It's been a busy few months for apps and app stores on iOS, and the mini-revolution continues: the first third-party iOS app store has now gone live in the EU, while another Nintendo emulator for the iPhone has appeared (and seems to be sticking around).
All of this ongoing transformation is due to regulatory pressure Apple is facing over its iPhone gatekeeping. The most sweeping changes are in European Union countries, where the AltStore just went live (via AppleInsider) – if you're in one of those countries, you can install apps from outside of the official App Store for the first time ever.
Billed as "an open-source, crowd-funded app store for indies", AltStore only has two apps available right now. It'll be hoping to attract a whole lot more by promising developers free app distribution, Patreon integration, and no manual review process.
Those hosting costs need to be covered somehow, though: rather than taking a cut from developers, as Apple does, the AltStore asks users for €1.50 (about $1.60 / £1.30 / AU$2.50) per year plus tax. If you're in the EU (so not the UK any more, sorry!), you can get this alternative app store installed on your iPhone by heading here.
Another emulator appears
Meanwhile, we now have another Nintendo emulator on the iPhone: Delta (via The Verge). It's available on both AltStore and the official iOS App Store, so you don't need to be in the EU to be able to get at it, and it's free to download and use.
As we've previously reported, Apple has now made the iOS App Store open for business to game emulators – in response to scrutiny in the US and EU over its App Store practices, and Apple's restrictions on apps being able to contain other apps (or retro games).
However, these emulators must comply with "all applicable laws". Technically, emulators are legal, though the games often aren't (just like torrenting tools are legal, but pirated movies aren't). To add to the confusion, companies often turn a blind eye when it comes to older software and consoles, though it's very much a gray area – which is why the last Nintendo emulator for iOS was pulled by its developer.
Delta, however, seems to be sticking around – at least for the time being. It covers Nintendo systems including the NES, SNES, N64, DS, and Game Boy consoles, and offers support for multiplayer modes and Bluetooth controllers.
The iOS App Store has only been open for business for game emulators for a few days, but already we're seeing plenty of drama around this fledgling app category – including the curious case of NES emulator Bimmy, which briefly showed up and then disappeared.
As reported by MacRumors, Bimmy made its way into the App Store as the first emulator for the Nintendo Emulator System. It was described as a tool for testing and playing games in the public domain, though it did give users the option of importing any ROM available from the web.
That means it could potentially be used to play titles such as Donkey Kong and Super Mario Bros., and given that potential – and Nintendo's attitude towards emulators, which historically hasn't been all that lenient – the developer of Bimmy took the decision to remove the app after it was approved.
In other words, it wasn't pulled by Apple, as was the case with Game Boy emulator iGBA earlier this week. That app was taken down because it was a copy of an existing tool, though the Commodore 64 emulator Emu64 XL is still available.
Not worth the risk
Donkey Kong is one of the classic NES games (Image credit: Nintendo)
The to-ing and fro-ing over Bimmy highlights just what a gray area emulators exist in. Apple has stated that emulators are now allowed on iOS (in part due to regulatory pressure), but they must be for "retro console games" only, and comply with "all applicable laws" at the same time.
If you're wondering what counts as retro, and which laws apply, you're not alone. Bimmy's developer Tom Salvo has gone on the record as saying he pulled the app "out of fear" of what the repercussions might be from Apple or indeed Nintendo. "No one reached out to me pressuring me to remove it," Salvo says. "But I'd rather not have the risk."
In most parts of the world, game emulators are technically legal, but the games aren't – unless you've bought the original and ripped the code yourself. That's the official position as far as the law is concerned, though gaming hardware and software companies vary significantly in how strictly they enforce the law, adding even more uncertainty.
Generally, the older and more obscure the games you're running are, the less likely you are to get into trouble – though don't take that as legal advice. Ultimately, it's going to be down to Apple, and companies like Nintendo, to decide which emulators are allowed on the iOS App Store and which aren't.
Even though the iPhone 16 line probably won’t land until September we’ve already seen a huge number of leaks, and at this point we’re fairly confident as to what Apple's next handsets are going to look like.
While there has been the occasional divergence, the vast majority of leaked images show the same design, and that includes this latest leak, which takes the form of a photo of four dummy units.
