By cryptoadmin 
After we reviewed the iPhone 16 Professional final yr, Apple Intelligence was barely accessible. Since then, the iPhone 16 sequence has benefitted from a number of new options, apps and enhancements. Some (or most) of them had been Apple Intelligence options that had been teased again at WWDC 2024, months earlier than the iPhone 16 Professional launched.
AI options weren't the one adjustments this time round, with the iPhone 16 getting a completely new button. The so-called Digicam Management wasn’t only a easy app shortcut, however an elaborate multifunction button that provided a haptic half-press and the flexibility to swipe throughout to regulate digital camera settings and choices.
Managing Editor Cherlynn Low mentioned we had been nonetheless ”ready on Apple Intelligence” in our preliminary evaluation. Now, as we hit iOS 18.4, was it well worth the wait?
iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence to this point
Apple Intelligence was late, arriving as a part of iOS 18.1 again in October 2024. Preliminary generative AI options included writing instruments like proofreading and rewriting, in addition to textual content summaries and dwell transcription for telephone calls and voice notes within the Notes app. A number of months later, iOS 18.2 gave us the Apple Intelligence options that made a lot of the headlines when first introduced at WWDC. That included ChatGPT integration, AI picture era in Picture Playgrounds and Genmoji.
Beginning with iOS 18.1, one of the vital controversial Apple Intelligence options is definitely my favourite: Notification Summaries. It’s a great try at taming the wild west of numerous group chats throughout a number of messaging apps, calendar reminders, Substack pings and all the things else.
You don't have to replace each particular person app for Notification Summaries to kick in. As quickly as iOS 18.1 landed, my messy WhatsApp chats had been streamlined. I assumed it cute when my iPhone advised me a buddy had laughed at my remark, and urged the place we might meet and a date. That was distilled from a ten-message barrage they’d despatched.
It’s not good, although. Apple needed to make clear that notification summaries are AI-generated, and make that clearer past a small Apple Intelligence icon. This was after the BBC complained about a number of summaries that twisted the content material of a few of its headlines. I’ve additionally had notification summaries that incorrectly guessed the topic of a sentence or total subject of a thread, however on the entire, it’s a helpful utilization of AI smarts.
There are extra pure language hooks throughout most of iOS 18, too. Now you can seek for photographs within the Images app with descriptions, dates, location and extra. These natural-language smarts tackle a distinct operate with writing instruments, courtesy of Apple Intelligence. Despite the fact that I’m not a very clear author (hey, Cher), these writing instruments will not be all that helpful. I haven’t used them a lot past fast e mail responses to work requests and occasions, however the skill to proofread, rewrite or examine tone might show helpful to some.
The writing instruments additionally work contained in the Voice Memos app, which might now transcribe conversations, conferences and extra. Right here, it helps make issues extra concise, with choices to show transcripts into summaries, key factors, lists and even tables. If the recording is evident sufficient they usually’re not too lengthy, iOS 18 does properly on these transcriptions. A number of instances, the iPhone 16 Professional straight-up declined to summarize a transcript. Why? All I obtained was a notification that the instruments “aren’t designed to work with this sort of content material.”
Elsewhere, Apple struggles to meet up with AI improvements on rival units. Like Google Pixel’s Magic Eraser (and all the opposite Android riffs), Clear Up now permits you to scrub out distracting parts and photograph bombers out of your pics. Nonetheless, the outcomes aren’t fairly as much as the usual of the competitors. Generally, nonetheless, it nails it.
Some Apple Intelligence options have light into the background after an preliminary buzz. Picture Playground gives the flexibility to AI-generate your personal photographs and had loads of customers itching to get off the beta waitlist to mess around with the app. After a little bit of testing, nonetheless, I haven’t used it within the months because it launched.
There is perhaps a future for Playgrounds inside iOS, although. As an example, Apple’s Invitations app helps you to embed Picture Playground outcomes inside your occasions, which is useful for those who don’t have a photograph as an example the invitation. As a standalone app, nonetheless, it doesn’t fairly ship sufficient to dwell on my residence display screen. It’s gone the best way of GarageBand, Pages and Apple Maps on my iPhone.
