(Image Source: Apple)
The usually hyped and much-anticipated iPhone 16 series was finally announced at Apples Glowtime event last night along with Apple Watch Series 10, next Gen AirPods and Apple Watch Ultra 2 Colour. It was almost as exciting as watching paint dry, I really mean that. As a tech lover and Apple fan, I was falling asleep 20 min into the livestream. Instead of wowing us with innovation, it seems Apple has decided to recycle last year’s ideas with a few extra sprinkles of “meh.” For anyone expecting a revolutionary leap, the iPhone 16 might feel more like a trip down déjà vu lane—with a slight detour for some minor, albeit colourful, cosmetic changes.
So, What’s New? Not Much.
Let’s start with the most “exciting” changes. The iPhone 16 lineup offers some slightly larger screens, negligible performance improvements, and—wait for it—a few new colours! Forget about those washed-out pastels from the iPhone 15; now you can choose from more vibrant shades of blue, green, and pink. If that’s not worth selling a kidney for, what is? Maybe the new touch sensitive camera button that’s been on Android devices for years?
As for the internals, the A18 Pro chip, which powers the Pro models, is a modest 10% faster than its predecessor, the A17 Pro. Ten percent! That’s like saying you can now drive 110 kph instead of 100 kph—sure, it’s technically faster, but will you even notice? This lack of significant performance boost is especially disappointing when you consider that next year’s Android flagships could potentially outpace the A18 Pro .
A Button Makeover That’s All Flash, No Substance
Apple has decided to ditch traditional buttons in favor of capacitive switches, even if it’s just the camera controls for now. This might sound futuristic, but really, it’s just a slightly different way to do the same things you’ve always done—like toggling camera modes or quick capture. Apple’s new “Camera Button,” designed for multimedia lovers, may offer some novelty with pressure-sensitive shortcuts, but let’s be honest—this isn’t a game-changer.
(Image Source: Apple)
Enter Apple Intelligence: Smart, but far from Intelligent
One of the more talked-about features in the iPhone 16 lineup is the deeper integration of Apple Intelligence. This is essentially Apple’s take on AI-powered personalization, aiming to make your iPhone “smarter” by learning your habits, preferences, and even your speech patterns. But here’s the catch: it’s more of a tweak than a groundbreaking leap. For instance, it offers better suggestions in Messages, more accurate predictive text, and smarter photo organization. Siri also gets a boost with these AI smarts ( Finally) albeit only with an update expected early next year.
Apple Intelligence feels like it’s in its early stages, more of a hint of things to come rather than a fully realized feature. If you were hoping for an AI that could revolutionize the way you interact with your phone, prepare for disappointment. AI seems to be the go to strategy for all manufacturers these days, to capture the hearts and pockets of consumers and Apple is clearly making a push for it. However Apples take on AI while certainly helpful, is not life-changing .
Spatial Video and Other Niche Additions
One of the few features that feels somewhat fresh is the horizontal camera layout designed to better capture Spatial Video for Apple’s Vision Pro headset. But unless you’re an early adopter of Apple’s mixed-reality ecosystem, this feature probably isn’t enough to justify an upgrade. Most people will use their cameras for the same old Instagram posts and family photos, rendering this addition fairly redundant .
So, Should You Upgrade? Probably Not.
All in all, the iPhone 16 series feels like a rehash of the same old same old. Apple seems content to coast on its reputation rather than push the envelope. This coming from someone who loves Apple products and has the entire ecosystem, including AirTags, HomePod and Apple TV. Unless your’e desperate for a new phone, that’s basically the same as your old one, I’d say skip it! There’s little reason to drop your hard-earned cash on the iPhone 16. The modest performance improvements, minor aesthetic changes, and niche features don’t add up to a compelling upgrade.
