1. Biggest is that Apple can finally tell if people really want a thinner phone (I don’t). Maybe once they find out the answer, they can finally start using the space more productively.
2. They mentioned local LLM in passing, but this is the biggest possible selling point of the executives actually back real work on making them consumer-level easy. Have a LLM marketplace. Let users sub-train with their own ideas and local data. Enable users to privately and safely port their personal LLMs to their next Apple. Apple has the best most efficient hardware available and they have it in millions of pockets. It’s about time they use that to become the dominant phone and personal device maker. Instead of focusing on anorexic phones.
The iPhone 14 Pro was noticeably heavy, but the switch to titanium the following year made the 15 Pro feel way lighter. The only difference was 206 grams -> 187 grams, but you'd swear it was 25% lighter.
The apple watch ultra is thicker and overall bigger than the regular one in the name of better battery life, and people that don't need that buy the regular one. Win win!
Now I'm curious to do the math.
The iPhone 16 Pro's volume (not counting camera bump, you don't hold that in your hand anyway) is 149.6 x 71.5 * 8.25 = 88,245.3mm^3
Bumping the thickness to 12.55mm you end up with 149.6 x 71.5 * 12.55 = 134,239.82mm^3
A 52% increase in volume.
In the Pro Max you'd go from 104,352.6mm^3 to 158,742.44mm^3
The iPhone Minis sold millions of units and Apple still determined it wasn't enough to justify existing. I'd bet a big brick iPhone would be far more niche. I'd certainly like to see one and hold it in my hands but I think you can see why Apple wouldn't go for that.
My personal favorite would be that style with modern chips and a full glass display. Basically an updated mini without a camera bump.
They'll never make this though because the minis proved the market is tiny.
I also don't care about weight, up to a point. No phone I've owned in the last 25 years has felt too heavy.
It will be much more grippier and easier to hold. The weight part is very subjective of course.
I'm not comfortable with lighter models for example and always have to buy a case simple to feel the phone in my hand.
But yeah, I know you are right and the market has spoken. I accept this however begrudgingly.
I've seen one guy attach an ECG lead to the back so that he could lay the phone down without the camera part touching the surface. As a bonus you could spin the device on it.
Cant a case do this for you?
I'd be at least INTERESTED in seeing what my iPhone 15 Pro Max would look like without a case and with a built-in battery that made it not have a camera hump.
It's going to be so painful if the answer is yes.
They would need to sell two otherwise equivalent new models att the same time where one is thicker for that.
