Quite literally the opposite of Back to the Future, this iPhone 16 Pro case is more like “Forward to the Past”.
When you buy a phone, chances are you spring for a case immediately for one of two reasons – to either protect your phone, or to personalize it. However, Printables user Retron Print may have invented a new reason to add a case to your phone. Meet the iPhone Retro Case – a case that takes your cutting-edge smartphone and transforms it into a marvel of old-school technology. The two-part case sandwiches your phone in between, turning it into an old-timey CRT monitor (albeit with a functional main camera and dynamic island). To complement the case’s old-school design, Retron Print also equipped the phone with a retro home screen and custom icons and widgets. Although I’d personally love to have the iPhone stick to a Macintosh-based system, this one is unabashedly Windows, with a non-functional Clippy icon on the screen. Quite a downgrade from Siri and Apple Intelligence, no?
The beauty of the case is that it justifies every aspect of its retro design without compromise. Look at monitors from times of yore and they often had thick, chunky bezels. While most monitors came with a ‘chin’ which would either house a floppy disk reader or just control buttons, this retro case shifts the asymmetric chin to the side, with front-facing buttons that actually work. Built cleverly into the case’s mechanism are buttons that face forwards, but trigger the action and volume buttons on the side of the iPhone. The detailing’s prebuilt into the case’s design, and all you need to really do is 3D print and then assemble.
On the front, the case features an oval frame reminiscent of old CRT monitors, although it doesn’t obstruct the screen in any way. It’s a small but meaningful detail that gives the case a distinctly vintage vibe. Around the back, long, deep grooves evoke the look of classic desktop computers and also provide better grip. These thoughtful design elements ensure that while the case embraces nostalgia, it still offers the user a modern experience with improved functionality and tactile appeal. Meanwhile, speaker systems are accounted for too, with slots on the top and bottom that let you listen to audio from your iPhone.
When it comes to color options, Retron Print suggests using filament in shades like sandy beige, gray, or light brown to fully capture the retro essence. These muted tones are reminiscent of the classic electronics from decades past, enhancing the nostalgic appeal. This attention to detail extends to the print process itself. The case’s front and back panels are best printed on a textured print plate, adding an extra dimension to the overall look and feel, while the buttons should be printed on a smooth plate to maintain their tactile nature.
For those eager to bring a bit of retro flair to their iPhone, the case is available for iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models. You can purchase the STL files for just $10 on Printables.com and print the case yourself, although this just includes the retro case’s 3D files and not the wallpaper and app icons. When it comes to color options, Retron Print suggests using filament in shades like sandy beige, gray, or light brown to fully capture the retro essence. These muted tones are reminiscent of the classic electronics from decades past, enhancing the nostalgic appeal.
However, commercial use of this model is restricted. To sell prints of this design, users must become a member of the Retron Print Commercial Club, ensuring that the creator, AndrzejG, receives credit and support for their work. This stipulation ensures that while the model is available for personal use, it remains protected against unauthorized distribution.
Slim and light, lets original iPhone 16 design shine
Multi-angle stash stand also protects the camera
Unbeatable all-around protection
Doesn't get in the way of MagSafe features
CONS:
Stand doesn't support (tall) vertical orientation
RATINGS:
AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
EDITOR'S QUOTE:
ESR's newest range of Classic Hybrid Cases with Stash Stand gives the iPhone 16 the protection it deserves with no compromise to functionality nor a hit on its innate beauty.
The new iPhone 16 series is here, along with a new generation of accessories designed to complement Apple’s latest and greatest smartphone. While the iPhone has changed considerably over the years, what hasn’t really changed is its price tag, making it quite an expensive investment that people want to protect and keep for as long as possible. There is no shortage of cases that promise that, but many of these cover up the iPhone’s minimalist beauty with gaudy designs and fatten up the otherwise slim profile in the name of rugged durability. Other cases also add some functionality that complicates the iPhone’s appearance and use, going against the spirit of simplicity that Apple embraces. It’s rare to come across a phone case that offers protection that doesn’t obscure the original design or adds utility that doesn’t compromise other features. The new ESR iPhone 16 Classic Hybrid Case with Stash Stand and its siblings promise exactly that and we put them in our hands to see how well that promise holds.
