Upgrade to iPhone 16: Is Apple’s Intelligence Revolution Worth the Wait?

So, you’re wondering why iPhone owners are upgrading to the new iPhone 16 model. Well, according to a recent survey by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, the top reason is that their current iPhone is just plain obsolete. Yep, 44% of respondents said they’re upgrading because their current phone is over seven years old, which is when Apple considers a device obsolete.

But here’s the thing: only 18% of respondents said they’re upgrading because of a new feature. And it’s not even Apple Intelligence, which is currently only available on two iPhone models, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. You need at least 8GB of RAM to run Apple Intelligence, which will be supported by all four iPhone 16 models.

Now, I’ve had the Apple Intelligence Beta on my iPhone 15 Pro Max, and while it’s handy for summarizing notifications, emails, and websites, I’m not sure it’s a game-changer. I mean, the Clean Up feature is great, but it’s not like it’s going to revolutionize the way you use your phone.

The survey also found that 6% of respondents are upgrading because of an incentive, like a great trade-in deal or sale price. 2% are upgrading to switch to a different carrier, and 1% are upgrading because a family member or friend is doing so. But the majority, 73%, are upgrading because of the situation they’re in with their current iPhone.

So, should you upgrade to an iPhone 16 model now to get Apple Intelligence? Honestly, I don’t think so. Unless you’re really curious about the new features, you might want to wait and see what changes come to Siri. If the changes are significant, it might be worth upgrading. But for now, unless you have an iPhone 11 or older, you might want to hold off.