iPhone 16 Pro/Max Reviews [MERGED]

[cptcaveman]

The more reviews I watch, the more I come to the realization that the new camera control is a total gimmick and solves a problem that nobody really had in the first place.

Zoom control in landscape with the screen dial was already so elegant. So now Apple clearly expects many people to suddenly care about exposure comp control via a hardware function (as this is what every video shows)? Or maybe their image modes? It's all a bit of a stretch.

And what about the poor left-handers who suddenly have this thing under their thumb on the underside as they hold the phone in landscape?

Did Apple even test this? It seems ill-considered and even a bit nutty. As a longtime fan, it's somewhat sad. Apple seems a bit lost or out of ideas...

 

[JohnRckr]

The more reviews I watch, the more I come to the realization that the new camera control is a total gimmick and solves a problem that nobody really had in the first place.

Zoom control in landscape with the screen dial was already so elegant. So now Apple clearly expects many people to suddenly care about exposure comp control via a hardware function (as this is what every video shows)? Or maybe their image modes? It's all a bit of a stretch.

And what about the poor left-handers who suddenly have this thing under their thumb on the underside as they hold the phone in landscape?

Did Apple even test this? It seems ill-considered and even a bit nutty. As a longtime fan, it's somewhat sad. Apple seems a bit lost or out of ideas...

Exactly, but they had to come up with something at least..
Imagine if they didn’t come up with the button, what would they sell us on? There would be literally nothing..

 

[djbuddha]

The reviewers are obsessed with telling me not it’s not worth upgrading (iPhone is too similar to last year’s), but the majority of upgraders are coming from 2-4 year old phones. Odd that they don’t seem to understand this.

My 16 Pro Max arrives tomorrow. On my channel I want to do 2 videos. First video is a quick impressions video, 2nd video is: 2 days with the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Then, I’m switching back to the 13 Pro Max.

I want to see if I’m going to have buyer’s remorse (probably not) and I want to see how big of an upgrade this is- especially considering that there’s no Apple Intelligence yet. Maybe after I switch back to the 16 Pro Max, I’ll update it to the developer beta and change the language to US English and try that (I’m in Canada)

Obviously I don’t get devices pre-release, and I don’t have a bias as I’m spending my own money. Would anybody here even be interested in my take?

 

[the future]

The more reviews I watch, the more I come to the realization that the new camera control is a total gimmick and solves a problem that nobody really had in the first place.

Over the years many folks expressed their wish that smartphones, as they become ever more camera-centric, can be used like a „real“ camera as well. The new camera control adresses this (and will adress it even better once half-press-to-lock-focus is implemented).

And what about the poor left-handers who suddenly have this thing under their thumb on the underside as they hold the phone in landscape?

Did you ask this question to the manufacturers of „real cameras“ as well? Because their grips and buttons etc. are always made for right-handers as well (which is adressed hilariously well in the video review linked on the previous page).



Also, you don‘t need to use the new camera control if you don‘t want to. So a left-hander can use the new iPhones just like every iPhone before. (And you can easily prevent accidental touches/clicks in the settings.)

 

[Webcat86]

The more reviews I watch, the more I come to the realization that the new camera control is a total gimmick and solves a problem that nobody really had in the first place.

I totally disagree. They added the option to use the volume button to take pictures for a good reason — people don't always want to tap the screen. It's awful for one-handed use as well.

Zoom control in landscape with the screen dial was already so elegant.

Was it, though? You can take a landscape photo with one hand when there's a button, you can't when you need to interact with the screen.

So now Apple clearly expects many people to suddenly care about exposure comp control via a hardware function (as this is what every video shows)? Or maybe their image modes? It's all a bit of a stretch.

And what about the poor left-handers who suddenly have this thing under their thumb on the underside as they hold the phone in landscape?

Do you feel this way about the placement of the power button, or volume buttons? Have you complained to camera manufacturers? What about older phones that had the physical shutter button? Left handed people still have functioning right hands that can be used to take pictures, and if they don't want to then I assume they can either use the Action button or, as you've insisted that using the screen was already a better solution, they can continue doing that.

 

[cptcaveman]

Over the years many folks expressed their wish that smartphones, as they become ever more camera-centric, can be used like a „real“ camera as well. The new camera control adresses this (and will adress it even better once half-press-to-lock-focus is implemented).

Did you ask this question to the manufacturers of „real cameras“ as well? Because their grips and buttons etc. are always made for right-handers as well (which is adressed hilariously well in the video review linked on the previous page).

Yeah, but a phone is different. Left-handers hold the phone upside down (rotated 180 degrees to the left) when taking landscape photos, which places the camera control above their left thumb as they are holding the phone.

Not exactly ergonomic.

Left-handers on "real cameras" don't have to hold the camera upside down with their thumbs supporting the section that contains the shutter button.

 

[the future]

Yeah, but a phone is different. Left-handers hold the phone upside down (rotated 180 degrees to the left) when taking landscape photos.

Huh? Why do left-handers have to hold the phone upside down when taking a landscape photo?

 

[cptcaveman]

Huh? Why do left-handers have to hold the phone upside down when taking a landscape photo?

Cause they are left-handers. Sorry dude, it is hard to explain if you aren't one 😂

(As a right-hander hold the phone naturally in landscape, then rotate the phone 90 deg and then another 90 deg to the left and that is what lefties do..)

 

[JaraCz]

Cause they are left-handers. Sorry dude hard to explain if you aren't one 😂

How do you know? Maybe you are lefthanded and do this but that does not mean everyone is doin the same.

 

[Neofox]

Huh? Why do left-handers have to hold the phone upside down when taking a landscape photo?