One of the biggest reasons why some people are hesitant to slap a protective case on their phones is that these cases tend to make the phones look ugly and bulky. Of course, there are people who actually prefer to dress up their phones with stickers and decals, but the large majority want to show off their new phone’s pristine beauty, especially if that phone is an iPhone. That Apple logo on the back is, of course, a matter of pride for owners so it feels counterintuitive to cover that up with a thick and opaque case.
There’s a reason that ESR puts the “Classic” label on this series of cases for the new iPhone 16. Despite offering an impressive set of protective features, the transparent back still lets the original style and color of the iPhone 16 shine through, though you do have choices of colored edges to match the iPhone’s natural color as well. With a back that’s only 1.6mm thick, it doesn’t add that much bulk to the slim and sleek phone.
The ESR Classic Hybrid Case with Stash Stand embraces Apple’s minimalist design language, offering protection that you can’t see but definitely feel. It has no extraneous markings or branding that would mar the otherwise pristine beauty of the iPhone 16. It hugs the phone’s frame so tightly that it almost looks like a transparent skin wrapped around the phone. And the parts that you do see are also designed to be aesthetic, like the zinc alloy of the camera guard kickstand with a matte finish that just seamlessly blends with the camera bump’s design. ESR clearly had not just phone protection in mind but also user satisfaction in seeing the classic elegance of their iPhone 16 without worrying about accidents.
Ergonomics
Smartphone cases actually do double duty when it comes to protection. They buffer the force of impact when phones fall or bump into hard objects, but they also add some texture to the phone’s back to increase their grip. In other words, cases make it easier to hold the phone and reduce the risk of dropping it, and when you do drop it, the cases absorb some of the shock and protect the material underneath from scratches and dings.
Of course, that’s only true for cases that don’t increase the size and weight of the phone to the point of making it uncomfortable to hold or don’t use a material that’s even more slippery than the phone’s glass or metal rear. Fortunately, the ESR Classic Hybrid definitely checks the right boxes here as well, with an overall thickness of only 14.2mm and a weight of only 42g (1.7oz). The materials themselves also have a kind of “sticky” quality that prevents the phone from slipping off your hand easily. That stash stand also functions as a ring you can hang from your finger while your hands are carrying other things, almost like a built-in loop. It would have been nice if it could also function like a popsocket of sorts so you can hold the phone with even more confidence, but the current design doesn’t make that possible. That’s a puzzle that ESR will hopefully solve in future iterations of the Stash Stand.
Performance
A protective case is only as good as the protection it offers, and the ESR Classic Hybrid with Stash Stand for the iPhone 16 definitely has plenty of that to go around, almost literally. Almost every side of the case has a feature that ensures the safety of the phone no matter which side it drops on, including the 1.2mm raised edge around the screen and the 0.7mm raised camera guard. There’s also the acrylic-PC material used for the back of the case for enhanced durability and a TPU edge that is promised not to discolor and turn yellow over time.
One unique feature of ESR cases is its Air Guard corners, which are basically small empty pockets that serve as cushions for the most common part of the phone that hits the pavement. These look like very small bumps rather than obnoxious bumpers, staying true to the minimalist design language that the Classic Hybrid cases embrace. All of these give the cases military-grade protection, enough to meet the MIL-STD-810H standard for shock protection. The case can protect the phone from an 11-foot drop, offering iPhone 16 owners peace of mind without compromising their experience.
The “Stash Stand” part of the ESR Classic Hybrid’s name comes from the camera guard that flips down to transform into a multi-angle stand, supporting angles of anywhere between 15 to 85 degrees for your preferred viewing angle. Unlike other built-in phone stands like rings and popsockets, the stash stand gets out of the way when you don’t need it and even protects your cameras. The one disadvantage to this design is that you can’t prop up your phone vertically unless you lay it almost flat on a table, which is fine for scrolling through social media but not for video calls.
