iPhone 16 Pro 8 to 16 Pro: Honest review and heartbreaking reality

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

Get a MagSafe pop socket. As a dad who doesn’t care about opinions or image (also I’m not sure if it’s even considered uncool, but whatever, I don’t care) - I literally wouldn’t want to live without it. It genuinely makes one handed use a million times more pleasant.

The plain back ones are pretty inconspicuous and being MagSafe it’s really convenient to remove if you don’t feel like it or want to switch cases etc

Also it’s way easier to get it next day on Amazon - try it out and return both if your still not sold - as opposed to changing phones

Although I usually despise products that are unergonomic and too large for your hands, you’ll get far better value/$ by getting a larger smartphone and finding ways to hold it over going for a smaller one that’s easy to hold out of the box.

Battery life alone is reason enough to force yourself to live with a 6.1”

So bizarre and true to force gigantor phones on us.

I’m going to live with the 16pro. But perhaps a 17 6.1 is in my future.

The 8 will always live on like a Celine Dion song.

Well, it obviously sucks for the substantial demographic of people that can’t hold these >6.1” smartphones.

But, obviously, the sales figures and smartphone market have only been moving towards larger and larger displays, even before the iPhone 6 Plus dropped 10 years ago.

So, while there still are decent options with SE3 and 13 mini, I’d say it’s wiser to find ways to manage with 6.1” and > sooner rather than later.

Smartphone displays are only getting larger -You’ll adapt to the larger displays or be forced to use iPhones 13 and older.

 

[mectojic]

I am so pleased we share the exact same feelings about the original SE. It’s truly my GOAT phone as well. I also own a 13 mini that I upgraded to on launch day in 2021. Although the tech is by far better than the SE in all respects, I’ve realized nothing comes close to the size of that 1st gen SE and that’s exactly why I keep going back to using it also. When I know I’m with my kids for an extended period and taking lots of pictures (vacation) that’s when I prefer the 13 mini over SE. But for everyday routines (work), it’s the SE hands down. It’s just perfection in your hand and pocket. I do hate iOS 15 on it because I find battery life to be terrible. As a result, I’ve been lately rocking iOS 13.5 and performance is much better (slightly worse than iOS 12). I own so many SE’s as backups and they’re cheap to find used. Call me crazy but I like to restore them by doing housing/battery swaps. I’m glad to know there are a few people like you and I that still love these old gems. OLD BUT GOLD!

How about app compatibility on iOS 13?

 

[SteveJawbs]

I think they changed how it works. But long tap and drag or just using your spacebar as trackpad (long tap on spacebar and then move your finger) should allow you to control caret precisely.

Something doesn’t seem right with precise cursor placement. Battling it everyday. Long press is spotty as well.
Not sure if related to threads about touch issues.

 

[SteveJawbs]

Well, considering sales figures and the absence of any new <6.1” iPhones, apart from SE3, I wouldn’t expect to ever see smaller than 6.1” iPhones ever again.

Apple increasing display sizes on the Pros and sticking with putting out new Plus models for 3 years (mini only got 2 iterations) should tell you what Apple sells more of and what direction iPhones sizes are going in (all other brands are ditching <6” smartphones too, btw).

You’ll have to settle for SE3 or 13 mini. Although both are bad value/$ on several many parameters compared to the 6.1” iPhones 12 and 13.

Personally, I’ve rarely felt an upgrade made a huge difference to how I use my iPhone. So it’s something I’m doing less and less.

And with that in mind, I’d go for an SE3 or a 6.1” 13, if you can get used to the size, and then just ride it out.

Especially the 6.1” 13 is a great value, miles and miles better than SE3, and heavily discounted almost everywhere.

As I said in my original post my dad has an SE3 and I considered it.

I’ve officially decided to live with the nuances of the 16 Pro.

It’s only a phone.

But I will always appreciate how Apple gave me 7 years of a flawless experience. Steven p would be proud of that.

Just give us the ability to customize the top bar that blocks all the ridiculous notch steals.

Give us under the screen TID. 🙏🏿

 

[Bungaree.Chubbins]

As I said in my original post my dad has an SE3 and I considered it.

I’ve officially decided to live with the nuances of the 16 Pro.

It’s only a phone.

But I will always appreciate how Apple gave me 7 years of a flawless experience. Steven p would be proud of that.

Just give us the ability to customize the top bar that blocks all the ridiculous notch steals.

Give us under the screen TID. 🙏🏿

You do have to be impressed with the longevity of the iPhone 8. I used my 8 Plus until I got a 14. I only decided to get the 14 because the earpiece speaker had blown, and the battery was definitely in a sorry state, and the cost of repairing it was too high for me. It's still plugging away in a secondary role, but I love the iPhone 14 a lot, I would be gutted if something happened to it and I had to go back to my 8 Plus again.

