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iPhone 16/Plus Is a discounted 15pro better or a base 16? help me choose
- Thread starter Nikoji88
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Really depends how much you care about Promotion. The base iPhone 16 is a decent device and doesn't lack a lot of Pro features. But there's also not a lot separating the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro lineups. I think you can't really go wrong.
You get 3X optical zoom, which I've recently found is really nice for portrait shots.
If you end up getting a non-Promotion phone, be sure and turn on "Reduce Motion" as those swipes to Home Screen can get janky.
If you end up getting a non-Promotion phone, be sure and turn on "Reduce Motion" as those swipes to Home Screen can get janky.
15 Pro is the better phone. Everything the camera control does, you can already do with the on screen controls.
*iOS have mature to the point where 60/120hz does not make a difference with casual use. It's not like android where 120hz is required because of the usual lag that Android has.
*iOS have mature to the point where 60/120hz does not make a difference with casual use. It's not like android where 120hz is required because of the usual lag that Android has.
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60 Vs 120hz has nothing to do with software lag.
When I go into an apple store and use an iPhone 15 versus 15 pro, the lower refresh rate is extremely noticeable in all the main animations and it makes the phone look laggy.
When doubting, either educate yourself as to the differences, or pick the cheapest option. They’re both fine.
It's a difficult choice, but I'm going against what others have posted here: go for iPhone 16!
Yes, there's the difference between 120 Hz and 60 Hz - but honestly, most people don't really notice it in normal day-to-day use.
With iPhone 16 I see a few benefits over the 15 Pro:
- you get a newer chip (which likely means longer software support)
- better thermal management (the iPhone 15 Pro is 'known' for faster-than-normal overheating)
- faster wired charging (~45 W wired vs ~25-30 W wired, and 25 W wireless vs 15 W wireless)
- lower minimum brightness (great at night or in bed)
- spatial photos
- you've only got 2 cameras instead of 3, but it's got anti-reflective lens coating which (hopefully) fixes the halos you get on 15 Pro
- QuickTake videos are finally 4K60 Dolby Vision (vs 1080p non-Dolby Vision on 15 Pro)
- You also get some other camera features, like SpatialAudio, wind noise reduction, Audio Mix (obviously you miss out on some 15 Pro features like ProRaw and ProRes, but I think for the 'average Joe', features like Audio Mix are of more use)
- More future-proofing with Wi-Fi 7
I'm not saying 15 Pro is worse. In some areas it's clearly better (like more cameras, generally more 'pro' camera tools, 120 Hz display). But in other areas, the iPhone 16 has some very decent upgrades over the 15 Pro. Like when you're low on battery, in a hurry and you have only got 15 minutes to charge, you are very grateful for the much faster charging speeds. Or when you're taking photos at night, the anti-reflective coating on the camera lenses is something you'll be happy with it. In terms of camera features... yeah, there's no ProRaw or ProRes, but the average customer doesn't use that - they benefit more from features like Audio Mix and wind noise reduction.
EDIT: Forgot the most important one! Camera Control. This is the new highlight feature. For the first time in many years, it's something new. Apple, in my eyes correctly, identified that for many people the iPhone isn't just a phone, it's also their primary camera. It likely is for you as well. You'll have the "pre iPhone 16" models and the "post iPhone 16 models with camera control".
Yes, there's the difference between 120 Hz and 60 Hz - but honestly, most people don't really notice it in normal day-to-day use.
With iPhone 16 I see a few benefits over the 15 Pro:
- you get a newer chip (which likely means longer software support)
- better thermal management (the iPhone 15 Pro is 'known' for faster-than-normal overheating)
- faster wired charging (~45 W wired vs ~25-30 W wired, and 25 W wireless vs 15 W wireless)
- lower minimum brightness (great at night or in bed)
- spatial photos
- you've only got 2 cameras instead of 3, but it's got anti-reflective lens coating which (hopefully) fixes the halos you get on 15 Pro
- QuickTake videos are finally 4K60 Dolby Vision (vs 1080p non-Dolby Vision on 15 Pro)
- You also get some other camera features, like SpatialAudio, wind noise reduction, Audio Mix (obviously you miss out on some 15 Pro features like ProRaw and ProRes, but I think for the 'average Joe', features like Audio Mix are of more use)
- More future-proofing with Wi-Fi 7
I'm not saying 15 Pro is worse. In some areas it's clearly better (like more cameras, generally more 'pro' camera tools, 120 Hz display). But in other areas, the iPhone 16 has some very decent upgrades over the 15 Pro. Like when you're low on battery, in a hurry and you have only got 15 minutes to charge, you are very grateful for the much faster charging speeds. Or when you're taking photos at night, the anti-reflective coating on the camera lenses is something you'll be happy with it. In terms of camera features... yeah, there's no ProRaw or ProRes, but the average customer doesn't use that - they benefit more from features like Audio Mix and wind noise reduction.
