iPhone 16 Pro one month review: an Apple Intelligence intro

After a month with the iPhone 16 Pro, it's clear that Apple's first steps into generative AI are basic yet practical—but not worth upgrading for Apple Intelligence alone.

In the initial review, Mike from AppleInsider called the iPhone 16 Pro the perfect balance of performance, price, and size. A month later, even with Apple Intelligence now in the mix, that verdict still stands.

Although Apple Intelligence officially launched at the end of October, I tested the beta version for this follow-up review without any major hiccups. In short, the feature set can be helpful depending on your needs, but it’s far from transformative—then again, is any so-called “AI” truly life-changing?

There's plenty to unpack between the iOS 18.1 update with Apple Intelligence and the experience of using the iPhone 16 Pro. This review will focus primarily on the hardware and design aspects of the iPhone, leaving a deeper dive into Apple Intelligence features for the upcoming iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 reviews.

iPhone 16 Pro One-Month Review: Design & Features

After a month with the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, their slightly larger size hasn't posed any drawbacks. The bigger display enhances usability, with some apps already leveraging the extra screen real estate. Battery life has also improved, and despite the size and weight increase, it's been a seamless transition.

I’m not convinced that further size increases won’t become an issue down the line. At 6.3 inches, the iPhone 16 Pro is edging closer to the dimensions of previous Pro Max models, and a jump to 6.5 inches might feel excessive for this size class.

The size increase is partly due to slimmer bezels, which are certainly impressive. While the difference may not be striking if you're upgrading from the iPhone 15 Pro, comparing it to older models makes the bezels on the iPhone 16 Pro practically disappear.

The 2,000-nit display offers a 460ppi pixel density, 120Hz ProMotion, P3 color support, and HDR. Meanwhile, the Dynamic Island is still here and more functional than ever, with new apps like Apple Sports adding useful features.

It’s rare for an iPhone update to make me reconsider my entire setup, but Camera Control did just that. Every customizable aspect required a fresh approach.

I revamped my Action Button Shortcuts folder, swapping out the Camera and Halide options for a Delta emulator launcher and a Flashlight toggle. The Camera app button is now absent from all Lock Screens in every Focus mode, replaced by Alarm in Sleep, Delta in Gaming, and Slack in Work.

Even the Control Center saw updates—there’s no longer a need for a dedicated Camera button. With so many ways to access information and launch apps on the iPhone, I find myself slightly overwhelmed by the sheer number of options.

The iPhone 16 Pro runs iOS with full access to the App Store. The hardware upgrades are a welcome improvement, noticeably enhancing the experience compared to the iPhone 15 generation. However, if you’re using an iPhone 14 or newer, waiting to upgrade might be the smarter choice.

iPhone 16 Pro One-Month Review: Cameras & Camera Control

The iPhone 16 lineup introduces an upgraded photographic pipeline, with the new Fusion Camera enhancing photo quality across various conditions. The most significant hardware improvement is the Ultra Wide Camera, now featuring a 48MP sensor.

Each camera upgrade has influenced how I approach photography. I find myself considering Photographic Styles more thoughtfully while shooting or editing, using the macro mode more frequently, and confidently incorporating the Ultra Wide Camera into my shots.

For a detailed breakdown of the cameras and their upgrades, check out the original iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max reviews. A month in, I still believe that reversible Photographic Styles are the most impactful change to the camera system.

Camera Control has taken some time to get used to. Once I adjusted to the button’s placement, it became second nature to press it instinctively when preparing to take a photo.

So far, my primary use for Camera Control has been managing zoom—technically switching between cameras and digital crops rather than true zoom. I stick to the Zoom or Camera controls since everything else is easily adjusted during editing.

The upcoming update introducing focus and exposure lock with a light press promises to be a game-changer. For now, Camera Control serves as an excellent tool for managing the shutter and zoom.

Reversible Photographic Styles remain the standout feature, and I hope Apple takes it further by allowing third-party apps to adopt or contribute new styles. While Camera Control is already a solid addition, it’s one that will only improve with future updates and continued use.

iPhone 16 Pro One-Month Review: Apple Intelligence

I’ve been deeply skeptical of so-called "Artificial Intelligence" technologies, like large language models (LLMs) and generative pre-trained transformers (GPTs), which are essentially sophisticated next-word predictors. Apple, however, has taken a more deliberate approach, incorporating these technologies into iOS while leveraging the advanced neural processing capabilities of the A18 Pro chip.

Critics often claim Apple lags behind in AI, and in some respects, they’re right. Apple didn’t rush to release a product last year riddled with flaws—multiplying fingers, fabricating information, or blatantly appropriating existing content.