 

[B.A.T]

I the iPhone 8 was a beautiful phone. Every once in a while I would remove it from its case and it never stopped amazing me how beautiful it was designed.

 

[SteveJawbs]

I the iPhone 8 was a beautiful phone. Every once in a while I would remove it from its case and it never stopped amazing me how beautiful it was designed.

Flawless perfection.

How silly we feel now when we look back on people waiting in lines 2 miles long for the 5 and it was considered the absolute GOAT. 🌞

The 16 has so many quirks and nuances es but I’ve moved on.

The 8 is sitting in a cradle still being used.

I have MFA I still need to grab from it. Backup only restored 20 of 25 MS AUTH objects. Still need to reset those 5. PITA.

 

[Anaxarxes]

Seems like you're experiencing "change with a big gap"

• I have small hands. The effort to hold the pro and navigate one handed is just too cumbersome. I tried it without the beater case I bought and it’s still just too big.
• I don’t know how Apple thinks the world population can use such large phones. I don’t know how women with tiny hands can use a max comfortably, but that is not something I need to worry about. Everyone has their preferences and perceived user experience. I am envious of people that can use these one handed.
• My small hands make it too difficult to navigate apps. Even when texting the inability to click the emoji chooser is just too difficult.
• I am a one handed iPhone user. It’s just the way I use it. Hats off to those with big hands and are not bothered by these big iPhones. God I wish I could.
  • https://support.apple.com/en-ie/guide/iphone/iph145eba8e9/ios
• The Dynamic Island and notch is still an eyesore for me. The lack of Bluetooth status and alarm status hurts. Sure, down swipe and get the status. But I loved the ability to see it at all times.
  • Fair, but seems like an issue just because it can be.
• FID is fine. Even though I believe our photos will be compromised by it at some point. The single greatest pieces of data nefarious sources want is IP, location and our facial imagery. All the big chain retail stores are taking our pics and selling them. Conspiracy? Nope.
  • You can justify a theory like this when you have ample evidence to support it. Once you research, read and thoroughly understand how FID works, you comment is comical at best...
• My 8 took amazing pics the other day. How much better can it be?
  • It depends on what you classify as a 'good photo'. If the photo you took seems fine to you, then no. But the photos are and can get a lot better than this.

 

[th1nk]

Anyone else hate the reachability gesture? I know about double tap on the back but I wish I could just double-tap the home bar for it.

But that gesture is reserved for type-to-Siri in an upcoming update ugh!!! I hope you can remap that gesture when it arrives.

 

[QCassidy352]

As I said in my original post my dad has an SE3 and I considered it.

I’ve officially decided to live with the nuances of the 16 Pro.

It’s only a phone.

But I will always appreciate how Apple gave me 7 years of a flawless experience. Steven p would be proud of that.

Just give us the ability to customize the top bar that blocks all the ridiculous notch steals.

Give us under the screen TID. 🙏🏿

You have the option of an updated version of the 8 (SE3), which will last you years, and you refuse to take it, instead paying 2.5x more for an experience you’re not enjoying. I’m struggling to understand here.

 

[h.gilbert]

I have small hands. The effort to hold the pro and navigate one handed is just too cumbersome. I tried it without the beater case I bought and it’s still just too big.
[...]
My small hands make it too difficult to navigate apps. Even when texting the inability to click the emoji chooser is just too difficult.
[...]
I don’t know how Apple thinks the world population can use such large phones. I don’t know how women with tiny hands can use a max comfortably, but that is not something I need to worry about. Everyone has their preferences and perceived user experience. I am envious of people that can use these one handed.
[...]
I am a one handed iPhone user. It’s just the way I use it. Hats off to those with big hands and are not bothered by these big iPhones. God I wish I could.

This is what I find a bit perplexing with iPhones, or really iOS. Last iPhone I had was the 7 Plus, since then I've been using androids in various forms. Every time I use someone else's iPhone, like my mum's 11 Pro Max, it feels so cumbersome to navigate not have system-wide universal back swipe. Each app has a different way of going back - is it a swipe, is the button top left, is it bottom right?

My latest phone is a Samsung S23 Plus. Big screen. Samsung takes it even further by letting you, instead of swiping up from the bottom of the screen to see all open apps, being able to swipe diagonal up from the side. You can also configure it however you want. I have diagonal down swipe to switch to last app too. It's means I can navigate completely using my right thumb in the same place.

iOS needs a revamp when it comes to navigation controls.

 

[subjonas]

Each app has a different way of going back - is it a swipe, is the button top left, is it bottom right?

I’ve never seen the back button anywhere other than top left in any app. And I’ve never heard of the back button being an issue for anyone using iOS longer than a day.

 

[Cirillo Gherardo]

Awful lot of 1 liners in this post that make it impossible to take seriously anything you say.

 

[h.gilbert]

I’ve never seen the back button anywhere other than top left in any app. And I’ve never heard of the back button being an issue for anyone using iOS longer than a day.

