Apple Gadgets
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Review: Does a Bigger Phone Come with Better Features?
Apple has launched its latest iPhone 16 series worldwide on 9th September 2024. With a few basic updates on its overall design, the latest iPhone series sticks to the norm in terms of variability. Besides the basic iPhone 16, it has launched Pro and Pro Max versions. Let’s dive into the details of the iPhone 16 Pro to get a better grip on its updates and new features.
Key Features and Specs of the iPhone 16 Pro
Design
The iPhone 16 Pro features a sleek design with dimensions of 149.6 mm by 71.5 mm by 8.3 mm and weighs 199 grams, making it slightly larger than the iPhone 15 Pro but still compact. Its frame is made from strong grade 5 titanium, with Corning-made glass on both the front and back for durability.
It has a flat-edged design, continuing the signature iPhone look, and includes a camera island in the top left corner. The device is IP68 rated, meaning it can withstand dust and water immersion up to 6 meters for 30 minutes. The new Camera Control button is a standout feature, located below the power key.
This capacitive button allows for precise camera functions like zoom and background blur. The iPhone 16 Pro comes in four color options: Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium. Plus, it features a USB-C charging port with USB 3 speeds.
Read more: Top Smartphones Launching in September 2024: iPhone 16 and More
Display
The iPhone 16 Pro features a 6.3-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display, slightly larger than previous models, up from 6.1 inches on the 15 Pro. It sports a 1206 by 2622 pixels resolution, a 19.5:9 ratio, and about 460 ppi density. With a screen-to-body ratio of about 90.1%, the display feels expansive thanks to slimmer borders. It supports a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10, and Dolby Vision, providing vibrant visuals.
The screen also reaches 2000 nits brightness in high brightness mode, ideal for outdoor use, but lacks the anti-reflective coating seen on some competitors. One practical feature is the display’s ability to drop to just 1 nit, making it more comfortable for low-light use, especially at night.
Protection is provided by the new generation of Ceramic Shield glass, which improves durability. The iPhone 16 Pro also maintains the Always-On display feature and the Dynamic Island for Face ID, keeping familiar elements while upgrading in size and performance.
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Cameras
The iPhone 16 Pro comes with significant camera upgrades. Its triple-camera system includes a new 48MP (f/2.2, 13mm and .7 micron sensor) ultra-wide sensor, up from the previous 12MP, enabling quad-pixel binning for better low-light photos and the option to shoot at the full 48MP resolution.
The 12 MP (f/2.8, 120mm, 1/3.06", and 1.12µm sensor) periscope telephoto camera now supports 5x optical zoom, an improvement over the previous 3x, using the same tetraprism lens as the Pro Max, perfect for capturing distant subjects. The main 48MP (f/1.8, 24mm, 1/1.28-inch, and 1.22µm) wide camera remains, delivering sharp and detailed shots.
Photographic Styles have been redesigned, allowing you to change the style of an image after capture, with more control over tone, color, and palette.
Its selfie shooter is a 12 MP, camera (f/1.9, 23mm wide, and 1/3.6-inch lens).
Read more: Motorola Moto G85 5G Review: A Flagship Grade Display on a Lower Mid-Range Smartphone
For video, the iPhone 16 Pro’s back and front cameras support 4K footage at maximum with different fps ranges. The quality of videos is much crisper than its ancestor 15 Pro.
A new "Clean up" tool in iOS 18.1 lets you easily remove unwanted objects from photos. Altogether, these improvements make the camera system more versatile for both photos and videos.
2 months ago
Apple iPhone 16 Series: Everything We Know So Far
Apple has been consistent with its mid-September launch schedule over the years. Last year, the iPhone 15 series was announced on 12th September with pre-orders beginning just three days later. With less than a month to go for this year’s speculated release, here are some exciting and almost-confirmed changes we’ll see on the new iPhone 16 series.
Major Leaks and Rumors Regarding iPhone 16 series
An Upgraded Display
The iPhone 16 series is set to feature a larger and brighter display with even more reduced bezels than the 15 series. The new models are tipped to be 6.3 inches in the standard iPhone 16 and 16 Pro whereas the 16 Plus and 16 Pro Max will be bumped up to 6.9 inches. It’s a good 0.2-inch upgrade over the current variants.