EDIT: Forgot the most important one! Camera Control. This is the new highlight feature. For the first time in many years, it's something new. Apple, in my eyes correctly, identified that for many people the iPhone isn't just a phone, it's also their primary camera. It likely is for you as well. You'll have the "pre iPhone 16" models and the "post iPhone 16 models with camera control".
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The regular 16 Pro starts around $1350 in Europe, so the price difference would likely be quite significant.
One thing that hasn’t been mentioned yet: The 16 is 10% lighter and also thinner.
And (not given in the above specs) the 15 Pro is 3274 mAh while the 16 is 3567 mAh with a more efficient SoC (though it’s difficult to say how much difference that will make in practice).
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Looking to finally replace my 8 plus and trying to decide between a 15 pro max and a 16 plus (256gb) - 15 pro max is now £1069, the plus is £999.
For all the reasons listed by thatsmeright I'm leaning towards the 16 plus - I've compared the 15 pro and 15 in shops (admittedly not the best environment) and really struggle to see the difference in the screens. I don't play games or watch many videos so surely the 120hz is irrelevant for me?
I've also read about the poor quality of the 5x lens. Plus I still use a compact camera and DSLR - I'd imagine even the compact will still take better photos than the 15 pro...
So taking 120hz and 5x lens out of the equation the 16's advantages of newer chip, capture button, lighter weight swing it for me.
Are there any other factors I haven't considered - I run my phones into the ground (3gs - 5s - 8 plus) so I want to get it right...
For all the reasons listed by thatsmeright I'm leaning towards the 16 plus - I've compared the 15 pro and 15 in shops (admittedly not the best environment) and really struggle to see the difference in the screens. I don't play games or watch many videos so surely the 120hz is irrelevant for me?
I've also read about the poor quality of the 5x lens. Plus I still use a compact camera and DSLR - I'd imagine even the compact will still take better photos than the 15 pro...
So taking 120hz and 5x lens out of the equation the 16's advantages of newer chip, capture button, lighter weight swing it for me.
Are there any other factors I haven't considered - I run my phones into the ground (3gs - 5s - 8 plus) so I want to get it right...
I'm sure they already have. It was discontinued when the 16 Pro was announced and they probably haven't manufactured any new ones since the ramp up of the 16 line began a month or two ago.
For what’s it worth, I even cancelled my 16 Pro Max preorder and went for the 16 Plus.
The Pro Max might be better, but not ‘$400 better’.
It’s not identical to your situation, but the reasoning in this topic works both ways
The Pro Max might be better, but not ‘$400 better’.
It’s not identical to your situation, but the reasoning in this topic works both ways
If that were me I’d try to find the extra £200 for the 16 Pro Max which comes with the 256gb as standard. If you run phones that long, a 60hz screen in 2031 would be pretty lame (2031 date is based on the 8 plus being released 7 years ago). 120hz will keep the phone feeling snappier, especially as subsequent iOS updates are bound to use more system resources.
No offence but utter rubbish. You’ve drank too much Apple KoolAid!
Promotion is most noticeable on the phone when scrolling on websites as you may still be reading the text slowly. On a 60hz display .. much harder to read than on a 120hz display which makes it look seamless. Android or iPhone .. this applies. Apple is just being ridiculous holding it back now to push people to spend more $.
I have a 15PM and am awaiting delivery of a 16 PM. 120hz ProMotion vs 16's 60hz????
I would choose the 15 Pro every time just for that single feature. I can not stand using a 60hz phone anymore. the 15 Pro's were great phones, A17Pro and the A18 are not likely to be hugely different. Until we can get more benchmarks it would be hard to tell. Some slight efficiency gains but not much more power.
if I was not on the iPhone Upgrade Program or there was no more natural titanium color, I would have kept my 15PM
I would choose the 15 Pro every time just for that single feature. I can not stand using a 60hz phone anymore. the 15 Pro's were great phones, A17Pro and the A18 are not likely to be hugely different. Until we can get more benchmarks it would be hard to tell. Some slight efficiency gains but not much more power.
if I was not on the iPhone Upgrade Program or there was no more natural titanium color, I would have kept my 15PM
I've been using 120 Hz displays in mobile devices since 2017. The difference between 60 and 120 Hz is very noticeable in a side-by-side comparison. But it's still mostly a gimmick. Animations moving a little more smoothly don't really affect the usability of a device. I switch back and forth between 60 Hz and 120 Hz devices all of the time, and after a day or two at 60 Hz you will have forgotten about any difference there might be.