iPhone16 Pro
Apple Intelligence, an AI, is an unknown quantity.
I use AI myself to look up program code on my MacBook and to proofread translations, making them sound more natural by editing them from the direct translations produced by translation software. I started using ChatGPT to some extent when it became available on my MacBook, but I am still far from being able to use it proficiently.
In addition to searching for information, AI can now be used for automated image processing, simple website creation and design, and other digitalised tasks. However, as this technology is still in its infancy, I do not use it myself.
Although it has not yet been localised into Japanese, Apple’s AI is expected to oversee iOS and make suggestions tailored to specific purposes, propose possible actions, sort documents and emails, and automate tasks, thereby improving the usability of the device in everyday life.
AI is still in its infancy, and we are still searching for answers regarding its beneficial uses. The accuracy of responses and the amount of information provided can vary greatly depending on how questions are phrased and requests are made. People who understand the characteristics of AI and have the literacy to elicit the desired responses will find AI useful. On the other hand, some people who initially use AI out of curiosity will eventually stop using it because they do not feel it has practical applications.
Program code tends to have more definitive answers than general conversation, so it is highly compatible and useful. However, when faced with difficult questions or questions without specific examples, it often provides vague or inaccurate answers. Even when the question is rephrased, it may still provide the same answer, behaving like an AI that gets stuck in a loop.
The essence of what is called AI is actually a large database with improved accuracy.The AI that is currently attracting attention has evolved as a unique entity with some of the functions of the original concept of artificial intelligence. It is a database with more diverse functions than conventional databases, capable of processing information and executing tasks. I understand and utilise it as a system that learns from user characteristics and results through machine learning and accumulates that knowledge. Therefore, I do not have excessive expectations for AI. When it becomes widely available, I expect it to improve the usability and convenience of devices.
Google Search provides information search services through the Google platform and has achieved industry standard status and market share. However, AI has the potential to replace search. Both search and AI are used to find information, but AI is better at narrowing down and providing answers that are closer to what the user is looking for. In addition, AI can perform post-search processing, making it possible to achieve goals more easily.
However, because AI’s information organisation logic is similar, it often provides only similar answers, which may differ from the desired answer. As a result, AI may give up before humans narrow down information through Google search and obtain the desired information, resulting in only superficial information being obtained.
Basically, Google search finds websites that are close to the information you are looking for. AI extracts the necessary information from that information and presents it as an answer, so the usage method is different. However, if the information source is the same and you want to find information related to it, AI tends to complete the task at the point where it presents the answer, so if you want to go further, you need to make a new request.
Since the use of AI is still in its early stages, and major tech companies are exploring and providing users with features that are convenient to have, I don’t think there is any rush to purchase and use a smartphone equipped with AI at this point.
Apple Intelligence is an AI feature developed by Apple, so naturally we expect it to be user-friendly and convenient. However, since AI itself is a hot topic among users, we are currently at the stage of trying it out, so we do not have excessive expectations or feel the need to rush into using it.
I don’t have detailed knowledge of AI logic, but based on the fact that the iPhone 16 has enhanced GPU capabilities, I speculate that it processes a certain amount of data within the iPhone 16 itself to learn, verify, and propose user usage patterns, and then communicates with external sources to achieve the necessary functions.
Currently, ChatGPT and similar technologies are processed in the cloud, but it is unclear whether Apple’s proposed more personalised logic will become the standard or remain temporary. This field is referred to as ‘on-device AI.
Apple is improving GPU core performance and optimising AI utilisation. When considering the idea of incorporating high-performance GPUs into smartphones, I recall the period around 2017 when machine learning became widespread and the programming language Python gained attention.At the time, large desktop computers were assembled with Nvidia 1070 or 1080 GPUs and high-capacity power supplies to run machine learning, and these machines became widespread. Considering that the iPhone 16 essentially transforms these machine learning desktop machines into smartphones, the speed at which overseas technology has evolved over the past seven years to achieve such remarkable space-saving and integration is truly astonishing.
When considering this aspect of evolution, the appeal of the iPhone 16 becomes apparent, as the new technology and speed of evolution are suddenly intriguing. However, at this point, my conclusion is that it remains to be seen whether this evolution will ultimately benefit users.
Points to note when changing models
The following information is for using an iPhone with a Japanese telecommunications company. If you do not reside in Japan, you will need to configure your settings according to the infrastructure of your country or region. For details, please check the information provided by your telecommunications company.
Data transfer when changing devices can be easily performed using Quick Start.
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Most apps can be transferred using Quick Start, but banking apps and messenger apps that involve security, as well as authentication apps used for two-step verification, need to be transferred using a different method.
Banking apps have been transferred from older models, so you will need to log in again and perform the personal authentication required by your bank. However, if you refer to the bank’s instructions for changing models, the transition should not be too difficult.
Messenger apps such as LINE and WhatsApp have also been transferred from older models, so you can easily complete the device change process by logging back in and completing the specified authentication procedures.
I encountered some difficulties when migrating the two-step verification app, Authenticator. For work-related reasons, I use Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 Business.Since I am also responsible for management, I use this Authenticator app for security reasons.
The Google Authenticator app migrated smoothly during the quick start process, but the Microsoft Authenticator app requires separate accounts for each device. Since it is not possible to migrate the old device’s account, I had to log in to the management console and create a new Microsoft Authenticator app account linked to the administrator account for the new iPhone.
