After practically two months with the iPhone 16 Plus, I returned it and downgraded to my two-year-old iPhone 14 Professional. The latter was patiently ready in a drawer for its time to shine once more. After I defined why I gave up the iPhone 16 Plus and selected to maneuver again to a 2022 flagship, I’ll now let you know why I began lacking the massive telephone the minute I gave it up.
You see, the iPhone 16 Plus has a couple of key options that make it an unbelievable machine, and it has nothing to do with its signature methods, the Digicam Management button, and Apple Intelligence.
The iPhone 16 Plus show
Earlier than the iPhone 14 Professional, I wished an iPhone mini. I used to be very near getting the iPhone 13 mini and neglect all in regards to the incoming purple Professional. It’s in all probability for one of the best that I prevented the smaller display. One thing modified since then, as I discovered the 6.1-inch show of the iPhone 14 Professional more and more smaller. That’s why I selected the iPhone 16 Plus in September, and I’ve to say the display is superb.
Switching from a Professional to a non-Professional wasn’t an issue as a result of I’ve been utilizing the iPhone 14 Professional as a non-Professional machine. By that, I imply that the All the time-On show has at all times been off. I additionally unintentionally disabled ProMotion, and I by no means turned it again on.
The display distinction was apparent as quickly as I returned to the smaller display of the iPhone 14 Professional. Whereas utilizing a 6.1-inch iPhone with one hand is simpler, I’d nonetheless just like the bigger show. It’s so significantly better for something I do on the iPhone. And no, I don’t undergo from any eyesight points. It’s only a extra comfy expertise.
One other small iPhone 16 Plus function I appreciated is the 1-nit minimal brightness. This makes utilizing the iPhone at night time even higher than earlier than. The iPhone 14 Professional may help ProMotion and All the time-On, but it surely doesn’t go that low in the case of brightness.
The superb battery life
As a lot as I like the iPhone 16 Plus’s show, I like the battery life much more. The handset jogged my memory of the primary 12 months of utilizing the iPhone 14 Professional. I used to recharge the battery each different day, which is the type of battery life that can put any battery anxiousness relaxed.
The iPhone 16 Plus noticed went by some 32 recharge cycles throughout nearly two months of use. I positioned no restrictions on the battery charging, however I didn’t at all times recharge it to 100%. Battery well being was nonetheless 100% once I returned the handset, which is predicted after such a brief interval.
The USB-C port
I’ll remind you that the iPhone 16 fashions help sooner wi-fi charging, and I felt that. I principally used a MagSafe charger for the iPhone 16 Plus, although I additionally went for USB-C charging from time to time.
As somebody who has skipped the iPhone 15 collection, I’ve solely now found the superb comfort of getting a USB-C port on the underside of the iPhone. The identical cable that recharges my Mac recharges my iPhone 16 Plus. It’s not a giant deal, but it surely’s particularly handy when touring.
The burden
I simply informed you the primary motive I returned the iPhone 16 Plus was its measurement, and now I’m about to let you know that I miss how mild it was. Which may not make any sense till I additionally let you know that the smaller iPhone 14 Professional has a stainless-steel body. As such, the handset weighs 206 grams.
In the meantime, the iPhone 16 Plus is lighter, at 199 grams. The iPhone 16 Professional has the identical weight.
Seven grams aren’t a giant deal, however I instantly observed the distinction. The iPhone 14 Professional is simpler to hold in my pocket and function with one hand, but it surely’s additionally heavier.
The iPhone 16 Plus digicam
The iPhone 16 Plus doesn’t function a flagship digicam. You need to get the iPhone 16 Professional or 16 Professional Max for that. Nonetheless, it has an improved digicam in comparison with the 2022 iPhone 14 Professional.
The iPhone 16 Plus has nearly the identical 48-megapixel Fusion most important digicam because the Execs, and the pics I took with it look nice. I’ve observed enhancements in low-light pictures, and Evening Mode makes capturing the total moon at night time simpler. It’s not the place I’d need it to be, but it surely outperforms the iPhone 14 Professional.
The macro mode additionally appears to activate simpler and sooner than earlier than, with the function being constructed into the ultra-wide digicam.
I want I may have used the Digicam Management to take pictures and set them up, however sadly, I simply couldn’t do it comfortably. Additionally, I can’t say I took sufficient Spatial Photographs. However then once more, I don’t personal a Imaginative and prescient Professional the place I would really get pleasure from them.
As for the standalone telephoto lens of the Execs, I didn’t miss not having one. Then once more, I’m but to expertise the tetraprism zoom obtainable on iPhone 15 Execs and 16 Execs.
Put otherwise, the 14 Professional to 16 Plus digicam downgrade made me understand I may very nicely use a single-lens digicam telephone and by no means care about not having additional sensors on the again. That’s, I’m able to embrace an iPhone 17 Air. Even when the ultra-thin iPhone packs just one digicam on the again, it’ll absolutely function the absolute best large digicam tech Apple can provide.
