Since its launch 17 years ago, the iPhone has been renowned for its high-end hardware.
Apple has always offered premium design, delivering phones that look and feel like quality devices.
However, as capable as this hardware is, there are still some features that Apple has refused to introduce. None of these features are deal breakers, especially if you’re already familiar with the iPhone, but they’re all present on at least one Android phone.
And while the iPhone 16 series introduces some useful upgrades, Apple has left these areas untouched.
It’s worth noting that this article is specifically hardware-focused. There are many Android features that aren’t available on iOS (and vice versa), which you can learn more about in our Android vs iOS comparison.
Fast charging
Apple has been steadily improving battery life in recent years, and now offers phones that can comfortably last more than a full day on a single charge.
However, its approach to charging has remained stubbornly consistent. All iPhone 16 phones are limited to just 25W, and even then, only if you have a compatible charger at home.
It’s certainly not the only offender, with Samsung phones maxing out at 45W and Google’s maxing out at 37W. But when the OnePlus 12 offers 100W wired charging and the Xiaomi 14 Ultra sits at 90W, that slow charging becomes harder to ignore.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Apple is understandably concerned about the effect of fast charging on long-term battery health, but surely it could increase the speeds a bit without any harmful effects.
In-screen fingerprint reader
In 2017, Apple ditched the physical fingerprint sensor for Face ID on the iPhone X. This allowed for an all-screen design (no notch) without sacrificing the convenience and security of biometric unlocking.
Seven years later, Apple still hasn’t come up with an alternative, even though under-display scanners have been around for years. While many Android phones still use optical sensors, the ultrasonic versions on devices like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL are much faster and more reliable.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Honor and Google have also introduced facial recognition unlock methods that are secure enough to log into banking apps or authenticate payments. In the meantime, Apple doesn’t appear to have any plans to create a new version of Face ID for the display.
Stylus support
When the iPhone was launched, Steve Jobs criticized the stylus, saying that “nobody wanted it.”
But in 2015, Apple decided to release its own stylus. It was slightly different from the basic versions Jobs was referring to, offering pressure sensitivity and tilt detection.
Since then, there have been many versions of the Apple Pencil, but they were only compatible with the iPad. Although they also have a touchscreen, none of the Apple Pencils work with an iPhone.
Petter Ahrnstedt
Petter Ahrnstedt
Petter Ahrnstedt
However, a phone-friendly version of the Apple Pencil would make a lot of sense, especially on the high-end iPhone 16 Pro Max. It could work similarly to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, being securely docked to the phone and instantly connecting every time you take it out.
High refresh rate display (on non-Pro models)
Nearly four years after the Razer Phone made history as the first phone with a high refresh rate display, Apple finally embraced the feature in 2021. The iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max both had 120Hz displays, as have every Pro-branded iPhone since then.
Apple
Apple
Apple
Unfortunately, every other phone Apple has released since then has been stuck at 60Hz. Even for a casual user, this means a noticeably less smooth and responsive screen, especially when scrolling or gaming.
In the case of the iPhone 16 series, you’re paying at least £799/$799 (iPhone 16) or £899/$899 (iPhone 16 Plus) for a screen that’s technically inferior to many budget phones.
While disappointing, none of these missing features will likely keep the iPhone 16 phones from being among the best phones you can buy. There are plenty of features I’m looking forward to trying out, including one that’s expected to come to Android phones soon.
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