Copywriting|Xiao Xianxian
Editor|Xiao Xianxian
The iPhone 16 is coming, is it really fragrant or really expensive?
On September 10, 2024, Apple held its autumn new product launch conference as scheduled and launched the long-awaited iPhone 16 series. This conference can be described as full of sincerity, not only bringing four new iPhones, but also a new generation of Apple Watch and AirPods. However, when I watched the whole press conference, I was stuck in a dilemma - should I change to a new one?
The screen has gotten bigger, but is it really needed?
One of the highlights of the iPhone 16 series this time is the upgrade of the screen size. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus feature 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screens, respectively, while the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are upgraded to 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch screens. Apple claims that a larger screen can lead to a better visual experience, especially when watching videos and playing games.
But to be honest, I think this upgrade is a bit of a chicken rib. The screen of today's mobile phone is big enough, and if it gets bigger, won't it become a tablet? And the screen has become larger, the mobile phone is even more portable, and it is uncomfortable to look at it when it is bulging in your pocket. Besides, I usually use my mobile phone mainly to brush Weibo and watch short videos, why do I need such a big screen?
But then again, it's true that there are quite a few people who like the big screen. A friend of mine is very excited about this screen upgrade, saying that he can finally watch the show on his phone without squinting. Everyone's needs are different, but I don't think it's necessary anyway.
How strong is the A18 chip? Can Android still catch up?
The iPhone 16 series uses the new A18 chip, which Apple says is 20 percent better performance and 30 percent more energy efficient than the previous generation. The Pro series is equipped with the A18 Pro chip, which is claimed to be able to achieve the "mobile AI revolution". It sounds great, but you'll have to wait until you get started.
When it comes to chips, we have to mention the Android camp. In recent years, Qualcomm and MediaTek's chips have made great progress, and they even surpass Apple in some running scores. However, Apple's advantage lies in the deep integration of software and hardware, so the actual experience is still stronger than Android. However, the gap is indeed narrowing, and Android manufacturers are also playing catch-up.
I remember playing Genshin Impact with a friend's Xiaomi 13 Pro last year, and it turned out to be smoother than my iPhone 14 Pro, and I was stunned at the time. However, the iPhone still has obvious advantages in professional fields such as video editing and image processing. In general, Apple is still ahead, but the advantage is not as big as it used to be.
The camera is upgraded, but can it really take "cinematic" photos?
This time, the camera of the iPhone 16 Pro series has been upgraded again, and the main camera has come to 48 million pixels. Apple has also added a dedicated camera control button that allows you to quickly adjust parameters such as focus, exposure, and more. It sounds very professional, but I think it might be a bit more gimmicky.
Let's not talk about how useful 48 million pixels are (after all, most of the time it's still 12 million pixel output), just say that this camera control button, how many people will really use it? Aren't most people just turning on the camera and "clicking" and you're done? Besides, if you really want to adjust the parameters, wouldn't it be more convenient to use the touch screen to operate?
However, Apple is very good at marketing this time, and several "cinematic" short films shot with the iPhone 16 Pro were shown at the press conference, and the effect is really shocking. But I think this kind of effect is very difficult for ordinary people to shoot, after all, people shoot it by a professional team. Just like when the iPhone 12 was released before, it was said that it could shoot cinematic videos, but I bought it back and tried it for a long time, and the effect was not as good as what I shot with my old iPhone.
The AI feature is cool, but why doesn't it support Chinese?
The biggest highlight of the iPhone 16 this time is the AI function. Apple showed off a lot of cool AI applications, such as using AI to generate pictures, edit videos, translate in real time, and so on. However, these features are currently only available in American English, and Chinese won't be available until next year.
It's embarrassing. As a Chinese user, I bought a new iPhone and ended up not being able to use the latest and coolest features, isn't this a loss? And now the AI function of domestic mobile phones is already very powerful, like Xiaomi and Huawei, they have their own AI assistants, and the functions are no worse than Apple's.
I think Apple is in a bit of a hurry this time. Since Chinese support isn't ready yet, why not wait a few more months before releasing it? Now this seems to be insincere. But then again, Apple did start relatively late in the field of AI, and it is understandable that it is catching up now. I hope that next year's Chinese support will be available soon.
The price is still "touching", is it really worth the price?
Finally, let's talk about the most critical issue - price. The starting price of the iPhone 16 series remains at 5999 yuan, and the highest-spec iPhone 16 Pro Max is as high as 13999 yuan. This price is really prohibitive for many people.
I know Apple has always positioned itself as high-end, but isn't this price too exaggerated? You must know that many domestic flagship machines are already very powerful, but the price is only half or even lower than that of iPhone. Take the recently popular Xiaomi 14 Pro, for example, the top version is also 6999 yuan, and the performance is not inferior to the iPhone in all aspects.
Of course, the iPhone does have its own unique ecosystem and brand premium. However, in the current economic situation, many people may think more rationally about cost performance. After all, a mobile phone needs to be replaced after a year or two, is it really worth spending so much money?
However, everyone's needs and economic conditions are different. For some fruit fans and digital enthusiasts, this price may be considered completely acceptable. But for ordinary consumers, they may still prefer more cost-effective options.
Overall, the iPhone 16 series does bring a lot of upgrades this time, but whether it's worth the upgrade depends on personal needs. For me, I may still wait and see for a while, and then consider changing the phone when the AI function supports Chinese next year. After all, mobile phones are easy to use, and there is no need to always pursue the latest and most expensive.
What do you think? Are you already tempted to change to a new machine? Or do you think this upgrade isn't appealing enough? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section!
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