Over the past decade, it seems like the changes to the iPhone have transitioned from revolutionary to minor. As the iPhone 16 hits the shelves, a question presents itself: is buying the latest iPhone really worth it, or are these new devices just another slight adjustment?
Starting in 2021, buyers went from the iPhone 12 to the iPhone 13, getting a slightly faster chip, a new camera layout and increased base storage.
Then, in 2022, the jump from the iPhone 13 to the 14 included a couple of emergency SOS features, one more hour of battery life on video playback and action mode for video. However, the design stayed exactly the same, leaving many to wonder where Apple actually innovated.
But what’s important for this year is the switch from the iPhone 15 to the iPhone 16. Starting with design, there is a healthy change in colors, a new camera layout and a customizable action button, reminiscent of last year’s iPhone Pros. The new model also features a brand-new camera control feature, a button under the power switch that controls the camera app.
Sophomore Alexandra Marmut of Tinton Falls, a current iPhone 11 user, commented on this topic.
“Honestly, the design of the new iPhone 16 looks exactly the same as my 11, and since my phone works perfectly, what’s the point of upgrading?” Marmut said.
The iPhone 16 also gets the new A18 chip compared to the A16 running in the iPhone 15, allowing the phone to run the new Apple Intelligence.
As seen in many recent ads for the iPhone 16 lineup, Apple Intelligence is the company’s artificial intelligence software, scheduled for release sometime this fall.
One of the biggest incentives for upgrading to the iPhone 16 series is the new AI features, but Apple doesn’t even have a date of release yet.
Sophomore Savannah Williams of Marlboro shared her thoughts on the topic.
“Apple AI seems pretty cool, but since it’s not out yet it’s hard to tell. Plus, I don’t think I would actually use most of the new features,” Williams said.
Not only that, but the current iPhone 15 Pro will be able to run the same Apple Intelligence as the new iPhone 16.
Even though the new devices offer the use of Apple Intelligence, the beta software is still unfinished and could risk some glitches and bugs while using the phones.
While buying the latest and greatest from Apple may seem like a smart investment, as long as consumers’ current phones are usable and relatively recent, the changes are minor and will have little effect on day-to-day usage.
As Sophomore Maple Lin explained, “As long as your phone is still working, there’s no point in upgrading and you should just wait until it breaks.”