Genmoji, then again, is less complicated to make use of, and I exploit it usually. With it, you may create your personal emoji reactions with particular individuals, objects and backgrounds. I have already got a number of established favorites, like me consuming cereal and a chronically late buddy with clocks within the background, and I’ll most likely proceed to make emoji as life calls for it. For instance, a passenger behind me on a flight to Barcelona final month had three cats together with her. So, I made a cats-on-a-plane Genmoji. Precisely what Tim Cook dinner meant.
Some software program options are additionally particular to the iPhone 16 Professional sequence (and the 15 Professional). Digicam Management apart, the brand new button additionally gives entry to Visible Intelligence with a protracted press. Visible Intelligence is Apple’s tackle Google Lens, tapping visible AI smarts to investigate what your iPhone is pointing at. It will probably acknowledge textual content, like phrases on menus, and even translate for you. For those who get fortunate, it’ll even determine the skin of a restaurant and (with some ChatGPT energy) let you know the opening hours and what sort of delicacies it gives. It’s significantly efficient in figuring out landmarks, however busy scenes can rapidly derail it. Sadly, you may’t faucet on a selected object within the body to make clear specifics. Nonetheless, the flexibility to create calendar occasions from a poster is fairly cool — even when I often neglect to make use of it.
That’s Apple Intelligence, for now. There are numerous sensible touches, however to this point, it isn’t outstanding. I credit score Apple’s makes an attempt to make most of its AI options both processed on machine, or linked to the corporate’s Personal Cloud Compute, which makes use of bigger server-based fashions. Apple has reiterated that your knowledge isn’t saved throughout these requests. Even with ChatGPT integration, for those who don’t use an account with OpenAI, solely your request and attachments are despatched to ChatGPT. Your Apple Account and IP handle will not be shared with OpenAI. Apple’s cope with OpenAI means the latter can’t use your request to enhance or prepare its fashions, both.
The patchy arrival of iOS options, particularly Apple Intelligence, isn’t a great search for the corporate.
Nonetheless, the remainder of iOS 18 continues to ship priceless new options and upgrades to the iPhone expertise, just like the aforementioned Invitations app, extra content material (and video games) for Information+ subscribers and my favourite characteristic because the AirPods launched noise-cancellation, the flexibility to nod or shake your head to halt Siri bulletins, Health prompts and even decline calls. I’m a busy man!
Cameras and Digicam Management
With Digicam Management, Apple has launched its most intriguing interface change because the short-lived 3D Contact.” That tech, for those who forgot, provided haptic suggestions in your display screen tapping throughout the iPhone 6 period. Digicam Management acts like a correct handbook digital camera button, even once I realize it combines a bodily button with elaborate contact sensors. This allows deeper controls by swiping throughout it or semi-pressing.
Immediately, it really works as a fundamental digital camera app launcher, similar to the iPhone’s Motion button has performed lately. Already, it’s higher positioned, although, decrease on the correct fringe of the telephone, prepared in your thumb if held vertically, or index finger when held horizontally. It goes past being a launcher, although. Swiping throughout it helps you to modify zoom, publicity and even toggle the brand new Photographic Fashion choices. Then, a half-press works as a option to affirm your settings.
Relying on how you utilize the iPhone’s digital camera, numerous the settings may not deserve their place throughout the Digicam Management’s menus. Whereas I usually tinkered with Publicity and Zoom, Photographic types are simpler to regulate from the iPhone within the regular touchscreen approach. I’m additionally not going to meddle with simulated f-stops when taking candid pictures of my family and friends.
Like Apple Intelligence, Digicam Management launched incomplete. When the iPhone 16 Professional first went on sale, it lacked a half-press focus like ye olde conventional cameras, and it took until January 2025 for an AF-AE lock to reach by iOS 18.3. The characteristic, nonetheless, stays buried in settings and must be toggled on.
It really works properly although. You faucet on an object you’d just like the iPhone to concentrate on, maintain the button midway, and it’ll lock publicity and focus for so long as you retain your finger down – like a digital camera. It’s irritating that we needed to wait this lengthy for what looks as if a core operate of Digicam Management.
