One month using the iPhone 16 Pro proves that the company’s first foray into generative AI is rudimentary but useful — but don’t upgrade just for Apple Intelligence.
iPhone 16 Pro
One month using the iPhone 16 Pro proves that the company’s first foray into generative AI is rudimentary but useful — but don’t upgrade just for Apple Intelligence.
In the initial AppleInsider review of iPhone 16 Pro, Mike called it the sweet spot for performance, price, and device size. One month in with the addition of Apple Intelligence, and that holds true.
Apple Intelligence didn’t officially launch until the end of October, but I’ve been using the beta without any real issues in order to test the features for this follow-up review. To sum it up, Apple Intelligence is a useful feature set depending on individual needs, but it’s not life-changing — not that any so-called « AI » truly is.
There’s a lot to discuss between the iOS 18.1 update with Apple Intelligence and actually using the iPhone 16 Pro, so this review will focus on the iPhone aspects and less on software. I’ll be going more in-depth with the iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 review covering Apple Intelligence features more directly.
iPhone 16 Pro one month review: design & features
Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max may have gotten a bit bigger, but after a month in, I’ve noticed no negative effect. The display is bigger, and some apps take advantage of this, and battery life has improved, but the size and weight aren’t an issue.
I’m not sure that more increase won’t be an issue in the future. At 6.3 inches, it’s creeping up on previous Pro Max sizes, and I doubt this size class needs to be at 6.5 inches.
Some of this size gain was achieved by shrinking the bezels, and it is notable. Moving from the iPhone 15 Pro may not show that much of a dramatic difference, but when comparing to older bezels, these may as well not exist.
The 2,000 nit display has a 460ppi pixel density, 120Hz ProMotion, P3 color support, and HDR. The Dynamic Island is still around and more useful than ever with new apps like Apple Sports adding features.
iPhone 16 Pro
It’s not often that an iPhone update makes me rethink my entire setup. Every aspect that can be customized had to be rethought thanks to Camera Control.
I reconfigured the Action Button Shortcuts folder with a Delta emulator launcher and Flashlight toggle in place of Camera and Halide. The Camera app button is no longer on any Lock Screen in any Focus — instead replaced by Alarm in Sleep, Delta in Gaming, or Slack in Work.
Even the Control Center had some changes made because I no longer need a Camera button there. The iPhone has so many ways to view information and launch apps, I’m a little overwhelmed at the options.
The iPhone 16 Pro runs iOS and has access to the App Store. The hardware changes are welcome and make a real change to how I use the device over the iPhone 15 generation, but most will be fine holding off if they’re on an iPhone 14 or newer.
iPhone 16 Pro one month review: cameras & camera control
The photographic pipeline was upgraded for the iPhone 16 lineup, and a new Fusion Camera aids in taking better photos in many conditions. But the biggest physical upgrade was to the Ultra Wide Camera, gaining a 48MP sensor.
Every camera upgrade has made some impact on my photography process. I’m thinking about Photographic Styles when shooting or editing, I’m using the macro mode more, and I don’t shy away from the Ultra Wide camera.
If you’re looking for an in-depth overview of the cameras, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max reviews go into detail on these cameras and their upgrades.