Apple’s introduction of MagSafe technology presented a design problem for case makers, especially those with rugged and thick materials. MagSafe won’t work through such cases, at least not without some clever designs and technologies. Fortunately, that’s no longer a problem today and, even better, ESR has found ways to actually improve on the technology. For one, it has even stronger magnets, about 1.5kg of magnetic locking force, so you don’t have to worry about the case making accessories loose and detach accidentally. It can even let the phone charge faster than with other MagSafe-compatible cases, beating its competitors by an average of 30 minutes. Best of all, the magnetic ring is embedded in the case itself, so it won’t scratch your iPhone’s back.
All in all, the ESR iPhone 16 Classic Hybrid Case with Stash Stand offers unparalleled, military-grade protection that doesn’t get in the way of your enjoyment of your phone. It retains the iPhone 16’s natural beauty while also giving you color options to match your phone and your style. It’s a no-compromise design that brings the best of all worlds while staying true to Apple’s own design philosophy.
Sustainability
Like many protective cases these days, the ESR Classic Hybrid is a mixture of different materials that each offer a different kind of protection. The acrylic-PC material on its back offers durability and scratch resistance, while the TPU around the edges gives flexibility and shock absorption. Unfortunately, these materials are also known to be non-sustainable, though there is definitely research and experiments on using alternative materials that produce the same durable properties.
That’s not to say, however, that ESR isn’t doing due diligence in creating a greener future, but its sustainability results are a little bit more indirect. For one, it offsets its carbon emissions through the ClimatePartner program. In addition, it helps keep phones away from trash bins and dump sites longer by protecting these precious devices and ensuring their longevity. You might not see a phone case as a “green” product, but ESR is definitely doing its part in healing the planet in its own small ways.
Value
Starting at only $19.99, the ESR Classic Hybrid Case with Stash Stand is pretty much a no-brainer for new iPhone 16 owners. After all, you are getting an impressive amount of protection against accidents and a built-in stand that stays out of the way and out of sight when you don’t need it. Plus, it retains the iPhone 16’s slim profile, sleek looks, and original style, allowing you to enjoy the natural colors you selected when you bought it. What’s not to love?
And for those who want something more or something different, they don’t have to stray far from ESR’s other new iPhone 16 cases. The Cloud Soft Case with Stash Stand, for example, has the same basic design but uses premium liquid silicone to give the phone a softer touch. The Cyber Tough Case with Stash Stand, on the other hand, levels up the durability with a 3-layer design that includes a robust PC backing, a flexible TPU shell, and an inner PORON lining. With these three designs, ESR has got all your iPhone 16 protection needs covered and in your preferred style.
Verdict
Just like with power banks, smartphone cases have become a fact of modern mobile life. No matter how durable companies make their phones, there will still be that nagging fear of throwing away money when, not if, you accidentally drop your precious investment. With the arrival of the iPhone 16, ESR took the opportunity to showcase the best of its design with the Classic Hybrid Case with Stash Stand. Offering military-grade protection that doesn’t make the iPhone 16 look like a tank, this case with a built-in stand is something you’ll have no reason to take off once you’ve put it on.
Smartphones are getting more durable every generation, but there’s no escaping the fact that a single wrong fall could render it useless. Protective cases increase their chances of survival at the expense of hiding their beauty, and even those clear silicone ones can sometimes make otherwise luxurious phones look cheap. If you’re going to cover up your phone anyway, you might as well make a big splash by adopting a design that’s going to upgrade your device’s looks as well. For years, PITAKA has been pushing the envelope of phone cases by focusing on quality material that not only looks good but also feels great in your hand. With the new Apple iPhone 16 series, it is launching its next-generation woven cases to offer upgraded protection and welcome a new style that will be a feast for the eyes, even in the dark.
Designer: PITAKA
PITAKA x Aries x NoProblemo Collaboration: Light in the Darkness
A phone case’s beautiful design becomes meaningless if you can’t see in the dark. Not so this collection of luminous designs that cast an eerie glow after the lights go out, giving them an alien, artful, and rebellious character. It’s the perfect combination for a design made in partnership with trendy UK fashion brand Aries, delivering cases that delight the eyes and the hands any time of the day. It’s a refreshing new style that adds a bit of youthful vigor to an iPhone case that’s already brimming with life.
