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iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro Buyer's Guide: 45+ Upgrades Compared

I'm actually thinking downgrading from the 15 Pro Max to the 16 Plus/Max, whatever it's called. I'm not using the Pro to the fullest of its capabilities, so why pay the extra monthly cost.
 
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imtoretto said:
Let’s be Honest alright, the 15 series line up was was mediocre, disappointing, lame, BORING.
I guarantee that the next iphone will only come with 3 difference:
1) larger displays
2) a new button
3) “AI” integrated

Another Boring year ya’ll, so save the cash and skip, AGAIN.
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Every year the bezels are reduced I’ll buy the phone just on that. Why?

Immersion. Aesthetics.

Also I HOPE the rumor is true that they’re going back to glossy sides because glossy sides has far more grip and looks so so so much better. I do not use a case so I know what I’m talking about with grip.
 
In the comparison chart under iOS 18.1 you guys wrote:

‘Apple Intelligence support with iOS 18.1, plus a suite of exclusive AI features’

For the iPhone 16 Pro.

I haven’t read a single rumor suggesting that the iPhone 16 Pro will have a ‘suite of exclusive AI features’ over the iPhone 15 Pro 18.1.
 
MacRumors said:
After over a year of rumors, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are set to launch next month. There are now more than 30 changes and improvements
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Most ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ users will probably have little reason to upgrade, but some who would appreciate a slightly larger display, better cameras, and a dedicated button for photography and videography features may find it worthwhile.
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Simply put, if you got iPhone 15 Pro last year, not even worth upgrading this year. Some new Apple Intelligence feature will be limited to iPhone 16 lineup, simply because of hardware limitation of the neural engine and RAM. But simply put, not enough hardware changes to make the switch to new phone in my opinion.

If you have iPhone 15 though, might be worth it to upgrade to the new iPhone 16 lineup just because of Apple Intelligence. Your mileage though may vary though. If you don’t care about the AI stuff, then best to keep the current phone because not a huge hardware upgrade.

And for those that want smaller phones, not happening unfortunately until they fix the battery drain issue. 5G and smaller battery does not mix well right now and that was the ultimate factor for Apple to kill the mini lineup.

And yes, Apple was going to consider the next SE phone to be based on the mini lineup (from what I heard from industry rumors) but ultimately they could not fix the battery drain issue thanks to 5G modems using lot of power. (Hopefully Apple can revisit the issue once they start making their own modems instead of relying on crappy Qualcomm modems)
 
Mity said:
Once you use a larger display, it's hard going back to a smaller one. I'm sure there's a limit but the Pro Max isn't it. I'd be happy with a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra sized iPhone. But I do think that larger displays works better on Android because the back button and menus are at the bottom, where they belong. In iOS, where it's a jumbled mess with the back button at the very top and occasional menus at the bottom.
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I've had a "larger" iPhone since I got my 6 in 2017, and my SE 2nd gen in 2020, and I still don't like how big this phone is. I don't need a massive screen on my phone, that's what my laptop and tv are for.

You can swipe from the left of the screen in most apps to go backwards, pro tip.
 
azentropy said:
Real innovation would be taking the same size screens (or say the 5.8" screen from the X/Xs/11 Pro) and reducing the physical size of the iphone/bezels and reducing weight and giving it great battery life with Pro features!

This just seems lazy.
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The reason they are increasing the screen size isn’t for the screen.

It’s for the physical volume inside the device.

With greater physical volume you can add more features. In this case, they are adding more battery and the tetraprism
azentropy said:
Some people, myself included, would rather they keep the same size screen but the physical device smaller so it is easier to use. How big is too big for you? Would you just carry an iPad instead if it had all the same camera/cell features? We all have our preferences of when a device has become too big and would prefer something smaller.

Edit: My hope/wish/dream is that by moving to 6.3/6.9 that it makes room for a "bigger than mini" but smaller iPhone 17/Pro at say 5.8/5.9". Basically a X/Xs/11Pro size screen in a modern and slimmer form factor.
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the only thing a phone must do is fit in a pocket and not be too wide to hold in the hand.

This increase virtually leaves the width of the phone alone, which means it does not alter the ability to hold it in the hand or put it in your pocket.
 
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azentropy said:
Real innovation would be taking the same size screens (or say the 5.8" screen from the X/Xs/11 Pro) and reducing the physical size of the iphone/bezels and reducing weight and giving it great battery life with Pro features!

This just seems lazy.
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This article goes over the rumor that the iPhone 16 Pro is getting a reduction in bezel. It’s thanks to that reduction in bezel that they are getting almost no increase in phone width, which is a very very good thing.

You personally rather they had reduced the width of the phone instead of increasing the screen size, which is fine, that’s your opinion and another great option, but it’s not what they’re doing.