Shared by leaker Majin Bu (via iMore), we can see dummy units of all four expected iPhone 16 models – namely the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16 Plus, the iPhone 16 Pro, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
We can see that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus dummy units have a redesigned camera block, with the lenses arranged vertically rather than diagonally. This is something we’ve heard many times already, with the change supposedly being so that these phones can shoot spatial video for viewing on the Apple Vision Pro – something the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max can do, but not the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus.
We can also make out a new button beneath the power key on one of the dummy units. This – according to previous leaks – is called the Capture button, and will reportedly be used for quickly snapping photos and recording videos. It’s only visible on one of the dummy units here due to the angle of the photo, but it’s supposedly going to be included on every iPhone 16 model.
As mentioned, these are all details we’ve seen and heard many times at this point, so we’d be surprised if these designs weren’t accurate, although we’d always advise taking leaks with a pinch of salt.
The likely specs are becoming clear too
It’s not just the design we’re feeling confident about, as the iPhone 16 line’s specs and features have also been extensively leaked, so we have a good idea of what to expect on that front too.
Highlights include larger screens and new 48MP ultra-wide cameras for the Pro models, an Action button for all four phones, a new A18 Pro chipset, and slightly larger batteries for every model except the iPhone 16 Plus.
There's no sign of the iPhone 16 leaks drying up (and they're unlikely to, between now and September) and now a couple of fresh reveals have appeared online, focusing particularly on the cameras and the design of the upcoming Apple handsets.
To begin with, well-known tipster yeux1122 (via MacRumors) says that a new camera lens coating – using atomic layer deposition (ALD) – is being used on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models this year, according to a supply chain source.
ALD means more control over the thickness and composition of the coating, because it's applied one atomic layer at a time, and the source says that should help fine-tune the camera lens stack without adding bulk.
In practical terms, expect improvements in terms of reducing artifacts like flare and halos, when the sun is shining directly on the lens. ALD should also reduce ghosting on fast-moving objects, as well as adding extra protection to the camera lens.
Camera layouts
Hope this helps. pic.twitter.com/LWblp71ANaApril 16, 2024
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So that's one camera upgrade for the Pro and Pro Max models – what about the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus? The rumor is that these models are going to adopt a vertically stacked dual-lens design, in part so they can film using the 3D spatial video format.
More evidence for this comes in the form of leaked schematics provided by the usually reliable ShrimpApplePro: the schematics show both the 6.1-inch iPhone 16 and the 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus with two cameras stacked on top of each other.
There are now several leaks corroborating this design change, which takes us back to the look of the iPhone 12 launched in 2020. The layout of the three cameras on the back of the Pro and Pro Max models, meanwhile, isn't expected to change.
Before we get to see the new iPhones, we'll be hearing a lot more about the iOS 18 software that they're going to come with. Mark your calendars for June 10, which is when Apple should present iOS 18 to the world at WWDC 2024.
We knew it was going to happen, and now it has: the first game emulators are appearing in the iOS App Store, after Apple responded to increasing regulatory pressure by relaxing its rules on the type of apps it would accept.
As spotted by AppleInsider, we've already got Emu64 XL (for the Commodore 64) and iGBA (for the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Color). Both are free to install for the iPhone and the iPad, and don't come with any in-app purchases.
That means you can point the emulators to compatible disk files, which then run as the original games would have done on the original hardware. It's likely that more emulators will follow these two as well.
A word of warning though: in most parts of the world, the only way to use these emulators legally is by ripping the code from the original disks or cartridges that you've already paid for – otherwise you could find yourself on the wrong side of the law.
App Store changes
You can now get Emu64 XL on your iPhone (Image credit: Emu64 XL)
These emulators are widely available on Android, but haven't been seen on iOS before now. Apple made the change to its App Review Guidelines earlier this month – and while Apple didn't explicitly say so, it's probably because it's under increasing scrutiny in the US and the EU when it comes to the third-party software allowed to run on its devices.
The change has come with some caveats attached, however. Emulators are held responsible for all the software that can be loaded inside the apps, and must comply with "all applicable laws" in the regions they're used in – which brings us back to the rather gray area of the legality of emulators.
The success or otherwise of these emulators might come down to the attitude of the manufacturers who made the devices they're emulating. Nintendo has traditionally been very strict on blocking emulation software, for example.
Where there's demand though, the apps will follow: as 9to5Mac points out, the iGBA app mentioned above is actually a copy of an open source emulator, with embedded ads inserted. We can expect this new arrangement to take some time to settle down.
