Key Takeaways
- The iPhone 16 is a stable improve over the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 because of its new Digicam Management Button, Motion Button, and shiny, colourful design.
- Key variations from iPhone 16 Professional embody no telephoto lens, 4K 120fps video assist or silky-smooth 120Hz ProMotion display screen.
- Apple Intelligence remains to be nowhere to be discovered, and it is unclear when all of its options will launch.
I really feel like I write this nearly yearly, however, in relation to the iPhone 16 line, there are only a few causes to purchase the “Professional” iPhone over its base counterpart.
The iPhone 16 includes a enjoyable, extra colourful design; each the brand new Digicam Management button and the Motion Button that debuted on final yr’s iPhone Professional; Apple’s highly effective A18 chip; a much bigger battery; and new good “Photographic Kinds” and “Moods.” The listing goes on. This yr’s key “Professional” differentiators come right down to a 5x optical telephoto lens, 4K 120fps video assist, and, after all, the 120Hz ProMotion display screen. It is ridiculous Apple nonetheless hasn’t up to date the bottom iPhone’s show refresh price.
The iPhone 16 is just not
that
a lot of an improve over the iPhone 15, until you are within the new Digicam Management and Motion Button.
In fact, the iPhone 16 is not excellent. Past the dearth of a better refresh price show, the cellphone would not provide any Apple Intelligence options but, with some arriving later in October and others releasing in early 2025. To the common iPhone consumer, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional will appear practically an identical, solely the previous gadget includes a extra eye-catching design. However regardless of being a really full package deal, the iPhone 16 is just not that a lot of an improve over the iPhone 15, until you are within the new Digicam Management and Motion Button. Which means these nonetheless utilizing an iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 can doubtless sit this yr out.
This evaluation is targeted on the iPhone 16. I’ve briefly used the 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus and each gadgets really feel an identical past the show measurement distinction. Some evaluations level to the iPhone 16 Plus providing barely higher battery life than the iPhone 16.
Really helpful
iPhone 16
This yr’s iPhone 16 line blurs the road between the “Professional” and the base-level iPhone by providing a brand new digital camera button and the Motion Button, alongside the A18 chip.
- New colors look nice
- General spectacular smartphone package deal
- Images Kinds and Digicam Management Button are nice
- Nonetheless no 120Hz show
- Apple Intelligence options are nowhere to be discovered
- In some methods, not that a lot of an improve over the iPhone 15
Value, availability, and specs
Apple’s iPhone 16 begins at $800 and the iPhone 16 Plus prices $900. The iPhone 16 includes a 2,556 x 1,179 pixel decision 6.1-inch OLED display screen, whereas the iPhone 16 Plus presents a 2,796 x 1,290 pixel decision 6.7-inch OLED show. Sadly, neither cellphone presents a 120Hz show refresh price, which means they’re each locked to 60Hz. Because of this, neither gadget presents an always-on display screen, similar to final yr.
Different specs embody Apple’s A18 chip, a considerable improve from the iPhone 16’s A16 processor. Each the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus characteristic a Digicam Management button for simple entry to the Digicam app, and the Motion Button, which was solely featured within the iPhone 15 Professional line final yr. Rear digital camera specs embody an f/1.6 48-megapixel predominant digital camera and an f/2.2 12-megapixel ultra-wide digital camera. The front-facing digital camera options an f/2.2 12-megapixel selfie shooter.
Apple Intelligence options like AI-assisted writing, object removing within the Images app, and a extra contextual Siri aren’t but obtainable however ought to launch within the coming months. This yr’s surprisingly shiny colours embody ultramarine (which is featured on this evaluation), teal, pink, and black.
iPhone 16 construct and design
Vivid, saturated colours and a cool-looking digital camera bump
Let’s get probably the most attention-grabbing adjustments out of the best way first. First, the rear twin digital camera array is now vertical and aligned, which appears higher than I anticipated. The bump’s define can also be barely darker than the remainder of the smartphone, giving it an odd however cool-looking glow beneath sure mild, particularly in comparison with the iPhone 16 Professional Max’s drab digital camera bump.
Talking of colours, this yr’s stark choices look nice, particularly in comparison with the washed-out colours of the previous couple of years (which, for the document, I additionally preferred). They stand out from different smartphones, particularly Samsung’s low-key coloured Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, and definitively look totally different from the iPhone 15. Ultramarine is my favourite, however teal and pink are additionally nice wanting; Apple actually nailed the iPhone 16’s colours this yr.
Different additions embody the ‘Motion Button,’ which I nonetheless have not discovered a helpful function for but. It is a programmable button that can be utilized to launch just about something when you use the Shortcuts app. Admittedly, I have not actually given it a lot of an opportunity as a result of I discover launching apps from my House Display or lockscreen simply as straightforward. I nonetheless continuously discover myself lacking the traditional mute change from the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 Professional, however I additionally know that lots of people actually just like the Motion Button.
