People aren’t buying phones like they used to, so Apple really needs to push us at every upgrade stage. And lately, that’s meant pushing more people toward the Pro iPhone, than the regular one. Every year for the past few years, Apple has held back more features for its Pro phones, bringing them down to the standard iPhone in one drop. But that could change this year, if the rumors are true, and to that I say: it’s about damn time.
For the past two cycles, only the “Pro” models got the latest Bionic chipset. That doesn’t just mean that the Pro models are more powerful — it also means that the regular iPhone won’t be eligible for the same feature updates that the Pro models will get in the coming years. iPhone 15 Pro models are eligible for Apple Intelligence while standard models are not.
This person may look different. Rumors suggest that the entire iPhone 16 series will get the A18 chipset, although Apple may still reserve the most powerful version for the 16 Pro models. Even if that’s the case, it’s highly likely that all iPhone 16 models will be able to run Apple Intelligence, which Apple expects will be a big driver of the upgrade.
Other rumors also point out that the regular iPhone might get not one but two new buttons this year: the action button introduced on last year’s Pro models and the capture button we expect to see on iPhone 16. More buttons! In this economy! It’s still possible that the capture button is a Pro-only feature, but I think that would be a real shame. You don’t have to be a professional phone user (whatever that is) to appreciate a dedicated shutter button.
By all accounts, this could be a year where the regular iPhone gets a little bit of the Pro, and that’s music to my ears. Personally, I’d like to see Apple do more for the regular iPhone, starting with the dang screen refresh rate. It’s 2024 and Apple is still charging $799 for a phone with a 60Hz screen. That too will likely come true within a year. It seems odd when Android phones up and down the budget spectrum offer 120Hz displays.
At the very least, it looks like Apple is about to restore some balance to the iPhone 16 series. I think that’s how it should be — the Pro iPhone should feel like you’re getting something extra, not cornered into paying more for a valuable feature. . All Apple needs to do is bring back the Mini; then all my hopes and wishes for the regular iPhone will be fulfilled. I can dream right?