The iPhone 16 line – and in particular the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max – are likely to rank among the best camera phones. We can predict that much, as Apple’s high-end phones usually do. But thanks to leaks and rumors we can also predict what the actual camera hardware will be.
Below then, you’ll find a detailed look at the most likely camera specs for each of the four expected iPhone 16 models.
This is based mostly on leaks, with some educated guesses mixed in. So none of these specs are confirmed just yet – and nor will they be until the iPhone 16 line is announced, likely in September – but they’re our best guesses right now.
iPhone 16 camera predictions
The iPhone 15 (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Unfortunately, we’re not expecting any big upgrades for the iPhone 16’s camera. According one leaker, the iPhone 16 will have the same 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide camera as its predecessor, and will once again have just a dual-lens camera. If it does have that ultra-wide camera, then you can expect a 120-degree field of view. They also add that it will lack the auto-focus and macro mode offered by Pro models.
Various leaked images also show just a dual-lens camera on the iPhone 16, so it looks very unlikely that Apple will add a third lens.
As such, there probably won’t be a dedicated telephoto lens, and while we haven’t heard much about the main sensor, we predict this will be the same 48MP f/1.6 one as the iPhone 15 has, since that was an upgrade last year, and Apple is unlikely to give that camera another upgrade already.
However, one change we could see is to the lens layout, with leaked images suggesting they’ll be arranged vertically rather than diagonally on the iPhone 16. That’s speculated to allow for the recording of spatial videos, which could then be viewed on an Apple Vision Pro.
As for the front-facing camera, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (who has a good track record for Apple information) this won't be changing, meaning you can probably expect a 12MP f/1.9 snapper like last year. Given that even the iPhone 15 Pro Max only has a selfie camera with those specs, it’s unlikely that the iPhone 16 would get an upgrade here.
iPhone 16 Plus camera predictions
The iPhone 15 Plus (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
We haven’t heard much specifically about the cameras on the iPhone 16 Plus, but based on past form they’ll probably be identical to those on the standard iPhone 16.
You can read our detailed predictions for that above then, but in short, it’s likely to have a dual-lens rear camera with a 48MP f/1.6 main sensor, and a 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide (with a 120-degree field of view). Those are the same specs as the iPhone 15 Plus, and we've also heard that it will inherit the same 12MP f/1.9 selfie snapper.
The only rumored change is to the layout of the lenses, from diagonal to horizontal, which might allow the iPhone 16 Plus to record spatial videos for use on the Apple Vision Pro.
iPhone 16 Pro camera predictions
The iPhone 15 Pro (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
While the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus probably won’t be in for any major camera upgrades, the iPhone 16 Pro could be.
The main upgrade here could be the inclusion of a 12MP f/2.8 periscope camera with 5x optical zoom, in place of the iPhone 15 Pro’s 3x telephoto camera. This new sensor would be the one we’ve already seen on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and multiple leaks have pointed to the iPhone 16 Pro getting this periscope camera, so that’s looking likely.
We haven't heard much about the main camera yet, so for now we’re predicting largely the same as last year – meaning a 48MP f/1.8 main sensor. But the sensor might at least increase in size slightly, up from 1/1.28 inches to 1/1.14 inches according to leaker Digital Chat Station, albeit without a change in the number of megapixels.
The front-facing camera meanwhile will apparently be identical to last year, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (in a post linked above).
iPhone 16 Pro Max camera predictions
The iPhone 15 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
As impressive as the iPhone 16 Pro’s camera upgrades sound, the iPhone 16 Pro Max could have it beat, as some sources have mentioned the possibility of a ‘super telephoto’ camera for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which could allow for a focal length of 300mm or more. For comparison, the 5x optical zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is just 120mm.
We would however take this leak with a pinch of salt, as it’s not something we’ve heard about much in a while, and there was some debate over whether this upgrade was planned for the iPhone 16 Pro Max or the rumored iPhone Ultra.
If the iPhone 16 Pro Max doesn’t get this telephoto upgrade then there’s every chance it will stick with the 12MP, f/2.8, 5x zoom camera of its predecessor.
We’re also expecting its other cameras to match the iPhone 16 Pro, which based on leaks (that you can read more about above) could mean a 48MP ultra-wide camera (up from 12MP on the iPhone 15 Pro Max), and improved low light performance for some or all of the lenses.
