iPhone 16 Pro Long-Term: One Feature Stands Above All Others
It's funny how time sorts everything out. When the iPhone 16 Pro launched in September, commercials with Snoop Dogg touted it as the first iPhone built for Apple Intelligence. But unknown to Snoop, the phone arrived with zero Apple Intelligence. The first Apple Intelligence features started to roll out over the course of a few months. Fast forward six months, and you can now remove a person from the background of a photo, get summaries of messages and edit text you've written to sound more professional -- or in the words of the Apple Intelligence rewrite I just requested: "Enhance the professional tone of your written text by employing appropriate language and editing techniques."
While not every feature that Apple previewed at the Worldwide Developers Conference 2024 is here, the Apple Intelligence features out now are clever at best. But even without factoring Apple Intelligence into the equation, the iPhone 16 Pro is excellent. For months, I've traveled with it, taken photos and videos with it, had video meetings on it, tapped back like no one's watching, and played lots of Mario Kart. And while many of the phone's features caught my attention, there's one in particular that stood out among the rest: battery life.
Now Playing: All Things Mobile: Our iPhone 16 Pro 7-Month Check-In
06:14
iPhone 16 Pro battery life
The iPhone 16 Pro's battery life continues to amaze me.
Celso Bulgatti/CNET
The iPhone 16 series generally has excellent battery life, especially the iPhone 16 Plus. While the model I'm using, the iPhone 16 Pro, has a smaller battery than the 16 Plus, it still gets through a full day on a single charge. Sometimes I'm even able to make it through half of a second day.
When traveling for tech events where I'm filming videos with the 16 Pro and uploading them to a shared drive over 5G, it lasts about three-quarters of a day after a full recharge. Overall, I'm impressed with the battery life on the iPhone 16 Pro. I'm averaging 5 hours and 54 minutes of screen-on time. And my iPhone 16 Pro's battery health is "normal," with my max capacity at 100% and only 179 cycle counts after seven months, which is still pretty low.
In CNET's 45-minute endurance test, the 16 Pro outperformed the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus, the OnePlus 13 and the Pixel 9 Pro. It was bested by its iPhone 16 siblings, most of which had less battery loss (including the iPhone 16E).
In our 3-hour video streaming battery test, the 16 Pro beat the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus and the OnePlus 13. The only phones to beat the 16 Pro were the Oppo Find N5 foldable phone and the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
In terms of charging, I use a MagSafe fast charger 90% of the time and hardly ever use a wired charger. That might also be why I still have pretty good battery health since charging at higher speeds with a cable can deteriorate the battery's lifespan over time.
iPhone 16 Pro durability
Both photos were taken after seven months of use. The iPhone 15 Pro Max had a rough life being dropped a handful of times and you really see the scratches and scuffs on its screen. The iPhone 16 Pro has lived a slightly less rough life and still has been dropped but has fewer scratches thanks to its new Ceramic Shield.
Celso Bulgatti/CNET
Something that didn't get a lot of news when the iPhone 16 Pro came out is that the Ceramic Shield that makes up the screen got updated. Ceramic Shield, which debuted on the iPhone 12 series, isn't pure glass in that its composed of nano ceramic crystals embedded in a glass matrix.
When I tested the iPhone 15 Pro Max with the previous version of Ceramic Shield, I was shocked by how many small scratches and nicks had accumulated over seven months. Now, granted, I didn't have a case or screen protector on it, but I don't for the 16 Pro either. Over the same amount of time, the iPhone 16 Pro and its newer Ceramic Shield came out nearly unscathed with just four minor scratches on it -- two of which are hard to see. This is such a major improvement.
iPhone 16 Pro Camera Control
I'm half pressing the iPhone 16 Pro's Camera Control button to lock the auto focus and auto exposure before I take the photo.
Celso Bulgatti/CNET
Camera Control, a new button on the right side of iPhone 16 series phones (minus the iPhone 16E), received a lot of hoopla from Apple when it first launched. But I've found it weird to get used to -- sometimes I trigger it accidentally, and for a stretch of time, I ended up turning it off. But after seven months of experimenting, I've ended up at a nice place with it.
I now double-click the Camera Control to open the Camera app. I don't even have to think about it. As I'm pulling my phone out of my pocket, I can double-click the Camera Control button so it's open and ready for me to take a photo by the time I have my phone at eye level. It reminds me of using the double-twist Moto Action to do the same thing on Motorola phones. And by setting the Camera Control to activate with a double-click, I've done away with the accidental presses I experienced early on.
