Forget the new iPhone 16 Pro. Apple has something better.

On August 27th, we updated the details of the new telephoto lens and its supplier..

Tim Cook and his team are set to unveil the new iPhone 16 Pro next month, in what they hope will be Apple’s first successful step into the world of AI-generated technology. What will the iPhone 16 Pro offer at launch? With new features largely limited to software updates that will take months to release, could the iPhone 15 Pro be the smarter choice?

One of the biggest advantages the iPhone 16 family has over previous iPhones is that it comes with generative AI. The Apple Intelligence suite of backlogs demands a certain level of performance from the host smartphone, which exceeds that of most existing iPhones.

The only exceptions are the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, which are the only two Apple smartphones that run the A17 Pro Apple Silicon chipset – the iPhone 15 is held down at the A16, presumably to create a spec gap that justifies the Pro model’s higher price.

This means you’ll have the option to use Apple’s AI software without buying the new iPhone 16.

It’s also worth considering the state of Apple’s AI software. While some of it is in public beta, Tim Cook’s team isn’t planning on releasing any software alongside the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro families in September. Instead, a limited set of features will be available via an OS update scheduled for October, with ChatGPT due to be added by the end of the year.

Apple’s generative AI won’t be fully implemented until late Q1, roughly halfway through the initial production run of the iPhone 16 Pro. That’s assuming Apple doesn’t encounter any major issues with its developments that delay the update. People who buy the iPhone 16 Pro believe in the potential of AI, but that potential will be some time away from being realized.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported on the training Apple’s retail store staff are receiving ahead of the iPhone 16 Pro launch, noting two key points.

First, the training dates: Previously, Apple would bring staff in for mandatory training sessions the weekend before a launch, but that has now been brought forward to Thursday or Friday in some stores. This will coincide with launch day on Monday, September 9th, which is sooner than expected and too close to train staff less than 24 hours in advance.

The second is the content of training. Gurman points out that “Apple plans to make Apple Intelligence a key part of in-store iPhone sales this fall, and has begun training retail employees on the feature.” Generative AI has become a key software feature for smartphones since Google announced the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro as its first AI smartphones in 2024. The iPhone 16 family is Apple’s first foray into this field, and retail teams will be actively promoting it in Apple Stores around the world.

Even if this first step in Apple Intelligence won’t be available at the phone’s launch.

Update, Tuesday, August 27: One area where Apple is upgrading its hardware where older phones can’t quite keep up is a new tetraprism-equipped telephoto lens for the iPhone 16 Pro, which will give buyers of the new Pro-level iPhones 5x optical zoom. Elec not only confirmed the specs, but also announced that LG will be the lens supplier for the first few months of the iPhone’s sales.

“LG Innotek is expected to supply modules for Apple’s initial stock of phones, which will amount to more than half of the iPhones the company produces by the end of the year. Once the initial stock runs out around the fourth quarter, Cupertino is expected to also use secondary vendors Foxconn and Cowell to manufacture the foldable Zoom in a bid to cut costs.”

This telephoto lens is available on the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max, while the regular iPhone 15 Pro only comes with the x3 telephoto lens. If the zoom level of the main camera is a deciding factor for you, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is your only option for older iPhones that can run Apple Intelligence. The question may come down to how much you care about the difference between the x3 and x5 in your photos.

For many, the time to invest in a new Apple device is not when AI arrives, but when it’s already here. iPhone 15 Pro owners get the best of both worlds: an iPhone that runs AI as soon as it arrives, and the option to upgrade to the latest iPhone as the software updates. At this point, many will consider waiting a few months to buy an iPhone 17 Pro, knowing that Apple is dealing with software issues with its first attempt at generative AI, as well as demands on the hardware.

There’s also an argument to be made for waiting a generation of iPhone if you have to upgrade in your current situation. When the iPhone 16 Pro arrives, the price of the iPhone 15 Pro will drop – not dramatically, but enough to offer value. Apple may not offer huge discounts, but network carriers and online stores will be clearing out their 15 Pro and Pro Max inventory to try and get you a bargain.

Outside of the iOS update (which applies to all iPhone models), the main differences between the 15 Pro and 16 Pro appear to be a slight increase in battery capacity and improved telephoto zoom. This isn’t a hardware-focused iPhone update, and iPhone 17 devices are likely to get significant hardware updates, so those looking for physical changes might want to skip this year’s model.

The iPhone 16 Pro’s hardware upgrades are more iterative than revolutionary, Apple’s big bet for next year is the unreleased software that will run on its older flagship devices when they are finally released, and anyone who doesn’t already have an iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max will be able 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 deciding to buy one.

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