However, aside from possibly better low light performance and a larger sensor size for the main camera, we’re not currently expecting any significant upgrades to the main or front-facing cameras, which would mean the return of a 48MP f/1.8 main sensor and a 12MP f/1.9 selfie camera.
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While the iPhone SE 4 probably won’t launch for quite a while yet, we do now have a detailed idea of its possible specs, and they paint a picture of a phone that takes parts from a number of other iPhones.
This comes from freelance coder Nguyen Phi Hung posting on X (via Phone Arena), who claims that the front of the iPhone SE 4 will look like an iPhone 13, complete with Face ID. Such a design would mean it has the now-dated notch, but that would still be an upgrade from the Touch ID-fronted iPhone SE (2022).
From the back though, the iPhone SE 4 apparently looks like an iPhone XR, with just a single-lens camera, which is said to be a 12MP Sony IMX503 sensor. Apparently, this sensor will support 1080p Cinematic mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR, AI photography, and Portrait mode, but will lack a Night mode.
iPhone SE 4 rumored specifications:- Size and weight: 148.5 x 71.2 x 7.8mm, 166g- Appearance: 7000 series aluminium alloy, right-angled frame, front and rear glass (no Ceramic Shield). Front looks like iPhone 13, with Face ID support; back looks like Xr, with one camera.April 7, 2024
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As for the chipset, that’s said to be an A16 Bionic, which was last seen in the iPhone 15. So that’s rather more up to date than the other specs listed here.
They also mention a 6.1-inch OLED screen with a 60Hz refresh rate, 6GB of RAM, 128GB or 512GB of storage, and dimensions and weight of 148.5 x 71.2 x 7.8mm and 166g, respectively.
Hung doesn’t seem sure of the battery capacity, but note that some sources say it’ll clock in at 3,279mAh, so significantly larger than the SE 2022's 2,018mAh cell. It will also apparently charge at 20W, or at 12W when charging wirelessly.
Credible claims from a sketchy source
So what to make of all this? Well, some of this information – particularly with regards to the camera – is new, as we haven’t heard much about the iPhone SE 4’s optics previously. The rest largely lines up with some previous leaks, but ‘some’ is the key word here, as there has been disagreement over which specs and aesthetics the iPhone SE 4 will adopt.
On top of which, these claims come from a source that we’re not familiar with, so we’d take this with more salt than usual, especially as the iPhone SE 4 probably isn’t launching until at least 2025.
Nevertheless, it’s possible that some or all of this is accurate. In which case the iPhone SE 4 could be quite an upgrade on the iPhone SE (2022), with an OLED screen rather than an LCD panel, a more powerful chipset, a larger display, a more modern design, and a bigger battery. Certainly, by 2025 we’d expect some big upgrades, but whether this is exactly what we’ll get or not remains to be seen.
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This year there could be a higher chance you’ll be able to find an iPhone color you like than usual, as reportedly the iPhone 16 Plus will be available in seven shades – up from just five colors for the iPhone 15 Plus.
This is according to a leak posted on Chinese site Weibo (via 9to5Mac), with the source claiming that the iPhone 16 Plus will be sold in pink, yellow, blue, green, black, white, and purple shades.
For reference, the iPhone 15 Plus is available in pink, yellow, blue, green, and black shades. So only the white and purple options would be new this year – though it’s possible some of the others will be different versions of the colors in question.
The same shades for the iPhone 16
This leak only specifically mentions the iPhone 16 Plus, which is a bit odd because usually the standard model is available in the same colors as the Plus model. That was the case with the iPhone 15, so we’d think it’s likely that – if this leak is right – the iPhone 16 will also be available in these seven shades. But as it wasn’t mentioned there’s a small chance that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will be sold in different colors.
We’d also take the entire leak with a pinch of salt, as the source doesn’t have much of a track record, and seven colors is more than Apple would usually offer. But it would be nice to see, especially in contrast to the iPhone 16 Pro, which might only be available in four fairly boring colors according to another recent leak.
In any case, this is the first iPhone 16 Plus colors leak we’ve heard, so we’ll consider it a possibility for now. But hopefully we’ll have a clearer idea of whether this selection of shades is accurate or not once more leaks roll in.
