Should you upgrade to iPhone 16? Here are ZDNET editors’ top reasons for and against

ICYMI: Apple launched the brand new iPhone 16 lineup on Monday, together with a number of different new merchandise and software program developments, together with AirPods 4, the Apple Watch Collection 10, and new upgrades to the AirPods Professional 2 mannequin to create clinical-grade listening to aids. 

And when you’re in all probability anticipating ZDNET’s crew of tech consultants to say that we’re all hopping on the iPhone 16 bandwagon due to flashy guarantees of Apple Intelligence, a brand new digital camera management button, and an upgraded design, you would be incorrect. Regardless of many people extensively overlaying the event of flagship tech (particularly smartphones) through the years with a fervent ardour and curiosity, exterior of our work, we’re in all probability lots such as you. 

We’re all the time in search of offers on high merchandise, weighing the professionals and cons earlier than upgrading or shopping for new ones, and in search of one of the best long-term worth in our tech. So possibly you are stunned to study that regardless of overlaying the most recent telephone launches, from the iPhone 16 to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, a few of us are nonetheless comfortably utilizing our iPhone 12s, 13s, and 14s — and are not essentially all in on shopping for a brand new mannequin. 

Listed here are the highest explanation why we’re (or aren’t) upgrading to the iPhone 16 within the coming months, together with concerns of Apple Intelligence, digital camera options, and preorder or trade-in provides which are simply too good to cross up. 

Here is why ZDNET editors can be upgrading to the iPhone 16 

1. The digital camera 

Maybe one of the essential options of any smartphone lately is the digital camera, so it’s no shock that digital camera high quality is a giant consideration for ZDNET editors. It in all probability is for you, too. The iPhone 16 lineup features a new Digital camera Management characteristic that works in panorama or portrait mode with a button on the aspect of the iPhone. As well as, you may frivolously press the button to indicate digital camera features you may select from, reminiscent of zoom, publicity, or focal lengths, by swiping between the choices. 

The Digital camera Management makes use of Apple’s Visible Intelligence to allow you to seize a photograph of issues round you, like a poster or a restaurant, then makes use of iPhone’s AI functionality to seek for it to offer you extra info — much like the Google Lens characteristic discovered on Android telephones. In contrast to final 12 months, the iPhone 16 Professional and iPhone 16 Professional Max each comprise the identical digital camera, it is most spectacular but. These fashions have a brand new 48MP fusion digital camera, an up to date 48MP ultrawide digital camera, and the identical 5x optical zoom succesful 12MP telephoto digital camera. Customers can snap 48MP macro photographs and shoot 4K Dolby Imaginative and prescient movies at as much as 120fps (together with slow-mo movies), making these telephones nice for creators and photographers. A number of ZDNET editors are able to improve due to this digital camera alone, particularly ZDNET’s Sabrina Ortiz, who has a fantastic disdain for the digital camera on her iPhone 14 Professional. 

“I’ve the most important one-sided beef on this planet with the iPhone 14. I can provide you materials for years. Primarily as a result of the digital camera is the worst factor I ever skilled on an iPhone. Even the bottom iPhone 16 mannequin appears approach higher,” Ortiz says.

2. Commerce-in offers and service provides

I informed you we’re actually all similar to you. Some ZDNET tech consultants are prepared to leap to the brand new iPhone 16 due to nice service and trade-in provides on the fashions and are much more enthusiastic in the event that they’re prepared for an improve. 

ZDNET contributor Ed Bott is planning to improve his iPhone 12 Professional Max for a brand new iPhone for his spouse. “I’m planning to improve as a result of it’s value $800 as a trade-in at T-Cellular. I’ll give the brand new telephone to my spouse and can use her iPhone 14 Professional Max, which is a secondary telephone for me. The iPhone 12 Professional Max nonetheless works nice, however the trade-in worth is just too good to cross up,” Bott says. Equally, workers author Allison Murray is prepared for an improve from her iPhone 12 Professional and is content material with the brand new base iPhone 16’s choices to make the flip. 

And in the event you’re seeking to change carriers, like managing editor Alison DeNisco Rayome, a few of the trade-in provides make it onerous to withstand. “I nonetheless have the 13, and the trade-in offers are making it value it for me to improve to the 16 (plus we need to change carriers, so even higher),” she says. 

Verizon and T-Cellular have comparable provides proper now, and so they’re fairly candy. At T-Cellular, new and current prospects can get a free iPhone 16 Professional with a trade-in on the Go5G Subsequent plan, or as much as $1,000 off on any iPhone 16 mannequin. 

3. For work 

Okay, this one comes as no shock. There was certain to be a few of us upgrading as a result of properly, we do work in tech in any case, and what higher technique to cowl Apple’s iPhones than really proudly owning the brand new mannequin your self? So whereas this is probably not an relevant cause for some, for these in tech it’s typically justifiable. 