I also use the Camera Control's half-press setting to lock autofocus and auto exposure, especially if I'm taking a photo of a person or pet under tricky lighting. I like being able to lock my exposure, making sure people's skin tones are protected and knowing that my subject will be in focus.
As for the other ways of controlling the camera -- zooming, changing exposure compensation, choosing photographic styles and the rest -- I find that I'm happy sticking with just the focus and exposure lock.
I did try using the Camera Control button for Visual Intelligence. While it can be fun to point my camera at something and search for it on Google or prompt ChatGPT, it feels more like a novelty than something I need at the ready at any moment. (Ziff Davis, CNET's parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, which owns ChatGPT, in April, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)
iPhone 16 Pro and Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence lets you create a Memory Movie by entering a prompt.
Numi Prasarn/CNET
These are the early days of generative AI and LLMs on our phones. While Apple isn't off to an early lead, as many stockholders would like, remember that this is a marathon. While parts of Siri aren't quite fully "Apple Intelligent" yet, a handful of other tools and features are and Apple Intelligence has arrived.
The Cleanup tool in the Photos app is one of Apple's Intelligence features that I use regularly. I can remove an object or person from a photo, and it works pretty well. I also absolutely enjoy generating emoji from prompts for message replies and Tapbacks. I made a really cool Día de Muertos emoji that I can now pull up any time.
Even after seven months, I don't think that you should buy this iPhone specifically for Apple Intelligence. But I look forward to Apple adding some more advanced features that truly help improve my life daily.
iPhone 16 Pro and iOS 18
Here is the interface for customizing the Control Center.
Jeff Carlson/CNET
The iPhone 16 Pro and iOS 18 are like peanut butter and jelly. I haven't encountered any major bugs. What stands out to me are all the ways I can customize my iPhone. Whether it's changing up the way my home screen looks to work better with a wallpaper or rearranging the layout for the Control Panel, I am blown away by how much curation control Apple has given its customers after nearly two decades of not allowing us to change such things.
I have to give my CNET colleague Zach McAuliffe a shout-out for acknowledging in his iOS 18 seven-month review how annoyingly easy it is to end up on the second page of Control Center instead of the first. Hopefully, Apple can fine tune the pull-down from the top right corner gesture that brings up the Control Center in a future update.
iPhone 16 Pro cameras
I'm taking a macro photo of a fuzzy spider toy.
Marc Ganley/CNET
From day one, the cameras have been outstanding. I like recording 4K 120 frames per second slow-mo videos. It's actually really great for filming product footage for CNET reviews and videos. Usually, we use a dedicated camera, but sometimes, I have to record a quick pick-up shot with my iPhone. I record them at 4K 120fps to help minimize any shakes and smooth out any camera movements. They can also be sped up or slowed down by the editor.
In general, photos look fantastic. Take a look at some of my faves below.
iPhone 16 Pro ultrawide camera.
Patrick Holland/CNET
iPhone 16 Pro main camera at 2x.
Patrick Holland/CNET
iPhone 16 Pro 5x telephoto camera.
Patrick Holland/CNET
iPhone 16 Pro ultrawide.
Patrick Holland/CNET
iPhone 16 Pro main camera.
Patrick Holland/CNET
iPhone 16 Pro ultrawide.
Celso Bulgatti/CNET
Another feature I use occasionally is Audio Mix, which comes in handy when I record videos for CNET's social team. If I'm not miked up, I use Audio Mix to reduce the background noise and make my voice sound more present before I share it with our social producers.
Watch this: iPhone 16 Pro 4K 120fps Slow Motion Video Test
01:10
Buy the iPhone 16 Pro or wait for the iPhone 17 Pro?
Apple/Viva Tung/CNET
We are now four months away from the expected launch of the iPhone 17 series, which raises the question: Should you buy the iPhone 16 Pro now or wait for the iPhone 17? And what about tariffs?
If you're ready for an upgrade, the iPhone 16 Pro is best for people coming from an iPhone 13 Pro and older. Even if you have the 13 Pro and the battery is still good, I'd recommend considering holding onto it and waiting until the iPhone 17 is announced.
Apple has not told us what to expect with iPhone pricing in terms of tariffs. On an earnings call last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook said, "Assuming the current global tariff rates, policies and applications do not change for the balance of the quarter, and no new tariffs are added, we estimate the impact to add $900 million to our costs."
There are rumors that Apple is shifting production from China to India for all US iPhone models. It seems as if Apple is doing everything it can to not change the experience of buying an iPhone for its customers.
