Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I think some, including myself, look at moments of annual iPhone releases and are reminded that the pace of smartphone innovation is slowing. Apple, quite aware of this, is saving net new features and stretching them across iPhone versions so as to maintain their cash cow.

This year’s Pro models were rumored to feature 45w wired fast charging and brighter screens. It didn’t materialize. Truthfully, Apple faces no consumer pressure for them to resist this approach. They will continue to sell a massive quantity of iPhones. Despite what you read on the forums, Apple will report a wild outpouring of sales and customer satisfaction. This is our new norm. Some of us are just having a hard time accepting it and moving on.
When I think of AI in phones I am reminded of how fast the pace of innovation is and there is always some innovation in progress waiting to be implemented.
 
Because marketing is replacing innovation. And its not Apple’s fault. Google, Open AI and Altman, Microsoft – those are the ones responsible.
No it’s not. Of course that’s your opinion and I do t agree with it.
Look, we have 48mp camera for a third year. With iPhone 16 now there are two 48mp cameras. And 17 will have three 48mp cameras. And 18 will get rid of most of them and have only one camera again. Don’t you see they are just drip feeding features that could have been in place since iPhone 14 and earlier?
Again disagree. Apple isn’t android manufacturers and throw everything against the wall to see what sticks.
Another problem is this so-called 48mp camera still unable to shoot true RAW without noise reduction and such, it outputs 12mp photo instead. ProRAW itself isn’t bad, but again it is unfairly limited only to Pro models. People are angry about so many artificial and purely software limitations.
Can you prove it’s software and not something in the hardware which directly relates to cost.
I have 5 year old smartphone and ZERO incentive for upgrading this year. Maybe next year. MAYBE. Probably not.
So don’t upgrade. I upgraded a 5 year phone also. And I was wowed with the 15pm. Do you spend any money on services? Apple still loves you. I promise. Although the iPhone 17 sounds awesome.
AI is not breakthrough like they trying to tell us.
It’s exactly breakthrough.
I am yet to see any advances that are possible thanks to AI and that human are incapable of doing. Yes, they push AI for themself to cut labor costs by driving unqualified people from certain niches in market. Still they are failing to present something new that wasn’t around.
How about doing things faster and less error prone. Doing repetitive tasks. While you may not like ai and there are downsides there are also upsides.
Many years ago Apple made Shortcuts app. Many geeks were so optimistic that it could automate nearly every process in iPhone. And where we are now? I still cannot automate it to wipe “recently deleted” in Photos and Files in a day or even instantly. It is not even on the level of ancient macOS Automator.
Don’t take an isolated case and make it a general case. That’s disingenuous. Shortcuts are useful and it’s one tool in the software bag out of many.
Oh btw, Photos app is becoming more uglier every year. Maybe I am just becoming older every year (and I am almost two times younger than you), but I cannot stand what they made off Photos app.
I’m certainly older than you and I like the photos app.
I almost never watch photos there, it gives me panic attacks. I have to send them to my Mac to actually enjoy.
Options. Apple gives you options.
People dislike the new button btw.
People also like it.
The button is placed awkwardly, as well as they could have build its functions into volume buttons.
You can’t speak for millions of iPhones 16 users.
Also look at this year colors. They are either extra boring or clown-styled.
I like them.
No, I am not trying to assert masculinity but I definitely dislike these colors comparing to ones of iPhone 15. Albeit I am sure iPhone 17 colors will be much better. Dreaming about Midnight Green/Olive Green coming back.
Sure buy what you like.
In fact, “nothing to see here”. Waiting for next iPhones to truly impress me
Fair enough. Skip this year. Nothing to see is correct.
 
My opinion may be the unpopular one here…but why is everyone so down on this years iPhones? I am 51 years old, and i am truly in awe at how much technology has advanced in the last 20-30 years.

First, we are all Apple fans or we wouldn’t be reading and commenting in these forums. If you look at the iPhone 16 Pro Max in a bubble, not compared to the prior year, you have a pretty amazing device in your hands. Professional grade cameras, long lasting batteries, brilliant bright display, fast computer grade chip, etc etc etc. All in our pockets, everywhere we go.

Apple is innovating every year. The cameras keep getting better. The modems get faster. The screens get brighter and dimmer as needed. The batteries last longer. The performance gets faster. No, we dont get a groundbreaking feature every single year. But the phone just keeps getting better and better. The average consumer doesn‘t need to buy an iPhone every year…and they shouldn’t. It is only us Apple fans that want to just to experience everything new. iPhone release day is like Christmas morning for us.

There will be more to come. AI is coming within weeks. Next year we could possibly get a new design if the rumors are true (iPhone slim?). I‘m sure the iPhone XX will be something special, but who can even predict where the technology will be in 3-4 years? For now, lets just enjoy our new phones, and lets appreciate how far we have come since the first iPhone in 2007 (no video recording? a 2MP camera with one lens? no apps? no cut and paste? only one carrier? etc etc etc). The future is bright, technology will advance, and you can be sure that Apple will be on the cutting edge.