At the heart of this luminescent innovation is PITAKA’s Lumintex, combined with the brand’s advanced Floating Weave technique. This pairing elevates the design potential of aramid fibers, offering users a richer and more dynamic visual experience. Unlike conventional methods that simply print or paint luminous patterns that fade over time, PITAKA’s approach intricately weaves luminous fibers into the case. Lumintex is an ultra-thin, flexible polymer fiber, modified at the molecular level for enhanced weavability and luminescence. After absorbing light, the case emits a soft green glow for up to 20 minutes, providing a high-grade, fashionable luminescence at class D brightness.
Like any other PITAKA case, the PITAKA x Aries X NoProblemo series is made from hi-tech aramid fibers that are also used in the aerospace and military industries, giving it unbeatable protection against scratches and corrosion without weighing the phone down. PITAKA’s proprietary Fusion Weaving technology interlaces multiple colored fibers on a single loom to create eye-catching patterns that your fingers will also be able to touch and appreciate. These PITAKA iPhone 16 cases bring long-lasting beauty that shows even in the dark.
Many smartphone cases try to be beautiful and stylish but tend to go overboard and end up looking gaudy and over-the-top. Nothing wrong with that if that’s exactly what you’re after, but those who want striking yet subtle designs might want to turn their eyes toward PITAKA’s heavenly Tactile Woven cases instead. Durable and elegant at the same time, these cases bring a touch of the heavens to your phone in ways that your hand can feel as well.
Utilizing aramid fibers known in aerospace and military circles for their light yet strong properties, PITAKA’s Fusion Weaving technique creates sophisticated patterns of colors that tell a story more than just displaying art. The alternating lines of orange or blue, for example, try to depict the magic moments during Sunset and Moonrise, while the trail of yellow dots across a field of blue tries to paint the Milky Way on the back of your phone. Finally, the rocky split between dark and light azure hues depict that enchanting view of mountains disappearing Over the Horizon.
For the iPhone 16 series, PITAKA upgraded its design to offer additional protection, especially for one of the most important parts of smartphones today: the cameras. The new camera ring not only prevents scratching by raising the lenses away from surfaces, its new titanium color also helps reduce the exposure that could ruin those perfect and ephemeral shots. Beautiful and tactile, these woven cases give your iPhone 16 some character that will surely make it stand out from the crowd.
If you want some extra peace of mind, then PITAKA’s line of tough cases delivers that added layer of durability your phone needs to survive those nasty accidents with very little additional weight. It integrates light yet durable aramid fibers with shockproof TPU material, offering protection from drops that pass even MIL-STD-810G tests. And it doesn’t stop there either.
The soft Nappa leather lining inside the case also helps cushion the back of the iPhone in case of unfortunate incidents, while metal button covers minimize abrasions and damage to these crucial buttons. The subtle screen lip mitigates the effects of dropping your phone face first on the ground, while the raised camera ring protects the camera lenses from scratches when you place the phone on rough surfaces.
Despite these added layers of protection, the PITAKA military-grade iPhone 16 cases remain slim, light, and most importantly, compatible with MagSafe chargers and accessories. In fact, the new iPhone 16 line of cases boasts a 0.1-0.2 kg increase in magnetic strength, allowing it to cling securely to any MagSafe-compatible surface. Plus, these military-grade cases are now also available in PITAKA’s signature Sunset and Moonrise designs, delivering not only protection but also style in a single package.
If your priority is keeping an already slim iPhone 16 as slim as it can be, then PITAKA’s selection of ultra-slim cases delivers that mixture of style and substance in a subtle design. Utilizing the brand’s MagSafe SlimBoard 2.0 technology, each case measures a mere 0.84 thick and weighs only 17.84g (0.63oz). Inside that thin body are 0.1mm thicker magnets that add 0.1kg more magnetic force, ensuring even better compatibility with MagSafe chargers, docks, wallets, and other accessories.