With the iPhone 16 line not expected until September it could be a long wait until there’s any certainty. But these phones should be worth the wait, with other leaks pointing to a new Capture button being added, all four models getting an Action button, upgraded cameras for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, and of course more powerful chipsets.
In recent years Apple has delivered great battery life on its biggest phones, but while the iPhone 16 Pro Max might continue that trend, the iPhone 16 Plus possibly won’t.
That’s based on leaked battery capacities from OvO Baby Sauce OvO on Weibo (via Phone Arena), who claimed that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will apparently have a 4,676mAh battery, which would make it 5.7% larger than the 4,422mAh cell inside the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Now, that’s not a massive increase, but given that the iPhone 15 Pro Max already offers very solid longevity, and that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will likely have a more efficient A18 Pro chipset, this is a promising sign.
The upcoming handset is rumored to have a slightly larger 6.9-inch screen, so which could drain the battery faster, but we still think its longevity would be equal to or better than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, if this leak proves accurate.
From bigger to smaller
However, the iPhone 16 Plus is listed as having just a 4,006mAh battery, which would be 8.6% smaller than the 4,383mAh power pack within the iPhone 15 Plus. That would be a real shame, as in our iPhone 15 Plus review we described it as delivering “the best battery life on the market.” So an 8.6% reduction could dilute one of its predecessor’s biggest highlights.
We also have leaked capacities for the other two iPhone 16 models, with the iPhone 16 itself said to have a 3,561mAh battery – up 5.8% from the iPhone 15’s 3,367mAh cell. That would make this model the biggest winner, in terms of growth.
Finally, the iPhone 16 Pro apparently has a 3,355mAh battery, which is up just 2% from the 3,290mAh iPhone 15 Pro. Still an increase then, but with this phone rumored to have a larger screen than its predecessor – or than the standard iPhone 16, which is said to have a bigger battery than this – it’s not as much of an increase as we’d like to see.
We would, as ever, take these claims with a pinch of salt, even though they largely echo an earlier iPhone 16 battery leak; the only difference being that the iPhone 16 Pro wasn’t mentioned in that previous leak.
So, with two sources now pointing to most of these battery capacities and no conflicting claims, there’s a fair chance these figures are accurate. In which case, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Max could be in for some tangible battery life improvements, while the iPhone 16 Pro might offer similar life to the current model, albeit with a slightly bigger battery. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Plus could disappoint.
We should find out for sure in September, as that's when these four highly anticipated phones will likely launch.
In another move that seems to have been made in response to pressure from regulators in the US and in the EU, Apple has announced that retro game emulators will be allowed in the iOS App Store – though there are some fairly big caveats attached.
The change has been spotted on Apple's App Review Guidelines (via The Verge), which now state that "retro game console emulator apps can offer to download games". As you would expect though, there are some strings attached.
Apple says developers are responsible for all the software inside their apps, and says these emulators must comply with "all applicable laws" – and of course the legality of emulators has always been something of a gray area.
Technically speaking, it is against the law to run an emulated version of a game that you've not actually paid for (even if you're paying for the emulator). That might mean it's only companies such as Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo who will be able to take advantage of the App Store rule changes and offer these emulator apps.
Mini apps and music streaming
Spotify has long complained about Apple's practices (Image credit: Spotify)
What's more, the updated guidelines also state that apps can include mini apps and mini games inside them, as long as they're written in HTML5. This applies to so-called 'super apps' such as WeChat, which offer a bunch of different apps in the same package – these apps must now be web-based rather than running natively on the device.
Another edit to the guidelines that's happened at the same time is allowing music streaming apps to link out to external websites for purchasing products and services, getting around Apple App Store and linked payment systems.
Unlike the retro game emulators change though, this one only applies in European Union countries. Apple was recently fined by the EU for keeping streaming services locked inside its own walled garden, with the associated 30% cut of any fees.
Apple hasn't officially said so, but both these moves are clearly designed to avoid further fines and further legal action: Apple is now under more scrutiny than ever when it comes to the restrictions it puts on third-party apps and developers.
Okay, okay, I know that’s a bit of an inflammatory question, and it’s not one that’s easily answered. But it is a question I’ve pondered, on and off, since the iPhone became a somewhat ubiquitous smartphone.