A New iPhone "Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" ;)
 
Although the iPhone 17 sounds awesome.
Hoping it will be exactly what I want. It will probably solve many issues currently present in 16. And I am guessing in iPhone 18 they will get rid of the camera button.

You are totally right about Apple giving options. I would love them to give even more options, for example to disable every AI feature in photos and camera app, kinda tired of AI analyzing every photo and cutting objects for me.

It is not like something I can’t live without, but would definitely be a good addition.

There are definitely good things in iPhone 16, just more under the hood. New thermal management should help with overheating issues that many 15 and 15 Pro users had, as well as potentially improve battery lifespan. And the battery now is much easier to remove and doesn’t need display to be disconnected. Ifixit gave them 7 out of 10 which is really good, hope that trend will continue in future iPhone generations
 
There's nothing innovative with iPhones. Apple and iPhones are years behind Samsung for instance in terms of technology and innovation. I'm not a hater, my wife and daughter both have iPhones, I myself have6an ipad Pro. But iphones are an inferior product. I said what I said.
 
The downer comes from people upgrading every year - the new model is virtually identical to the previous one.
Nobody is complaining who upgraded from a 10 year old iPhone.
I'm still on the fence if I want to upgrade from my 12 Pro the 16 PM isn't like WOW I'm just in a space where I need a bit more storage I have the 256GB so I'm looking at 1TB.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Marty80
There's nothing innovative with iPhones. Apple and iPhones are years behind Samsung for instance in terms of technology and innovation. I'm not a hater, my wife and daughter both have iPhones, I myself have6an ipad Pro. But iphones are an inferior product. I said what I said.
why bother posting this. i don't get it. people are negative on this forum because samsung is so innovative!! what
 
My opinion may be the unpopular one here…but why is everyone so down on this years iPhones? I am 51 years old, and i am truly in awe at how much technology has advanced in the last 20-30 years.

First, we are all Apple fans or we wouldn’t be reading and commenting in these forums. If you look at the iPhone 16 Pro Max in a bubble, not compared to the prior year, you have a pretty amazing device in your hands. Professional grade cameras, long lasting batteries, brilliant bright display, fast computer grade chip, etc etc etc. All in our pockets, everywhere we go.

Apple is innovating every year. The cameras keep getting better. The modems get faster. The screens get brighter and dimmer as needed. The batteries last longer. The performance gets faster. No, we dont get a groundbreaking feature every single year. But the phone just keeps getting better and better. The average consumer doesn‘t need to buy an iPhone every year…and they shouldn’t. It is only us Apple fans that want to just to experience everything new. iPhone release day is like Christmas morning for us.

There will be more to come. AI is coming within weeks. Next year we could possibly get a new design if the rumors are true (iPhone slim?). I‘m sure the iPhone XX will be something special, but who can even predict where the technology will be in 3-4 years? For now, lets just enjoy our new phones, and lets appreciate how far we have come since the first iPhone in 2007 (no video recording? a 2MP camera with one lens? no apps? no cut and paste? only one carrier? etc etc etc). The future is bright, technology will advance, and you can be sure that Apple will be on the cutting edge.
This used to be a ‘community’ not so much anymore. Creating crazy threads and downvote anyone who disagrees. Not cool. 56 here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Markgnyc2
If they had a foldable out this year, it would have been biggest year in long time…instead just threw something out there and only useful if your phone was over 6 years old
 
Because watch any tech blogger on the You and they always ALWAYS have to find something to dig Apple about. It's next to impossible for them to say a phone is perfect, when I agree an iPhone truly is a marvel. And they work, thanks Steve! My spouse and I bought Pixels a few years ago, turned them on, and neither of us could receive incoming calls. Nothing like a major problem right out of the box.

As to the phones being "incomplete", I could care less about AI.
 
these forums have been taken over by haters.
Could not agree more, its getting to the point of why bother trying to share and possibly learn something new and sharing, all of the negativity I feel sorry for some of these folks. I have to wonder if they find pleasure and happiness in any thing. Bashing every thing Apple does, do they ever stop to think that the folks working at Apple are real people that care about how they do their jobs, possibly even proud of what the do. Ive noticed they all have something to bitch about, but their not making anything better
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bungaree.Chubbins
The issue is that the new phone has come out with some serious software bugs - like the screen being unresponsive or the camera not taking pictures. Those may just be teething troubles of a new product but really is it the new customers job to beta test - or should that be the companies job to do properly before release. We all know the phones will be fixed before too long within 1 or 2 software patches but why should we the customers have to wear that inconvenience for 4-8 weeks until it happens.
iOS 18 betas have been in the wild for months, with probably hundreds of thousands of users, and I don't recall those things being issues in any of the beta threads here or around the internet. They have an extensive beta testing program every year and it's open to basically anybody who's interested, it's not like Apple just drops a new OS on the world without testing it first.
Allow me to refresh your memory:

 
My opinion may be the unpopular one here…but why is everyone so down on this years iPhones? I am 51 years old, and i am truly in awe at how much technology has advanced in the last 20-30 years.

