I once called the iPhone 8 Plus a “surfboard-sized phone” while I was in an Apple Store. An Apple Genius gave me a look—not a knowing or understanding one, just a look. It was as if they wanted to zap me with lightning for my comment. Despite this, I loved the large phone, which was a big upgrade from my tiny iPhone 5s. The larger screen made games more fun and websites easier to read, plus the battery life was impressive.
Many others felt the same way, and Apple took notice. They removed most of the bezel and the Home button when they released the iPhone X. This new ‘all screen’ design made my iPhone 8 Plus feel outdated, even though it was only a few months old. A year later, Apple went even bigger with the iPhone XS Max and its 6.5-inch screen. It seemed too much for longtime iPhone users. But the screens kept getting larger. This year, Apple trimmed the bezels even more, pushing the display size to 6.9 inches.
Maxed out
Having used a Pro Max daily for years, switching to a smaller phone was a tough choice. I loved the big screens but not the added weight or needing huge pockets. I started considering what I’d miss if I moved away from the Pro Max.
This year, Apple made the standard iPhone more like the Pro than ever before, and there’s a Plus version too. It’s impressive, as I noted in my review. But after using it, I missed two Pro features: the 120Hz display, which Apple doesn’t include in its standard models, and the camera. I used the 5x zoom a lot and wasn’t thrilled about downgrading to 2x, especially since I like photographing wildlife and didn’t want to get too close to swans.
Go Pro
I got my iPhone 16 Pro a few weeks ago. Since I’ve hit the age where reading glasses are needed, I worried this might have been an expensive mistake. I was afraid I’d miss the larger screen, but I don’t. I thought the new phone would be hard to use, but it isn’t. I adjusted quickly, thanks to autocorrect, and definitely don’t miss the extra weight. My pinky finger, which used to support the Pro Max, is grateful too. Check out my new book: “How To Develop Arthritis The Easy Way.”
Surprisingly, the smaller iPhone changed how I think about using smartphones. The smaller screen isn’t as great for videos and games, and the battery isn’t as good for heavy 5G use. This has made my phone use more intentional.
I’ve been using apps to make my phone use more meaningful: a simple home screen to reduce temptation, greyscale mode in the evenings, and Screen Time to remind me to stop doomscrolling on Bluesky. The iPhone 16 Pro solidified these habits, and now I even wish for an even smaller iPhone. That might be rough on my aging eyes, but it’s an idea I’m considering.