As for reducing weight and still ‘having great battery life’ how is that exactly? Magic?
 
azentropy said:
Some people, myself included, would rather they keep the same size screen but the physical device smaller so it is easier to use. How big is too big for you? Would you just carry an iPad instead if it had all the same camera/cell features? We all have our preferences of when a device has become too big and would prefer something smaller.

Edit: My hope/wish/dream is that by moving to 6.3/6.9 that it makes room for a "bigger than mini" but smaller iPhone 17/Pro at say 5.8/5.9". Basically a X/Xs/11Pro size screen in a modern and slimmer form factor.
Click to expand...
The size of the X was absolutely perfect for me. Everything that came after was just a bit too big. And unfortunately the trend continues.
 
Spaceboy88 said:
I'm so torn because while I think the 15 Pro Max is much easier and more comfortable to hold than the 14 Pro Max, it's really at it's limits of comfort for me to use one handed. I love the bigger battery and screen, but the thought of it getting even bigger now will probably push me back to the 16 Pro. I find the phone so uncomfortable to use with a case on, which will probably be what these new dimensions will feel like naked.

For those of you excited by the larger form factor, how do you deal with using the phone one-handed? Do you just not use it one-handed? I have normal adult male size hands so I'm genuinely curious how you all deal.
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It's not getting bigger than the 14 Pro Max, it's actually going to be the same size but with better screen-to-body ratio.
 
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I am deciding between getting an iPhone 16 Plus 512 GB or an iPhone 16 Pro 6.3" 512 GB. Might just go with the iPhone 16 Pro because it has just about all the advanced features of the iPhone 16 Pro Max but in a smaller size.
 
thermal said:
I'll take this bet.

When the iPhone 16 series is introduced, if these are the only three differences, I'll buy you a $25 Amazon gift card. If there are more than these three differences, you buy me a $25 Amazon gift card.
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Enjoy your card, because the 16 Pro and Pro Max will have better sensors and more lenses.
 
Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be an IMX903 for the main camera, but there are contradictory rumors. Maybe only in the 16 Pro Max. I recently switched back to the 14 Pro because I couldn't find a 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max that could match the quality of the 14 Pro's main camera to capture fine details in 48 MP ProRAW.
 
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imtoretto said:
Let’s be Honest alright, the 15 series line up was was mediocre, disappointing, lame, BORING.
I guarantee that the next iphone will only come with 3 difference:
1) larger displays
2) a new button
3) “AI” integrated

Another Boring year ya’ll, so save the cash and skip, AGAIN.
Click to expand...

Nope. The 15PM had significant improvements, especially in cameras and getting rid of the irritating lens flare issue when shooting close to the Sun's rays.

The 16PM will be even better. As a photographer, I'll be purchasing one. My wife, too.
 
rembert said:
I don’t care at all about these phones which are named “pro” but are everything but pro. They have top-features, giga screen, fabulous camera, extremely fashionable. But pro? Nope. A pro phone is a phone usable day-by-day, to be carried around in a pocket (ever checked women’s pants pockets?), usable for phone calls and such (ever tried airpods and a watch? What pro needs the big screen?). That phone exists. It’s calles the mini and it’s great. Pro’s using a mini often carry around a macbook or at least an iPad (hello 15” iPad Air! You are so welcome). Even the mini is still a tad big for one-handed use. The market is big enough as long as Apple doesn’t stupididly cannibalizes its own market with both a mini and a similar sized SE and odd launching dates.
It seems the SE is also growing now and will now likely cannibalize the standard iPhone soon.

And that iPhone Pro? Let’s just call it the iPhone Fashion or iPhone Ridiculous or even iPhone Snob.
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Only thing here that can be called "ridiculuos" is your comment. Sorry.
There are several options for you to choose from.
And there are several reasons why Pro iPhones are "Pro", USB-C speeds, pro formats support from the camera, etc.
When Apple introduced the first pro, the 11, Cook said why they call it pro and what was the target for this, pros and enthusiasts.
 
Cloudyskies22 said:
This article goes over the rumor that the iPhone 16 Pro is getting a reduction in bezel. It’s thanks to that reduction in bezel that they are getting almost no increase in phone width, which is a very very good thing.

You personally rather they had reduced the width of the phone instead of increasing the screen size, which is fine, that’s your opinion and another great option, but it’s not what they’re doing.

As for reducing weight and still ‘having great battery life’ how is that exactly? Magic?
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It isn't magic, it would be incorporating technological improvements. The improved efficiency of the processors and screens themselves should allow for smaller batteries with the same or better battery life. Also one of supposed benefits of the stacked battery and improved chemistry is not only to reduce overall size, but to reduce the weight of the battery itself with improved energy density.
 
Reformed said:
I'm not hyped, but I'll probably end up upgrading anyway... "I think I'm dumb."
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I'm upgrading because 1) my iPhone 12 is getting old and 2) there are too many stories about the iPhone 12's poor battery life per charge. Hopefully, the iPhone 16 Pro 6.3" rumored 3,577 mAh battery life means way longer battery life per charge.
 
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