It doesn’t skimp on protection and beauty, however, using the same aramid fiber material and Fusion Weaving technique as any other PITAKA case, creating visual appeal and grip comfort at the same time. New to this iPhone 16 lineup are colors that add some life to your phone, adding Ocean Blue and Forest Green to the Black Grey colorway. The camera ring’s minimalist titanium color further adds to its elegance while offering additional protection as well as a reduction of exposure for that perfect shot.
Despite its slimmer build, the PITAKA Ultra-Slim cases still boast the same standard set of features, including exclusive NFC-driven experiences, like checking the authenticity of the case as well as access to games, music, wallpapers, and customer services. All of these are packed inside a box made from 100% biodegradable bagasse, a natural by-product of sugar cane processing, establishing PITAKA’s commitment to a greener tomorrow with every beautiful case sold. Stylish, strong, and sustainable, PITAKA’s Ultra-Slim iPhone 16 Cases has a design for every person, proving that phone protection doesn’t have to come at the cost of aesthetics, your bank account, or the health of the planet.
All four variations of iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro will be able to use Apple Intelligence when it arrives with iOS 18.1. Plus, check out new AirPods and Apple Watches.
Apple has introduced the iPhone 16 Pro, bringing significant updates to both its design and performance. The iPhone 16 Pro now features larger displays—6.3 inches for the Pro and 6.9 inches for the Pro Max—making them the biggest iPhone screens yet. Despite the larger size, Apple has minimized bezels, resulting in a sleek, nearly edge-to-edge look. The adaptive 120Hz ProMotion technology provides smooth scrolling, while the always-on display functionality gives users quick access to key information.
The iPhone 16 Pro’s design is constructed using aerospace-grade titanium, offering both durability and lightness. This titanium body is available in four finishes: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium. The device also incorporates a new thermal architecture that improves sustained performance while keeping the phone cool during heavy use. The Pro models are also water and dust-resistant, ensuring longevity in various environments.
Photography: Real-Time Control and Customization
The iPhone 16 Pro empowers creativity through its 48-megapixel fusion camera, which integrates a second-generation quad-pixel sensor capable of reading data twice as fast, allowing for zero shutter lag. Whether capturing fast-moving subjects or subtle details, this new system ensures uncompromised resolution and detail. The sensor’s high-speed data transfer to the A18 Pro chip allows users to capture 48-megapixel proRAW and HEAT photos effortlessly.
A new 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera complements the fusion camera, offering high-resolution shots with autofocus. It excels in capturing wider scenes and stunning macro shots, delivering sharpness and clarity that make it indispensable for creative users. The 5x telephoto camera—with Apple’s longest focal length—provides incredible zoom capabilities from a distance, while the Tetra Prism design improves optical performance for more detailed, high-quality images.
To streamline the photography process, the iPhone 16 Pro introduces an upgraded camera control system. This interface lets users quickly switch between lenses and adjust the depth of field and exposure with a dedicated slider. Later this year, a two-stage shutter will be added, allowing users to lock focus and exposure with a light press, offering precision when reframing shots.
Advanced Photographic Styles and Real-Time Grading
Apple has enhanced the creative range of the iPhone 16 Pro with advanced photographic styles, allowing users to personalize their photos in real-time. With the A18 Pro chip, the image pipeline dynamically adjusts skin tones, colors, highlights, and shadows, enabling a wider range of aesthetic choices. Users can apply styles like black-and-white, dramatic tones, and other custom looks that go beyond basic filters and fine-tune the look with a new control path that simultaneously adjusts tone and color.
What sets these styles apart is the ability to change them after capture, allowing greater flexibility in editing. The real-time preview enabled by the A18 Pro gives users a professional-level color grading experience as they shoot, a significant upgrade for photographers looking for more creative control.
Video: Cinema-Grade Capabilities
The iPhone 16 Pro significantly advances video recording. The new 4K 120fps recording in Dolby Vision is possible thanks to the faster sensor in the 48-megapixel fusion camera and the high transfer speeds of the Apple camera interface. The image signal processor (ISP) of the A18 Pro allows for frame-by-frame cinema-quality color grading, enabling professional-quality video capture directly on the iPhone.
