Other Is AI enough to upgrade to iPhone 16 / Plus / Pro / Max?

[Christopher Kim]

I think it really depends what you’re upgrading from. AI is a factor to potentially upgrade, that goes along with a bunch of other factors. I think the most interesting decision point will be for people with 14s (2yr old phones). In my view, what used to be a 2yr cycle for “most people” has switched to a 3yr (or even 4yr) cycle for the majority of people.

Will AI be enough this time around to make those with 14 / 14 Pro / 14PM upgrade? Possibly. I have a 15PM so I definitely won’t be upgrading, but if I had the 14 generation, I could see myself being convinced to upgrade “earlier”after 2yrs. Apple Intelligence could be that extra little factor that would push me to upgrade…

 

[ToddH]

I don't want AI, much like I don't want SIRI or memojis or at lot of the stuff Apple likes to tell me are great features (that I will never use).

Make the camera flush with the housing, instead of a giant boil on the back of the phone and that'll be a very big motivator for me.

I don't see that happening anytime soon though.

Making the camera flush with the rest of the phone means making the phone thicker and too many people are complaining about thick phones; but hey, the phone will have much longer battery life. Next year‘s phone will probably be like the iPad Pro is now, the iPhone will be thinner with a huge camper bump.

 

[whitby]

The amoung of new knowledge yearly which could be scraped is not decreasing, but is probably increasing. Whether AI will be willing to pay for it is another matter.

I talked to an AI scientist and she thought that you could scrape faster than we could generate new content and after a while some or a lot of the new content is AI generated which poses interesting problems. This would increase the hallucination issues and make the output unreliable and eventually useless. There are suggestions about how to correct this and it involves moving from LLMs to maths and logic solutions which make the existing work irrelevant. Such a move would make the output logically coherent which is not the case at the moment. Anyway all hypothetical at the moment but fascinating.

 

[eyoungren]

Making the camera flush with the rest of the phone means making the phone thicker and too many people are complaining about thick phones; but hey, the phone will have much longer battery life. Next year‘s phone will probably be like the iPad Pro is now, the iPhone will be thinner with a huge camper bump.

Yes, I've been told it's not technically feasible right now. But here's the thing I fear. One day, it might be feasible. Technology might get to the point where they can have a thin phone and have it flush. But will Apple do it then?

That's the question, and while I can't foresee the future, my guess is that Apple won't. Because they consider the camera bump to be something that makes them stand out against everyone else. So, I can wait and probably in about 40-50 years Apple might release another iPhone with a camera flush to the housing.

Or, I can just suck it up and use the damn phone because it's really iOS that attracts me more than anything else. But if they were to do that (make the camera flush), I'd be buying.

 

[SoYoung]

I really don't care about AI, especially that I'm not in the US so we'll don't get any AI stuff from Apple until next year at the earliest. Plus, I'm already used to use copilot for my AI needs. I essentially use it for some online searches and that's it. For me, the only thing I'll consider to upgrade from my 13 PM is if they add at least 12GB of RAM but its not likely to happen.

 

[ToddH]

Yes, I've been told it's not technically feasible right now. But here's the thing I fear. One day, it might be feasible. Technology might get to the point where they can have a thin phone and have it flush. But will Apple do it then?

That's the question, and while I can't foresee the future, my guess is that Apple won't. Because they consider the camera bump to be something that makes them stand out against everyone else. So, I can wait and probably in about 40-50 years Apple might release another iPhone with a camera flush to the housing.

Or, I can just suck it up and use the damn phone because it's really iOS that attracts me more than anything else. But if they were to do that (make the camera flush), I'd be buying.

Well for me the camera bump doesn’t bother me at all. I always use a case (which doesn’t cover the bump completely) but greatly reduces it. In some ways I like the bump. The curved molded glass blending with the cameras is nice to admire at times, depending on the color. I love the silver & blue. Without a case, the cameras will suffer scuffs and damage eventually. At some point, the iPhone as we know it will not exist & will be replaced with something else?? Making the iPhone thicker will be very beneficial as the battery will increase in size, probably offering three day battery life but greatly increasing the weight. Apple is on a “Thinner” kick now… but why?

