If the success of the Fuji X100 series of cameras and the resurgence of point-and-shoot cameras is anything to go by, we’re back in the era of vibes taking precedence over pinpoint accuracy. It’s really no surprise either. While manufacturers battle for ‘natural’ looking images to take up the mantle of the best camera smartphone, actual users overwhelmingly tend to use filters ranging from Instagram’s built-in options to VSCO and Lightroom. But what if there was a way to achieve a middle ground?
Filters built into phone cameras aren’t new. Xiaomi, vivo, and many other brands had the feature for years. But the iPhone 16 series and its Photographic Styles do it differently, and I’m here for it. Over the last month, I’ve been dual-wielding the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the Pixel 9 Pro, and nine out of ten times, it is the iPhone that I opt for when it’s time to take a photograph. Simply put, I’ve been having way more fun shooting with the iPhone. Here’s why.