It’s also tipped that the 16 series will feature new displays developed by Samsung. The new models are set to be even brighter thanks to the M14 OLED material on the micro-LED panel.
There was a rumor regarding the inclusion of an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. However, the plan is reported to have been scrapped in favor of an overhauled Face ID system.
Read more: Best Free Personal Safety Android, iOS Apps for Women in 2024
New Camera System
There will be several changes to the camera system of the 16 series. The first and most obvious change comes in the base 16 and 16 Plus as they will now feature vertical camera lenses. The change isn’t just aesthetic as the vertical setup will allow the devices to shoot spatial videos compatible with the Vision Pro headset.
The 16 Pro will get the 5X telephoto zoom lens this time around which was reserved for the Pro Max variant last year. The ultrawide sensor will also be updated to a 48 MP sensor across the models. This is a highly anticipated upgrade as the iPhones had the same 12 MP ultrawide shooter since the 11.
There’s also an unreliable rumor about a larger main sensor and a super-telephoto lens for the Pro Max. But you’ll be better off taking that with a grain of salt.
Read more: Oppo Reno 12 Pro 5G Review: Midrange Phone with AI Features
New Buttons
Last year we saw the Action Button on the Pro models which replaced the long-standing and much-loved mute toggle. This year, Apple is making the Action Button a standard in all the models. And with that, the mute toggle is truly gone from the Apple design system.
But for those who like customization, the Action Button is set to include all the features from the 15 Pro series with a possible inclusion of a few more with the new iOS update.
Apple is also planning to include a Capture Button this year. It will be placed below the power button where your index finger generally would be while taking a landscape shot. The haptic-based mechanism will function as a focus, zooming, and capturing button depending on press strength. It's Apple’s way of mimicking traditional photography and bringing a sense of nostalgia into mobile photography.
Read more: Honor 200 Pro Review: A Flagship Camera Experience
A New Chip for Better AI and ML
The new 16 series will feature the updated Apple’s Bionic A18 chip. However, the chipset could be differentiated into A18 and A18 Pro for the standard and Pro variants. The souped-up version is expected to have more GPU cores than the standard one. The A18 Pro is also slated to have the next-gen neural engine for upgraded AI and ML capabilities. This will make way for future Apple Intelligence integration.
The new models will also feature a better thermal management system across all the options. The current iPhone models feature a copper-based heat dissipation solution. The new models, as tipped, will come with a graphene-based solution for better efficiency.
This is a much-needed upgrade considering how powerful the Apple chips are. Last year we noticed certain thermal throttling issues on the iPhone 15 series. Given the processor upgrade, the thermal management system upgrade also seems the logical solution.
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RAM Upgradation
iPhone has been stuck on 6 GB RAM for several iterations. That’s hopefully going to change with the iPhone 16 series as all the models are slated to come with a standard 8 GB RAM.
Latest Battery Technology
The iPhone 16 series will see the introduction of the stacked battery technology for the first time. Battery stacking is usually seen in EVs and medical equipment. It's still an emerging tech in smartphones which helps to save a lot of internal space.
The 16 series may also see the use of a stainless steel casing for the battery. It’ll increase the overall battery density by 10% which in turn means longer-lasting battery health. However, it is highly likely to be featured on one of the Pro variants.
Read more: Motorola Razr 50 Ultra Flip Phone Review: A Trip to Nostalgia
Reports coming out of China hint at a 2.5% to 6% increase in battery on the standard 16, 16 Pro, and Pro Max. The Plus however might see a battery decrement.
Unconfirmed reports also suggest the charging speed be bumped up to 40W wired and 27W MagSafe charging. The significant jump in charge speed makes us question its authenticity even more. But if it does happen, we’re all here for it.
New 5G Modem
Apple is reportedly going with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X75 modem for their Pro models this year. The X75 brings upgraded and advanced 5G capabilities with AI and ML integration. It is also reported to use 20% less circuit than the existing X70 modems making it more power efficient.
Read more: OPPO Reno 12 5G Review: Upholding the Legacy?
