Our verdict on the iPhone 16 Professional

With the iPhone 16 Professional, the large bulletins have been the cameras and Apple Intelligence. The issue is Apple Intelligence isn’t fairly right here but. We are able to check some options within the developer beta, however that’s not essentially what we’ll get when the replace rolls out in October. So our focus is extra on iOS 18 (deep dive on the beta here) and the {hardware} modifications.

The large {hardware} change is the digital camera button. Nevertheless it’s not only a button, actually. Situated on the appropriate aspect of the system, it has contact and strain sensors to present higher management with swipes and semi-presses. (That’s along with the Motion Button, which continues to be on the left fringe of the iPhone).

It was meant to (and finally will) allow you to push frivolously on the button to set off focus, just like half-pressing a DSLR shutter button. Sadly, that perform isn’t out there at launch. You may swipe the button to tweak publicity, zoom ranges and tone, and with the half-press, you’ll be able to nonetheless choose choices or depart menus within the new Digicam Management interface.

With out Apple Intelligence options at launch, nonetheless, the iPhone 16 Professional looks like a extra incremental replace than most years. However in the event you’ve held out on upgrading for a yr or two, the digital camera enhancements (and eventual AI options) would possibly tempt you.

— Mat Smith

The largest headlines you might need missed

Magnetic JoyCons?

Latest rumors counsel a design fairly near the unique Swap. Noticed by VGC, pictures of the console have appeared on-line, and so they present an 8-inch display screen and magnetic Pleasure-Con controllers. There seems to be to be SL/SR buttons and front-facing participant LEDs on these controllers.

We’ve pulled it into our assortment of rumors and leaks — learn on for extra.

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The lawsuit is in search of class-action standing.

5 unnamed contestants who participated in YouTuber MrBeast’s Beast Video games filed a lawsuit on September 16 towards MrBeast and Amazon, which plans to distribute the present. It’s additionally in search of class-action standing. This recreation present, nearly Squid Recreation-style, had individuals undergo challenges for a shot at $5 million in money, with one winner from 1,000 individuals.

The 5 have cited poor situations, mistreatment and harassment. Among the many 14 complaints are failure to pay minimal wages, sexual harassment, false promoting and failure to supply uninterrupted meal and relaxation breaks. In addition they arrived on set to find that as an alternative of 1,000 complete rivals, there have been way more individuals enjoying for the prize, thus reducing everybody’s probabilities of popping out a winner. Based on The New York Instances, the full variety of contestants was about 2,000, which MrBeast mentioned was the plan all alongside.

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It’s less complicated to switch batteries and much simpler to swap out elements.

Apple has launched new updates on iPhone 16 repairability, and these seem to have addressed points with battery substitute and “elements pairing.” The corporate says it centered notably on the repairability facet of its newest units. There’s now a completely new, supposedly simpler method to take away the battery. By operating a low-voltage electrical present by the brand new ionic liquid battery adhesive (utilizing a 9V cell, for example), the battery will launch itself from the enclosure. Apple additionally made modifications to the Face ID sensor {hardware}, beginning with the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional. Now, the TrueDepth Digicam might be swapped from one unit to a different with out compromising safety or privateness. Earlier than, solely Apple was ready to do this sort of restore.

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