Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Announcement: The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max were announced on September 9, 2024, during Apple's "Glowtime" event.

Pre-orders: Pre-orders for the devices began on September 13, 2024.

Release Date: The official availability date was September 20, 2024.

Pricing

The launch prices for the iPhone 16 Pro in India were:

iPhone 16 Pro (128GB): ₹119,900

iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB): ₹144,900

Note: These prices were lower than the launch prices of the iPhone 15 Pro series, a strategic move by Apple to make the new models more accessible in certain markets.

Features and Benefits

A18 Pro Chip: The iPhone 16 Pro is powered by the A18 Pro chip, which provides a significant boost in performance, especially for AI-driven tasks and gaming.

Apple Intelligence: The A18 Pro chip is designed for Apple Intelligence, which integrates on-device AI features for things like enhanced photo editing, text summarization, and more.

Pro Camera System: The camera system received major upgrades, including:

A new 48MP Fusion camera with a faster sensor, allowing for high-resolution photos and 4K video recording at up to 120fps.

A new 48MP Ultra Wide camera for higher-resolution wide-angle and macro photography.

The 5x Telephoto camera, which was previously exclusive to the Pro Max model, is now available on the standard iPhone 16 Pro.

A dedicated "Camera Control" button for more intuitive photo and video capture.

Larger Display: The iPhone 16 Pro features a slightly larger 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with thinner bezels, providing a more immersive viewing experience.

Improved Battery Life: The device includes a larger battery and more efficient internal design, leading to a noticeable improvement in battery life compared to its predecessors.

Design: The phone features a durable and lightweight titanium design, which is both premium and strong.

Disadvantages and Criticisms ("Losses")

Heating Issues: The titanium body, while premium, has been criticized for trapping heat, leading to some users experiencing thermal throttling and heating, particularly during intense gaming or prolonged camera use.

Slower Charging: The charging speed remains at a relatively slow 27W, which is a significant "loss" when compared to many competing Android flagships that offer much faster charging capabilities.

Base Storage: The base model still only offers 128GB of storage. This is seen as a disadvantage for a "pro" device at its price point, especially with the rise of high-resolution videos and photos.

Incremental Upgrades: While the iPhone 16 Pro offered solid improvements, some reviewers and users felt that the upgrades from the iPhone 15 Pro were more "incremental" than revolutionary. The features that make it stand out, such as the full suite of Apple Intelligence, were not available at launch and were rolled out later.

Price Depreciation: With the recent launch of the iPhone 17 series, the value of the iPhone 16 Pro has dropped significantly. While this is a common trend, the steep price cuts seen on e-commerce platforms like Flipkart and Amazon (as low as ₹57,105 with offers) can be seen as a "loss" in resale value for early adopters.