As somebody who grew utilizing easy cameras, I actually respect the Digicam Management button…
The iPhone 16 additionally options the identical Digicam Management button because the iPhone 16 Professional. Apple would not need individuals to name it a button as a result of there’s extra to it, however it nonetheless presses inwards, so so far as I am involved, it is a button. One press launches the digital camera app and a further press snaps a photograph, turning your iPhone 16 right into a futuristic point-and-shoot. As somebody who grew up utilizing easy cameras, I actually respect the Digicam Management button, and I am wanting ahead to the two-step shutter coming in an replace within the coming months.
The Digicam Management button might be finicky, although, significantly when swiping between the huge and ultrawide shooters or altering the “Photographic Model” or “Temper” (extra on this later). However when you get the cling of the Digicam Management button, it is a streamlined technique to entry key digital camera options, amounting to one of the attention-grabbing additions to the iPhone line in years.
Past the above adjustments, the iPhone 16 includes a design that’s similar to its predecessor. This consists of coloured, squared-off aluminum sides, a matte again that repels grease and smudges, the Dynamic Island cutout that made its technique to the base-level iPhone 15 final yr, and a USB-C port that also options USB 2.0 speeds (given I not often switch knowledge with a USB-C cable, I do not see this as a difficulty). And lastly, the iPhone 16 options the identical next-generation Ceramic Defend know-how because the iPhone 16 Professional, which ought to enhance its capacity to resist drops.
iPhone 16 show
Nonetheless no 60Hz or always-on show
The largest challenge with the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Plus is the dearth of a 120Hz show. That is the form of characteristic that when you’ve got skilled a 120Hz display screen, it is troublesome to return. However, when you’ve by no means encountered a silky {smooth}, excessive refresh price smartphone display screen, you in all probability will not discover the distinction and might be totally positive with the iPhone 16’s display screen. Regardless, it is 2024 and a 60Hz display screen is fairly unforgivable since practically each Android smartphone value shopping for options a minimum of a 90Hz display screen.
On a extra optimistic be aware, the display screen appears nice and as much as par with the iPhone 16 Professional’s when it comes to vibrancy and shade, although it nonetheless options reasonably chunky bezels. Brightness is available in at 2,000 nits at its peak, making the iPhone 16’s show straightforward to view beneath direct daylight, and it may additionally crank all the best way right down to 1 nit for darkish environments. The bottom-level iPhone nonetheless would not characteristic an always-on show just like the Professional tier gadgets. This is not a significant loss for me as a result of I’ve turned the always-on show off because it arrived with the iPhone 14 Professional. I do not discover it helpful sufficient to be well worth the battery life trade-off.
iPhone 16 digital camera
Images Kinds, however no telephoto digital camera
Just like the iPhone 16 Professional, nearly all of the iPhone 16’s upgrades are associated to the digital camera — however solely on the software program facet. Relating to {hardware}, the rear digital camera options an f/1.6 48-megapixel huge and an f/2.2 12-megapixel ultra-wide shooter, whereas front-facing digital camera options an f/2.2 12-megapixel selfie shooter.
The important thing improve this yr autofocus coming to the 12-megapixel ultrawide, permitting the lens to shoot surprisingly handsome macro pictures which are practically as much as par with the iPhone 16 Professional. On one other be aware, 2x zoom remains to be obtainable by means of sensor cropping, however I want Apple simply provided actual optical zoom with the iPhone 16 (I do know this can be a key differentiator between the 2 telephones, however I can nonetheless dream). Like in years previous, that is the important thing characteristic I miss shifting from the iPhone 16 Professional to the iPhone 16 (aside from the dearth of a 120Hz refresh price).
Digicam efficiency, normally, appears marginally higher than the iPhone 15, however there is not an enormous leap. It is also troublesome to discover a actual distinction between iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional photographs. There’s extra definition and higher distinction, significantly with shadows, however you actually need to look intently (the common particular person will doubtless suppose the pictures are an identical).
The primary two photos appear just about an identical to me, however they’re additionally shot beneath splendid lighting situations. You might simply make the argument that the iPhone 16 photograph of my cat truly appears higher than the iPhone 16 Professional shot as a result of it is extra evenly uncovered, although it does characteristic much less distinction and highlights when in comparison with the iPhone 16 Professional photograph. Both approach, it is a difficult photograph for the iPhone to snap given the backlighting from the window.
However, the benefits the iPhone 16 Professional presents are far clearer within the selfie. There’s extra distinction and shadows on my face, and the general picture is sharper (the highest proper of the iPhone 16 picture is barely blown out, too). All the above pictures have been snapped with the default Pure Photographic Model.
Sticking with images, all of the Photographic Kinds and Moods from the iPhone 16 Professional can be found with the iPhone 16. That is an attention-grabbing transfer on Apple’s half, as I might think about these Professional options. They permit you to tweak your pictures exactly the way you need, earlier than and after you shoot them. Are you searching for somewhat extra pop in your photographs? Then the “Vibant” Temper is what you are searching for. Perhaps you need a gloomy look to your pictures? Then go for “Stark B&W” and dwell out your emo images goals. These Photographic Kinds and Moods may also be tweaked manually with a considerably awkward-to-used d-pad-like settings sq..
