iPhone 16 Faces Unprecedented Scrutiny: A Giant Without a Soul?

iPhone 16 Faces Unprecedented Scrutiny: A Giant Without a Soul?This afternoon, tech blogger "Tech Geek" posted a video showcasing an unexpected flaw in the iPhone 16: when placed flat on a table, a noticeable wobble appears when the lower half of the phone is lightly pressed, resembling an unstable seesaw. This video garnered widespread attention, even being shared by prominent entrepreneur Luo Yonghao, sparking questions about the design prowess of Apple products

iPhone 16 Faces Unprecedented Scrutiny: A Giant Without a Soul?

This afternoon, tech blogger "Tech Geek" posted a video showcasing an unexpected flaw in the iPhone 16: when placed flat on a table, a noticeable wobble appears when the lower half of the phone is lightly pressed, resembling an unstable seesaw. This video garnered widespread attention, even being shared by prominent entrepreneur Luo Yonghao, sparking questions about the design prowess of Apple products.

In a candid Weibo post, Luo Yonghao outright stated that the iPhone 16 lacks innovation, harshly criticizing Apple: "Your subsidiary has lost all semblance of industrial design. Are you going to save the day?" Notably, this isn't Luo Yonghao's first public commentary on iPhone products. Previously, he had labeled the iPhone 16 as "zero innovation" and mocked the design of the iPhone 13: "Two cameras rotated 45 degrees constitute the next generation? If it were my subsidiary, I'd fire every product manager and designer."

Beyond Luo Yonghao, another prominent entrepreneur, Jia Yueting, voiced his concerns about the iPhone 16 launch. He believes that Apple, without Steve Jobs, is increasingly like a giant without a soul, "Still on the pedestal, yet no one can deny that Apple is becoming mediocre." Jia Yueting stated that "Think different," the motto that once propelled Apple to greatness, has faded into just a slogan since Jobs' passing. The lack of groundbreaking innovation since his departure has led to Apple's gradual homogenization with other companies.

Echoing these sentiments, many netizens have expressed similar opinions regarding the iPhone 16 series. They believe this launch was a "toothpaste squeeze," with the heavily promoted AI applications lacking any wow factor. In fact, similar functionalities have already been implemented by manufacturers like Samsung and OPPO, and are well-known to Android users. More disappointingly, Apple's AI isn't fully ready yet, leaving these AI features inaccessible on the iPhone 16 series. North American users will have to wait for the iOS 18.1 Beta version in October, while domestic users may need to wait until next year.

Industry insiders point out that Apple branded this launch as the "highlight moment," but it has been a long time since their products have truly had a "highlight moment."

In recent years, Apple's lack of innovation has become a common industry consensus. Beginning with the iPhone 14, Apple seems to have abandoned the pursuit of groundbreaking innovation, opting for tweaks and upgrades built upon existing foundations. While this strategy ensures product stability and user experience, it fails to ignite market and consumer enthusiasm.

The questioning of the iPhone 16 might be another wake-up call for Apple. In the increasingly competitive smartphone market, Apple needs to constantly push its boundaries to maintain its market leadership.