has pushed the envelope is with the introduction of the Camera Control button, alongside the Action Button introduced last year. This capacitive button, now standard across all iPhone 16 models, provides a versatile new way to control the camera, allowing for functions like exposure, zoom, and switching between photo and video modes.
The Camera Control button has been praised for its intuitive design and fast response, making it a major improvement for photography and videography on the iPhone.
Generative artificial intelligence is set to be a game-changer in the smartphone industry, but Apple’s implementation, branded as Apple Intelligence, is not fully ready yet. While Google and Android devices have already integrated generative AI, iPhone users will have to wait until at least March 2025 for the full functionality.
Apple Intelligence was showcased at two major events, but the features are still in development, and initial AI tools will only start rolling out with iOS 18.1 in October. Apple has fallen behind competitors in the AI race, a rare miss for the tech giant.
Although the iPhone 16’s Camera Control button has improved the camera experience, the software is still incomplete, with essential features like half-press to hold focus delayed to future updates. This delay highlights a broader theme with the iPhone 16—Apple has introduced exciting concepts but hasn’t yet fully delivered them. The Camera Control button is a promising step forward, but it requires further refinement to unlock its full potential.
The iPhone 16 series offers minor improvements in specs, such as brighter displays, faster processors, and slightly longer battery life. While there are flashes of innovation, like the Camera Control button, the iPhone 16 feels more like an iterative upgrade than a groundbreaking release. Apple continues to deliver its signature brand appeal and hints of future capabilities, but for now, the updates fall short of transformative.
