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Chips going back to the A14 are perfectly capable of handling Apple Intelligence from a speed perspective (the A14's Neural Engine is identical to the M1's). The issue is RAM; the A14-A16 were equipped with either 4GB or 6GB of RAM and Apple Intelligence requires at least 8GB.

Apple is moving the base iPhone to a binned A18 chip because the N3E process is cheaper than the N3B process the A17 is based on. Apple could easily put the A17 with 8GB in the base iPhone but why would they if it costs more to make than the A18?

And, of course for marketing reasons.

Heaven forbid you have an A17 chip when A18 > A17.
 
Oh well, next year we'll get the real upgrades 😶‍🌫️😴

Yep! I can't wait for the iPhone 17 with rumours of a slightly bigger screen, higher camera resolution and different lens layout.

I have a 12 mini and this was meant to be my update year. I’ll hold off for the 17 and see if that offers any real improvement.

Five years is the longest I have had a iphone model.

Lucky. I have the base iPhone 11 and don't really want to wait until Autumn 2025. We'll see ...
 
perhaps you can tell all the "I want the freedom of Android to install apps but I want Apple to do it as well" crew how easy it was to swap over out of the walled garden :)

no flip phone has done it for me yet.
i pick them up in stores, look at the still visible crease and go "yeah, nah".
even an Android review website was sticking to "no use case yet" approach as a reason for Apple not to do it.
that's telling.
I moved from everything Apple (iPhone, iPad, watch, laptop, Apple TV, iMac, etc.) over to Android when the Z Fold 3 was released. It wasn't difficult at all to make the switch. I've never looked back. The only Apple product I still own is my iMac.
 
I moved from everything Apple (iPhone, iPad, watch, laptop, Apple TV, iMac, etc.) over to Android when the Z Fold 3 was released. It wasn't difficult at all to make the switch. I've never looked back. The only Apple product I still own is my iMac.
perhaps the EU should have spoken to you and listened to how easy it was and then we wouldn't have the whole DMA situation justified as making it easier for customer choice to happen ;)
 
Yep! I can't wait for the iPhone 17 with rumours of a slightly bigger screen, higher camera resolution and different lens layout.



Lucky. I have the base iPhone 11 and don't really want to wait until Autumn 2025. We'll see ...
the way the world is going lately, this might be the only sure fire certain upgrade that will happen as everything is probably set in stone now and ramping up production...

buy the soon-to-be-released model to DoomScroll even faster :)
 
13 Pro owner here. I wonder how old an iPhone do you need to have to get excited about the 16 / 16 Pro series ?

An 11 or 12 maybe ? Not sure I’m convinced of the need to spend so much money upgrading.
I have a 13 Pro and I'm excited to consider upgrading in the fall. For me its a combination of little quality of life things, like USB-C (since all of my other devices are USB-C) and all of the smaller incremental upgrades that tend to really add up. My battery is still going strong despite being down to 88% capacity, so I may very well wait for the 17 though, it will depend on what kind of trade in promotions or other deals Verizon or other outlets offer.

Phones are a bit like laptops now, other than iterative refinements and spec bumps there's not much else we can do with the form factor barring some major technological breakthrough. Most users could happily get by for 4-5 years on a phone nowadays and only need to replace it to get a fresh battery, because it's damaged, because it's gotten slow relative to modern apps/websites, or because it stopped receiving software updates. This isn't an Apple being stingy or not innovative issue, this is an industry-wide issue.
 
"

The Verdict: QLC SSDs vs. MLC SSDs​

QLC SSDs store twice as much data as MLC SSDs and are less expensive. However, they don’t perform as well or last as long, and they can be more error-prone. MLC SSDs, on the other hand, store less data and cost more but perform better and last longer than QLC SSDs.

When deciding which to go with, let your use case and requirements be your guide. And don’t forget that there are also plenty of triple-level cell (TLC) SSDs and single-level cell (SLC) SSDs on the market, too.

Also, keep in mind that the quality of SSDs can vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer."
Yeah, but it’s not like Apple will be giving buyers a choice between QLC and MLC SSDs on the new iPhones. We’ll get what Mother Apple decides is best for her.
 


Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account.

iPhone-16-Pro-Sizes-Feature.jpg

To bring you up to speed, we've summarized below the biggest iPhone 16 rumors we've covered so far here on MacRumors. For more details, follow the links, or dive into our dedicated roundups for both iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models.

