Final week, I upgraded from my iPhone 12 to the brand new iPhone 16 Professional, and it’s been per week of exploring options I by no means thought I wanted. Apple’s newest cellphone brings some severe upgrades, from a complicated synthetic intelligence system to a redesigned digital camera expertise. Right here’s the way it compares to my outdated iPhone and what I’ve found thus far.
One of many standout options of the iPhone 16 Professional is Apple Intelligence, a private AI system constructed proper into the cellphone. It goes past easy autocorrect—it may possibly rewrite your texts till the tone and wording are excellent, summarise transcripts, and even condense chosen textual content with only a faucet.
What impressed me probably the most was how this characteristic protects privateness. All the pieces it does occurs on the machine, that means it’s conscious of private info with out ever gathering it. In comparison with my iPhone 12, which lacked any actual AI options past primary autocorrect.
The iPhone 16 Professional added Digital camera Management, a slider on the underside proper aspect of your cellphone. With Digital camera Management, you may regulate settings like publicity or depth of discipline simply by sliding your finger. Switching between lenses or zooming in is smoother than ever, letting you body the right shot with out fumbling via menus.
Once I examine this to the iPhone 12, the distinction is large. On the 12, adjusting these settings was slower and fewer intuitive, usually requiring a number of faucets. The brand new design makes pictures really feel skilled but simple, and it’s one of many options I’ve used probably the most thus far.
The brand new Motion Button can be one among my favourite additions. It’s a small button on the aspect of the cellphone you can customise to launch your favourite characteristic. By urgent and holding, you may change to Silent Mode, open an app, set an alarm, and even order your go-to espresso drink. I’ve stored mine set to Silent Mode as a result of it’s the characteristic I exploit probably the most, however the prospects are infinite.
On the coronary heart of the iPhone 16 Professional is the A18 chip, which is constructed particularly for Apple Intelligence and superior digital camera options. Apple says it’s two generations forward of the A16 chip discovered within the iPhone 15—and in comparison with my outdated iPhone 12, it’s a huge distinction.
Each process feels sooner, whether or not I’m opening apps, modifying photographs, or watching Netflix. Even with all this energy, the A18 is environment friendly sufficient to increase battery life considerably, which brings me to a different main enchancment.
Battery life is likely one of the most noticeable upgrades. Apple designed the iPhone 16 Professional to incorporate a bigger battery and paired with the A18 chip’s effectivity, it may possibly deal with as much as 22 hours of video playback. For me, meaning I don’t need to cost my cellphone each night time like I did with the iPhone 12.
It’s a reduction to not need to cost my cellphone each night time, however there’s one draw back to the brand new iPhone 16 Professional: Apple’s change to the USB-C charging cable. As somebody who’s used Apple merchandise for years, I’ve collected loads of Lightning cables, so this modification has been a significant inconvenience. Having to exchange all my chargers has been the largest adjustment with this improve.
The iPhone 16 Professional continues to be a large step ahead, particularly in comparison with my outdated iPhone 12. The Apple Intelligence system seems like having a private assistant, the digital camera upgrades make each picture look unbelievable, and the improved battery life retains me linked all day. For anybody on the lookout for a brand new cellphone, this could be the improve you will have been ready for.
