It’s that time of year again – the launch of a new Apple iPhone, this time the iPhone 16. While it’s certainly packed with all the latest bells and whistles, is it worth upgrading over the iPhone 15?
Like Easter, tax time or your annual trip to the dentist, the launch of a new iPhone seems to come around quicker each year.
There’s no doubt the iPhone is the king of the smartphone market in Australia, accounting for more 58 per cent of all phones used here. It’s not hard to see why either, they’re exceptionally user-friendly, look great and are equipped with the latest chips.
But they’re not cheap, with the most basic iPhone 16 model starting at $1399 and with only a year between each iteration, is it worth upgrading your iPhone each year, or is once every few years enough?
To work that out, first you need to know about the iPhone 16 family.
Let’s start with the different models. Like the 15, the iPhone 16 comes in four flavours: the base iPhone 16 ($1399), the iPhone 16 Plus ($1599), iPhone 16 Pro ($1799) and iPhone 16 Pro Max ($2149).
iPhone 16 and 16 Plus
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are both equipped with Apple’s new A18 chip, designed specifically for use in the iPhone 16 family.
Both models feature a 48-megapixel camera and Snapdragon’s latest X75 internal modem with support for all the current Wi-Fi standards. A one-press ‘Action Button’ allows easy access to camera and audio recording
The 16 and 16 Plus are finished in coloured glass and are available in black, white, teal, pink and ultramarine.
Internally, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are the same, the difference is in their physical size. The iPhone 16 has a 6.1-inch screen vs the 16 Plus’ 6.7-inch display.
iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max
For those who need the latest and greatest, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max should have what you’re looking for. Although, this year’s Pro iPhone lineup is not as much of a step up on the base models as in previous years.
The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max use the A18 Pro chip, an upgraded version of the base chip that offers slightly more graphical power. It also has a 48-megapixel camera, although ultra-wide and telephoto lens options are much more powerful in the 16 Pro and Pro Max versus the entry level iPhone 16.
The video capturing capability is also greater in the 16 Pro phones, with both models able to shoot in 4K Dolby Vision at 120fps. But if you’re not a budding filmmaker, these kinds of specs are probably overkill.
The Pro models are finished in coloured titanium, and are available in black titanium, white titanium, natural titanium and desert titanium.
Like the base models, the iPhone Pro and Pro Max are identical internally but differ in physical size, with the 16 Pro featuring a 6.3-inch display and the Pro Max featuring Apple’s largest iPhone display at 6.9 inches.
Should I upgrade to an iPhone 16?
That depends on what type of iPhone you own now. If you’re rocking an iPhone 13 or earlier, then yes upgrading to the iPhone 16 will deliver significant and noticeable improvements.
The camera, upgraded chip and improved display over iPhones even two or three years ago are worth upgrading your phone alone.
But if you own any of the iPhone 15 family, or even the iPhone 14, the need to move to the 16 family is less clear. Yes, there are improvements, but they are incremental and might not be worth dropping more than $1000 for.
The iPhone 15 and 16 both have 60Hz OLED displays, though the iPhone 16 doubles the 15’s peak brightness. Both the 15 and 16 phone families are the same size physically, but the 16 is lighter than 15 by one gram (170g vs 171g).
One thing to consider is that the entire iPhone 16 series supports Apple’s upcoming AI tools and features, which are currently only supported by the iPhone 15 Pro, so models earlier than that (even the base iPhone 15) will likely become obsolete earlier than previous models as AI becomes more ingrained.
The iPhone 16, in any model, is definitely worth the upgrade if you’re using an iPhone 13 or earlier. But it may not be different enough to warrant a purchase from iPhone 15 owners.
Do you use iPhones? Will you be getting the iPhone 16? Let us know in the comments section below.
Also read: Best iPhone 15 plans for seniors
