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

Updated August 26 with new details about upcoming iPhone 16 Store training.

Tim Cook and his team will launch the new iPhone 16 Pro next month, hoping it will mark Apple’s first successful foray into generative AI. What will the iPhone 16 Pro offer at launch? With new features largely limited to software updates that will take months to arrive, is the iPhone 15 Pro the smarter choice?

One of the biggest advantages that the iPhone 16 series will have over previous iPhones is the inclusion of generative AI. Apple’s AI suite will require a certain level of performance from the host smartphone, one that exceeds the vast majority of current iPhones.

The only exception is the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. These are the only two Apple smartphones powered by the A17 Pro Apple Silicon chip — the iPhone 15 has been discontinued with the A16, perhaps to create a spec gap that justifies the higher price of the Pro model.

This means there is an option to use Apple’s AI software without having to buy a new iPhone 16.

It’s also worth considering the state of Apple’s AI software. While parts of it are still in public beta, Tim Cook’s team won’t be launching the software alongside the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro family in September. Instead, a limited set of features will be available via an operating system update scheduled for October, with ChatGPT added by the end of the year.

Apple’s full implementation of generative AI won’t be seen until late Q1 at the earliest, roughly halfway through the iPhone 16 Pro’s first lifespan. That assumes Apple’s development doesn’t run into major issues that would delay any updates. Those who buy the iPhone 16 Pro are buying AI capabilities, but that capabilities won’t be realized for a long time.

Update: Monday, August 26: Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports on the training Apple retail employees are receiving ahead of the iPhone 16 Pro launch, and raises two important points.

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

Second: Training content. Gorman points out that “Apple also plans to make Apple Intelligence a major part of its iPhone sales pitch in stores this fall and has begun training retail staff on the features.” Generative AI has been a key software feature on smartphones since Google announced the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro as the first AI-powered smartphones in 2024. The iPhone 16 family is Apple’s first foray into this space, and retail teams will be pushing it hard in Apple Stores around the world.

Even if the first steps of Apple’s intelligence weren’t available when the phones launched.

For many people, the right time to invest in a new Apple phone isn’t when AI arrives, but when AI is there. Those with the iPhone 15 Pro are sitting on the best of both worlds: an iPhone that will be powered by AI as soon as it arrives and the option to upgrade to the latest iPhone with a software update. At this point, many will consider waiting a few more months for the iPhone 17 Pro, knowing that Apple will address any software issues with its first attempt at generative AI, and any hardware demands will be addressed.

It’s also an argument for holding off on a generation of iPhones if you have to upgrade in the current climate. Once the iPhone 16 Pro comes out, the iPhone 15 Pro will be priced lower. Not climate-wise, but enough to offer value. While Apple may not be offering a huge discount, carriers and online stores will have stock of the 15 Pro and Pro Max that they’ll be looking to sell so you can get a deal.

Aside from the iOS updates — which will appear across the entire iPhone lineup — the main differences between the 15 Pro and 16 Pro appear to be a slight increase in battery capacity and an increase in zoom on the telephoto lens. This isn’t a hardware-focused iPhone update, though. Given that the iPhone 17 is likely to see major hardware upgrades, those looking for physical changes are better off skipping this year’s model.

The iPhone 16 Pro hardware upgrades are iterative, not groundbreaking. Apple’s biggest role next year will be in unreleased software that will work on the older flagship phone when it finally releases. And if you don’t already own an iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max, you’ll get some pretty attractive discounts.

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

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