Every year, soon after the new iPhones drop, I receive several messages, calls, emails — asking for the right recommendations. The queries mostly revolve between the Pro and the standard model or the last and the new generation. Not to flex, but I usually have a clear answer to all these questions. That isn’t the case this time though. With the iPhone 16 series, Apple has made it really difficult to recommend the right iPhone and I think it’s going to be equally difficult for you choose one.
There are several reasons for that – for the first time, iPhone 16 Pro is very similar to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Both these models are now cheaper in India than the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 has a major advantage over iPhone 15 with Apple Intelligence and the new chipset.
I know a lot of people, including my colleague Dhriti has been critical of Apple Intelligence’s limited availability at the time of launch, but there is more to this which I will address in a moment. First, let’s talk about the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max.
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Apple has given both the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max a very similar treatment. Both of these have the same A18 Pro Bionic chipset, will support 4K 120fps video recording, are equipped with new photographic styles, are claimed to be ideal for gaming, have the 120Hz displays and the goodness of Apple Intelligence. The iPhone 16 Pro also gets the same 5x optical zoom support on the telephoto sensor this year, which was missing on last year’s model.
I saw what both these phones can do at an iPhone briefing at the Apple Park. Some of the features that truly impressed me were the new Camera Control Button and Audio Mix, which I think will be appreciated by a lot of users.
So, the only differentiating factors this year are the size of the phones, their battery life and the price tag. If I only consider the price, the iPhone 16 Pro makes more sense and offers a fantastic value. Also, given that it is bigger this year at 6.3-inch and the iPhone 16 Pro Max feels like a mini-tablet in hand, I think for most people, the decision will come down to that.
This is the most obvious question that pops-up after the iPhone launch. Should I get the new one or buy one generation older iPhone at a reduced price? The answer to this is usually – yes, get that last-gen iPhone because it is still fast, has great cameras and long software life. With Apple Intelligence, the answer to this questions, is more complicated.
This is where I also address Apple Intelligence’s limited availability. You can totally skip it for now and buy the iPhone 14 or iPhone 15. Your day to day experience will be more or less the same. But, here is the thing, unlike Apple’s other software updates, you will not get Apple Intelligence on the older models at any point. So, you won’t have it today but you will also not have it two years from now.
And, two years is a long time in the world of tech. Two years ago, Dynamic Island felt like a major upgrade and there were no signs of AI exploding the way it did. Apple Intelligence might be a work in progress right now but there are signs that it will evolve and get better. Come on, it has to. All these new features and capabilities will only come to the iPhone 16 series.
Also, Apple seems to be pretty hyped about the Camera Control and it says that there will be more capabilities coming to it over time. So, if you are ready to let go of these experiences or plan to upgrade when the iPhone 17 launches, go ahead and buy the iPhone 15. The smart decision would be to get the iPhone 16 and be ready for the next 3-4 years of upgrades.
Also read: iPhone 16’s Apple Intelligence lets you create emojis and images on the phone
This is probably the easiest one to answer. Both the phones now have Type-c ports, Dynamic Island, Apple Intelligence, OLED displays, the new Camera Control and the Action Button. So, Apple has actually reduced the hardware gap between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. Yet, the latter has some major advantages over its sibling.
First of all, it’s now bigger than the iPhone 16 at 6.3-inch, which I think is still quite compact and the ideal size for a phone. The A18 Pro Bionic chip is supposed to be much faster and battery efficient. Then, you have the dedicated telephoto sensor on the 16 Pro along with 4K 120fps video recording, both of which are important features for content creators. The Titanium build is also better and you have a more responsive and brighter display too.
Yes, you will have around Rs 40,000 extra for all of that but I think it’s kind of worth it.
It’s not actually a bad confusion either. The consumers will basically be spoilt for choices this year. While I can’t wait to get my hands on all the new models and test them to finally have clear recommendations.