1. Larger Displays
Biggest Ever iPhones
This year's iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are rumored to be getting bigger display sizes, increasing to 6.27- and 6.86-inches, respectively. For comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are equipped with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays, respectively. The new display sizes would be the largest ever for the iPhone.

2. Vertical Camera Layout
iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Plus
Apple's iPhone 16 base models will feature a vertical camera arrangement with a pill-shaped raised surface, instead of a diagonal camera arrangement like the iPhone 15. The new camera bump features two separate camera rings for the Wide and Ultra Wide cameras. The vertical camera layout is expected to enable Spatial Video recording, which is currently limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models.

3. Battery Changes
All iPhone 16 Models
One rumor suggests the ‌iPhone 16‌ and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature larger batteries than their predecessors, but the ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus may have reduced capacity. The iPhone 16 is said to have a 6% increase over the iPhone 15, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max gaining a 5% increase. In contrast, the iPhone 16 Plus is rumored to have a 9% reduction in capacity. On the other hand, Apple could also potentially use stacked battery technology to increase energy density and prolong lifespan across the lineup.

4. Capture Button
New Camera Capabilities
All iPhone 16 models will have a new "Capture Button" dedicated to triggering image or video capture. The button will add features like the ability to zoom in and out by swiping left and right on the button, focus on a subject with a light press, and activate a recording with a more forceful press. The Capture Button will be located on the bottom right side of the ‌iPhone 16, and will take the place of the mmWave antenna on U.S. ‌iPhone‌ models, with the antenna relocating to the left side of the device below the volume and Action buttons.

5. Ultra Wide Lens Upgrade
iPhone 16 Pro & iPhone 16 Pro Max
The iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to feature an upgraded 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera lens, which should allow it to capture more light, resulting in improved photos when shooting in 0.5× mode, especially in low-light environments. This also means that iPhone 16 Pro models should be able to shoot 48-megapixel ProRAW photos in Ultra Wide mode. These photos retain more detail in the image file for more editing flexibility, and can be printed at large sizes. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is also rumored to boast a bigger main camera thanks to an advanced custom 48-megapixel Sony IMX903 sensor.

6. Super Telephoto Camera
iPhone 16 Pro Max
The iPhone 16 Pro Max could be the first to feature a super telephoto periscope camera for dramatically increased optical zoom. "Super" or "ultra" telephoto usually describes cameras with a focal length of over 300mm. The current telephoto lens is equivalent to a 77mm lens, so if accurate, there could be a notable increase in zoom capabilities. Super telephoto cameras are often used for sports and wild animal photography, but the extremely soft backgrounds they create also make them useful for portrait photography, providing there is enough distance between the subject and the photographer.

7. Faster Wi-Fi Support
Wi-Fi 6E & Wi-Fi 7
Apple's 2024 iPhone Pro models are expected to get Wi-Fi 7 in the Pro models, enabling data transfer over the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands simultaneously. This should result in faster Wi-Fi speeds, lower latency, and more reliable connectivity. With technologies such as 4K QAM, Wi-Fi 7 is also expected to offer peak data transfer speeds of over 40 Gbps, a 4× increase... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: iPhone 16 Series Is Just Two Months Away: Everything We Know
They have faster WiFi and a bunch of cosmetically insignificant features. Got it.
 
Opted for a Fold 6 this year instead just to try something new.
12 Pro owner here (My Wife has 15 pro)
Would a new phone be “nice” sure. But I’m not seeings any “must haves” yet. At this point I feel like I may be updating when one of three things happens.
1) Phone is gone and has to be replaced - i.e. Phone breaks beyond reasonable repair costs or get’s lost.
2) Battery is so bad that I don’t want to deal with it anymore. I do wish batteries were user replaceable.
3) Software support stops - I.e. OS security updates stop coming or Apps no longer run usably on it.

The biggest thing I like about my wife’s 15 pro over my 12pro is the USB-c port in terms of daily convenience. Other than that, it is nice but certainly no “must have” take my $1000 of hard earned money type features.
 
I actually think iPhone max even at 7 inches will do well. make it wider too.
people wont want a wider phone yet oddly enough, when the Samsung Note first came out I bought one and the wider form factor still fit well in your hand and made viewing A4 formatted pages easier to read. the current FHD format is fine for video consumption. Less so for working. a 4:3 iPad-like surface would maybe be too wide. a 16:10 maybe (Macbook rotated)?

then again, enough people forget to rotate 90 degrees when videoing... hence all the middle third of the screen vids on tv this week in crowd scenes... rotate people, rotate ;)
 
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Yeah, but it’s not like Apple will be giving buyers a choice between QLC and MLC SSDs on the new iPhones. We’ll get what Mother Apple decides is best for her.
Name one company that gives users choice to the level you want?

