These are all fair points… I think I may have to upgrade this year for the USB-C, always on, 5G , iOS18, and the better camera.

I am a bit underwhelmed with the iPhone 16 release, I was really hoping for something (hardware wise) more than marginal improvements. The private AI text completion stuff sounds cool but it looks like that is iOS rather than hardware dependant.

Looks like someone was listening…

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Blackview-BL9000-Pro-New-rugged-smartphone-with-thermal-imaging-camera-5G-and-very-fast-charging.831613.0.html

That last point is a good one too, I’ve got the iPX and every time I think about a new phone I want to go for the Pro Max Ultra GigaChad Edition for the battery and screen size, but I can barely use the X one handed, there is always that bit in the top corner I can’t get to.

I need something the size of the mini that can fit in my pocket but can convert into a 75” TV when I need it to, and last a week one one charge, is that so much to ask?!?

There are a couple of banking apps which are now not supported on IOS 12 (latest an IP6 can run)

Face ID is a good innovation, not sure it really is a giant leap from Touch ID more of a comparative feature. I always went for the larger storage options but I suppose it depends on your music collection, I tend to use streaming and audiobooks for offline emergencies. The screens have improved, I’ll give you that one, luckily in England a convenient cloud is never far away. I bought a load of wireless chargers, but I’ve slowly been unplugging them in favour of slightly longer cables so I can use my phone while it charges. I can see a use for a MagSafe power bank that is exactly the correct size for one full charge, I’d probably keep one of those on standby just in case.

It’s still just an IR sensor if you look at the “FLIR Lepton 2.5” I can buy it on Mouser for $100, and that’s a top end brand at retail price.

Apple will be able to buy that sensor at a fraction of the cost if they decided to put it in 100million phones.

In all probability they would licence the tech and have Foxconn/Sony build the modules at scale along with their other cameras.

Not trying to be contrary, but when you make 100 million of something the price goes down really quickly.

Something to consider is the FLIR options tend to have less than half the resolution of comparably priced alternatives, not sure what the frame rates are like but I’m going to try and get a side-by-side comparison before my next one.

You do have a point there 🤣

True, but then they add stuff like blood oxygen monitoring to the Apple Watch! 😂

It’s an area in need of development, a 320x240 camera is ~$200 a 720p camera is $50,000. Imagine if we discovered people used them more than the 3D mapping that was added to the iPhone 13 cameras!

I’ve had an add-on camera which annoyingly would need an additional adapter if I upgraded from Lightening to USB-C. A $200 device would be maybe $10 when integrated into a phone for the additional IR sensor and possibly a new lens (they already have three, why not one more). At the scale Apple would purchase the sensors it may even be lower. In the 90s Sony added it to one of their video cameras but it was short lived as their image integration accidentally allowed you to see through clothes a bit too well. If they started with a standard low res like 160x120, they could improve gradually over time if the feature was used.

I think Apple wants mini enjoyers to just keep a phone in their bag and by an Apple Watch too!

I’m curious why you prefer the non-pro models?

This is the conclusion I’ve come to. I was asking to see if there was something I hadn’t considered. The only thing I think I’m really missing out on is 5G, there is a tower about 500m from my house, but when I’m at home I have broadband anyway. Other than that it’s a lot of money and waste to consolidate my laptop and phone charging cables.