I'm trying to understand too.. I am left handed I think that the position of the camera button is actually perfect for us, in portrait mode I am always ready to shoot with my finger close to the button

In landscape.. it doesn't change anything, I just put my phone in landscape in press the button at the top right?

 

[cptcaveman]

Realizes that I may have possibly come across two members of the camera control design team 😂

 

[IsaacM]

The Camera Control is just a way to introduce Apple’s version of the Bixby button for Apple AI, without people calling them out for it.

They will tell you it’s about camera control (a problem nobody had), and in a later update it will become an Apple Lens AI button (as we saw in the Apple presentation).

It’s a brilliant way to avoid EU regulations as well. The EU won’t be able to ask for the “Apple AI button” to work with other AI services, because it is not an “Apple AI” button. It is just a “Camera Control” button that will just happen to open Apple AI when it launches.

Kind of brilliant marketing and legal strategy.

 

[Diorama]

And what about the poor left-handers who suddenly have this thing under their thumb on the underside as they hold the phone in landscape?

Turn the phone the other way?

 

[cptcaveman]

The Camera Control is just a way to introduce Apple’s version of the Bixby button for Apple AI, without people calling them out for it.

A trojan camera control. I like it! I guess we wait and see.

 

[the future]

Cause they are left-handers. Sorry dude, it is hard to explain if you aren't one 😂

(As a right-hander hold the phone naturally in landscape, then rotate the phone 90 deg and then another 90 deg to the left and that is what lefties do..)

It is hard to explain because it may just be you …

I just, as a right-hander, took a picture in the manner you described for left-handers. No problem here taking a picture in either direction ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[TailsToo]

The reviewers are obsessed with telling me not it’s not worth upgrading (iPhone is too similar to last year’s), but the majority of upgraders are coming from 2-4 year old phones. Odd that they don’t seem to understand this.

Yep, I was struck by this too. Yes, if you have a 15 (or even a 14) Pro, it’s not an earth shattering upgrade, but then unless you are talking about a new form factor, it’s unlikely to be.

My math is that I am already paying for a phone plan that will allow me $800 off, so for a couple hundred, I can get a phone with a much better camera, better battery, and other new features (coming from a 13). And if the 17 is really earth shattering, I will get a good amount of credit towards the new one.

 

[cptcaveman]

It is hard to explain because it may just be you …

I just, as a right-hander, took a picture in the manner you described for left-handers. No problem here taking a picture in either direction ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Are you on an iPhone 16 with the camera control? If you were, you would have found yourself supporting the phone with your left thumb covering the control.

As an aside, it's odd that you are so determined to be right here (pun intended).

 

[Col4bin]

unboxing is considered a review?

 

[nycgeo]

The more reviews I watch, the more I come to the realization that the new camera control is a total gimmick and solves a problem that nobody really had in the first place.

Zoom control in landscape with the screen dial was already so elegant. So now Apple clearly expects many people to suddenly care about exposure comp control via a hardware function (as this is what every video shows)? Or maybe their image modes? It's all a bit of a stretch.

And what about the poor left-handers who suddenly have this thing under their thumb on the underside as they hold the phone in landscape?

Did Apple even test this? It seems ill-considered and even a bit nutty. As a longtime fan, it's somewhat sad. Apple seems a bit lost or out of ideas...

They put a multi-function shutter button nearly in the exact spot every pocket camera on earth has one. I’ve never heard a lefty complain about it on any other camera.

 

[nycgeo]

Exactly, but they had to come up with something at least..
Imagine if they didn’t come up with the button, what would they sell us on? There would be literally nothing..

But they did, and they would have come up with something else if the button wasn’t ready. This is the most deliberate and slow tech company on earth, this plan was years in the making. Every iteration is painstakingly parsed to put out the exact amount of innovation that drives sales, without over extending themselves technologically to a place where a specific feature fails, which happens with Apple too, but generally less than other brands.

 

[ToddH]

Wow, what a horrible review. The guy yaps on for 20 straight minutes—barely shows a single photo. Well, bless his heart.

Yes, I was a little bit disappointed in this review as well. He has done better with previous phones. He mainly just touched on the Ultra Wide and the styles because I guess the rest of the cameras are the same as the 15. Anyway, the video was just part of the review more photos and documentation is listed Further down the page. Look into it.

 

[cptcaveman]

They put a multi-function shutter button nearly in the exact spot every pocket camera on earth has one. I’ve never heard a lefty complain about it on any other camera.

Almost every camera has a right-hand bias it's true.

But think about it this way: before Apple introduced the camera control on one side of the iPhone, it was a completely "ambidextrous" or "universal design" for photographers. Now it's not.

Old Apple would have known this. It's called attention to detail. New Apple doesn't.

 

[the future]

Are you on an iPhone 16 with the camera control? If you were, you would have found yourself supporting the phone with your left thumb covering the control.

We were talking about taking pictures „the old way“, didn‘t we? So how is it a problem that the left thumb rests on the control button?

If you‘re talking about taking pictures „the new way“, I already agreed that the control button was made primarily for right-handers. Just like the controls on every dedicated camera, ever.

As an aside, it's odd that you are so determined to be right here (pun intended).

I was mainly determined to understand the problem you see here.

 

[the future]

Almost every camera has a right-hand bias it's true.

But think about it this way: before Apple introduced the camera control on one side of the iPhone, it was a completely "ambidextrous" or "universal design" for photographers. Now it's not.

Old Apple would have known this. It's called attention to detail. New Apple doesn't.

Or maybe there is just no way to do this, except to have two control buttons, one on each side of the phone. Which would be complete engineering overkill.

 

[cptcaveman]

Or maybe there is just no way to do this, except to have two control buttons, on one each side of the phone. Which would be complete engineering overkill.

Yes, yes. The button company. I wonder what button they will bless us with next year.