Why the iPhone 16 isn't hip anymore and you should probably skip it

During a 2023 survey conducted in the United States, China, and South Korea, it was found that 55 percent of smartphone users were willing to buy a foldable smartphone as their next device. In comparison, Apple sold 242 million devices in 2021, 232 million phones in 2022, and 231 million in 2023. And while these numbers look healthy and nearly ten times the combined sales of all foldables, there are reasons for concern and a downward trend.

All iPhones look the same

But enough with the numbers—let’s talk about the cool factor. Since the iPhone 12, every model has looked pretty much the same, right up to the iPhone 16, except for the slightly different vertical camera arrangement on the non-pro models.

Say what you will about foldable phones, but there’s no denying the "cool" factor when someone casually unfolds their phone, whether it’s a flip or a book-style foldable. It’s distinctive, and it also signals to others that you’ve likely spent a fortune on it—which, for some people, is part of the appeal.

Foldables have taken over as the new status symbol. They’re not just for those brave enough to adopt fringe technology; they’re for the rich early adopters. Pull out your rigid, traditional iPhone, and you’re likely to get an “Oh, just another iPhone” reaction. It’s just not cool anymore.

AI won't save the iPhone

The last "It's Glowtime" event was a mess. Presenters jumped from topic to topic faster than a rabbit with ADHD, and the subjects were completely unrelated. They also managed to repeat everything from the WWDC earlier this year—twice.

Yes, we get it: AI is the buzzword of 2024. But saying "Apple Intelligence" over and over again won’t make it groundbreaking, especially when most of these features have already been available on other platforms for over a year. Others are either in beta or months away. Hijacking the abbreviation (which Jack Ma already did) won’t miraculously make Apple’s AI stand out.

Personally, I don’t think AI will drastically change how we use our smartphones. It’s a nice addition, but people will still text, browse, take photos, and mindlessly scroll TikTok the way they always have.

What's with all the buttons?

I thought Steve Jobs once said that we don't need buttons, a stylus, or anything else but our fingers. Everything you need is supposed to be found on the screen of the iPhone. But then the iPhone gradually started to become convoluted with buttons. Where's the simplicity Steve fought for?

When Apple introduced the programmable Action button last year, I couldn't believe my eyes, honestly. The thought that an Apple user would go out of his way to customize a button was mind-boggling to me.