Tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee, better known as MKBHD, has weighed in on Apple’s latest releases, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. In a recent video, he shared his thoughts after testing the devices for two weeks, declaring, “This is the most unfinished I’ve ever seen a new iPhone launch.”
While the iPhone 16 boasts new features like the Action Button and Camera Control button, along with a slight bump in battery capacity and improved charging speeds, MKBHD highlighted some key issues. He pointed out that the promised AI features, collectively known as ‘Apple Intelligence,’ were not fully functional at launch, despite Apple heavily promoting them during their launch event. This, coupled with the ‘iPhoney’ look of default photos (excessively brightened shadows), left him feeling the phone was incomplete.
On the plus side, MKBHD acknowledged the significant performance gains thanks to the new A18 and A18 Pro chips, and the increase in RAM to 8GB for both Pro and non-Pro models, likely prepping for future AI demands. He also commended the new Camera Control button, giving users greater control over camera settings like exposure compensation and zoom.
In addition to his iPhone 16 review, MKBHD announced the launch of his new app, Panels, available now on iOS and Android. Panels features a collection of wallpapers that have been featured in his videos over the years.
The iPhone 16’s launch has sparked mixed reactions, with analysts predicting strong demand but shorter lead times than the iPhone 15, suggesting potential weaker demand. While T-Mobile US Inc. CEO Mike Sievert reported faster sales compared to last year’s model, competition from Huawei’s new tri-fold phone poses a threat to Apple’s dominance in the smartphone market. Some Chinese buyers were reportedly unimpressed by the lack of fully functional AI features.
MKBHD’s review provides valuable insights into the iPhone 16’s strengths and weaknesses, highlighting the importance of balancing new features with a polished and complete user experience. While the iPhone 16 undoubtedly offers powerful performance and features, the unfinished AI implementation raises questions about Apple’s commitment to delivering a truly polished product at launch.