One of the most exciting features is the ability to shoot 4K 120 ProRes and Log video directly to an external storage device, perfect for high-end workflows that demand high frame rates and extensive color grading control. Users no longer need to commit to frame rates upfront—they can adjust playback speed after capture. Whether for slow-motion effects or cinematic storytelling, the iPhone 16 Pro offers flexible playback options, including quarter-speed, half-speed, and 1/5-speed for 24fps cinematic moments.
The camera control interface supports third-party apps like FiLMiC Pro and Grid Composer, enabling advanced features such as precise framing based on the rule of thirds and other composition tools. This further solidifies the iPhone 16 Pro as a versatile tool for video creators.
Audio: Studio-quality sound and Spatial Audio
The iPhone 16 Pro also delivers significant audio upgrades. Four studio-quality microphones provide low noise levels for true-to-life sound capture, whether recording vocals or instruments. The reduced noise floor ensures high-quality audio, which is essential for professional recordings.
A new feature is spatial audio capture during video recording, enhancing the immersive experience when paired with AirPods or viewed on Apple Vision Pro. The spatial audio capture allows dynamic editing through the new audio mix feature, which uses machine learning to separate background elements from voices. This feature includes three voice options: in-frame mix, which isolates the person’s voice on camera; studio mix, which replicates a professional recording environment by eliminating reverb; and cinematic mix, which positions the vocal track upfront with surrounding environmental sounds in the background.
For content creators, Voice Memos now offers the ability to layer tracks on top of existing recordings. This is especially useful for musicians, who can now add vocals over a guitar track or any other instrumental recording. The system automatically isolates the voice from the background audio for a clean, professional result.
A18 Pro Chip: Powering Creativity and Performance
At the core of the iPhone 16 Pro’s new capabilities is the A18 Pro chip, built with second-generation 3-nanometer technology for improved performance and efficiency. The 16-core Neural Engine is designed for tasks requiring high computational power, such as machine learning and generative AI. With a 17% increase in system memory bandwidth, the iPhone 16 Pro can handle tasks such as ray tracing in gaming, 4K video editing, and more.
The A18 Pro chip’s enhanced image signal processor (ISP) enables real-time color grading and supports the advanced photo and video capabilities of the iPhone 16 Pro, ensuring that every shot and video benefits from professional-level quality. The chip’s GPU also provides 20% faster performance, allowing for smoother gaming and more efficient graphics rendering.
iPhone 16 Pro: Is It Time to Switch or Upgrade?
For professional creators, the iPhone 16 Pro delivers the performance and tools needed to meet demanding creative standards. Powered by the A18 Pro chip, it offers advanced photographic styles, pro-level video recording, and studio-quality audio. Whether capturing intricate details in images, producing cinematic-quality videos, or recording clear, high-fidelity audio, the iPhone 16 Pro provides the precision and control necessary to achieve your creative goals. This upgrade is a powerful creative tool designed to push the boundaries of your work, supporting and enhancing your vision with every use.
Apple introduced the iPhone 16, showcasing new durability, performance, and personalization features. The device retains its sleek look but incorporates significant upgrades, including color-infused glass in ultramarine, teal, and pink, alongside white and black. This design innovation gives the iPhone 16 a refreshed, vibrant appearance.
The iPhone 16 builds on the Action Button first seen in the iPhone 15 Pro, allowing users to access customizable functions quickly. A new dedicated camera button brings a more traditional camera experience, instantly launching the camera and functioning as a hardware shutter.
Powered by Apple’s new A18 chip, the iPhone 16 is built for handling advanced tasks, particularly those requiring machine learning and AI. The 16-core Neural Engine is twice as fast as the previous generation, significantly improving processing power for AI workloads. Apple increased memory bandwidth by 17%, allowing more efficient handling of large models and intensive tasks like large language models. The A18’s six-core CPU is 30% faster than the iPhone 15’s, with improved power efficiency and extended battery life. Apple claims the iPhone 16 can outperform some high-end desktop PCs.
The display has also seen upgrades, with brightness reaching 2,000 nits in sunlight and dropping to one nit in low-light environments for more comfortable viewing. The Ceramic Shield glass is 50% tougher than previous versions, adding to the iPhone’s overall durability and water and dust resistance.
