A thorough examination.
By Michelle Yosopov
College students juggle lots in their lives, including tight budgets, demanding schedules, and the latest technology trends. With Apple’s recent launch of the new iPhone 16, students are faced with the ultimate question: Is it worth it?
The iPhone features a similar sleek design that’s been seen in the previous models, but Apple hasn’t failed in making it unique in its own way. It has a larger 6.3 inch Super Retna XDR display on the pro model, which is more than the previous 6.1 inch display on the iPhone 15 pro.
Durability is a must for college students, whose phones could toss around in their backpacks. The iPhone 16 lineup features Apple’s ceramic shield glass that’s been incorporated in the iPhones since 2020. Apple has also included the action button and camera control button, both of which, Apple says, help towards the accessibility of the phone. The iPhone also got a performance update. According to youtuber and tech reviewer MKBHD, the new iPhones come with Apple’s A18 and A18 pro chips, as well as a slightly boosted battery life. All models come with 8GB of RAM and support a very long awaited feature; Apple Intelligence, which is Apple’s version of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Apple Intelligence will be available on all iPhones starting from the iPhone 15 pro and up.
With all that said, it is important to note that the iPhone 16 lineup is not the only phone that you can get when walking into an Apple store. They still currently sell the iPhones 15/15 plus, 14/14 plus, the iPhone SE, and refurbished/used iPhones. These phones can be up to $570 cheaper than the new iPhone, whose price tag ranges from $799-$1200. When asked if customers should save their money or buy the newest phone, Hamza, a 25 year old QCC student and a catering operations manager says “People should absolutely save their money and get an older model…it’s more so about the status in society, that everybody wants the latest and greatest, but not everybody needs the latest and greatest.”
The price tag is the leading reason that people are skeptical about buying the new iPhone 16. When asked if they thought the price of these phones were fair, many people had mixed opinions. “To me, I don’t think the price is fair, because what I use a phone for is for texting, calling, and emailing. To be paying $1200 just to be able to do that is absurd” says Hamza. However, not everyone had the same logic. Samantha, a student at QCC says “I think the price range is fair because I almost paid $1000 for my current phone and I like the quality, the storage, and it also has a better camera.”
These mixed reviews are not isolated to just QCC or college students. According to CNN, overall iPhone 16 pre-sales are down 12% in comparison to last year, with many people not batting their eye towards this year’s higher end pro models. According to research technology analyst Angelo Zino, the iPhone 16 pro and pro max sales were down 27% and 16% compared to last year, whereas the standard 16 and 16 plus sales were higher. Zino explains that this year’s upgrade is mainly a software upgrade, in which all models are included, leading people to settle for the cheaper alternative.
As youtuber and tech reviewer Lewis Hilsentger (Unbox Therapy) unboxes the iPhone 16 and 16 plus, he says, “The standard iPhone 16, which in some ways seem more interesting this generation because they have more of the features that the pro and pro max have, but at a more affordable price, and arguably in colors that people are more excited for…” However, not everyone thinks this. Sha, a 23 year old student and barista says, “The regular types are more of bait so people aren’t angry.. but because its lacking some of the aspects of a phone that we want, the option is still there, but it’s more like a push to get the more premium model, because it’s like, if I’m already spending $800, might as well just spend $1000 and get the better one.”
When asked if students would upgrade to the newest iPhone 16, many of them said no. Kalani, a 20 year old student at QCC says “No, I would not upgrade to the iPhone 16 because I have a
good phone, and I do not see much of a difference between my phone and the iPhone 16 that would make me want to upgrade. The new features are not worthwhile.”
With all this in mind, there are many things worth considering before upgrading to the newest iPhone, such as price, specs, other phones that are on the market (by Apple or other companies), and whether or not the upgrade is truly necessary. So, is the new iPhone 16 worth the upgrade? In the end, it all depends on your individual uses of and needs for your phone, and especially your budget.
