The MacRumors Show: iPhone 16 Pro First Impressions

[MacRumors]

After some hands-on time with the iPhone 16 Pro, Apple Watch Series 10, and AirPods 4, on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through our first impressions of the new devices.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos​

We consider some of the iPhone 16 Pro's most noticeable features and improvements, such as longer battery life, the 48-megapixel ultra wide camera, enhanced microphones, overhauled Photographic Styles, and the 5x telephoto camera. We also explore our mixed feelings about the all-new Camera Control button. We also discuss the revamped design of the Apple Watch Series 10, as well as the fit improvements and active noise cancellation capabilities of the AirPods 4. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips:

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel!​

You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

​

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about our favorite iOS 18 features.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShowhttps://twitter.com/macrumorsshow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.

Article Link: The MacRumors Show: iPhone 16 Pro First Impressions

 

[juju90]

What improvements??
It’s the same phone

 

[Darren.h]

Max has issues with the 16.

Glad I did not buy this year. I'll keep using my Trusty 8 Plus until 2nm and better upgrades

 

[amaze1499]

That one guy online posed an interesting question: How is it possible iPhones incl. the latest iPhone 16 are being sold in China while Google Phones are not?

 

[thadoggfather]

Hartley is spot on about the camera button in my opinion particularly about being worried about camera shake while squeezing the phone and to press the button vs. just tapping the on screen shutter button where you have more stability

..I effectively will use it as a camera app launcher as well, and periodically taking photos but not crucial ones.

I dont have a problem with accidental presses though with default single press to launch. but ymmv

I also feel like engaging the camera zoom on the button is too finicky and slow to nail, vs just pinching the screen to capture what you need in a split moment

 

[iRizz]

That one guy online posed an interesting question: How is it possible iPhones incl. the latest iPhone 16 are being sold in China while Google Phones are not?

Because Apple gave China over half a trillion dollars to have a market there.

 

[fwmireault]

Damn Hartley going hard after camera control

 

[Icehawk]

As someone with a 11 pro, very inteserting to hear/read all the takes. I'm ready for an upgrade, so debating 15 vs 16 loving the data.

 

[pugxiwawa]

As someone with a 11 pro, very inteserting to hear/read all the takes. I'm ready for an upgrade, so debating 15 vs 16 loving the data.

go with 16, 15 has bad thermal

 

[amaze1499]

Because Apple gave China over half a trillion dollars to have a market there.

Half a trillion dollars: $500,000,000,000
Apple Revenue 2023: $387,500,000,000
Apples Revenue in 2023 in China: $ 43,800,000,000
Apples market cap today: $348,000,000,000

 

[iRizz]

Half a trillion dollars: $500,000,000,000
Apple Revenue 2023: $387,500,000,000
Apples Revenue in 2023 in China: $ 43,800,000,000
Apples market cap today: $348,000,000,000

I don’t understand the point of your response.

 

[klasma]

Hartley fully endorsing the new camera button. 😂

 

[3goldens]

I totally disagree with Hartley. Maybe he got a bad unit. The camera control is not as bad as he makes out. After all he has had the phone 48 hours. I double click twice and the camera immediately opens, it’s not slow and certainly is faster than going to the screen clicking the camera icon and turning the phone to take a picture.

 

[carrrrrlos]

Possibly the most 'gimmicky' iPhone release. Passing once again.

 

[msackey]

Same here. I can't live with gold. I don't find black too severe, but I am afraid of how the paint could get scuffed. I'm not crazy about "natural" either. By far the best color Apple has ever had with iPhone Pro models has been Pacific Blue. Gorgeous!

 

[thadoggfather]

I wonder what he means by 'severe' on the black and white lol.

Black and white are the only ones I'd consider. The black was boring to me and too samey from my 14PM so I went white and dont regret it.

The natural isn't terrible but something is off about it to me, looks like an aged white which I dont love.