First, we are all Apple fans or we wouldn’t be reading and commenting in these forums. If you look at the iPhone 16 Pro Max in a bubble, not compared to the prior year, you have a pretty amazing device in your hands. Professional grade cameras, long lasting batteries, brilliant bright display, fast computer grade chip, etc etc etc. All in our pockets, everywhere we go.

Apple is innovating every year. The cameras keep getting better. The modems get faster. The screens get brighter and dimmer as needed. The batteries last longer. The performance gets faster. No, we dont get a groundbreaking feature every single year. But the phone just keeps getting better and better. The average consumer doesn‘t need to buy an iPhone every year…and they shouldn’t. It is only us Apple fans that want to just to experience everything new. iPhone release day is like Christmas morning for us.

There will be more to come. AI is coming within weeks. Next year we could possibly get a new design if the rumors are true (iPhone slim?). I‘m sure the iPhone XX will be something special, but who can even predict where the technology will be in 3-4 years? For now, lets just enjoy our new phones, and lets appreciate how far we have come since the first iPhone in 2007 (no video recording? a 2MP camera with one lens? no apps? no cut and paste? only one carrier? etc etc etc). The future is bright, technology will advance, and you can be sure that Apple will be on the cutting edge.

I don't know which is worse: unnecessary hating on Apple or "Hey, I can fit an iPhone in my pocket everywhere I go!"

Both are pretty extreme 😂
 
I have watched and read countless, too many, reviews of the iPhone 16 series since I wrote the original post. I believe what I said is correct. If you look at the 16 Pro Max in a bubble, its an incredible device. The disappointment comes if you look at it year to year, and I would agree that the updates are incremental. However, I knew what I was buying when I upgraded from a 15 PM to a 16PM. I didn't have to upgrade, I wanted to because I do every year. Its my gift to myself.

Normal users are not going to upgrade every year. They just don't. The disappointment only comes from the Apple fans that upgrade every year and expect transformative tech to be released every year. After all, thats how we were conditioned for the first 10 years of the iPhones existence. However, we are now at a point where the iPhone has been perfected and the improvements are smaller and smaller. The biggest upgrade this year is supposed to be on the software side, which unfortunately we are still waiting for. It will be here, but its release timeline is slow.

If you upgraded enjoy your phones. They are really amazing devices. And they will get better as the year goes on and Apple Intelligence is rolled out.
 
Normal users are not going to upgrade every year. They just don't. The disappointment only comes from the Apple fans that upgrade every year and expect transformative tech to be released every year. After all, thats how we were conditioned for the first 10 years of the iPhones existence. However, we are now at a point where the iPhone has been perfected and the improvements are smaller and smaller. The biggest upgrade this year is supposed to be on the software side, which unfortunately we are still waiting for. It will be here, but its release timeline is slow.

Thanks for saying this. Yes, when you compare the newest iPhone to the one immediately before it, it stops looking impressive. Was the 11 dramatically improved over the XR? XS over the X? Even 4 to 4S wasn't super crazy.

But 11 wasn't for XR owners. XS not for X owners. 4S not for 4 owners. They're meant for users on even older models.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bungaree.Chubbins
Hardwarewise I have nothing to moan, but Apple irrevocably lost me softwarewise.
WatchOS10 was the start, the new photoapp was next and the maps app on MAc was the last nail in the coffin.
A few years ago I was excited about any new ios-version, because even without a new phone you got the feeling of a new phone after updating.
Since two years I´m really afraid to update any of my Apple devices: what has gotten worse this time?
Extra clicks, useless submenus, extra miles for my mouse or finger..it is a nightmare.

As a consequence I will only buy new devices every three years.
 
Because watch any tech blogger on the You and they always ALWAYS have to find something to dig Apple about. It's next to impossible for them to say a phone is perfect, when I agree an iPhone truly is a marvel. And they work, thanks Steve! My spouse and I bought Pixels a few years ago, turned them on, and neither of us could receive incoming calls. Nothing like a major problem right out of the box.

As to the phones being "incomplete", I could care less about AI.

Partially by haters. The rest by iPhone Mini-stan’s.

I guess everyone has there right to opinion.
Looks like some people actually could benefit from mundane features of AI. Like proper grammar and punctuation correction...good grief.
 
The hate probably comes from people who upgrade yearly. Admittedly, this is the first time I haven't upgraded since the 3G. That's mainly due to financial things coming up... and maybe I will eventually. But its been a few weeks, and i don't care? Which isn't usually the case.

year over year upgrades generally aren't worth it.. I feel most tech is at a position where the upgrades are going to be minimal for the most part. Hell, look at game consoles!
 
People just like to complain its a sickness with some.
Or say opposing view points to get a rise out of people.
See it in every forum. Separate the wheat from the chaff.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.