iPhone 16/Plus From Pro to Plus... Thoughts on making the (down?)-grade

[cateye]

Anyone ever "downgrade" from a Pro to a Plus? Tell me how you felt about it after the fact!

Backstory: I currently use a 13 Pro. It's a nice phone, no real complaints, other than screen size. As I get older I'm finding it tiring to read things on the smaller screen (I have an 11" iPad Pro as well, but... you know, it's the device you have on you that you use the most, not the one that always seems to be halfway across the house). A Pro Max is out due to price—I just don't want to spend that much money on a smartphone, regardless of any "deal." So I've been considering the 16 Plus.

I realize I'm giving up the third/telephoto camera + ProMotion. Which, whatever. There are times where I'll miss the telephoto, but truthfully it's pretty rare that I feel like I really, really need that reach. ProMotion is nice, but I've turned it off on my 13 Pro since the event just to see how it feels and while I notice its absence, it's not the end of the world. In both cases, the money savings are worth it (compared to getting another Pro).

Meanwhile, compared to my 13 Pro, The 16 Plus still gives me a better overall "main" camera, the camera button, the action button, a larger screen, more memory, much better battery life, satellite messaging/SOS, and Apple Intelligence support. Seems like a decent upgrade overall.

I don't care about aluminum vs. titanium. My phones are always in cases, they could make them out of butter for all I care, I never touch or see anything but the screen.

Anywho. Anyone else ever give up the Pro iPhone Lyfe and live to tell the tale? Anything you miss you didn't realize you would? Thanks!

 

[SouthernFried]

Never owned a Pro, but I’ve had my 14 Plus nearly 2 years now. You are going to be thrilled with the battery life. At 90% health, mine is still VERY good. The first year it was phenomenal. You will appreciate the screen-size too. You will totally adapt to it after a few days. Be ready for 2-handed use though. I have smaller/medium sized hands and it can be cumbersome because of the size/shape. Weight is very light which is great. The way it feels in your hands is what’s going to make or break it for you.

 

[4sallypat]

Never owned a Pro, but I’ve had my 14 Plus nearly 2 years now. You are going to be thrilled with the battery life. At 90% health, mine is still VERY good. The first year it was phenomenal. You will appreciate the screen-size too. You will totally adapt to it after a few days. Be ready for 2-handed use though. I have smaller/medium sized hands and it can be cumbersome because of the size/shape. Weight is very light which is great. The way it feels in your hands is what’s going to make or break it for you.

Correct, the 14 Plus is amazing!

Battery life is twice compared to my work 14PM.

Plus the lighter weight and more colorful choices.

I'd get the 16+ in heartbeat, but this year I need some features that I didn't need 2 years ago.

Only reason I am switching this year from 14+ to 16 Pro is the AOD, the need for my EV phone as a key (PAAK) as well as automatic WiFi connection in my EV.

 

[thatJohann]

I'm going from 15 Pro Max to regular 16. Looking forward to a pocketable phone that I can take jogging without feeling I'm carrying a brick lol

 

[techiegirl]

I went from 14 Pro to 15 Plus last year. I like the color, massive battery, and light weight. In the course of the year, I missed the camera, specifically the telephoto lens. When we went on vacation, we kept using my son’s 14 pro max instead of my 15 plus. This year, I’m going back to a pro and will probably get the 16 pro max.

 

[cateye]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the confirmation that people are generally happy with the Plus phones.

I have smaller/medium sized hands and it can be cumbersome because of the size/shape.

I was at an Apple Store recently and played around with both a 15 Pro Max and a 15 Plus, which is what got me thinking about larger screens for better readability in the first place. To be honest, I didn't find it that hard to use them one-handed the same way I do with my 13 Pro: Balance it on my fingers, and reach my thumb across the screen. So overall size is not really a concern, however...

I'm going from 15 Pro Max to regular 16. Looking forward to a pocketable phone that I can take jogging without feeling I'm carrying a brick lol

For real. The 16 Plus is actually lighter (7.07oz) than my 13 Pro (7.19oz), according to Apple. So... bigger phone without any more weight? Yes please! For comparison, the 16 Pro Max is half a pound (7.99oz). That's... a lot of metal and glass.

I went from 14 Pro to 15 Plus last year. I like the color, massive battery, and light weight. In the course of the year, I missed the camera, specifically the telephoto lens. When we went on vacation, we kept using my son’s 14 pro max instead of my 15 plus. This year, I’m going back to a pro and will probably get the 16 pro max.

Yeah, this is a concern for me, but I'm trying to balance what I gain from a larger screen against what I lose. I really wish Apple didn't gate-keep the telephoto camera to only the Pros, tho.

 

[kupkakez]

Anyone ever "downgrade" from a Pro to a Plus? Tell me how you felt about it after the fact!

Backstory: I currently use a 13 Pro. It's a nice phone, no real complaints, other than screen size. As I get older I'm finding it tiring to read things on the smaller screen (I have an 11" iPad Pro as well, but... you know, it's the device you have on you that you use the most, not the one that always seems to be halfway across the house). A Pro Max is out due to price—I just don't want to spend that much money on a smartphone, regardless of any "deal." So I've been considering the 16 Plus.

I realize I'm giving up the third/telephoto camera + ProMotion. Which, whatever. There are times where I'll miss the telephoto, but truthfully it's pretty rare that I feel like I really, really need that reach. ProMotion is nice, but I've turned it off on my 13 Pro since the event just to see how it feels and while I notice its absence, it's not the end of the world. In both cases, the money savings are worth it (compared to getting another Pro).

Meanwhile, compared to my 13 Pro, The 16 Plus still gives me a better overall "main" camera, the camera button, the action button, a larger screen, more memory, much better battery life, satellite messaging/SOS, and Apple Intelligence support. Seems like a decent upgrade overall.

I don't care about aluminum vs. titanium. My phones are always in cases, they could make them out of butter for all I care, I never touch or see anything but the screen.

Anywho. Anyone else ever give up the Pro iPhone Lyfe and live to tell the tale? Anything you miss you didn't realize you would? Thanks!

Yes several times over the years I flip flop. I’m on a 15 now. I’m not a “pro” user at all so for me I don’t really notice anything except the obvious screen size and battery. I’m considering a Pro Max this year for the battery life and bigger screen but also really (as always) love the pink of the 16/16 Plus. Needless to say I haven’t decided what I’m doing yet, if anything.

 

[sp44]

I was debating but after looking at storage size (256GB) and price it seems to be a no-brainer to stick with a Pro Max. $200? Sure

 

[timeconsumer]

I was debating but after looking at storage size (256GB) and price it seems to be a no-brainer to stick with a Pro Max. $200? Sure

Since I purchase my phones outright the difference between the 16 Plus 256GB and 16 Pro Max 265GB is $170.

For $170 more I feel that the Pro Max is worth it for me. The only thing I like more about the 16 Plus over the Pro Max is the lighter weight.

Also, the teal color looks really good this year and is 100% what I would go with if I was buying a 16 Plus.