It’s one of Apple’s most iterative releases yet, but that’s not a bad thing.
  • FrankLaskey@lemmy.mlEnglish
    7·
    3 months ago

    I think the point about the 3 year upgrade cycle being optimal unless you are a real enthusiast is right on the money. I’d say I’m moderately interested in tech improvements in this space and it seems ideal for me as I will be considering an upgrade from an iPhone 13 Pro (likely informed by how gimmicky or actually useful the Apple Intelligence stuff becomes and if I can offload my ChatGPT Pro subscription). If you’re really not a huge phone tech person or looking for the best camera quality then every 4 years is probably completely reasonable as well. At that point, the battery life is probably starting to suffer as well…

    • Snowcano@startrek.website
      5·
      3 months ago

      I’m fairly tech savvy, still on my Xr and feel no reason to change. Battery will probably be the deciding factor before anything else.

      • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.worldEnglish
        41·
        3 months ago

        I wish we could still replace the batteries. They claim it’s enclosed for water resistance, but my watch is way more water resistant with a replaceable battery than any phone is. I think it’s all about forcing you to buy a new phone.

  • cyrano@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    151·
    3 months ago

    The good

    • These phones still have some of the best screens you can buy—even the non-Pro iPhone hits it out of the park
    • They have by far the best smartphone performance, too
    • Solid gains in GPU performance
    • Camera Control brings the long-awaited physical shutter button
    • The customizable Action button makes its way to the base iPhone
    • New photographic styles allow you to move away from the pitfalls of Apple’s computational photography decisions in any direction you choose
    • High-end camera features previously reserved for more expensive models have trickled down
    • Ultra-wide photos in low light got quite a bit better
    • Battery life improvements are always welcome

    The bad

    • 60 Hz on the non-Pro phones is looking a bit long in the tooth
    • Likewise, always-on displays are now standard in some of the iPhone 16’s direct competitors
    • The Pro phones don’t offer enough to justify an upgrade over the base models for the majority of consumers
    • Possibly the most subtle year-over-year upgrades in iPhone history—if that’s really a bad thing

    The ugly

    • Not much, other than the steep prices