### A Heart Turned to Stone: My Unwanted Affair with the APPLE iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus

A lifelong devotee of the shark-jumping splendor of Pro Max editions, the idea of choosing anything else seemed patently absurd. Small iPhones like the standard model, or largish ones like the Plus, forever caught in the liminal space between base model and premium model, never once caught my eye. Until this year. Because the liminal is truly where it’s at these days.

#### The Allure of APPLE's Latest: Unveiling the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus

It was announced at apples pre-order date for all their new tech. The iPhone 16 cost $799 plus there was a plus version that was $899, which was basically very similar to the lower cost version but pricier. So, what's the difference to make the plus version more expensive? The plus version has a bigger screen and a longer battery that would last longer. If we look closer at both the phones. Both have their own interesting parts, like the new A18 chip and 8gb worth of RAM that would help with a lot of Apple intelligence. Storage on both goes from 128 gig to 512 gigs.

#### Picking the Perfect Color: Design Choices in the iPhone 16 Line

In fact, my first thought when I saw the Plus, decked out in what can only be described as pure Barbie, was that it was perfectly on-trend with the fad that had swept 2023. The shade of pink used on the iPhone 16 and its Plus are unique to the line, and give these phones a certain personality. The current version of CeramicShield technology is called Ceramic Shield 2, and the phrasing suggests it’s got the durability to stand the test of life – at least to the point it can withstand a few drops. New this year, the camera block is positioned stacked instead of on the diagonal, suggesting a bend in the road for Apple… a bend that might prove more challenging for some users than Apple seems to think.

#### Beyond Aesthetics: Display and Performance Brilliance

You’d be disappointed to find that both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus retained a 60Hz screen refresh rate, something that Apple later added solely to the Pro models, an aggressive way to differentiate itself in its own line-up. The A18 chip certainly didn’t keep things quiet and hit every single touchpoint you could imagine. The iPhone could finally compete with a budget gaming laptop.

#### Camera Capabilities: A Snapshot into APPLE's Innovations

The camera section features the addition of ‘optical quality’ 2X zoom to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models, filling in for telephoto hardware with software enhancements. Wide and ultrawide lenses using natural colours and textures capture the minutiae of the mundane and the grandeur of the sublime. The Camera Control button is now more useful, combining controls for accessing a broad range of photographic settings, and thus enhancing the experience of the user.

#### Basking in Battery Excellence

Battery is another area where Apple excels. So, while the iPhone 16 Pro lasted 16hrs 55mins, the Plus managed almost 19 hours. That means not only is the battery life better than its Pro sibling, it is also testament to the performance of the A18 chip. The fact that you can rely on this phone to last the day without a charging cable coming with it is another positive argument for the Plus.

#### The APPLE Intelligence: A New Frontier

Apple is not the first one on the AI bandwagon. The company’s marketing page introduces the Apple Intelligence suite as designed to enhance users’ journey through improved Siri interactions, complemented by enhanced photo editing and more advanced apps, and then (wink, wink) shows how this journey is likely to be different.

### Is the Leap to iPhone 16 Justified?

And as so often, the dilemma over whether to upgrade comes down to the issue of whether or not we really need a new phone. Having tried it, it’s hard to resist. Apple has created a convincing case for upgrade with the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus: the lure of longer battery life, improved camera functionality, a sturdier redesign and the promise of a cleverer, knowing interface through Apple Intelligence offers scope for an upgrade that addresses both the beauty of the exterior and the technology of the interior. Whether you’re beguiled by the garish hues of the pastel-painted babycow set or the under-the-hood muscularity, the iPhone 16 offers a siren’s call away from practical necessity.

#### Understanding APPLE: The Core of Innovation

Beneath this tech behemoth resides a mentality: Let’s see what we can get away with. Apple has a proud history of innovation, always at the forefront of where personal technology was going. With the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Plus, Apple is doing what Apple has been traditionally known for doing. It’s setting the bar for the next bar. This is what we do. It’s the ‘moment’ for us. Pushing past our limitations. Forging ahead. The iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Plus. It’s enough to make you want to know what’s next.

The experience of navigating through them recapitulates the ideal of Apple’s designs through the years: products that aim for a kind of psychological intuition, becoming objects not just to make our lives easier but as a part of who we are.