To be satan’s advocate – and it’s an argument often leveled at AI options, each Apple Intelligence and elsewhere – did you want Digicam Management? Given how a lot I exploit my telephone’s cameras, I'd argue {that a} digital camera launcher is price factoring into the {hardware}. However the Motion Button lined that.
Digicam Management additionally appeared like a ‘professional’ iPhone characteristic, so it’s shocking to see it throughout all the machine lineup, barring the more moderen iPhone 16e.
One other change price noting is that the iPhone 16 Professional obtained digital camera parity with the bigger Professional Max this yr, with a 5x optical zoom I exploit more often than not. In fact, this isn't a outstanding characteristic for those who had been already utilizing an iPhone 15 Professional Max. However for those who want the smaller of the 2 Professional choices, apart from battery life, there’s no cause to cease you getting the cheaper iPhone 16 Professional.
Repairability and longevity
I haven’t needed to restore my iPhone 16 Professional to this point, and there aren’t any pronounced scratches on the 6.3-inch display screen or physique. Whereas I’m additionally a case dweeb, I don’t use display screen protectors — I haven’t wanted to. The most recent iPhones do include much more repair-friendly {hardware} and insurance policies if the worst had been to occur. Anecdotally, in response to my expertise the titanium physique and Apple's Ceramic Protect therapy on the show do appear to make this era of 'professional' iPhones harder than its predecessors
Apple’s new Restore Assistant, designed to handle components pairing points, lets each you and restore professionals configure new and used Apple components straight on the machine, without having to contact Apple personnel on the telephone to make sure iOS performs with new components.
One other enchancment, whereas not a part of the 16 Professional, is battery removing. On each the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, the battery will be launched from its enclosure by operating a low-voltage present by the iPhone’s battery adhesive. Nonetheless, the iPhone 16 Professional’s battery is now encased in aluminum, making repairs much less fraught, and defending the battery extra when uncovered to restore instruments. I haven’t needed to put it to make use of but, however the firm’s elevated willingness to embrace right-to-repair is headed in the correct route, particularly after its sluggish response previously.
Six months on, the 16 Professional’s barely greater battery is holding up, with the one I’ve nonetheless exhibiting it’s at full well being. I’m a heavy telephone consumer, and 256 cost cycles later, iOS says it’s nonetheless at 100% capability, which I discovered spectacular. If I would like to switch the battery, I’m heartened that it’s simpler than ever on an iPhone.
Wrap-up
The iPhone 16 Professional is among the greatest smartphones accessible. But when there’s a selected space the place Apple’s telephones are missing in comparison with the flagship competitors, it is perhaps the messaging and the advertising and marketing. It took too lengthy for Apple Intelligence to land on units. If Apple Intelligence hadn’t been so key to Apple’s presentation each at WWDC and the iPhone 16 launch occasion, the delay wouldn’t look so dangerous.
Intriguingly, we’re at a time when the likes of the Galaxy and Pixel sequence have by no means felt extra like iPhones. Or do iPhones really feel like Android telephones? I’m unsure anymore. Both approach, we haven’t seen rival units mimic the Digicam Management button.
I recognize that numerous the brand new options and additions don’t appear to clog up the iPhone expertise. Don’t take care of digital camera filters? You’ll not often see them. Wish to swap the Digicam Management button for one more operate? Go forward. Wish to prioritize Messages notifications, however not WhatsApp messages? Go wild.
With a light-weight, sturdy titanium construct, there’s nonetheless a tangible premium really feel to the iPhone 16 Professional, in comparison with the aluminum iPhone 16. The identical will be mentioned concerning the cameras, with a 48-megapixel ultrawide sensor and 5x optical zoom, which the bottom iPhone can’t match. Performance-twise, the bottom iPhone 16 now delivers the Dynamic Island and Digicam Management, which makes a ‘professional’ iPhone a bit more durable to outline. For the iPhone 16 sequence, it boils all the way down to extra premium supplies and a strong zoom digital camera.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cellular/smartphones/iphone-16-pro-longterm-review-apple-intelligence-134517480.html?src=rss