I switched from iPhone 15 to iPhone 16 and the upgrade is bigger than expected

ZDNET Key Points

• For $899, iPhone 16 Plus It’s $300 cheaper than the Pro Max but still gives you the great experience of a large-screen iPhone.
• Configurable Action Buttons and Camera Controls give users more iOS shortcuts than ever before. Expect a learning curve, let your imagination run wild, and enjoy the ride.
• Features I hoped Apple would improve this year — like the 60Hz refresh rate and slower-than-average 20W wired charging — remain unchanged.

As a tech enthusiast, I always default to the most powerful, most powerful, most expensive devices that companies offer. So every year, when the latest iPhone comes out, testing the standard models brings me back to mainstream reality.

These are the iPhones that most people buy, with Counterbalance research reports that in 2024, the iPhone 15 outsold the iPhone 15 Pro. In the previous year, the iPhone 14 outsold both the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Also: We’ve used every iPhone 16 model and here’s our best buying advice for 2024

After testing the iPhone 16 Plus for the past two days (and reviewing it further in the coming weeks), I predict a similar consumer trend will play out with this year’s iPhones — but with the gap widening.

See at Apple

With this year’s standard iPhones, Apple is employing what I like to call a “Sibling” strategy. You know how older siblings tend to get all the latest and greatest stuff first—shirts, toys, shoes? After a year, or when the excitement around something dies down, it gets passed down to the younger sibling, so the old stuff becomes new again. That’s exactly what Apple did with last year’s iPhone 15 Pro and this year’s iPhone 16, and I don’t mind it at all.

Also: iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16: Should you upgrade to Apple’s latest model?

The new For example, the Action button replaces the physical mute toggle and can be mapped to a unique function, from turning on the flashlight to starting a voice memo to turning on the camera. Of course, you can also set the Action button to toggle between alert and silent modes.

Consider this an iPhone era of my own accordYou should really try to take advantage of the customization freedom here. My Action Button is currently set to “Turn on AirDrop for 10 minutes” because I’m testing my phone’s camera and regularly uploading pictures and videos to my MacBook. That prompt will probably change over the weekend, which is the beauty of the new hardware button.

There’s also a new Camera Control located in the bottom right corner of the phone, which looks and works just like it does on the Pro. At its most basic, pressing Camera Control will take a photo or start recording video. For some Apple magic, a lighter, gentler press of the same key (Apple told me not to call it a button) will bring up sliders for your most recent camera settings, whether that’s zoom range, exposure, or f-stop.

Also: Apple says the iPhone 16 is much easier to repair than its predecessor. Here’s how

Double-tapping Camera Control brings up a series of shooting modes and settings, each accessible with another light tap. Finally, swiping across the capacitive touch surface will cycle through the settings. In other words, Camera Control has a learning curve, so much so that I wouldn’t be mad if Apple made it exclusive to the Pro models. Since it isn’t, this will be the first time many users experience such limited control over camera settings, and that’s exciting.

Going into my testing, I biggest concern Is the placement (or ergonomics) of Camera Control ruining this genius feature? Because the button is closer to the middle of the side (even closer if you’re using the smaller iPhone 16), you now take photos by pressing with your index finger instead of your thumb. There’s some muscle memory to be learned here; I often find myself tapping the screen to focus and shoot instead.

Camera Control encourages you to position your iPhone in landscape orientation, taking advantage of the latest iPhone 16 capabilities to capture immersive photos space images and videos for VR. This is another feature that’s been brought down from last year’s Pro model, but it’s nothing to be embarrassed about using. Just like you need a 8K TV To watch 8K video, you will need a compatible device. VR Headset to consume space content. I have watched some space videos on both Apple Vision Pro And Meta Quest 3And while they’re far more engaging than any other digital content, the ability to record them should be considered a bonus rather than a prerequisite when considering the iPhone 16.

Also: Every iPhone 16 model gets a new camera button. Here’s what it does

One thing you’re more likely to take advantage of: the new 12MP ultra-wide camera. With an f/2.2 aperture (up from last year’s f/2.4), the iPhone 16 can let in more light (meaning more detail in both day and night) and capture close-up shots, just like the iPhone 15 Pro did with its ultra-wide lens.

Combine the utility of the ultra-wide angle with the new 48MP Fusion camera (which combines the main camera with 2x digital zoom) and the Photo Styles that can now be modified before and after the shot, and you have one of the most versatile iPhone camera systems ever. Whether it’s recreating the vibrant colors of my dinner in a dimly lit restaurant, extracting detail from tiny succulents, or capturing the controlled chaos of my morning commute, I rarely felt like the iPhone 16 Plus couldn’t do it. female shoot.

Also: How to Clear the Cache on Your iPhone (and Why You Should)

I say rarely because there was an evening when I wanted to take a picture of the moon. It appeared closer to Earth than ever, glowing a warm orange, and felt like the perfect shot with my family celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. But the iPhone 16’s zoom, limited to 2x, barely captured the essence of the moment. There was noticeable noise when I hesitated to dial down the digital zoom, and I sorely missed the 5x optical camera on the Pro models.

While I was hoping to see at least a 90Hz refresh rate on the new iPhones, assuming ProMotion (120Hz) is limited to the Pro devices, Apple continues to offer the base models with 60Hz panels. This isn’t a huge deal, and frankly, people switching from older non-Pro iPhones won’t know what they’re missing. Displaying fewer frames also helps extend the battery life of the iPhone 16, which has been adequate so far.

But in 2024, when even one Android phone for $150 coupled with smoother display technology, the 90Hz panel would make me switch from the iPhone 15 immediately.

Also: How iOS 18 changes the way you charge your iPhone

Apple has increased wireless charging speeds (up to 25W via MagSafe) on the iPhone 16 models, although wired charging speeds remain at 20W. In my testing, the iPhone 16 Plus charged from 0% to 100% in about an hour and 47 minutes, which is significantly slower than most flagship phones (priced above $700) on the market.

ZDNET’s Buying Advice (Current)

There is one thing I haven’t mentioned in this review, and that is Apple IntelligenceAI tools are scattered throughout iOS 18. That’s because most of the AI ​​experiences, including improved Siri, call recording, and text generation, won’t be available until October unless you download ios 18.1 public beta today. That means, you should not buy iPhone 16 about its AI capabilities — at least for now.

Until the official software launches, I will continue to review the iPhone 16 and update you on battery life, video recording capabilities, daily usage performance, etc.