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I blame myself. I reviewed the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max and then, as I usually do, I moved on social media and said people could ask me anything. I usually get five or six questions. This year I got hundreds, and they reveal a lot about how long people keep their iPhones and what they do and don’t consider when contemplating an upgrade to Apple’s latest flagships.
First, let’s do a quick primer on what these new phones bring to the table. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are essentially the same smartphone in two different sizes. Both offer slightly larger displays than their predecessors, A18 Pro chips, iOS 18, no AI from the start, updated cameras, and new camera controls.
While many of the questions covered these details, I did notice some trends that indicate what matters most to you:
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Will the battery last longer?
I got so many questions about the battery life. Apparently quite a few people noticed that the iPhone 15 Pro got too hot and the battery drained quickly. Some iPhone 14 Pro owners reported the same thing. They wanted to know about the battery performance of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, whether the battery life is better and whether I have experienced any issues overheating problemsI explained that the phones sometimes felt a little warm (for example while gaming), but that I didn’t see any overheating.
iPhone owners are also hyper-aware of their battery’s overall charging potential. I’ve seen numerous reports of iPhone 15 Pros reaching 85% charge capacity and iPhone 14 Pros reaching between 82% and 75%. They seemed eager to get back to full capacity with phones that potentially offer better battery life than ever before. In our tests, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max both offered better battery life than we’ve ever seen on an iPhone (14-16 hours on average).
They also asked how these phone batteries performed during peak workloads. I think many people are concerned that these batteries will drain faster when playing AAA games or editing video. I was happy to explain that this was not my experience.
Don’t they look exactly the same as the previous model?
Quite a few people claimed that I was in fact only holding the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Maxwhich means that these models looked exactly the same as the latest iPhones. This is important for consumers, because they are looking for a fresh design and new features.
I’ve pointed out multiple times that while these phones certainly look the same, we can point out some glaring differences. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is 6.9 inches compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max (6.7 inches), and the iPhone 16 Pro is 6.3 inches compared to the iPhone 15 Pro (6.1). I’ve also pointed out the other new physical feature: the Camera Control button, but we’ll get to that later.
Is it time for an upgrade?
I was shocked at how many people still have iPhone 12 Pro models. There were even a few with the iPhone 11, which has a completely different design, and the iPhone Xs, which was only the second model to come with Face ID and is also six years old (iPhones really do endure).
I explained that in these cases the upgrades would be significant. There would be noticeable jumps in performance and camera quality. Batteries are bigger and chips are more efficient. The screens are now larger and offer higher resolution.
However, many potential upgraders own both iPhone 13 Pros and iPhone 14 Pros. Here, of course, I’ve explained that the differences will be less noticeable. There’s a higher zoom, now 5X on both the Pro and Pro Max, faster chips, Camera Control, and the ability to support Apple Intelligence, which only the 15 Pro line and above will support.
Is it big and heavy?
We carry our iPhones in our pockets and hold them in our hands, so a major concern among potential upgraders is of course weight and feel. Most know that these phones are a bit larger.
While the two Pro models are slightly heavier than their predecessors, the iPhone 16 Pro Max (227 grams), for example, is significantly lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro Max (240 grams). I was repeatedly asked whether the 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max fits in trouser pockets and feels comfortable in the hand.
I found this one hard to answer. While the device feels great in my large hands, it may not be for someone with smaller pockets and hands.
Are they sustainable?
I was asked over the glasswhich makes sense since many of us scratch and crack our screens. I mentioned that Apple claims the Ceramic Shield glass is stronger, but I didn’t try to scratch the screen on purpose.
In other words, these screens should be more robust, but I still wouldn’t put them in your pocket with your keys.
Bigger screens, really?
Most seemed aware that these Pro models bring slightly larger screens, but they wanted to know if they looked so much bigger than, for example, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models they owned.
That’s a tough question, because at first glance I don’t think you’d notice it. But when you hold them side by side you do, and the difference in bezel size is extra noticeable.
Which colors are best?
I felt the same way about all the color questions I was getting. People kept asking me what my preference was for the four Pro color choices, Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium. My test units are Desert and Natural.
I was asked if the Desert is more Rose gold or Brown. I am a little color blind, but to me it looks more brown. They also wanted to know what my color preference is, or as they put it: “the best color for ProI said Black Titanium, and when they asked for my color advice, I said Black again.
Of course, color is really a matter of taste. I don’t know if the color I like will appeal to you. For what it’s worth, I really want some of the excellent iPhone 16 colors on the Pro models. Maybe next year.
Is the camera quality better?
Purchasing decisions weren’t just about older phones and the new ones. In some cases, I was asked about the difference in image quality between the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. That was an easy question because the camera arrays are exactly the same and the photo quality was identical on both phones.
For those considering upgrading from an iPhone 14 Pro, I was able to point out that both Pro models now have 5x zoom, and the 48MP main camera is faster than previous models, meaning you’re more likely to capture that moment. I also reminded people that even the ultra-wide photography on the iPhone 15 Pro models got a big upgrade, up from 12MP to 48MP.
Of course, upgrading older phones like the iPhone 12 will mean a ton of new camera capabilities and much better image quality. Interestingly, not many people asked about video quality, although there are upgrades there too (4K 120fps).
Is the camera control good?
People are fascinated by Camera Control, but don’t quite understand it. Some confuse it with the Action Button, which was introduced last year and replaced the sleep button (not the action button). They asked how it works and if it would still work with a case. I explained that there are special cases from Apple and third-party cases with huge cutouts to support it.
Others asked about using the new controls, worried that they would be difficult to learn and use. I explained my experience: it took a while to understand the differences between hard press, light press (haptic response), and gestures, but it can quickly become second nature.
Some concerned that the placement of the camera controls wouldn’t work for themand I had a few questions about using the camera with my left hand. I noted that I am right handed, but I still find it a bit difficult to use the camera controls with the phone in portrait mode.
Waiting for iPhone 17?
As I said, the questions I got asked most often revolved around whether it makes sense to upgrade now from models ranging from the iPhone Xs to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Most often, I pointed out the amount and level of upgrades you’d experience with each of these phones.
Trading in an iPhone 12 Pro for an iPhone 16 Pro might feel like a big leap. But trading in an iPhone 14 Pro or the barely-a-year-old 15 Pro might feel like a baby step.
I tried to convey the message that if you are no longer happy with your current phone or if you find the features of your new phone so appealing that you should upgrade right away, it is time to upgrade.
Some people are already looking forward to the expected iPhone 17 next year. It is clear they would take the risk of waiting because many believe that the telephone will bring about the desired change.
The iPhone 16 line is something of a conundrum, because while the screen sizes, cameras, and Control Button are all new, one of the biggest new features, Apple Intelligence, isn’t live yet. It may be driving an upgrade, but not yet, and maybe not until next year.
Most people didn’t even ask about Apple’s brand of AI. I did get one, about the experience of using it on the iPhone 16. I answered honestly: “Interesting and somewhat useful, but still limited. Looking forward to seeing more.”
I still answer questions about upgrades, but I say the same thing I say to some: read my reviews!