But this has been dead easy, thanks to the simple fact that I’ve been able to use the latest iPhones through my job as a tech journalist, rather than pay for them with cold, hard cash. So while I extolled the virtues of titanium and other upgrades, I am doing so from a position of privilege.
The ultimate question – at least in the phones arena – is 'would I actually buy a flagship iPhone with my own money?' Which leads to a second question: 'would it be an easy purchase, or would I be buying into a product that comes close to ripping people off just because its brand is so strong?'
Yes and no, and yes and no.
Worth it
(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)
Let’s tackle the first yes and no. I love having a flagship phone, and I feel the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are fantastic examples of a top-of-the-line flagship.
The combination of a familiar design that's been refined over several generations, masses of power, a great battery life, lovely displays with 120Hz refresh rates, a sort-of-customizable Action button, and a trio of great still and video cameras, all wrapped up in a neat user interface thanks to iOS 17, makes these Pro iPhones and their predecessors some of the best phones around.
And while the starting price of $999 / £999 / AU$1,849 for the iPhone 15 Pro is hefty, various contracts (and the fact that iPhones retain their value longer than their counterparts) plus the customer care Apple offers, does translate to a decent amount for a solid chunk of cash.
Deals on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
Sitting between the Samsung Galaxy S24’s price of $859 / £859 / AU$1,399 for the 256GB model and the Galaxy S24 Ultra with its starting price of $1,299.99 / £1,249 / AU$2,199, the iPhone 15 Pro’s pricing and the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s starting price of $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,199, seems reasonable; maybe a tad too premium for phones with many specs more closely aligned with the standard S24 than the S24 Ultra.
However, having used both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max, I can't help but err more towards the Apple phone. Sure it’s locked into Apple's ecosystem and lacks the generative AI bells and whistles. But it’s just so usable and lets me get stuff done without features getting in the way; I reckon the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the ultimate tech tool rather than a slick bit of gadgetry.
With that in mind, I feel if I was no longer a tech journalist, I'd still opt for an iPhone 15 Pro model and not feel ripped off.
Of course, there’s a but.
Not worth it
(Image credit: Peter Hoffmann)
Splashing a grand or more on any bit of tech can feel like a huge outlay, given it’ll have obsolescence built-in by default. As someone who’s recently got into watches, I’m far happier splashing the cash on something that’ll likely outlive me, than a device that has a realistic lifespan of two to four years.
Furthermore, all you need to do is browse our list of the best cheap phones to find a selection of handsets that are very capable for less than half the price of an iPhone 15 Pro.
Take the Google Pixel 7a for example – it may not blow minds with performance but it’s more than fast enough for most things and has rear cameras that deliver flagship-grade photography. It’s hard for me not to recommend such Pixel phones or recent well-priced OnePlus models to anyone who isn’t caught in Apple’s iOS walled garden.
Deals on great iphone alternatives
When it comes to specs, like refresh rates, storage and real-world performance, iPhones can feel like a rip-off, asking people to pay a premium for not much more on paper than what good mid-range phones offer.
And I absolutely think the iPhone 15 is a rip-off and a phone I’d be reticent to swap to let alone buy, as a 60Hz display, a slow USB-C port and a mere two rear cameras for a starting price of $799 / £799 / AU$1,499, isn't acceptable in my eyes.
Sure, my colleagues on the phones team are in agreement that the iPhone 15 is the best iPhone for most people, but I take that to mean it’s really for people who are too deep in the iOS ecosystem and don’t want to fork out for a Pro model.
I’d go so far to say the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are some of the most disappointing Apple phones of recent years, and fly in the face of the once innovative company Steve Jobs built. Yet that's the power of good branding; even a lackluster phone in the eyes of tech fans can still sell like crazy.
Go Pro
(Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)
My conclusion to the question in the headline, is an admittedly mealy-mouthed one with caveats. Yes the iPhones are a rip-off compared to other phones. Yet at the same time the Pro models are so good at being both everyday phones to content creation and gaming devices, that their asking price is reasonable.
But what I can say for sure, is if I did go out and buy an iPhone, I'd certainly go for a Pro model. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the current darling of the Apple phone lineup and deservedly so, with the price gap between it and the standard models being justified.
All that being said, I do hope Apple decided to pull out something special for the iPhone 16 range, with big upgrades to the standard models, and exciting features – hardware or software – for the Pro options. Let’s get back some of that generation-to-generation innovation, eh Apple?
