In late September, I upgraded to the iPhone 16 from my reliable iPhone 14 Professional. This was my first non-Professional cellphone and my first Plus-sized iPhone. I wished a bigger show than the standard 6.1-inch display I’ve been utilizing, and I didn’t really feel the necessity to go Professional.
Nevertheless, I returned the iPhone 16 Plus after nearly two months. My principal drawback with it was the scale. The iPhone 16 Plus is just too massive. Whereas I really like the bigger show, the cellphone is just too thick for my style. Additionally, the Digicam Management wasn’t as straightforward or comfy to make use of as I believed it will be, and I didn’t have entry to any Apple Intelligence options. I nonetheless don’t, because the EU has to attend just a few extra months to get Apple’s AI.
I did begin lacking just a few iPhone 16 Plus options as quickly as I returned it. The show and battery life are the clear highlights. I additionally missed the power to begin the digicam from any display with the Digicam Management button and the burden. I went again to the iPhone 14 Professional, which is heavier than the 16 Plus.
Quick-forward to late January, I made a decision to purchase the iPhone 16 Professional Max. That is perhaps unusual, provided that I had simply given up the iPhone 16 Plus and blamed it primarily on the footprint. However I simply realized that if I don’t do it now, the possibilities are I’ll by no means get my palms on a Professional Max taste for each day use ever once more.
I’ve been telling you for months that I’m dying to get my palms on the iPhone 17 Air that may substitute the Plus model in Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup.
The Air ought to be barely smaller than the Plus, that includes a 6.6-inch display. However it’ll be a lot thinner. Rumors say it’ll be solely 5.5mm thick, which is greater than 2mm thinner than the Plus (7.80) and Professional Max (8.25) sizes.
Whereas I’m prepared for compromises from the iPhone 17 Air, I’ll most likely stick round with future Air fashions afterward. The one factor that might derail me from that path is Apple’s first foldable iPhone. Rumors say Apple has settled on the Fold-type design that turns a cellphone right into a small pill relatively than going for a clamshell iPhone.
I like Samsung’s Flip telephones greater than the Fold, however I might take into account an iPhone Fold sooner or later. That future may come as quickly as 2026.
With all that in thoughts, it seems to be like I’ll transition to an iPhone Air/Fold expertise very quickly. I’ll have loads of time to resolve which one I need, assuming the rumors pan out and Apple releases the primary iPhone Air mannequin this yr and the primary Fold subsequent yr.
Due to this fact, the iPhone 16 Professional Max is perhaps the final time I severely take into account a large-screen show that’s neither skinny nor foldable.
The iPhone 14 Professional nonetheless works nice after greater than two years. However I didn’t like going again to the smaller display, and I miss charging the Plus each different day. The iPhone 16 Professional Max ought to ship even higher battery life, because it includes a bigger battery than all its siblings and a barely bigger, higher show.
The iPhone 16 Professional Max additionally comes with ProMotion and All the time-on show help, options that I’ve lengthy disabled. However I can use them if I need to.
The Digicam Management can be again into my iPhone expertise, and I bought a case that truly makes the button extra accessible. Surprisingly, the iPhone 16 Professional Max dimension makes it simpler to make use of the button when holding it with my left hand.
Between the smaller width (77.6mm vs. 77.8mm for the Plus) and the bigger depth (8.25mm vs. 7.80mm for the Plus), I can comfortably relaxation my center finger on the button to activate the digicam and take images. This could turn out to be useful throughout my subsequent marathon races, which contain some touring and sightseeing.
Talking of cameras, the iPhone 16 Execs fashions will give me entry to the very best digicam expertise Apple can provide proper now. I already appreciated the iPhone 16 Plus digicam over the 14 Professional, so the 16 Professional Max ought to do even higher. As a reminder, the iPhone 16 Execs pack a 48-megapixel ultra-wide lens for the primary time and a telephoto lens with extra optical zoom choices.
Lastly, there’s Apple Intelligence, which continues to be not obtainable. I need to strive Apple’s AI in iOS 18 as quickly because it involves Europe. Which may imply having to attend till the iOS 18.4 is launched. Entry to an iPhone 16 will hopefully give me entry to Apple Intelligence in iOS 19 beta this summer time. And sure, I do know Apple Intelligence isn’t the AI expertise all of us need it to be proper now.
I didn’t say I might hold the iPhone 16 Professional Max for the long term. If I do, nevertheless, will probably be a greater trade-in worth for the iPhone 17 Air or go to somebody in my household.
