Forget about the new iPhone 16 Pro, Apple has something much better

Tim Cook and his team will launch the new iPhone 16 Pro next month in what they hope will be Apple’s first successful foray into generative AI. What will the iPhone 16 Pro offer when it launches? Will the new features, mostly limited to software updates that will take months to arrive, be a smarter choice than the iPhone 15 Pro?

One of the biggest advantages of the iPhone 16 family over previous iPhone models is the inclusion of generative AI. The Apple Intelligence suite, retroactively called Apple Intelligence, will demand a certain level of performance from the host smartphone, a level that will exceed most existing iPhone models.

The only exceptions are the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Those are the only two Apple smartphones to run on the Apple Silicon A17 Pro chipset — the iPhone 15 was held back with the A16 chipset, presumably to create a spec gap that would justify the higher price of the Pro model.

This means it’s possible to use Apple’s AI software without having to purchase the new iPhone 16.

It’s also worth considering the state of Apple’s AI software. While parts of it are in public beta, Tim Cook’s team won’t launch the software with the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro family in September. Instead, a limited set of features will be available via an OS update scheduled for October, with ChatGPT set to be added by the end of the year.

Apple’s full implementation of generative AI won’t arrive until late Q1, halfway through the iPhone 16 Pro’s first lifecycle. The assumption is that Apple’s development won’t encounter any significant hiccups that would delay any updates. Those who buy iPhone 16 Pros are buying AI potential, but that potential won’t be realized for a long time.

For many, the time to invest in a new Apple phone isn’t when AI is coming, but when AI is already here. Those who own an iPhone 15 Pro are sitting on the best of both worlds: an iPhone that will support AI when it arrives, and the option to upgrade to the latest iPhone when the software is updated. At that point, many will consider holding off for a few more months to buy an iPhone 17 Pro, knowing that Apple will address any software issues in its first attempt at generative AI, and any hardware requirements will be met.

It’s also an argument for holding off on an iPhone generation if you need to upgrade in the current climate. Once the iPhone 16 Pro arrives, iPhone 15 Pro prices will drop. Not climatically, but enough to provide value. While Apple may not be offering big discounts, carriers and online stores will have stock of the 15 Pro and Pro Max that they’ll want to sell off so you can snag a bargain.

Aside from the iOS updates — which will be coming to the entire iPhone lineup — the key differences between the 15 Pro and 16 Pro appear to be a slight increase in battery capacity and an increased telephoto zoom. This isn’t an iPhone update that focuses primarily on hardware. Given that the iPhone 17 phones are likely to receive significant hardware updates, those looking for physical changes might be best off skipping this year’s model.

The iPhone 16 Pro’s hardware improvements are more iterative than innovative. Apple will be playing with unreleased software next year that will run on the older flagship when it eventually releases. And if you don’t already own an iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max, you’ll soon get some sweet discounts.

The iPhone 16 Pro may be the future, but it’s worth seeing what that future looks like before you commit to it.

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