The problem at this point is that you cannot set up a new Microsoft Authenticator app account without logging in with your old Microsoft Authenticator app account.Fortunately, I had an 11 Pro Max that I had used for five years, which I had kept as a backup in case of emergencies rather than selling it used. I used the Microsoft Authenticator app account on that device to perform administrator authentication and set up the Microsoft Authenticator app account for the new 16 Pro, successfully completing the device upgrade.
iPhone 16 Pro Details
*From Apple’s official website
Phone 16 Pro
6.9-inch or 6.3-inch
Super Retina XDR display
ProMotion technology
Always-on display
Textured matte glass back and titanium
action buttons
Designed for Apple Intelligence
A18 Pro chip
6-core GPU
Camera controls
Easier ways to shoot
Faster access to photo and video tools
Pro camera system
48MP Fusion | 48MP ultra-wide | Telephoto
Ultra-high-resolution photos
(24MP and 48MP)
Next-generation portrait mode with focus and depth control
48MP macro photography
Dolby Vision (up to 4K, 120fps)
Spatial photos and spatial videos
Latest-generation photo styles
Up to
10x
optical zoom range
Dynamic Island
iPhone’s innovative operating system
Emergency SOS
Emergency SOS via satellite
Collision detection
Up to 33 hours of video playback
USB‑C
USB 3 compatible
Face ID
Conclusion
This article is about the iPhone 16 Pro, which I recently purchased after upgrading my device for the first time in five years. However, it has turned into a lengthy article listing my personal impressions without any conclusions. I imagine that readers are likely considering upgrading to the iPhone 16 Pro and are seeking articles written by someone who has actually used the device. Unfortunately, my article does not serve as a purchase guide but rather as a collection of my thoughts on the device’s improvements based on my own experience.
Writing articles gives me the opportunity to think about things I use every day but don’t usually pay much attention to. While the AI-enabled Apple Intelligence feature of the iPhone 16 Pro, one of its key selling points, is still unavailable in Japan, thinking about what Apple is doing on the hardware side to achieve this new technology is quite interesting. While my personal opinions may not be entirely accurate, considering that technology that was only possible on large desktop computers seven years ago is now fully integrated into a smartphone, the entire iPhone 16 lineup suddenly becomes much more appealing.
AI is not yet supported, but in terms of basic performance, functionality, and usability, the future developments are promising. If you are willing to invest in upgrading your device, this is an excellent smartphone, and you will be able to experience the improvements in real-world use.
A model that anticipates future technology
When considering the origins of the iPhone 16, it overlaps with the image of the Porsche 959 unveiled in the 1980s.At the time the Porsche 959 was developed, the 911 was in its 930 era, featuring a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, front struts with torsion bar springs instead of coil springs, and the 911 Turbo had a single turbo that kicked in around 3,000 RPM, delivering a powerful ‘thunderous’ turbo boost. Cars from this era had a structurally distinct driving character, requiring some time to get used to.
Looking at the technical aspects of the 959, it was the first production car to feature full-time 4WD?It featured full-time 4WD designed for general road use at low to high speeds, rather than off-road use like the SUVs of the time, along with twin turbos that provided flat power boosts at low to high speeds, and a suspension system with front and rear double wishbone and coil-over springs (the front suspension of the 911 switched from struts to double wishbones with the 992 GT3, which was unveiled in 2021).Equipped with cutting-edge technology of the time, it was a futuristic 911 that overcame the structural weaknesses of the original model.
This 911 with the 4WD twin-turbo technical specification became the 993 series Turbo released in the mid-1990s, a decade later. The 993 Turbo was a production model, while the 959 was a limited-edition special vehicle, so the price and details differed, but the basic concept was the same as the 959.Later, Porsche adopted water-cooling technology and made the Turbo models 4WD, continuing to offer the RR GT2 model as a niche, performance-oriented Turbo model for enthusiasts.
The conversation has strayed completely from iPhone and AI to the Porsche 959, but I am writing this article because I find parallels between the Porsche 959, which was sold as a model that anticipated the technology of cars that would become widespread in the near future (10 years later), and the iPhone 16 Pro, which is said to incorporate future AI technology, including hardware, while maintaining the concept of existing smartphone technology.
This has led to the impression that the iPhone 16 Pro is a prototype for the next generation of iPhones.
Addendum: About Apple Intelligence
The Japanese version of Apple Intelligence was released at the end of April 2025, and I started using it, but it fell far short of my expectations, so I ended up uninstalling it. My impression is that it was released prematurely, likely due to the pressure from the AI boom, without sufficient preparation. However, I still hope that Apple will leverage the advantages of its platforms, such as the iPhone and Mac, to provide users with AI technology interpreted in Apple’s unique way, potentially making it a key pillar of its tech offerings in the future.
I myself have always been a big fan of Apple. I have been using their products since the PowerBook 502, and have purchased the G4, G5, and MacBook Pro. I have always welcomed Apple’s product releases, from OS X, Intel Macs, and the iPhone, up to the present day. While I find the recent release of Apple Intelligence to be somewhat incomplete, I hope that it will evolve in different directions and ultimately prove to be another example of Apple’s ingenuity.
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For detailed information about the iPhone 16 Pro, please refer to the Apple official website.