 

[dumastudetto]

AI will be essential to the overarching Apple experience. If your iPhone doesn't have AI, it will no longer be an iPhone.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

AI will be essential to the overarching Apple experience. If your iPhone doesn't have AI, it will no longer be an iPhone.

Will it become a Samsung Android or is that equally as ridiculous to suggest? lol

 

[dumastudetto]

Will it become a Samsung Android or is that equally as ridiculous to suggest? lol

Android can never be iPhone. iPhone is something special. iPhone is rare. iPhone is an exclusive club of smart and sophisticated people. But iPhone without AI will quickly become just Phone.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Android can never be iPhone. iPhone is something special. iPhone is rare. iPhone is an exclusive club of smart and sophisticated people. But iPhone without AI will quickly become just Phone.

iPhones are everywhere and sorry but I thought you were making a tongue in cheek comment at first, didn’t realise you were serious.

 

[dumastudetto]

iPhones are everywhere and sorry but I thought you were making a tongue in cheek comment at first, didn’t realise you were serious.

I don't joke when it comes to Apple products.

 

[Neofox]

I really don't care about AI, especially that I'm not in the US so we'll don't get any AI stuff from Apple until next year at the earliest. Plus, I'm already used to use copilot for my AI needs. I essentially use it for some online searches and that's it. For me, the only thing I'll consider to upgrade from my 13 PM is if they add at least 12GB of RAM but its not likely to happen.

You will AI even if you are outside of the US tho’
You just need to setup your phone in English and don’t live in EU or China

 

[eyoungren]

Well for me the camera bump doesn’t bother me at all. I always use a case (which doesn’t cover the bump completely) but greatly reduces it. In some ways I like the bump. The curved molded glass blending with the cameras is nice to admire at times, depending on the color. I love the silver & blue. Without a case, the cameras will suffer scuffs and damage eventually. At some point, the iPhone as we know it will not exist & will be replaced with something else?? Making the iPhone thicker will be very beneficial as the battery will increase in size, probably offering three day battery life but greatly increasing the weight. Apple is on a “Thinner” kick now… but why?

I was simply going to press 'like' and move on to your post. I don't use cases and that is the often suggested 'solution' to the camera bump. But, I have to respond to the part about scuffs on the cameras…

This is my 11 Pro Max, purchased in February 2021. It has never been in a case. Do you see scuffs on the cameras? If you do, you have a better eye than me. But even if there were, that's nothing that bothers me.



Perhaps, with you a caseless phone might see scuffs, IDK. But I see none on my own phone.

Everything else, I agree with you.

 

[eyoungren]

AI will be essential to the overarching Apple experience. If your iPhone doesn't have AI, it will no longer be an iPhone.

Android can never be iPhone. iPhone is something special. iPhone is rare. iPhone is an exclusive club of smart and sophisticated people. But iPhone without AI will quickly become just Phone.

I don't joke when it comes to Apple products.

Thank you. You are the proof to everyone who questions my statements about the iPhone being seen as a status symbol by some users around here. There used to be a lot more of you in this subforum circa 2011-2013 and the disappearance of users such as yourself has caused others who were not here in that time to think I am crazy or just lying.

I appreciate you proving my point and will be using you as a reference going forward. Now, just remember to go and buy the most expensive model with the largest capacity Apple offers anytime they launch a new iPhone. You want to represent well all those who see the iPhone the way you do by owning the BEST and most EXPENSIVE model. Only then can you truly call yourself an Apple iPhone user. And the best of them all I might add.

 

[Drosera]

Only time I get a newer iPhone is when the one I’m using becomes excruciating to use due to iOS updates slowing it down.

Shhh... Apple will realise and deliberately make phones slower. Oh wait

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I don't joke when it comes to Apple products.

