The deed is completed. I’ve returned the iPhone 16 Professional Max after two months of utilizing the perfect iPhone that Apple has ever made. That was all the time the plan. In case you missed it, I used the iPhone 16 Plus for practically two months final 12 months.
After years of utilizing 6.1-inch iPhones, I knew I wished a bigger show from the iPhone. After years of all the time utilizing Professional variants, I additionally knew the non-Professional fashions had been ok for my wants. Lastly, I additionally knew the iPhone I actually wished was subsequent 12 months’s iPhone 17 Air, an ultra-thin non-Professional system with a show about as huge because the iPhone 16 Plus.
With all that in thoughts, I made a decision to attempt the iPhone 16 Professional Max earlier than switching again to a 6.1-inch mannequin. I mentioned on the time this is perhaps the final time I get to make use of a Professional Max dimension. I’m eying the iPhone 17 Air for subsequent 12 months, and I’m most likely going to attempt the foldable iPhone as quickly because it comes out subsequent 12 months.
I anticipated an iPhone 16 Plus expertise from the iPhone 16 Professional Max, solely barely higher. The display screen is barely bigger, the processor is barely sooner, and the digital camera system is upgraded. Additionally, the bezels are barely thinner. I didn’t count on to fall in love with the 6.9-inch telephone the best way I did. I didn’t count on to wish to maintain on to the iPhone 16 Professional Max and neglect about my unique plan.
However then one thing occurred that made me reassess my priorities and quit on the iPhone 16 Professional Max. Earlier than I clarify why I returned to my outdated iPhone 14 Professional, which is over two years outdated, I’ll let you know I received’t purchase one other iPhone 16 anytime quickly, both.
The principle motive I returned the iPhone 16 Plus was its dimension. It was too huge for my style, and I had issues dealing with it. Digicam Management use was additionally cumbersome, and the brand new button was one among my fundamental causes for wanting an iPhone 16 telephone.
Additionally, in November, I didn’t have entry to Apple Intelligence and Visible Intelligence, each delayed within the EU regardless of slowly rolling out to US consumers and different worldwide customers.
I had no drawback returning to the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Professional, however I did miss a couple of iPhone 16 Plus options. The bigger display screen and higher battery life had been undisputed highlights.
That was my mindset once I purchased the iPhone 16 Professional Max. I feared I wouldn’t have a unique expertise than the Plus, and I couldn’t wait to return it. I let you know this as a result of I might benefit from a loyalty program characteristic that gave me an prolonged return window for purchases.
Then, one thing occurred that I nonetheless can’t clarify. The iPhone 16 Professional Max someway felt extra snug in my hand than the Plus. The Professional Max is the bigger handset. It has a 6.9-inch show, it’s 2mm taller and 0.45mm thicker. It’s 0.2mm narrower too. Lastly, the Plus weighs 199, which makes it 28 lighter than the Professional Max.
After two months with every telephone, I can safely say that the iPhone 16 Professional Max felt extra snug in my arms and pockets. I even ran a marathon with it and nearly didn’t really feel it. The Plus was someway a problem when working, too.
Extra amazingly, the iPhone 16 Professional Max’s Digicam Management labored so a lot better than the Plus. That’s, I’ve been utilizing it persistently to activate the digital camera with one hand however not take photos. As I defined, I’m utilizing the iPhone with my left hand, which makes the Digicam Management unreachable on the Plus. The thicker iPhone 16 Professional Max helped with that. On that notice, I now fear the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air may make Digicam Management use annoying once more.
Add the superior digital camera setup and the even higher battery life, and the iPhone 16 Professional Max is an unbelievable system. Add the big display screen, and the system turns into an awesome device to make use of, particularly when touring. The iPhone 16 Professional Max was a tremendous companion in Tokyo, the place I needed to navigate a international panorama, pull dual-SIM duties, and take a number of pics.
However, like Cinarella, I knew my time would quickly expire, and I’d need to return the iPhone 16 Professional Max. Not like the story’s heroine, I used to be having second ideas. As I mentioned, I contemplated retaining the telephone after which passing it on to somebody in my household when the iPhone 17 Air arrived.
Discover I’ve not talked about Apple Intelligence use on the iPhone 16 Professional Max as a result of Apple solely rolled it out to European iPhone customers in late February. As quickly as I received entry to it, I turned it on and located I couldn’t care much less that it was on.
Nonetheless, I used to be rocking the most recent iOS 18.4 beta, which meant the sensible Siri expertise that Apple demoed at WWDC 2024 was about to drop. Little did I do know what was going to occur a couple of weeks later. Apple would announce that the sensible Siri options in Apple Intelligence can be delayed no less than till 2026.
Apple virtually mentioned that the perfect characteristic it imagined for Apple Intelligence was vaporware. I’m prepared to attend for that Siri to grow to be actual. Earlier than Apple Intelligence rolled out in beta type to customers in Europe, I mentioned I used to be prepared to attend for Apple to make up with the EU. I used to be already prepared to attend some time further.
However as soon as the Apple Intelligence mess got here to gentle I knew there was just one factor to do: Return the iPhone 16 Professional Max. It’s not the AI telephone Apple bought us.
I’ve repeatedly written that I need Apple Intelligence on my iPhone, and that’s an enormous motive to improve to an iPhone 16 mannequin. Additionally, AI was the principle speaking level in Apple adverts for weeks earlier than Apple Intelligence truly began rolling out to the iPhone 16.
However the iPhone 16 Professional Max isn’t a greater AI system than the two-year-old iPhone 14 Professional as a result of each can use third-party AI apps. Apple Intelligence, with out the sensible Siri options, is ineffective. Apple virtually deceived consumers with its Apple Intelligence advertising, and the corporate has but to completely personal its deceptive advertising marketing campaign.
I can’t be part of a category motion, and, frankly, I don’t assume I may very well be bothered with it. However I can do one thing in regards to the iPhone Apple sells as an AI system earlier than that AI is even prepared: Return it.
The iPhone 16 will finally be an awesome system for Apple AI. It’s not one presently.
It’s a great handset, sure. The iPhone 16 has loads of thrilling options that don’t have anything to do with AI. I additionally mentioned that previously. It’s an awesome improve, particularly should you’re coming from older fashions. However I can use the iPhone 14 Professional for an additional few months till the iPhone 17 Air comes out.
Additionally, I understand that I’m fortunate to have the ability to return not one however two iPhone 16 variants after utilizing them for a number of months. That’s greater than the typical iPhone 16 purchaser who might need purchased their unit for Apple Intelligence solely to search out out months later that Siri has a protracted solution to go till it could possibly do what Apple marketed.
That additionally means I received’t be getting one of many smaller iPhone 16 variants, which I believed I’d find yourself retaining earlier than the iPhone 17 rolls out.
As for my subsequent iPhone buy, the principle motive for purchasing the iPhone 17 Air is not going to be AI or the Digicam Management button. I need the brand new design. I desire a thinner, sleeker iPhone with a big show, and I received’t thoughts the opposite compromises. I’m already conscious Apple Intelligence received’t be prepared for some time, so I’ll know that from the second I purchase the iPhone 17 Air.
