I have been a “Professional” iPhone particular person for years — all of the years, nearly. Aside from a brief stint as an iPhone 13 mini consumer, I’ve chosen the iPhone Professional choice yearly the corporate has supplied one.
And it wasn’t only for the iPhone. I additionally was once the individual that owned the MacBook Professional, Apple Watch Extremely (not technically Professional however you understand what I imply), the AirPods Professional, the iPad Professional — if Apple slapped a Professional on the identify, that was the one I used to be shopping for.
Nevertheless, over time, the common variations of Apple’s merchandise began to achieve numerous the options of the Professional variations. First got here the sixth technology iPad mini, which received me over as a studying system. Then got here the M2 MacBook Air, which pulled me away from my Intel MacBook Professional.
Immediately, after saying the iPhone 16, I believe Apple is getting me to confess that I am not what the corporate would take into account a “Professional” consumer.
I am downgrading in identify solely
After seeing all the options introduced with the iPhone 16 — Apple Intelligence, the Digicam Seize button, the Motion Button, and the digicam options — I spotted that the options supplied within the iPhone 16 Professional like Professional Movement, the At all times On show, and the much more insane digicam options weren’t issues I’d really use or really feel justified in spending the additional $200.
The iPhone 16 is nice. I really choose how Aluminum holds as much as smudges to Titanium as my iPhone 15 Professional has gotten smudgy everywhere in the sides. The common iPhone can be smaller and lighter, two issues I admire having liked the iPhone 13 mini. I am additionally not a photographer or videographer who’s ever going to return near utilizing the options that the iPhone 16 Professional digicam system packs in.
So, whereas I plan to downgrade in identify and options, switching from a Professional iPhone to an everyday iPhone is definitely going to really feel like a little bit of an improve to me. I will get monetary savings and get a telephone that’s higher tailor-made for what I exploit it for. I will additionally really feel much less anxious about smashing it to bits since it’s barely much less premium.
The iPhone 16 is not the one place I am pondering of downgrading from a Professional. I am additionally contemplating downgrading from the Apple Watch Extremely 2 to the Apple Watch Collection 10. It is as soon as once more a case of getting nearly all the options that matter to me in a extra inexpensive and lighter choice — issues that I admire.
After subsequent week, it might be that the one Professional Apple product I retain are the AirPods Professional. Whereas Apple did come out with AirPods 4 and convey noise cancellation to the common earbuds, it seems that the noise cancellation on the AirPods Professional 2 are nonetheless significantly better. As somebody who makes use of my AirPods Professional 2 on the aircraft to chop out engine noise (and boy are they good at it), I believe I will persist with them for now.
Aside from that, nevertheless, I believe it is time to admit that I am not a Professional consumer, and that is simply high quality.
We’re masking all of the Apple iPhone 16 occasion bulletins reside as they occur. Do not miss all our iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Professional, iPhone 16 Professional Max, Apple Watch X, Apple Watch Extremely 3, iOS 18 and watchOS 11 protection to date.