Samsung sell different processors to different markets based on region.
Hisense sell TVs/projectors without streaming services in China because of government decree.

Most users wouldnt know the difference anyway.
We had all the drama about single memory slots in Macbooks and how bad it would be (and it could be demonstrated) yet sales boomed with the buying public.
 
I would argue it is fairly easy but most people on here will probably read no further than "Google" .
Also granted, I had to also order the Watch 7 because my Apple Watch obviously won't work with it but that one is an old Series 6, therefore I see it as an "upgrade".

My use case is pretty simple. Watching content when I travel or commute without carrying my iPad.
I did just that last year with the Flip 5 and ugh it was such a headache....... the phone itself was just alright. When it came to transferring all my data for whatever reason it took ages and didn't transfer completely. I only ended up keeping it for a few months and had to switch back. Hopefully you'll like it better! I also ordered a samsung watch but never got delivered and they kept charging me for it... my experience was just headache after headache with their customer care team. Fingers crossed for you!
 
I switched to Android a decade ago, but I'm looking forward to the iPhone 16 Pro models because I might be compelled to switch back this year, thanks to my first grandchild joining the family in December. My daughter and son-in-law are lifelong iPhone users, and I'm not convinced that Apple's jumping on the RCS train is going to be meaningful enough to keep photos and especially videos sent from an iPhone from looking like crap on Android handsets. I guess I'll find out this fall when iOS 18 is released and they send me a test video or two.
 
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13 Pro owner here. I wonder how old an iPhone do you need to have to get excited about the 16 / 16 Pro series ?

An 11 or 12 maybe ? Not sure I’m convinced of the need to spend so much money upgrading.
15 Pro Max for me. Still excited for the 16 series.
 
QLC is a huge downgrade. Trash and no reason to go QLC unless they want to maximize profits and cut lifespan for more sales down the line. I would wait for the 17 when they go back to MLC after they experience the mess With unhappy customers having sudden performance issues etc..
The article indicates QLC is only being used for the higher storage tier models because higher density chips need to be used given the constrained physical space. This implies TLC chips will still be used for the lower and mid-storage tier models which is what the vast majority of consumers will get.

While I agree QLC is a downgrade for desktops, laptops, and even tablets, I'm not so sure the average phone user would ever experience a difference. Storage speed comes less into play based on how most people use their phones, and I would wager average phone use doesn't put anywhere near the read/write strain on an SSD to begin approaching even the lower max read/write limit of a QLC chip. To be clear there are absolutely use cases where this would matter - people transferring massive photo or media libraries onto their phones from a desktop, people using their phones to record high bitrate video, etc., but those are fringe use cases.
 
15 Pro Max for me. Still excited for the 16 series.
I made an easy upgrade plan: I can upgrade iPhone every 5 years, with good conscience. Or I could delay to 6 or 7.

For Mac computers, I buy every second new and used, also every 5 years. Waiting 6 years could be too much.
 
I switched to Android a decade ago, but I'm looking forward to the iPhone 16 Pro models because I might be compelled to switch back this year, thanks to my first grandchild joining the family in December. My daughter and son-in-law are lifelong iPhone users, and I'm not convinced that Apple's jumping on the RCS train is going to be meaningful enough to keep photos and especially videos sent from an iPhone from looking like crap on Android handsets. I guess I'll find out this fall when iOS 18 is released and they send me a test video or two.
You'll be fine with Android, RCS seems to be working as expected on iOS 18 beta right now.

I'm probably going to go full pixel 9 pro next month and dump my 15 pro, they're just not worth it anymore and don't offer anything interesting with most of the new AI stuff not coming till next spring at the earliest.
 
You'll be fine with Android, RCS seems to be working as expected on iOS 18 beta right now.

I'm probably going to go full pixel 9 pro next month and dump my 15 pro, they're just not worth it anymore and don't offer anything interesting with most of the new AI stuff not coming till next spring at the earliest.
Thanks for the insight! I'm not opposed to an iPhone 16, but I was hoping to go either Pixel 9 Pro or wait for the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Appreciate the info about the beta RCS functionality.
 
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