Forget the new iPhone 16 Pro, Apple has something even better

Updated August 26 with new details on upcoming iPhone 16 store training,

Tim Cook and his team will launch the new iPhone 16 Pro next month, expected to represent Apple's first successful step into the world of generative AI. What will the iPhone 16 Pro offer when it launches? With new features mainly limited to software updates that will take months to arrive, is the iPhone 15 Pro a better choice?

One of the biggest advantages the iPhone 16 family will have over previous iPhones is the inclusion of generative AI. The backronymed Apple intelligence suite will require a certain level of performance from the host smartphone, a level that will be beyond the vast majority of existing iPhones.

The one exception is the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. These are the only two Apple smartphones that run on the A17 Pro Apple Silicon chipset — the iPhone 15 was stuck with the A16, presumably to create a specs gap that would justify the higher price of the Pro model.

This means that there is an option to use Apple's AI software even without purchasing the new iPhone 16.

It's also worth considering the state of Apple's AI software. Although parts of it are in public beta, Tim Cook's team will not launch the software alongside the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro family in September. Instead, limited feature sets will be available through an OS update scheduled for October, with ChatGPT to be added by the end of the year.

The full implementation of Apple's generative AI won't appear until the end of the first quarter, which would be about half the lifetime of the first run of the iPhone 16 Pro. This assumes Apple doesn't encounter any significant problems in development that would delay any updates. People buying iPhone 16 Pro handsets are believing in the potential of AI, but that capability won't be available for a long time.

Update: Monday, August 26: Bloomberg's Mark Gurman is reporting on the training being given to Apple's retail employees ahead of the launch of the iPhone 16 Pro, and two important points are raised.

The first is the date of the training. In previous years, Apple has called its employees in for mandatory training sessions during the weekend before the launch, but this has been pushed to Thursday or Friday, depending on the store. This coincides with the launch date of Monday, September 9, which is earlier than expected and would be too close to start training employees less than 24 hours before.

The second is the content of the training. Gurman said that “Apple plans to make Apple Intelligence a key part of iPhone sales in stores this fall and has begun training retail employees on this feature.” Generative AI has been a key software feature on smartphones since Google announced the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro as the first AI smartphones in 2024. The iPhone 16 family is Apple's first step in this area and retail teams will be pushing it heavily in Apple Stores around the world.

Even though the initial steps of Apple Intelligence won't be available when the handset launches.

For many, the time to invest in a new Apple handset is not when AI is arriving, but when AI is here. People with an iPhone 15 Pro are sitting with the best of both worlds: an iPhone that will run AI once it arrives and the option to upgrade to the latest iPhone when the software is updated. At this point, many will consider waiting a few more months to buy the iPhone 17 Pro, knowing that Apple will have addressed any software issues in its first attempt at generative AI, and addressed any demands on the hardware.

There is also an argument to hold off on a generation of iPhone if you must upgrade in the current climate. Once the iPhone 16 Pro arrives, iPhone 15 Pro prices will drop. Not seasonally, but price-wise. While Apple may not offer deep discounts, network carriers and online stores will have stock of the 15 Pro and Pro Max that they will want to clear so you can grab a bargain.

Aside from the iOS update – which will appear across the full range of iPhone models – the main differences between the 15 Pro and 16 Pro are a slight increase in battery capacity and an increased zoom on the telephoto lens. This iPhone update isn't one that focuses too much on hardware. Given that the iPhone 17 handsets are likely to see significant hardware updates, those looking for a physical change might be better off skipping this year's model.

The hardware upgrades for the iPhone 16 Pro are iterative rather than innovative. Apple's big play for next year will be in unreleased software that will run on the older flagship when it's finally released. And if you don't already have an iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max, they're about to get some attractive discounts.

The iPhone 16 Pro may be the future, but you might want to see what that future looks like before you buy it.

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