Four months is a long time to wait for the iPhone 17 Pro. I can't imagine the 17 Pro is going to be radically different enough to warrant waiting almost a third of a year for it. I say if you need a new iPhone now and want a pro model, you won't be disappointed if you buy the iPhone 16 Pro.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Apple EPS Faces 2-3% Hit After Epic Ruling
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is bracing for a 23% EPS headwind after a federal appeals court upheld an injunction requiring link-out payments in the App Store, potentially shifting billions in developer fees over the next two years. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 8 Warning Signs with MSTR. Despite this ruling taking effect April 30, May App Store revenue climbed 13% overall (10% in the U.S.), suggesting many developers won't abandon Apple's ecosystem due to the convenience and trust of its billing. Evercore ISI's Amit Daryanani notes the App Store generates about $21 billion in annual sales, with roughly $7 billion of that coming from U.S. developer fees; while a complete fee loss would imply a 6% EPS hit, he expects a more modest impact as developers weigh higher alternative fees against Apple's seamless experience. J.P. Morgan's Samik Chatterjee agrees on a 2%3% EPS drag, citing an AlphaWise survey where 28% of U.S. iPhone users say they'd be extremely likely to link outputting roughly $3.7 billion in revenue at risk and translating to a worst-case 16-cent EPS hit (2%). Morgan Stanley's data also points to a 2% EPS exposure. Gaming accounts for about 65% of U.S. App Store sales, mostly $0.99 one-time purchases; if users switch to payment platforms like Stripe, they could end up paying 3% plus 30 cents per transactionoften more than Apple's 27% commission. Apple insists that over 90% of 2024 billings incurred no commission and emphasizes the App Store's role in helping developers reach a global audience. CEO Tim Cook highlighted that so many developers design great apps, build successful businesses, and reach Apple users through this platform. Investors should watch June App Store metrics and upcoming appellate developments to gauge the long-term financial fallout, since even a small EPS hit matters given Apple's $3 trillion valuation. In other news, Apple has tapped India's Tata Group to handle after-sales repairs for iPhones and MacBooks in India, taking over from Taiwan's Wistron unit, ICT Service Management Solutions. Tata already assembles iPhones at three South India facilitiesone of which produces certain partsand will now carry out repairs at its Karnataka assembly site. This ongoing transition underscores Apple's confidence in Tata as it diversifies manufacturing beyond China, where Tata also assembles devices for domestic and export markets. Apple, Wistron and Tata declined immediate comment. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tesla Stock vs. Apple Stock: Wall Street Says Buy One and Sell the Other
Shares of Apple and Tesla have fallen sharply this year, but most Wall Street analysts expect Apple to rebound while Tesla keeps moving lower. Apple is the market leader in smartphone sales, but the company faces headwinds related to antitrust lawsuits, tariffs, and investments in AI infrastructure. Tesla lost substantial market share in electric car sales in the first quarter, but the company has important opportunities in autonomous driving and robotics. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › Year to date, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) have been the two worst-performing "Magnificent Seven" stocks, notching losses of 19% and 15%, respectively. But Wall Street expects Apple shares to rebound in the coming months while Tesla shares fall even further, as detailed below: Among 50 analysts following Apple, the median target price is $235 per share. That implies 16% upside from the current share price of $202. Among 55 analysts following Tesla, the median target price is $307 per share. That implies 10% downside from the current share price of $343. Those forecasts suggest investors should buy Apple and sell Tesla at current prices. But I would encourage readers to think carefully about that decision. Personally, I would rather own Tesla. Here's why. Apple has cultivated a brand moat and pricing power through engineering expertise that spans software and hardware. Its aesthetic devices run proprietary operating systems to create a somewhat unique experience for users, and certainly one consumers will pay for. Apple was the smartphone sales leader in the first quarter. And the average iPhone sold for 2.5 times more than the average Samsung, per Counterpoint Research. However, Apple is beset by headwinds that threaten to slow earnings growth in the coming quarters. First, Alphabet currently pays Apple north of $20 billion per year to make Google the default search engine in the Safari browser. However, a pending antitrust lawsuit could prohibit that practice, in which case Apple would lose a significant amount of high-margin services revenue. Second, Apple is currently moving iPhone production to India to avoid the high tariffs on Chinese imports. That upset President Trump, who wants those devices made in the United States. So, he threatened a 25% tariff on iPhones made elsewhere. Even if he chooses not to follow through, the 10% baseline tariff on imports from foreign countries will still be headwind to Apple's profits. Finally, many analysts think the company will eventually monetize Apple Intelligence -- a suite