The big announcements with the iPhone 16 Pro were the cameras and Apple Intelligence. The problem is that Apple Intelligence isn’t quite here yet. We can test some features in the developer beta, but that’s not what we’ll get when the update rolls out in October. So our focus is more on iOS 18 (beta in-depth look here) and the equipment changes.
The big hardware change is the camera button. But it’s not really just a button. Located on the right side of the device, it has touch and pressure sensors for more control with swipes and half-presses. (This is in addition to the Action Button still on the left edge of the iPhone).
This was (and eventually will be) intended to allow you to lightly press the button to activate focus, similar to half-pressing the DSLR shutter button. Unfortunately, this feature is not available at launch. You can slide the button to adjust exposure, zoom levels and tone, and with a half-press you can still select options or exit menus in the new Camera Control interface.
Without the Apple Intelligence features at launch, the iPhone 16 Pro looks like a more incremental update than most years. But if you’ve stuck with upgrading for a year or two, the camera improvements (and eventual AI features) may tempt you.
– Matt Smith
The biggest headlines you missed
Magnetic JoyCons?
Recent rumors suggest a design pretty close to the original Switch. He saw VGCphotos of the console have surfaced online, and they show an 8-inch screen and magnetic Joy-Con controllers. These controllers have SL/SR buttons and front-facing player LEDs.
We’ve included it in our collection of rumors and leaks – read more.
The lawsuit is seeking class status.
Five unnamed contestants from YouTuber MrBeast’s Beast Games have filed a lawsuit against MrBeast and Amazon, which plans to distribute the show on September 16. It is also seeking class action status. This game show is almost Squid Game-style, contestants went through challenges for a $5 million cash shot with one winner out of 1,000 contestants.
Five people mentioned poor conditions, ill-treatment and harassment. Among the 14 complaints are non-payment of minimum wage, sexual harassment, false advertising, and non-interruption of meal and rest breaks. They also came to discover that instead of 1,000 total competitors, more people were playing for the prize, thus reducing everyone’s chances of winning. according to The New York Timesthe total number of contestants was around 2,000, which, as MrBeast said, was the plan all along.
Replacing batteries is simpler and components are easier to replace.
Apple has released new iPhone 16 repair updates that seem to have fixed battery replacement and “part pairing” issues. The company says it has particularly focused on the repairability aspect of its latest devices. Now there’s a whole new, supposedly easier way to remove the battery. By running a low-voltage electric current (eg using a 9V cell) through the new ionic liquid battery adhesive, the battery will release itself from the case. Apple has also made changes to the Face ID sensor hardware starting with the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. Now the TrueDepth Camera can be swapped from one unit to another without compromising security or privacy. Previously, only Apple could do this kind of repair.