ZDNET contributor Lance Whitney says he often upgrades each two years however can be upgrading to the iPhone 16 Professional from a 14 Professional largely because of the bigger display, digital camera, and AI options, but in addition due to the work he makes a speciality of. “As a author, I all the time hope to have the ability to write concerning the new iPhone I purchase to assist justify the price,” Whitney says. Equally, ZDNET’s David Gewirtz is making the leap totally on account of working in tech. 

“I will in all probability order someday this month. [I’m] in no way enthused by the 16. If it weren’t for this gig, I might in all probability wait to improve till new iOS updates will not set up anymore,” Gewirtz says. 

ZDNET’s Jason Perlow is bumping up for comparable causes. “I’m upgrading from my 15 Professional Max to a 16 Professional Max as a result of I’m on the iPhone Improve Program, and as I cowl developments with Apple, it’s a enterprise expense and [ultimately] it is buying and selling one mortgage fee for one more. No different cause, though the digital camera enhancements appear good. I debated skipping, however there wasn’t a lot of a draw back,” he says. 

Here is why ZDNET editors will not be upgrading to the iPhone 16

1. The Apple Intelligence options aren’t good 

Apple’s largest flexes over the previous few months have been their Apple Intelligence and AI options, which the iPhone 16 is the guinea pig for. Whereas a few of these new AI options are undeniably cool, like the brand new Digital camera Management, enhanced Siri options, and extra, the options are nonetheless restricted to the iPhone 15 Professional and above and rolling out solely in beta over the following few weeks. 

Primarily, that is Apple’s first iPhone marketed with an AI push, and like all the pieces in tech, there’s certain to be some kinks that should be labored out. ZDNET’s Kyle Kucharski simply is not on board with paying to improve for unpolished AI options. “The trade-in offers are tempting however as many writers have acknowledged, the [iPhone 16] in the end seems like a stepping stone. I am betting that ready another 12 months (which will not be onerous given the truth that my 12 nonetheless works properly) can be extra impactful,” he says. 

Jason Perlow is on the identical web page. “Let’s not diminish the product for what it’s: the iPhone 16 is undeniably nice {hardware}. However until you are utilizing a outdated telephone — like my colleague David Gewirtz’s iPhone 12, which is 4 generations behind — you need to strongly contemplate skipping this era. Why? As a result of Apple Intelligence, whereas promising, continues to be in its infancy,” Perlow wrote in certainly one of his current items. 

2. Not compelled sufficient to improve

As opinions editor Kyle Kucharski says, it is by no means a good suggestion to blindly replace your cellular tech yearly with out considering. You have to have no less than one good cause to payout for a brand new mannequin when the one you’ve got is working completely wonderful. 

Workers author Maria Diaz thinks the identical. “I’ve the iPhone 14 Professional Max and am nonetheless proud of it. It performs simply in addition to after I obtained it. I want the digital camera had been higher (however the BlackMagic app helps lots with this) and I would love the comfort of a USB-C port, but it surely’s nonetheless working properly sufficient that I do not really feel compelled in any respect to get an iPhone 16. I am holding out for subsequent 12 months, no less than,” Diaz says. Kucharski is on the identical web page. “I nonetheless have the 12, and the underside line: it nonetheless works wonderful,” he says. 

3. Expense and trouble 

Typically it is the obvious elements that affect our selections. The expense and trouble of coordinating a brand new telephone is probably not in some folks’s budgets simply but (actually and figuratively). I am on this division. It will be actually cool to have that shiny, stunning, and gloriously pink iPhone 16, however my iPhone 14 Professional works utterly wonderful (although its battery grinds my gears), and I’ve no good cause to improve past wanting a pink telephone. It will be an added expense on each my pockets and my time (establishing a brand new telephone shouldn’t be a one-day course of; change my thoughts). Plus, I often hold my telephones till they crap out anyway, so an improve proper now’s simply not within the playing cards.  

ZDNET’s Adrian Kingsley-Hughes continues to be on the fence, however we agree on one factor. “It is a ton of cash,” he says.

preorder the iPhone 16

If you happen to determine to improve to Apple’s newest iPhone mannequin, there are some things to know. Preorders for the iPhone 16 begin at 5:00 a.m. PDT on Friday, September 16 at Apple and mobile carriers. The telephones can be launched to the general public on September 20. 

The iPhone 16 will begin at $799, and the iPhone 16 Plus will begin at $899. Relying in your telephone service, you may stand up to $800 off once you commerce in an iPhone 12 or newer.

The iPhone 16 Professional will begin at $999 and the iPhone 16 Professional Max will begin at $1,199. You may stand up to $650 off with an eligible trade-in.