Instead, Apple took its time to create a solution that aligns with its core values: safety, privacy, and security. Apple Intelligence is not about generating new content but enhancing the way users interact with existing information. That fundamental difference is what sets it apart.

In my view, AI for consumers isn’t exactly revolutionary. While it’s transformative in research and industry, its most common applications—like generating text, images, and now videos with tools like Copilot or ChatGPT—feel more flashy than practical.

Apple Intelligence, by contrast, integrated into the operating system so seamlessly it almost went unnoticed. Yet, it’s proven genuinely useful in my daily life, saving me money and making a tangible impact. That’s more than I can say for other AI tools that are often touted as being ahead.

What's Available Now with Apple Intelligence

iOS 18.1 introduces just a few of the initial features of Apple Intelligence, including Writing Tools, system-wide summaries, and some new Photos features like Clean Up.

Sure, there’s a new Siri animation, and it’s improved at parsing inputs, even when mistakes are made. However, the full Siri overhaul won’t arrive until iOS 18.4, when it will leverage developer-provided app intents to better understand what's on screen and available actions within apps.

Writing Tools have completely replaced Grammarly Premium for me, saving $140 per year on a service I had paid about $500 for lifetime access. Grammarly was always good for catching spelling mistakes, missing punctuation, and even more advanced issues like syntax errors.

But somewhere around the "AI in everything" trend in 2023, Grammarly took a turn for the worse. They introduced changes that leaned heavily on the latest AI hype, and since then, I’ve been using it with reluctance.

Enter Apple Intelligence and Proofread. While it was a bit rough at first, I now trust it enough to cancel Grammarly and pocket the savings—something no other AI tool has done for me.

Writing Tools also offer features for rewriting content to make it more professional or friendly, or even to condense it. Additionally, there are options for converting text into summaries, key points, lists, or tables.

I’ve explored these features, but I’m not sure they’ll become a regular part of my workflows. That said, summarization has proven incredibly useful in other areas of the system.

For instance, being able to see the gist of an email instead of wading through the typical "hope you're doing well" introductions has made email triage much faster. And while notification summaries can be hit or miss depending on the context, the ones summarizing work-related RSS feeds have been particularly helpful.

I’ve found that Clean Up in Photos has made me rely on the app more. Whether I need to remove an object or blur a face, Clean Up provides a simple solution without needing a second app.

I’ll go into more detail on the specific features of Apple Intelligence in my iOS 18.1 review, but when it comes to the iPhone 16 Pro, it’s not a compelling reason to rush out and buy the device. While the initial launch of Apple’s AI may not be groundbreaking, it offers a useful, privacy-conscious approach to the technology, which is exactly what we should have expected.

We’ll see how Apple Intelligence evolves over the next few years, but it’s already making a positive impact on my workflows today. While other tools offer different or even more advanced options, Apple’s advantage remains the same—it's built right into the iPhone, and I can use it right now.

One Month with iPhone 16 Pro

After 17 years of iPhones, it’s tough for Apple to deliver a life-changing upgrade in a year-over-year, iterative package. The iPhone has become so familiar that making drastic changes to its design or form factor could risk alienating users.

As I mentioned in my initial review, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are more than just iterative updates—they represent a bigger upgrade than most. Apple rarely adds new buttons, especially not one with as many control options as Camera Control.

The extended battery life is noticeable every day, especially on those occasions when I'm away from a charger. Wi-Fi 7 helps future-proof the device, and the addition of 25W MagSafe is a welcome touch as we gradually move away from relying on physical ports.

Apple Intelligence may not be groundbreaking, but it’s still significant. While you shouldn't rush out to buy an iPhone 16 just for these features, it's encouraging to see Apple actively shaping its vision for artificial intelligence in the public eye.

The A18 Pro is a powerful chipset, though it’s frustrating that the gaming narrative still feels stagnant. While Capcom is bringing Resident Evil 2 to the iPhone, there hasn’t been much else in terms of new gaming announcements.

The iPhone 16 Pro is definitely worth purchasing, especially if you're upgrading from an older model. While Photographic Styles and Camera Control are the standout features, I expect Apple Intelligence to become even more important in the year ahead.

iPhone 16 Pro One Month Review: Pros

• Bigger, but not overly large

• Noticeably longer battery life

• Camera upgrades, Camera Control, and Photographic Styles offer a significant impact for all users

• Apple Intelligence makes a real difference, though...

iPhone 16 Pro One Month Review: Cons

• Apple Intelligence feels underwhelming

• Case makers aren’t doing much with Camera Control beyond simple cutouts

• The Action button feels like a late addition

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Apple continues to make a solid smartphone. Unless we radically rethink our scoring system or Apple releases a major misstep, iPhone Pros will likely always score between 4 and 5.