iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max: Bigger, More Powerful, but an Evolution in Half-Measure 💪🏾

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Apple recently unveiled its highly anticipated iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max during its famous September keynote. This new generation brings its share of innovations but seems to be marking time compared to the progress made on the standard models.

Bigger Screens, but Mastered Design 😲

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max now offer larger screens, with the iPhone 16 Pro featuring a 6.3-inch display and the Pro Max reaching 6.9 inches, making it the largest iPhone ever made. However, this size increase does not compromise usability. Thanks to thinner bezels, Apple has managed to maximize the display space without significantly increasing the overall size of the phones.

Source : Apple

Apple remains faithful to the grade 5 titanium introduced last year, offering an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. The colors evolve little, with the introduction of a new « Desert Titanium » shade replacing blue. One might regret Apple’s lack of boldness in this area, with Pro models remaining confined to sober and similar shades from one year to the next.

Source : Apple

Photo and Video Innovations: Fusion Camera, Improved Optical Zoom, and the Camera Control Button 📸

In terms of photography, the iPhone 16 Pro introduces the « Fusion Camera, » a new 48-megapixel primary sensor that delivers impressive image quality. For the first time, the 5x optical zoom, previously exclusive to the Pro Max, is now available across all Pro models. The ultra-wide lens also gets an upgraded 48 MP sensor, enhancing macro photography.

On the video side, these models push boundaries by allowing 4K recording at 120 frames per second with HDR. This new capability, combined with the power of the A18 Pro chip, enables stunning slow-motion videos. Professionals will appreciate the ability to record ProRes 4K120 video directly to external storage, while studio-quality microphones ensure excellent audio capture.

One of the most notable innovations of the iPhone 16 Pro is the appearance of the « Camera Control » button. This addition literally transforms the mobile photography experience. Conveniently located, this multifunction button allows you to launch the camera, film, or quickly switch between different photographic modes. Thanks to haptic feedback simulating a mechanical button, users have increased control over their shots, with unmatched precision. The emphasis is on customizing the photo experience, making these iPhones a true pocket studio.

Source : Apple

Source : Apple

Enhanced Performance with the A18 Pro Chip 🚀

As expected, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are powered by the new Apple A18 Pro chip. Built using second-generation 3nm technology, it promises 15% better CPU performance compared to the A17 Pro, while consuming 20% less power. The GPU sees a 20% performance boost, including hardware-accelerated ray tracing that is twice as fast.

Source : Apple

In terms of battery life, Apple promises « the best battery life ever in an iPhone » for the Pro Max, though no specific figures have been provided.

Apple Intelligence at the Heart of the Experience✨

One of the major new features introduced with the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max is Apple Intelligence. This set of artificial intelligence (AI)-based functionalities is integrated directly into the operating system. Apple is clearly betting on this technology to make its devices not only more powerful but also more intuitive and useful in daily life.

Pricing and Availability 💰

Pre-orders will start on September 13, with availability on September 20. Prices remain the same as the previous generation, starting at €1,229 for the iPhone 16 Pro (128 GB) and €1,479 for the iPhone 16 Pro Max (256 GB).

While the new iPhone 16 Pro models offer several improvements, one might question the extent of the evolution compared to the standard models, which seem to have made a significant leap forward this year. To learn more, you can click here. The Pro models are still at the cutting edge of technology, but the gap with the rest of the lineup appears to be narrowing.

What do you think of this new batch of iPhones? Are they worth it? Feel free to discuss in the comments.