You're probably right, can't remember exactly where back buttons are. Like many things, it's not an issue until you use something better. Gauging from what I've read online (and of course my own experience), the majority of people who have used both iOS and android like android's universal back button/gesture. I don't think I've read anyone say they actually prefer the fact that iOS doesn't have have a universal back.

 

[subjonas]

You're probably right, can't remember exactly where back buttons are. Like many things, it's not an issue until you use something better. Gauging from what I've read online (and of course my own experience), the majority of people who have used both iOS and android like android's universal back button/gesture. I don't think I've read anyone say they actually prefer the fact that iOS doesn't have have a universal back.

The ones coming to iOS from long-time Android-only users are the ones who initially have a problem with it, mainly because they’re just used to having the universal back button. I can’t say I know what they all prefer overall but again I’ve never heard complaints from anyone after the initial transition. I came from Android (a long time ago) and it did bother me at first but now I couldn’t care less about having no universal back button or gesture—it might even not make sense to have it in some situations. So while there are advantages to Android over iOS, it seems to me that that is not one, certainly not a lasting one.

 

[eatrains]

It's just ridiculous that Apple only makes phablets now. Some people actually use these as mobile devices on the go, not as couch computers.

 

[weezin]

I read the first post, didn't read the rest, but wanted to say that I went from 8 -> 13 Mini and as much as I love the 8 (that I still have), the 13 Mini is my GOAT. Both are great, but the 13 Mini is smaller than the 8 physically, but with a bigger screen. I love it.

I actually went from the 8 -> 14 Pro and almost immediately returned the 14 Pro for the 13 Mini. The Pro was too big, too heavy, and I decided that the form factor of the 13 Mini outweighed the additional features of the Pro by a mile, for me. I'm so glad I got and kept the 13 Mini.

 

[h.gilbert]

The ones coming to iOS from long-time Android-only users are the ones who initially have a problem with it, mainly because they’re just used to having the universal back button. I can’t say I know what they all prefer overall but again I’ve never heard complaints from anyone after the initial transition. I came from Android (a long time ago) and it did bother me at first but now I couldn’t care less about having no universal back button or gesture—it might even not make sense to have it in some situations. So while there are advantages to Android over iOS, it seems to me that that is not one, certainly not a lasting one.

Yeah I get that, it's pretty subjective at the end of the day.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

I've always been a size queen when it comes to phones, being an AVID fan of the Samsung Galaxy Note4's form factor.

I think phones are too narrow today, and I have relatively small hands. I simply learned to hold the phone differently, and now that icons are repositionable a la Android centuries ago, I can put everything I need in different pages within one-handed reach.

Now all we need is for Apple to put all app control elements on the BOTTOM of the screen, as well as have landscape mode for all apps (Music, I'm looking at you), and I'd be a happy camper.

 

[a_drive]

How about app compatibility on iOS 13?

All first-party Apple apps work as intended and 3rd party is app support is fairly sparse. I am not, though, a heavy app user and when I do run into issues I can always fall back to my cellular iPad Air. I’m a minority and use my phone mostly as a phone and music player for my car. Yes, there are times when I’m tempted to use a more modern iOS simply due to FOMO but it’s simply the size and weight of the SE that gets me every time. Sadly I don’t ever think Apple will return to this form factor. I will probably end up using this iPhone until LTE is no longer supported by carriers - much like the 3G shutdown a few years back...

 

[mectojic]

All first-party Apple apps work as intended and 3rd party is app support is fairly sparse. I am not, though, a heavy app user and when I do run into issues I can always fall back to my cellular iPad Air. I’m a minority and use my phone mostly as a phone and music player for my car. Yes, there are times when I’m tempted to use a more modern iOS simply due to FOMO but it’s simply the size and weight of the SE that gets me every time. Sadly I don’t ever think Apple will return to this form factor. I will probably end up using this iPhone until LTE is no longer supported by carriers - much like the 3G shutdown a few years back...

I predict that LTE will be with us until the end of the decade, at least.
Until then we can enjoy the SE and occasionally swap the battery.

 

[toobravetosave]

if you’re lucky you’ll get used to most of the new garbage

if you’re extremely lucky you’ll also get used to the horrific image post processing that ruins every single photo

 

[ProbablyDylan]

I'm right there with you on the size being absurd. Wish the Mini didn't have to go. I've just learned to merely tolerate two-handed typing.

 

[xpxp2002]

I predict that LTE will be with us until the end of the decade, at least.
Until then we can enjoy the SE and occasionally swap the battery.

5G standalone has taken about 5 years longer to materialize than it was supposed to. LTE will be with us for, easily, another 10 years. Operators will be taking more capacity from it over time, and it will get slower as that happens.

 

[solo118]

If you are happy with the 8 keep it until it busts and then get another one and repeat.