However, the standard 16 and 16 Plus will feature the X70 modem seen on the 15 series. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo forecasts that this is the last year of Apple using third-party modems. We might see in-house 5G modems coming out with the 2025 iPhones.
Increased Price
An unfortunate report coming out of China is that the 16 series might see a price increment for all the models. Last year the production cost of the 15 series was already at an all-time high with a 16% increment over the 14 series. While Apple resorted to absorbing the cost, the same might not hold for the 16 series. As a result, there’s strong speculation of “The most expensive iPhones yet”.
Final Words
To be honest, the iPhone 16 series might not be the next big thing in Apple's innovation list. It's going to be just another incremental update over the 15 with minor spec bumps and new colorways. The Apple Intelligence is expected to show up sometime in Q4 this year, well after the launch of the 16 series. For now, all eyes are on a mid-September release date and the speculated release of the iPhone SE 4 and iPhone 17 Air next year.
Read more: Top 8 Smartphones Launching in August 2024: Features, Specs, and Release Dates
3 months ago
Apple to use Sony’s state-of-the-art Sensor technology in iPhone 15 Series
Who can deny the popularity of iPhones made by the tech giant Apple? Each year the brand launches a new series of iPhones and surprises the world with its amazing tech features. Also, there have always been news and rumors about Apple's soon to release iPhone series. Now, Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 series is in the news as the company to use Sony’s state-of-art image sensor. iPhone 15 is expected to be released next year.
Sony to Supply State-of-The-Art Image Sensor to Apple
According to Nikkei, Apple will use the latest state-of-the-art image sensor produced by Sony in their upcoming iPhone 15. However, it is not confirmed if the sensor will be used in all iPhone 15 series or in the Pro models only.
Sony Semiconductor Solutions has developed this new sensor which will be manufactured commercially in the Nagasaki plant and shipped to Apple along with other smartphone manufacturers. But, the new sensor is yet to be produced in bulk for Apple.
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The addition of a new state-of-art image sensor will be very important for Sony as they aim to consolidate its competitive advantage in the high-definition photography sector. Sony’s top rival Samsung Electronics has already been under pressure on Sony, as they supply image sensors to Apple.
So, Sony’s new image sensor supply to Apple will change the game and help them to grab a significant market share in the high-definition photography industry.
With that note, Sony has heavily invested in image sensor tech to capture around 60% complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor market by 2025. According to British analytics firm Omdia, Sony has a 44% global share in CMOS image sensors, while Samsung has 18.5%.
Read more: Apple iPad, iPad Pro 2022 Review: World’s most advanced tablets
So, the landscape might change significantly in the next few years if Apple really uses Sony’s state-of-art technology for their iPhone 15 cameras.
What's The Specialty of Sony’s New Image Sensor
So, why does Apple want to use Sony’s new sensor?
The new state-of-art sensor can double the saturation signal level in each pixel compared with the conventional sensors. To explain easily, the sensor can capture more light while reducing overexposure or underexposure in some settings. In addition to that, it can enable taking a clear photograph of a person’s face even if the person stands against a high backlight.
Read More: Apple iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13: Which is the Better Deal?
Sony’s new semiconductor places transistors and photodiodes in separate substrate layers that allow more photodiodes to the dedicated layer.
What More to Expect in iPhone 15
Although Apple usually launches new series in September, rumors about upcoming series start circulating early. According to the speculation, the iPhone 15 is likely to have a titanium chassis that has a curved rear edge. Thus, this will replace the current squared-off design.
Another rumor circulated in October that; the iPhone 15 will have four models with some incredible features than the iPhone 14. In addition to that, new models might feature USB-C charging ports too.
Read More: Price Drop: Is it the right time to buy an iPhone 13?
According to MacRumors, Apple is currently developing a periscope telephoto lens for their iPhone 15 series to increase these phones' optical zoom capabilities. This will allow up to 10x optical zoom to compete with some Android smartphones in the market.
Final Words
Although several news sources confirmed that Apple would surely use Sony’s new state-of-the-art image sensor technology, the company has not started production yet. The new sensor would likely be used as the iPhone's main camera, which will be a wide camera. Let's see what's more Apple offers in the upcoming iPhone 15 series.
2 years ago