Apple’s focus on AI brings Apple Intelligence to the iPhone 16. This system integrates generative models directly into the device, allowing for more natural language understanding and personalization. It can rewrite messages, suggest professional tones, and even create emojis based on descriptions. Additionally, users can use the new Visual Intelligence feature through the camera, which allows the device to identify objects, locations, and events simply by pointing the camera. This feature provides quick access to information such as restaurant details, event schedules, or product identification, bringing a new level of interaction to the iPhone.
The iPhone 16’s camera system has also been upgraded with a 48-megapixel main camera, allowing users to capture images with more detail. A new 2x telephoto option offers optical quality, made possible by the device’s computational photography capabilities. The ultra-wide camera, now with autofocus, allows for better low-light performance and macro photography, while spatial video and photo capture bring new dimensions to memory preservation, compatible with Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
Overall, the iPhone 16 introduces more power, control, and personalization options, making it a versatile tool for users who demand both performance and convenience in their daily tasks.
Video gaming is still a thriving and lucrative industry, and you don’t even need to own an expensive and heavy handheld PC to enjoy it. With Apple now allowing emulators into the App Store, there is a vast new source of titles to play, some of which aren’t exactly conducive to tapping on a flat screen. Game controllers for iPhones aren’t always the best solution, especially if it means carrying an extra accessory in your pocket. But what if you never had to remove that controller in the first place? That’s the idea behind this genius iPhone accessory that’s a GameBoy-like controller when you need it and a quirky protective case when you don’t.
There are iPhone-compatible game controllers that attach to the smartphone but only makes sense if you hold it sideways like a Nintendo Switch. You can’t leave these permanently on the phone, of course, which means you’ll have to make sure you always bring it with you when the craving to play strikes. That could be a fleeting moment, however, that quickly evaporates while you try to strap the controller, turn it on, and pair it with the phone. Plus, the landscape orientation really only works for modern mobile games, not the ones from decades past.
GameBaby is an innovative design that solves that problem while also paying homage to some of video gaming history’s greatest hits. It’s technically a two-part case for the phone that slides onto the top and bottom of the phone. The critical difference is that you can flip the bottom half around, revealing actual working buttons in the familiar layout of many old-school handheld consoles, particularly the GameBoy which served as this accessory’s inspiration.
Since the buttons go over the lower half of the iPhone screen, it offers direct input without the lag of Bluetooth or even USB connections. It also means there are no batteries to be worried about either. It’s really simply just a layer of buttons that give you a more tactile feeling than mashing your finger against the glass. And when you’re done playing, simply slide the case off, flip it again, and go on with your regular life.
The catch to this simple yet useful design is that it really only works with emulators that play retro games made for old consoles like NES, GameBoy, and similar. It works best with the Delta emulator now available on iOS, and Bitmo Lab has custom emulator skins designed specifically to match the layout of the physical buttons. The even bigger catch, however, is that GameBaby is only available for the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max, and only in a banana yellow and white color theme.
Apple’s iOS 18 developer beta 2 has introduced several notable features and improvements, making it an exciting update for developers and users alike. Among the highlights are iPhone Mirroring on compatible Macs, enhanced SharePlay screen sharing, a dark mode icon for the App Store, and a multi-language keyboard. I’m most excited about iPhone Mirroring, and I can’t wait to test it out in the public beta, which should be available soon.
Designer: Apple
iPhone Mirroring lets you project your iPhone screen onto your Mac, which can be incredibly useful. First, it allows you to get notifications on your Mac without unlocking your iPhone, keeping you in the loop without interrupting your workflow. Second, the drag-and-drop functionality between the iPhone and Mac makes transferring files and interacting with apps a breeze. Finally, it means you can access your iPhone apps and files on your Mac, even when your iPhone is locked or in Standby mode. This seamless integration between devices is a game-changer for productivity.
Apple iOS 18 beta 2: iPhone Mirroring
SharePlay screen sharing is another feature that stands out in iOS 18 beta 2. This update allows you to draw on and control others’ screens during shared sessions, making remote assistance and collaboration much more effective. Whether you’re troubleshooting an issue, working on a project together, or teaching someone how to use an app, SharePlay makes it easy to interact and communicate in real-time.
