xQc’s Brutal Take on iPhone 16 Pro: Is It Worth It?

When it comes to reacting to tech, xQc never holds back. In his latest reaction video titled iPhone 16/Pro Impressions: The Great Separation!, xQc dives into Apple’s latest offerings, ranting with his usual high-energy commentary. The topic? Apple's freshly unveiled iPhone 16, AirPods, and the Apple Watch, with a heavy focus on how Apple continues to push incremental updates under the guise of innovation. In this article, we break down xQc’s take on the new devices, his insights on Apple’s design strategy, and his intense frustration with what he perceives as Apple's superficial upgrades.

Apple's Incremental Updates: "It's Cringe"

xQc opens the video by setting the stage for his critique of Apple’s strategy. He admits to having returned from Australia just in time for the new Apple event, which seems to have left him less than impressed. From the start, he points out that the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro are essentially identical to the iPhone 15, with only a few tweaks—most notably, new colors like ultramarine, teal, and pink. While these may excite some, xQc labels them “disgusting” and goes on a colorful rant about how Apple is “cringe” for pushing new colors instead of meaningful upgrades.

His sharp criticism targets Apple's strategy to differentiate the Pro Max version by making colors exclusive. He argues this creates an artificial distinction between models, pressuring consumers into upgrading purely for visual recognition rather than actual innovation. “It’s like they are forcing you to buy the 'new one' by making sure you can spot it from a mile away,” he says, illustrating his disdain for what he sees as forced consumerism.

The Rant About Colors: “Black and White are Enough!”

For xQc, the frustration isn’t just about Apple adding new colors—it’s about how unnecessary they feel. In his passionate style, he questions why Apple keeps reinventing the color wheel rather than offering true consumer value. “What is this, dog [expletive]? Black and white are enough! Why do we need all these bright, weird colors?”

The emphasis on color over performance seems to irk xQc the most. He challenges his audience not to be complacent, insisting that people should demand more from such an expensive product. His sentiment seems to resonate with many fans, who are equally tired of minor aesthetic changes that don't add to the phone’s functionality.

The Performance Debate: “Phones Are Already Sturdy, Stop the Gimmicks!”

As the iPhone 16 promises performance improvements, including a better A18 chip and improved ray tracing, xQc swiftly downplays these advancements. He emphasizes that current smartphones are already durable and powerful enough for daily use. “We’re not in the 1900s anymore,” he remarks. xQc even boasts about using his phone without a case, confidently stating that modern phones are sturdy enough to survive his daily mishaps, including dropping it in the shower.

He also mocks the trend of overly bulky phone cases, saying, “I don’t want a bulky Otter case! I want a sleek, slim phone,” signaling his preference for minimalism over exaggerated protection features. His tirade makes a broader point about how Apple markets features that, to him, feel redundant.

The Big Battery Mystery: “Where Are the Numbers, Apple?”

Another standout moment in xQc's review is when he hones in on Apple's vague promises of improved battery life. While Apple claims the iPhone 16 will have better battery life, xQc notes that they never provided concrete numbers, only vague comparisons. “Let me guess,” he mocks, suggesting the difference might only be a marginal 50mAh increase.

Apple's failure to give specifics fuels his skepticism, and xQc makes it clear that the lack of transparency only fuels his distrust. He jokes that Apple is being strategic by marketing slight battery improvements as significant, but never actually delivering the numbers to back it up.

The Visionary xQc: “I Could Be a Trillionaire”

Midway through his rant, xQc proposes a radical idea: why not make all Apple devices work seamlessly off one central processing unit, instead of each device having its own? His idea is that iPhones should handle the computing for AirPods and Apple Watches, thus saving battery life across all devices. “If Apple adopted my idea, I could sell it to them for a billion dollars,” he says, clearly proud of his own “visionary” status.

His solution is simple but rooted in a legitimate concern: the efficiency of devices. He argues that consumers should demand better energy management, rather than being satisfied with small, incremental improvements. His frustration is that Apple could revolutionize how these devices interact but chooses not to, likely for profit-driven reasons.

The iPhone 16 Pro: A "CEO Phone" with a Split Audience

While xQc acknowledges the iPhone 16 Pro’s upgrades, including a new camera control feature, he questions its overall utility. Apple has introduced pressure-sensitive buttons and refined camera features, but xQc isn't convinced that they will make a significant difference in daily use. “The buttons are in awkward spots,” he says, adding that while it’s a cool feature, it feels more like a gimmick than a necessity.

Regarding the new Pro’s design, xQc admits that the sleek titanium look does have an appeal. He even calls the pro Max’s color “CEO [expletive],” acknowledging that the design could be tempting for those who want to flaunt a high-status device. However, the aesthetics are not enough to overcome his disappointment with the lack of groundbreaking innovation.

AirPods and Apple Watch: A Fake Upgrade?

When it comes to the new AirPods and Apple Watch, xQc is quick to brand them as “fake upgrades.” The AirPods, for instance, now come with minor changes like noise cancellation and wireless charging. But for xQc, these feel like half-measures that Apple should have implemented years ago. He points out how Apple's marketing pushes these as significant changes, even though they barely improve on the previous models.

He is similarly critical of the new Apple Watch, calling the redesign "minor" and mocking the slightly thinner and lighter build as an underwhelming evolution of the product. The promise of features like sleep apnea detection doesn’t seem to impress him, either.

Conclusion: Apple's Tactics Unveiled

In his reaction, xQc doesn’t hold back from pointing out what many tech enthusiasts feel: Apple is brilliant at marketing small upgrades as revolutionary changes. His reaction blends humor, frustration, and insightful critique, resonating with those who have felt let down by Apple's recent releases.

Ultimately, xQc’s review calls out Apple for focusing too much on aesthetic differentiation—through colors and minimal performance boosts—without addressing real consumer needs. With his witty, fast-paced delivery, he effectively captures the frustration many feel toward the tech giant’s incremental upgrades, calling for more substantial innovation instead of what he labels as “cringe.”