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‘Should I Upgrade to iPhone 16?’ Only Do It If You Fall Into These 5 Categories

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Apple launched the iPhone 16 on Monday during its “Glowtime” event on September 9, leaving curious consumers wondering: “Should I upgrade?”

There’s no universal answer to this question. It depends. While the iPhone 16 lineup — which includes the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max — was unveiled with a handful of new features, the question is: will they be a good fit for you?

I’ll identify five categories of consumers who will benefit most from upgrading to both the entry-level iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models.

This way, you can decide whether you should take the plunge and buy it, or wait until the iPhone 17 comes out.

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I’m an iPhone expert: Why you should skip the iPhone 16 Pro Max for the cheapest iPhone 16

iPhone owners with XS and older

Before I get into the niches that will benefit from an iPhone 16 upgrade, it’s important to know that the new iOS 18 update will officially roll out to iPhone users on September 16.

Someone holding the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max

iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
Source: Mashable

This new update isn’t rolling out to everyone, however. That said, if you have anything older than the iPhone XR, including the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, iPhone X and iPhone 8, and more, you’re better off upgrading — Apple’s new updates will no longer support your phone going forward.

If you have the original iPhone SE, you should also consider upgrading. iOS 18 does not support it.

iPhone XS Max in front of a grainy background


Source: Mashable

If you have a phone that supports regular iOS updates, your device will stay protected from security holes and you’ll get the latest and greatest software features Apple has to offer. And if you have an iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max or later, you can take advantage of Apple Intelligence, the company’s new suite of AI features.

Want to know what you’re going to miss with the next big update? Check out some of the wildest features coming to iOS 18.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus: Should You Upgrade?

With that said, let’s dive deeper into the question of which consumers would benefit from upgrading to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.

You love the idea of ​​an intuitive button that gives you easy access to camera functions

The entry-level models in the new iPhone 16 line may be the most appealing they’ve been in years, with Apple typically reserving many of the nice new features for the more expensive models.

Zoom in with iPhone 16's new camera control feature

Zoom in with iPhone 16’s new camera control feature
Photo: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

Last year, for example, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models of the iPhone 15 series got the cool new “Action button,” a customizable side button that lets you assign apps and other functions so you can launch them with ease.

Action button on iPhone


Credit: Apple

For the iPhone 16, Apple debuted the new Camera Control button. But this time around, Apple didn’t make this cool new extra exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models. You’ll find it everywhere all iPhone 16 models.

With the new Camera Control, you not only have instant access to taking photos and recording videos, but you can also quickly do things like zoom in, switch to ultra-wide angle, change photographic styles, and more, using simple gestures. (Check out our hands-on with Camera Control for more details.)

You want that ‘Action Button’

As mentioned, only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max from 2023 had the Action button, but now you’ll find it on the iPhone 16 as well.

Left side of the iPhone 16 housing

iPhone 16 Action Button
Photo: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

You can assign one of your favorite apps, such as Gmail, Calendar, Slack, Instagram, or TikTok, to the Action button so you can open it with a single tap.

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You want a more durable display

According to Apple, the updated Ceramic Shield on the new iPhone 16 models is 50 percent stronger than the original variant introduced on the iPhone 12. Additionally, the company claims that the new Ceramic Shield is twice as durable as other glass smartphone screens.

iPhone 16 in teal

iPhone 16 in teal
Photo: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

So if you’ve got a cracked screen, and you tend to have butterfingers, consider upgrading to the iPhone 16. You’ll get a brand new, crack-free screen — and it should be more resistant to your clumsiness (within reason, of course).

You get ‘FOMO’ on AI features

Apple has announced Apple Intelligence for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, but the entire iPhone 16 lineup is also getting Apple Intelligence.

Apple Intelligence promo photo from Glowtime event


Credit: Apple

Enjoy perks like creating your own AI-generated emoji with a text prompt, a new and improved Siri, summarized notifications, the Clean Up tool, and more.

You like bright, vibrant colors

It looks like Apple has finally listened to our feedback and stopped with all the pastel, understated colorways for the iPhone. (Mashable’s Elizabeth de Luna begged Apple to release a deep pink color, and it looks like her wish got granted.)

iPhone 16 in pink color

iPhone 16 in pink color scheme
Photo: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

The iPhone 16 comes in Ultramarine, Teal, and Pink. As someone who has seen these colors with my own eyes, they are every bit as gorgeous as they sound.

iPhone 16 Ultramarine color scheme

iPhone 16 in Ultramarine color scheme
Photo: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

The iPhone 16 also comes in white and black, perfect for those who like their phone colors as exciting as a tax form. (And yes, that was sarcasm.)

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max: Should You Upgrade?

With the iPhone 16 Pro models, you get all of the features mentioned above, plus some updated camera features (like a new 48MP Ultra Wide sensor), improved studio-quality mics, and more.

In my opinion, the iPhone 16 Pro models are a harder sell for Apple. Why? The target audiences that will benefit from the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are more niche.

You want a mega screen

The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a whopping 6.9-inch display. For reference, I’ve seen tablets with 7-inch displays. (This is why I jokingly referred to the iPhone 16 Pro Max as a phablet in my hands-on.)

iPhone 16 Pro screen


Photo: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

You might be thinking, “If the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s screen is nearly 7 inches, will it feel uncomfortable in my hands?” The answer is no. I clamped the iPhone 16 Pro Max around my fingers and it felt natural and ergonomic, easily conforming to the contours of my hand.

In addition, the device has ultra-thin bezels, giving you more screen space than ever before.

You want super long battery life

If long battery life is one of your main selling points, you’ll likely be happy with the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

iPhone 16 Pro model in the hands of a woman


Photo: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

According to Apple, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has the longest battery life ever on an iPhone. (Of course, we’ll have to test those claims to know for sure.)

For reference, the iPhone 15 Pro Max lasted nearly 15 hours when we tested it internally. It was the battery life champ for months — until the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL dethroned it.

You are a mobile content creator

The content creator space (e.g. YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram) is competitive. If your videos aren’t sharp, it’s going to be tough to build an audience. That’s why the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max can now record 4K video at 120Hz.

Woman films media guests at Apple event with iPhone


Photo: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

This means you get higher quality videos that look smoother and faster for your followers. Plus, editing your videos to get that cool slow-mo effect is easier than ever on the Pro models.

You record videos in noisy environments

Imagine you are recording a video and there is too much going on in the background: the wind, conversations, the rustling of leaves.

iPhone 16 Pro model with Audio Mix UI

Audio Mix on iPhone 16 Pro Models
Credit: Apple

The iPhone 16 Pro models can reduce unwanted noise thanks to an easy-to-use slider that lets you dim the background noise to your preference.

You like to play with music

If you have an existing recording in the Voice Memos app, you can add an additional track over it.

New Audio Mix feature on iPhone 16 Pro models

New Voice Memos Feature Coming to iPhone 16 Pro Models
Credit: Apple

For example, if you want to sing over a previously recorded beat, you can do so by simply adding a new layer and hitting the record button.

The entry-level iPhone 16 models start at $799The iPhone 16 Pro variants start at $999.