A photo of Apple customers anxiously queuing for the new iPhone has gone viral, with many wondering why they bother.
The photo was taken just 30 minutes after the store opened and shows a long line of people waiting outside Apple’s flagship store on George Street in Sydney’s CBD on Friday morning to buy the latest iPhone 16.
“I didn’t realize you still have to wait in line for the new iPhone,” said the person who shared the photo on Reddit.
“Has anything truly groundbreaking happened to phones in the last 8 years? What can an iPhone 16 actually do that an iPhone 8 couldn’t,” added a second.
A third said: ‘Almost like a religious cult.’
Another said: ‘And this is why Apple is a $3.479 trillion company. There will always be people with a lot of money who want the brand.
‘It’s no different than medieval gentlemen wanting the most flamboyant, colorful outfit or artisanally designed amour. Did they really need it?
‘No, it was to tell everyone how rich they were and how poor everyone else was.’
A fourth agreed: ‘People just want to show it at work and on social media for likes. But no one really cares. It’s looked the same for the last 10 years.’
An image of Apple customers waiting outside the brand’s flagship store in Sydney for the launch of the new range of iPhones has caused a stir online (pictured)
Last year’s iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus came in muted pastel shades, but this year Apple has opted for brighter, bolder colors, with options like ultramarine blue, teal, pink, white, or black.
Another said that not all Apple fans were rich and that many would give up essentials to afford “that” phone.
“I had a friend who used to cry because he was poor. He said he barely had enough money to pay the rent, but the next time I saw him, he had bought a new iPhone, a new TV, and a new laptop all at once,” they explained.
“I can hardly understand why people want a new phone that is so incredibly expensive and want to have it on the day of its release.”
The iPhone 16, unveiled at an event earlier this month, is being described by Apple as “the beginning of a new era for iPhone.”
The iPhone 16 features new AI capabilities, an improved camera, and longer battery life, and comes in a variety of colors.
The device also has a new button that activates the camera app, a feature that fans are describing as ‘incredible’ and the ‘coolest feature ever’.
“Now is the perfect time for customers to upgrade or switch to iPhone,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of worldwide iPhone product marketing.
The new device doesn’t come cheap, however: the base iPhone 16 model starts at $1,599.
And the most expensive option, the iPhone 16 Pro – which has a larger battery, display and storage capacity – starts at $1,799.
The iPhone 16 is powered by new A18 chips, which are designed to handle intensive AI-related tasks, namely Apple Intelligence, Apple’s much-touted suite of AI features.
Apple Intelligence, which includes a version of the Siri smart assistant integrated with ChatGPT, will come with iOS 18.1, available starting next month.
Everything you need to know about the new iPhone. Review by Shivali Best
Wear-resistant glass
Generation Z isn’t known for being good with their devices.
A recent survey by Compare and Recycle found that only 42 percent of UK Gen Zers use a screen protector.
However, this shouldn’t be a problem with the iPhone 16 Plus, as the device is equipped with impressively strong glass.
The glass is developed with the latest generation of Ceramic Shield, which is manufactured by incorporating ceramic nanocrystals into the glass through a high-temperature crystallization process.
According to Apple, this makes the iPhone 16 Plus twice as sturdy as any other smartphone on the market.
I have to admit, I haven’t used the iPhone 16 Plus often enough to test this.
However, if Apple’s claims are true, then Ceramic Shield is the best built-in smartphone screen protection you can get. Ideal if you’re known for your clumsy hands!
If you’re part of the social media-obsessed Gen Z generation, the iPhone 16 Plus might just be what you’re looking for
Battery
We’ve all been there: at the end of a busy day, you reach for your phone, but its battery is almost dead.
But the days of having to carry a portable charger with you at all times could be a thing of the past, thanks to the iPhone 16 Plus, which has significantly improved battery life.
According to Apple, the iPhone 16 Plus will deliver up to 22 hours of video playback, up to 18 hours of streaming, and up to 80 hours of audio playback on a single charge.
During my week of testing, the battery lasted incredibly long, and was noticeably better than my previous iPhone 15 Pro.
Additionally, Apple’s magnetic charger, MagSafe, has gotten a boost.
While the first-generation MagSafe charger only delivered 15W of power, the new charger can charge at up to 25W.
This is noticeably faster: my iPhone 16 Plus is already 50 percent charged after 30 minutes. Highly recommended for people who often have to charge their smartphone quickly!
Camera
As we’ve come to expect from Apple, the iPhone 16 Plus’ camera is excellent, for everything from group shots to portraits, selfies and landscapes.
But it was the new 12MP Ultra Wide camera that really impressed me.
As the name suggests, this allows you to take stunning wide-angle photos.
But thanks to the addition of autofocus, macro photography is also possible for the first time.
This feature was first introduced on the iPhone 13 Pro in 2021, but this is the first time it’s available on the lower-end iPhones.
Using it has never been easier: I opened the Camera app, pointed the iPhone at my banana, and once the device was close enough, a little flower icon appeared.
Tapping this sharpened the fruit, revealing the intricate details on the skin.
As we’ve come to expect from Apple, the iPhone 16 Plus’ camera is excellent for group shots, portraits, selfies, and landscapes. But it was the new 12MP Ultra Wide camera that impressed me the most
Is it worth upgrading?
Overall, I think the iPhone 16 Plus is an excellent option if you’re in the market for a new smartphone, especially if you want to improve your photography skills.
The bright colors are some of the most stunning I’ve seen this year, while the improved battery life and faster MagSafe charging are ideal for those who are often in a hurry to charge.
It’s a shame that the AI tools aren’t available yet, but thankfully Apple assures us that they’ll be available soon.
We’ll have to wait and see if they’re all as good as Apple claims when we (eventually) get our hands on them!