There's a brand-new iPhone on the block — and travelers may want to consider upgrading.
On Monday, Apple unveiled the suite of iPhone 16 phones, including the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, which the company said are the fastest and smartest phones it's made to date.
“Powered by the faster, more efficient A18 Pro chip and built for Apple Intelligence, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are the most advanced iPhone models we’ve ever made,” Greg Joswiak, the senior vice president of worldwide marketing, shared in a statement. “Customers who are looking for the best possible iPhone will be able to take advantage of this huge step forward.”
However, it’s not just the intelligence travelers will love. Here are five key updates that may make now the perfect time for a new phone.
Longer Battery Life
Perhaps the most important news that all iPhone users want to know is how long the battery will last. According to Apple, with the new iPhone 16 Pro Max, users can get up to 33 hours of video playback, up to 27 hours with the iPhone 16 Pro, and up to 22 hours of video playback with the baseline iPhone 16. That's up from 26 hours with the iPhone 15 Plus and 20 hours on the iPhone 15. And while it seems like these are small leaps, 9 to5 Mac pointed out that from the iPhone 13 Max to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the phones have gained some five hours of video playback time, which isn't too shabby.
The Camera Is Seriously Crisp — and Intelligent
The new iPhone 16 series really can contend with major digital cameras. The new pro model phones include the ability to capture 4k120 fps (frames per second) in slow-motion video, which is the highest resolution and frame-rate combination ever available on iPhone, along with the ability to adjust the playback speed after you record. There's also a brand-new half-speed option that Apple says provides a "dreamy" effect, along with a fifth-speed option that turns your video into 24 fps.
As for photos, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max both got a bump. As Apple explained, the "upgraded camera system introduces a new 48MP (megapixel) Fusion camera with a faster, more efficient quad-pixel sensor," which can read data twice as fast as any previous iPhone, ensuring zero shutter lag, making every image a crisp one. The phone also comes with an all-new 48MP Ultra Wide camera, so you can now take higher-resolution wider-angle or macro shots.
And, as Steve Jobs would say, there's one more thing with the content capture: Both Pro models also now include studio-quality mics, while the video setting can now capture Spatial Audio, making travel vlogging a breeze. The iPhone 16 Pro lineup also comes with Audio Mix, which allows users to adjust the sound after recording and focus on the person speaking, making it sound like an in-studio appearance. (Of particular note, the baseline iPhone 16 has reverted to the dual, vertical camera lenses that we haven't seen in some time on an iPhone.)
It's Stronger Than Ever
What's great for long flights is that the new phones come with larger display sizes — 6.3 inches on the iPhone 16 Pro and 6.9 inches on the iPhone 16 Pro Max — making it ideal for watching movies. But what's also fantastic for long treks is that the new phones are also now more durable thanks to the latest Ceramic Shield, which Apple says is twice as tough as the glass on "any other smartphone." So now, when you drop it, you don't have to panic (as much).
Learn About the World Around You With a Click
Coming later in 2024, Apple says that Camera Control will unlock visual intelligence to" help users learn about objects and places faster than ever before."
All users need to do is "click and hold Camera Control to pull up the hours or ratings for a restaurant they pass, add an event from a flyer to their calendar, quickly identify a dog by breed, and more." This way, you'll always know the best spot to grab a bite to eat or a cup of coffee in every place you travel.
New Safety Features
Like the previous iPhone 15 Max, the iPhone 16 Pro boasts serious safety capabilities, including Emergency SOS via satellite to send and receive texts over iMessage and SMS even if they are out of cell and Wi-Fi range. And the new iOS 18 allows for Emergency SOS Live Video, so users can share a live video or photo of where they are to assist emergency responders. Also coming later this fall, Apple will expand its Roadside Assistance via satellite beyond just the U.S. and U.K., ensuring you can get help wherever you are.
The iPhone 16 is priced at $799, while the iPhone 16 Plus is $899, the iPhone 16 Pro is $999, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is $1,199. The phones will all be available in stores on September 20.