I live in the western world where iPhones aren’t status symbols and a good percentage of people use them without it being a big deal. I can imagine in less developed countries iPhones are probably seen more as a symbol of wealth as they are many months salary, as opposed to a quarter of a months salary on average where I am.

 

[azhava]

AI alone wouldn't be enough to make me want to upgrade. There are other rumored features that will make me willing to upgrade if they turn out to be true, but AI doesn't even register as a factor on the decision scale for me.

 

[SactoGuy18]

My reason for upgrading to the iPhone 16 Plus 512 GB or iPhone 16 Pro 512 GB is more than just getting Apple Intelligence access. Given I have an iPhone 12 256 GB, it's also better screen, longer battery life, much better 5G radio modem and the way faster performance of the A18 or A18 Pro SoC.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I'd be more interested in the increase of screen size from 6.7 to 6.9. Holding judgment on capture button and camera upgrades

 

[pawnbroker]

I don't want AI, much like I don't want SIRI or memojis or at lot of the stuff Apple likes to tell me are great features (that I will never use).

Make the camera flush with the housing, instead of a giant boil on the back of the phone and that'll be a very big motivator for me.

I don't see that happening anytime soon though.

I have SIRI turned off on my phone since I suspect it's transcribing everything I've said; based on that I might move from the 13 to the 15 at $799 instead. I'm guessing the 16 is going to start at $899.

 

[thadoggfather]

im still not sure what the point is to be honest. I can't palpably understand it in context of iOS unless they got some clarifying tricks up their sleeve with the iPhone event

I dont interact with Siri hardly at all, beyond timers and thats about it. I dont see a smarter Siri changing that.

at the same time maybe AI photography processing will take it to another level

 

[Amplelink]

im still not sure what the point is to be honest. I can't palpably understand it in context of iOS unless they got some clarifying tricks up their sleeve with the iPhone event

I dont interact with Siri hardly at all, beyond timers and thats about it. I dont see a smarter Siri changing that.

at the same time maybe AI photography processing will take it to another level

I think it's just Apple trying to catch up to the competition and capitalize on the latest buzzword. I also don't find any of the announced features useful. Truly useful AI would be like a Siri who can act as a really capable assistant. But, half the time, Siri can't even understand what I'm trying to tell her.

 

[black_knight]

AI makes no difference for me as I usually type questions to get answers---Anyway, my kids always make fun of people using Siri/Google to text or search saying and calling them a "typical boomer".....I want to be cool and hip so just a good smartphone that takes nice photos!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Your kids are out of the loop. Boomers use Android phones.

 

[Dave245]

The only time I use Siri is to control my Philips Hue lights throughout the house. BUT to answer the question, it’s really going to depend what Apple announced at tomorrows event. If they get on stage and there’s no iPhone 16 exclusive AI features, then no I don’t think it would be worth it for most people. But this is Apple and they could have some tricks up their sleeve in order to get people to upgrade, this could include iPhone 16 or even 16 Pro and Pro Max exclusive features.

This years iPhone 16 range doesn’t sound like a big upgrade for most people who got last years phone. Apple need to have something to get people to upgrade, it seems like they are going in on AI so it may just be that. In less than 24 hours we will know for sure.

 

[FranApple]

The only time I use Siri is to control my Philips Hue lights throughout the house. BUT to answer the question, it’s really going to depend what Apple announced at tomorrows event. If they get on stage and there’s no iPhone 16 exclusive AI features, then no I don’t think it would be worth it for most people. But this is Apple and they could have some tricks up their sleeve in order to get people to upgrade, this could include iPhone 16 or even 16 Pro and Pro Max exclusive features.

This years iPhone 16 range doesn’t sound like a big upgrade for most people who got last years phone. Apple need to have something to get people to upgrade, it seems like they are going in on AI so it may just be that. In less than 24 hours we will know for sure.

I agree. I can't see anything really that compelling about the iPhone 16. The upgrades are so minimal these days.