The gold is just a no go for my preferences. Not into it.

As always though these things are subjective

 

[Harry Haller]

Looks like they got the memo about grumpy Show portraits.

 

[citysnaps]

I totally disagree with Hartley. Maybe he got a bad unit. The camera control is not as bad as he makes out. After all he has had the phone 48 hours. I double click twice and the camera immediately opens, it’s not slow and certainly is faster than going to the screen clicking the camera icon and turning the phone to take a picture.

And I agree with you. I'm really digging the camera control button. Which for landscape orientation puts the button where it belongs.

As far as shake goes... when *making* (as opposed to taking) photos, especially ones I care about, I always use two hands, and the camera button is right where it needs to be, and there is no shake. It's far better than tapping the red "button" on the screen from a stability aspect.

All in all, it's an excellent upgrade for making photos.

And I especially like the photo browser app. Where I can fluidly zoom the grid in and out while scrolling to find a past photo I'm looking for. At the moment I have more than 28,000 photos on my phone and the new Photos app is killer for going through them.

 

[Logamaniac]

I don’t understand the point of your response.

Likely pointing out it woulnt make sense to pay 500b to make 43b in revenue. It also likely wouldnt be a one time fee to operate in china either since they can dictate terms on a whim.

 

[iRizz]

Likely pointing out it woulnt make sense to pay 500b to make 43b in revenue. It also likely wouldnt be a one time fee to operate in china either since they can dictate terms on a whim.

They literally paid China half a trillion dollars to have a market there (well, around 300 billion). They weren't selling in China and the CCP agreed to help market the iPhone there in exchange for the money. This actually happened, regardless if it makes sense to you or not.

Inside Tim Cook’s Secret $275 Billion Deal with Chinese Authorities

Apple’s iPhone recently became the top-selling smartphone in China, its second-biggest market after the U.S., for the first time in six years. But the company owes much of that success to CEO Tim Cook, who laid the foundation years ago by secretly signing an agreement, estimated to be worth more ...

www.theinformation.com

Couple that with all the chip manufacturing they invested in China, and the numbers are very high. It's because of China that their market valuation is what it is today.

It wasn't paid all at once. It was paid over 5 years, but it more than paid off for them.

 

[amaze1499]

I don’t understand the point of your response.

Just collecting facts. I wonder how they would be able to pay half a trillion…

 

[iRizz]

Just collecting facts. I wonder how they would be able to pay half a trillion…

Over 5 years, with the nearly 300 billion they gave to China, coupled with all the chip manufacturing they moved into China, as I illustrated above.

 

[amaze1499]

Over 5 years, with the nearly 300 billion they gave to China, coupled with all the chip manufacturing they moved into China, as I illustrated above.

Very good. Let’s call it an investment of over 300bn so.

 

[iRizz]

Very good. Let’s call it an investment of over 300bn so.

It WAS an investment. I was just answering your question of why the iPhone is so prevalent there, but Google phones aren't.

 

[Logamaniac]

They literally paid China half a trillion dollars to have a market there (well, around 300 billion). They weren't selling in China and the CCP agreed to help market the iPhone there in exchange for the money. This actually happened, regardless if it makes sense to you or not.

Inside Tim Cook’s Secret $275 Billion Deal with Chinese Authorities

Apple’s iPhone recently became the top-selling smartphone in China, its second-biggest market after the U.S., for the first time in six years. But the company owes much of that success to CEO Tim Cook, who laid the foundation years ago by secretly signing an agreement, estimated to be worth more ...

www.theinformation.com

Couple that with all the chip manufacturing they invested in China, and the numbers are very high. It's because of China that their market valuation is what it is today.

It wasn't paid all at once. It was paid over 5 years, but it more than paid off for them.

so roughly half the amount you said. got it.

also a deal “worth” including business deals, investments and worker training. This could all be included in its foxconn deals as well.

this isn't paying 275 billion dollars outright in any form