Thinking of Upgrading? Here’s What the iPhone 16 Offers

The iPhone 16 series promises cutting-edge innovation, enhanced performance, and fresh features. But is it truly worth an upgrade? This article provides some reasons you might want to pick up this phone–or why you might want to wait.

Who Should Get an iPhone 16

The right iPhone model or an upgrade is an investment in your productivity. Consider the iPhone 16 for the following reasons:

• You want to upgrade from an older iPhone, like the iPhone 12 or older.
• As an early tech adopter, you always want the latest new features.
• You are a photography enthusiast looking for advanced camera capabilities.
• As a professional, you need a powerful device for AI-enabled productivity.
• You want the peace of mind of long-term software support and security updates.
• You're a gamer seeking high-performance mobile gaming experiences.

Who Shouldn't Get an iPhone 16

The latest or best aren't always for everyone. Here are a few reasons to skip this iPhone generation.

• You rarely need or use advanced smartphone features.
• You're a budget-conscious consumer who finds the price too high.
• You've just bought an iPhone 15, so the jump to the iPhone 16 may not justify the cost.
• As an Android enthusiast, you prefer the flexibility of the Android ecosystem (for instance, expandable storage).

Why You Should Buy an iPhone 16

Here are five compelling reasons why the iPhone 16 should be your next smartphone.

Faster Performance With the A18 Bionic Chip

You'll notice that Apple skipped two generations from the iPhone 15's A16 chipset to the iPhone 16's A18. iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have the A17 Pro, which is less powerful than the hardware in the standard iPhone 16.

Apple Intelligence will need all the juice it can get, as the AI will run on your device and not in the cloud. According to the company, the A18 Bionic is 30% faster than the A16 Bionic chip and faster than all the competition. At the same time, it will consume 30% less energy, leading to better battery life.

It's not only about Apple Intelligence; gamers can use the upgraded processing power, too. As Apple said in their launch press release,

Now with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, games on iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus more accurately represent the behavior of light with up to 5x higher frame rates than with software-based ray tracing. Both models support the AAA games previously only available on iPhone 15 Pro, as well as new titles like Honor of Kings: World with an ultra graphics mode optimized for the iPhone 16 lineup, coming next year.

Enhanced AI Capabilities With Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence promises to bring advanced on-device generative AI processing for a variety of tasks. The system will intelligently divide workloads between on-device and cloud-based computing with Private Cloud Computing, enhancing privacy and performance in one go.

A forthcoming update will bring Apple Intelligence and seamless support for ChatGPT with Siri and in writing and image tools in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia.

The New Camera Control Button

The iPhone 16 family has more physical and customizable buttons than older models. iPhoneography enthusiasts might debate the introduction of the Camera Control button on the side. One reason for the tactile button is for using Apple Intelligence to learn more about objects or places by pointing at them with the camera. Third-party app developers can also use that button.

A Better Camera System

The Camera Control button is just one part of the appeal for photography buffs. In the standard iPhone 16, the 48MP Fusion camera can shoot stunning super-high-resolution photos and bring objects closer with its 2x optical-quality telephoto lens. The Pro models feature a 48MP Ultra Wide camera with a quad-pixel sensor, a big boost for higher-resolution images and enhanced macro photography.

The Photographic Style has been improved on the iPhone 16 since it first launched with the iPhone 13. You can control and fine-tune your photo's tone, color, and intensity from the camera and in the Photos app.

A Customizable Action Button

The pressure-sensitive Action Button can perform various functions, and you can customize it. It can be a productivity shortcut as you can link it to dozens of Control Center actions like Dark Mode, Airplane Mode, or Personal Hotspot. You can even run custom Shortcuts—and maybe use it to control your smart home devices.

Why You Shouldn't Buy an iPhone 16

If you're using a recent iPhone model (e.g., iPhone 14 or 15 series) that still meets your needs, the incremental upgrades in the iPhone 16 may not justify the cost of buying a new phone. You should consider these other reasons, too.

You're on a Tight Budget

The latest iPhones have premium price tags, which may not be suitable for those who just need a reliable device for basic tasks. Apple's lineup includes far more affordable models, such as the older iPhone 14, 15, or iPhone SE.

You Don't Need Apple Intelligence and GenAI Features Now

Apple Intelligence works on the iPhone 16 series (along with iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max). You can hold off on a purchase until Apple irons out the problems and receives more feedback on the AI-running capabilities of the new A18 chipset.

Your Carrier Doesn’t Support eSIM

In the U.S., Apple removed physical SIMs from all iPhones in 2022 (starting with the iPhone 14 series). The rest of the world still includes the physical SIM tray alongside eSIMs. While many carriers globally offer eSIM support, some places off the beaten track may not, restricting your choices.

Is the iPhone 16 Your Next Upgrade?

The latest iPhone can automatically trigger a buyer's urge. But it's also a hefty investment that can set off buyer's remorse.

If you're considering an upgrade from an older iPhone model like an iPhone 12, the performance and feature improvements in the iPhone 16 are substantial. The A18 Bionic chip delivers faster processing speeds and enhanced battery efficiency.

Apple Intelligence will make your phone future-proof for some years to come. However, you may not be able to justify the premium pricing for the iPhone 16 if you don't use its advanced features. So, make a cautious buying decision after considering your current device's capabilities, budget constraints, and the significance of the new features to your daily phone habits.