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iPhone 16/Plus Dumb to get the base iPhone 16 (I don't care about the 120hz screen)

A

A4orce84

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 17, 2012
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Hey Everyone,

I currently have an aging iPhone 11 and am considering upgrading to the BASE iPhone 16. It seems like the whole internet is making a big deal about the base model not having 120hz, but honestly I could care less. I don't mind my current iPhone 11 screen, and will be excited to be stepping up from the LCD to the iPhone 16's OLED screen.

But my question is mainly is it a 'dumb' idea to get the base iPhone 16? It seems like everyone is saying to get the iPhone 16 Pro if you want to upgrade this year.

Any feedback / thoughts / etc. would be super appreciated. Thank you!
 
A4orce84 said:
But my question is mainly is it a 'dumb' idea to get the base iPhone 16? It seems like everyone is saying to get the iPhone 16 Pro if you want to upgrade this year.

Any feedback / thoughts / etc. would be super appreciated. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Not dumb at all. Watching the keynote I thought the iPhone 16 was a fantastic package. You‘ll almost certainly get better battery life as well. For $799 I think it’s a good deal.
 
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No, its not dumb. 16 is a big upgrade even with 60hz. Now you get what you paid for, unlike the previous 14/15 base where you get a year old chip and camera at $799 🤢 🤮
 
clunkmess said:
Once you experience 120hz... there's no going back. So i forbid you to get the base 16. Wait a while and save the extra 200.
Click to expand...

😉 Not true at all (unpopular opinion, I know). Yes, you see difference but it is nothing that you can't live with. What is true is that the phone feels somehow less responsive than phones with 120Hz and IMO less premium.

(I'm using 2 phones daily and and one of them is 120Hz 2nd is 60Hz)
 
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👆 OK, I'm not saying that the 120Hz isn't worth another 200 bucks, you should test it for yourself and decide if it's worth the price. When you spend your hard-earned money, you should be happy with the results.
 
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A4orce84 said:
Hey Everyone,

I currently have an aging iPhone 11 and am considering upgrading to the BASE iPhone 16. It seems like the whole internet is making a big deal about the base model not having 120hz, but honestly I could care less. I don't mind my current iPhone 11 screen, and will be excited to be stepping up from the LCD to the iPhone 16's OLED screen.

But my question is mainly is it a 'dumb' idea to get the base iPhone 16? It seems like everyone is saying to get the iPhone 16 Pro if you want to upgrade this year.

Any feedback / thoughts / etc. would be super appreciated. Thank you!
Click to expand...

Once you see the 120hz you can never unsee it
 
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Mcrumors David said:
Once you see the 120hz you can never unsee it
Click to expand...
I can easily unsee it and isn't necessary for me at all (I own a 120hz iPhone). If you don't game and use it for checking internet, social, mail, watch and make some photos and video's it isn't necessary at all. Even barely noticeable. I notice it a bit more on the iPad 12.9 though, maybe because it's a bigger screen... What kind of stuff do you do where it's so noticeable, I'm genuinely curious.

Edit: maybe it's better to put it this way, when you switch between them you can see some difference. After using it for a while you really won't notice it at all, same experience.
 
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Main differences are the 120 Hz and the 5x telephoto lens.

The other advantages of the Pro are more subtle: slightly bigger screen in pretty much the same form factor, LIDAR sensor, better ultrawide (although the base model finally got a variable focus ultrawide), more "pro" recording formats, 10 Gbit/s wired data transfer, always on display, slightly faster GPU and some other things I'm missing.
 
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I've been using the 13P for a few years now and with my phone on low battery mode most of the time, I don't think I've ever noticed/realized what the 120Hz brings to the table.

What's the best way to test it out apart from gaming?
 
clunkmess said:
Once you experience 120hz... there's no going back. So i forbid you to get the base 16. Wait a while and save the extra 200.
Click to expand...
Nope.

I owned the 15 pro. Turned off the always on display and never noticed the extra camera. I went of the 15 standard model as my Pro was stolen and I see no difference in the screen. Phone exact same but I don’t do gaming. I usually buy the Pro but each year what the pro offers is unnecessary. Lots of camera features I never used. iPad Pro has the advantage over the iPads as it has Face ID. What’s the excuse next year as IPhone 17 will have 120hz? No doubt people will pay buy the redesigned IPhone Air. But that leaves us with a Pro which is heavy and looks the exact same as last years.
 
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A4orce84 said:
Hey Everyone,

I currently have an aging iPhone 11 and am considering upgrading to the BASE iPhone 16. It seems like the whole internet is making a big deal about the base model not having 120hz, but honestly I could care less. I don't mind my current iPhone 11 screen, and will be excited to be stepping up from the LCD to the iPhone 16's OLED screen.

But my question is mainly is it a 'dumb' idea to get the base iPhone 16? It seems like everyone is saying to get the iPhone 16 Pro if you want to upgrade this year.

Any feedback / thoughts / etc. would be super appreciated. Thank you!
Click to expand...
The smarttest thing you can do this year is buy the base 16. The Pro models for all their little refinements only really offer an extra 3x of magnification and a 120hz screen. For some people thats worth the $200 extra but for me some saved cash and a much nicer color scheme is a better option.
 
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Mcrumors David said:
Once you see the 120hz you can never unsee it
Click to expand...
That's a very individual thing. Many people can't tell the difference. I can (barely) tell the difference but don't really care (I own iDevices with both, but use a 60 Hz iPhone).
 
Ctrlos said:
The smarttest thing you can do this year is buy the base 16. The Pro models for all their little refinements only really offer an extra 3x of magnification and a 120hz screen. For some people thats worth the $200 extra but for me some saved cash and a much nicer color scheme is a better option.
Click to expand...
The Pro is also heavier and thicker, something to avoid if you don't really need it.
 
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Nah, it's not dumb at all! :D

The only differences of any 'importance' are the slightly better display (AOD 120 Hz) and a better camera system (third camera + camera features like ProRes).

If you're going for a Pro (Max) you're paying a big premium for these features. But honestly... how often are you going to film in the ProRes format? I bet 9/10 Pro-owners as good as never! Maybe a few times in the first week, to try it out and to basically see no difference except for the huge file sizes.

Added bonus for going for the base 16: they're lighter and are available in a wide range of colors.
 
I just wish they made the Pro with an aluminum frame. The titanium is a bit heavy for my arthritic fingers and carpal tunnel syndrome wrists.
 
The 16 to me is the first time since the 13 where it feels like the 16 is the flagship and the pro adds some cool features but isn’t a generation ahead. It has a new chip, new camera, new colours, gets Apple Intelligence unlike the 15.
 
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Wizec said:
I just wish they made the Pro with an aluminum frame. The titanium is a bit heavy for my arthritic fingers and carpal tunnel syndrome wrists.
Click to expand...

It's not only the frame that makes it heavier it's the extra stuff in the pro that makes up the bulk of the weight difference.
 
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