of generative artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities for newer iPhones -- but consumers have so far been unimpressed. Gene Munster at Deepwater Asset Management believes Apple will improve the platform by training its own large language models, which will require significant investments in AI infrastructure. Wall Street expects Apple's earnings to increase at 6% annually through fiscal 2026, which ends in September 2026. That makes the current valuation of 28 times earnings look quite expensive. Even worse, analysts may be overestimating future earnings. Apple could miss the mark as antitrust lawsuits, tariffs, and investments in AI infrastructure hinder its profits in the coming quarters. Here's the bottom line: I think investors should avoid Apple stock until it either trades at a much cheaper price or else positive catalysts develop. Additionally, shareholders with a large percentage of their wealth in Apple should consider trimming their positions. In the first quarter, Tesla lost nearly 10 percentage points of market share in electric cars in Europe and the U.S., and it lost more than 3 points of market share in China. Analysts have attributed decreased demand to factory updates (which limited Model Y production) and CEO Elon Musk's involvement in politics. Those were temporary problems, so electric car sales could gain steam in the quarters ahead. Regardless, Tesla has larger and (arguably) more important opportunities in autonomous driving and robotics. The company will launch its first autonomous ride-sharing (robotaxi) service in Austin this month, entering what Uber believes is a $1 trillion market. Meanwhile, Tesla may start selling its autonomous humanoid robot Optimus to other companies as soon as late 2026. Musk sees that as a $10 trillion market. Wall Street expects Tesla's earnings to grow at 14% annually through 2026. That makes the current valuation of 153 time earnings look absurdly expensive, which may explain why most analysts anticipate downside in the stock. However, that consensus estimate does not account for the possible acceleration in earnings growth as the company expands into new markets. Here's the bottom line: Tesla stock is not for everyone. Investors that don't believe the company will disrupt the mobility and labor markets with autonomous cars and robots should avoid the stock. But investors that believe Tesla will execute on those opportunities should own the stock and now is a reasonable time to buy a few shares despite the rich valuation. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you'll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a 'Double Down' stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you're worried you've already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it's too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you'd have $356,261!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you'd have $38,291!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you'd have $657,385!* Right now, we're issuing 'Double Down' alerts for three incredible companies, available when you join , and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.*Stock Advisor returns as of June 2, 2025 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Trevor Jennewine has positions in Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Apple, Tesla, and Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Tesla Stock vs. Apple Stock: Wall Street Says Buy One and Sell the Other was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Roku's 65-inch QLED TV is half off at Amazon
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. SAVE $600: As of June 3, the 65-inch Roku Pro Series QLED TV is on sale for $599.99 at Amazon. That's 50% off its usual price of $1,199.99. Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku 65-inch Pro Series QLED TV $599.99 at Amazon $1,199.99 Save $600 Get Deal Finding a good and cheap QLED TV isn't hard in 2025. Finding a good and cheap gaming TV that can actually keep up with new graphics-heavy drops? That's another story. If you're specifically looking for a budget television 65 inches or larger, one solid option happens to be 50% off at Amazon: As of June 3, score the 65-inch Roku Pro Series QLED TV for $599.99. That's $600 off its original price of $1,199.99. SEE ALSO: What's the best time of year to buy a TV? Yes, there's an answer. Gamers will appreciate four HDMI inputs (two of which support 120Hz), an automatic gaming mode, and compatibility with Freesync Premium Pro. CNET's Ty Pendlebury particularly shouted out the low input lag on the Pro Series, noting that it has some of the best response times that CNET's team has seen in competing TVs recently. Picture quality-wise, the Roku Pro Series is pretty mid — this just isn't the punchiest combination of vibrant colors and deep blacks you'll find on a TV in this price range. However, the full array of local dimming zones and mini quantum dots at least promise to provide snappier color than any old LED TV you may be trying to get rid of. For scenery-heavy new releases like Atomfall or Mario Kart World, that'll be crucial for the playing experience. Roku Ultra 4K Ultimate Streaming Player (2024 Release) — $79.99 (List Price $99.99) Amazon Fire TV 4-Series (43 inches, 2024) — $329.99 55-inch Sony Bravia 3 4K LED Smart Google TV (2024 Model) — $648.00 (List Price $699.99) Hisense 85-Inch Class U8 Series Mini-LED ULED 4K UHD Google Smart TV — $1,699.99 LG 65-inch Class UR9000 Series 4K Smart TV — $496.99 (List Price $629.99)