It is value noting that as nice because the Photographic Kinds are, they don’t seem to be excellent. For one, they’re solely obtainable in HEIF, a file format that does not all the time work effectively with third-party apps. However I have not encountered any points but. I am hoping Apple adjustments the characteristic to work with customary JPEGs quickly.
Images Kinds have additionally been obtainable up to now. What’s totally different is now you can add them after taking pictures a picture. They’re additionally smarter and might differentiate between faces, the sky and different objects, as a substitute of working like a extra conventional picture filter that layers throughout your entire photograph in a uniform approach. Usually, the addition of Photographic Kinds solves all the problems I’ve had over the previous few years with the best way the iPhone processes pictures, together with firming down the awful-looking, blown-out HDR highlights that I hate a lot. So far as I am involved, that is an enormous win.
These pictures have been taken with numerous Photographic Kinds.
In a welcome addition, new mixing options can change the best way audio sounds and shift its high quality after you shoot a video. For instance, “Studio Mode” removes background noise, whereas “Cinematic Mode” focuses on individuals speaking within the middle of the body. It is all the time been potential to tweak audio with third-party apps, however bringing this performance on to the Images app makes the method way more streamlined. That is additionally the kind of characteristic Apple sometimes reserves for its Professional tier iPhone, so it is nice to see it make its technique to the iPhoen 16.
iPhone 16 efficiency
AAA video games hit the base-level iPhone
This yr, the iPhone 16 presents the A18 Professional chip, a bounce from the iPhone 15’s A16 processor (this implies the base-level iPhone skips the A17 totally). I have not skilled efficiency points with an iPhone in years, so as soon as once more, the A18 is overkill for many duties. Nevertheless, it does open the smartphone as much as AAA video games like Resident Evil and Murderer’s Creed Mirage.
The truth that it is now potential to play large price range video games on the bottom iPhone is fairly cool.
I spent a quick period of time enjoying Murderer’s Creed Mirage, and it runs barely worse than it did on the iPhone 15 Professional’s A17 Professional chip. This implies it is playable, however there’s the occasional stutter, and aliasing points are plentiful (turning down the graphics helps a bit). Nonetheless, the truth that it is now potential to play large cell ports on the bottom iPhone is fairly cool. The iPhone 16 does get reasonably scorching when enjoying resource-intense video games, nonetheless (normally, I’ve discovered that the iPhone 16 runs heat this yr, no matter what you are doing with the cellphone). For those who care about benchmarks, the iPhone 16 hits 3,233 for single-core and seven,880 for multi-core with Geekbench 6.
I obtained a number of extra hours out of the iPhone 16 in comparison with the iPhone 16 Professional, pushing late into the night after a day of doom-scrolling on numerous social media platforms, watching podcasts and sending a few emails. That is doubtless resulting from its barely bigger battery. I’ve heard that the iPhone 16 Plus will get even higher battery life, however I have not examined the gadget myself.
iPhone 16 software program
Make iOS 18 as ugly as you need
The addition of the A18 chip additionally implies that the iPhone 16 might be able to operating Apple Intelligence, Apple’s suite of AI options coming later in October and subsequent yr. This consists of AI writing instruments, an AI Picture technology app known as “Picture Playground,” a extra contextual Siri, and extra. It is clear Apple designed the iPhone 16 to drop alongside Apple Intelligence, however the launch schedules did not line up.
That is additionally why the cellphone options the Digicam Management button, which is about to double as a technique to launch the digital camera to make use of Apple’s AI-powered identification characteristic Apple says can do issues like figuring out canine breeds and including dates from a flyer to your calendar. If this feels like a barely extra superior model of Google Lens, you are heading in the right direction. None of those options are completed or formally obtainable but, although, so I do not know if any of them might be a cause to purchase the iPhone 16 (the iPhone 15 doesn’t assist Apple Intelligence).
Apple is actually letting you make the iPhone your individual, which is a refreshing change of course from the tech big.
That is to not say that Apple would not provide new options in iOS 18. Simply to call a number of, you may change the colour of your app icons with typically terrible wanting tints, customise the Management Middle, and organize icons nonetheless you need. With its newest cell OS replace, Apple is actually letting you make the iPhone your individual, which is a refreshing change of course from the tech big.
Must you purchase the iPhone 16?
Except 2x optical zoom and a 120Hz refresh price show are essential to you, most individuals can buy the iPhone 16 over the iPhone 16 Professional. The improve is extra substantial this yr, even when you’re coming from an iPhone 15, although I might by no means suggest upgrading your iPhone yearly. These with an iPhone 12 or an iPhone 13 will get probably the most out of the iPhone 16’s key upgrades, together with the A18 chip, the Motion Button, the brilliant new colours and flashy digital camera bump, and the considerably finicky, however nonetheless nice Digicam Management Button.
Me, although? I am unable to return to a 60Hz display screen, and I respect optical zoom far an excessive amount of to offer it up, however I noticed years in the past that I am not the common iPhone consumer.
Really helpful