The App Store has also received a visual update with a new dark mode icon. This change aligns with the system-wide dark mode, reducing eye strain, especially in low-light environments. It’s a small yet thoughtful update that enhances the overall user experience.
The multi-language keyboard is another fantastic addition. It now supports up to three languages simultaneously, including 27 Indian languages like Hindi, Assamese, Bangla, and Urdu. This update is perfect for multilingual users, making it easier to switch between languages without changing settings. It’s a step toward making iOS devices more accessible and user-friendly for a diverse global audience.
Finally, iOS 18 beta 2 introduces Rich Communication Services (RCS) support in the Messages app. RCS brings features like read receipts, typing indicators, and higher-quality media sharing to your messages, offering a more interactive and engaging messaging experience.
Additionally, the second beta includes some smaller tweaks and interface changes. The Home Screen now features a wallpaper tinting toggle and improved contrast for certain icons. There’s also a new Connected Card Wallet widget, although it’s not functional yet, and enhancements to the Passwords app with a more accessible “+” button for adding new items. The Control Center’s power button now has a more pronounced haptic feel, preventing accidental activation.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Downloading
When testing out the iOS 18 public beta, it’s essential to proceed with caution. Developer betas are designed for testing and may contain bugs that could cause unexpected crashes or issues with certain apps. Before downloading, make sure to back up your device to avoid any potential data loss. If you prefer a more stable experience, consider signing up for the public beta, which is expected to be released later in the month or in July.
iOS 18 Developer Beta 2: Eligible iPhone Models
The iOS 18 developer beta 2 supports the following iPhone models:
– iPhone 15
– iPhone 15 Plus
– iPhone 15 Pro
– iPhone 15 Pro Max
– iPhone 14
– iPhone 14 Plus
– iPhone 14 Pro
– iPhone 14 Pro Max
– iPhone 13
– iPhone 13 mini
– iPhone 13 Pro
– iPhone 13 Pro Max
By ensuring your device is supported and backing up your data, you can safely explore iOS 18’s exciting new features.
We are still living with the iPhone 15 and its variants; the era of the iPhone 16 is further away from now. As known, it’s customary of Apple to drop its new seedlings (iPhone variants, if you like) in September every year and it looks like there is nothing unusual this year as well. Like every other year in the past, since Steve Jobs revealed the first iPhone – feels like it was a century ago – iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro variants will arrive with new features.
A lot of them are leaking in bits and will continue to do so until the launch date. Irrespective of that, we will continue to have our own wishlists: long battery performance… please, elaborate AI integration into the iOS, and perhaps smaller screen real estate…hmm! When everyone else is putting their money on predicting the possible large display sizes of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the Phone Industry is taking an ‘S’ route: A concept of an iPhone 16S that looks to take design cues from the Rabbit R1.
For reference, the Rabbit R1 isn’t a typical gadget, and so is not its design. The boxy little AI device is designed to learn from your commands and do more than what the average smartphone can do. That is until the recent debacle of reviews that are showing that the real-world evolution of the Rabbit is far from its advocated details. Anyhow, this is not about what the Rabbit R1 does, it’s about the identical-looking (minus the hold bars on the top and bottom) iPhone 16S concept because the best AI device you can have in your pocket – in the foreseeable future is a phone!
Perhaps then the form factor of the concept phone in question may be stolen from the Rabbit R1, it does have some interesting ideas reliving its iPhone 16 identity (as the rumors hold it for now). The iPhone 16S is taking the expected Capture Button idea from the forthcoming iPhone deals, to give us a pocket camera-like physical clicking button from the yesteryears.
So, the hypothetical capture button on the opposite side of the iPhone 15 Pro like the Action Button, gives this iPhone a more camera-like feel. While Apple is considering on reworking the camera array in the upcoming iPhone 16 lineup, this concept sticks to the S series iPhone basics and uses just one – obviously multi-capability – camera in the rear. The highlight for me – besides the square form factor – of the iPhone 16S concept is its all-metal body and an interesting pattern around the Apple logo on the back. What do you think?
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