Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Almost everything the iPhone 16 does , it does very well . It has all the lineament most citizenry call for every day and a few more that are usually reserved for Apple ’s Pro card . If you postulate a bigger display and/or battery , there ’s the iPhone 16 Plus .
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The Action Button makes its way to the non-Pro iPhones, replacing the mute switch.
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Those familiar with Apple ’s iPhone lineup understand that the company puts out two sets of phones : one set with “ Pro ” in the name to denote that they have advance features not get in the other solidifying of phones , which go by the iPhone name and rendering issue – in this case , it ’s the iPhone 16 ( and iPhone 16 Plus for the larger concealment and battery ) .
Before this dismissal , take between the Pro and non - pro iPhones was a bit of a mastermind twister . The Pro has the fancier camera setup and you could convince yourself you do n’t call for it , but then you begin to take care at the other features that the Pros have ( Action button , ProMotion , 5x rapid climb , newer poker chip ) . You could start to train a Fear of Missing Out .
With that in mind , there ’s very sound news with the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus : Some of the major new features Apple introduced are on both the iPhone 16 and the 16 Pro , plus the 16 Pro ’s features fill a high - remnant corner that most people are n’t going to care about . The FOMO is gone , and with the iPhone 16 , Apple has a earpiece that will make a vast majority of its user very happy .
The Action Button makes its way to the non-Pro iPhones, replacing the mute switch.
This revaluation takes a feeling at the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus . The only departure between the two is the size ; the chip , show technology , buttons , cameras , and just about everything else is the same . When I have-to doe with to the iPhone 16 , I ’m talking about both phones and I call out the iPhone 16 Plus specifically when necessary , such as with the barrage fire .
The Action Button makes its style to the non - Pro iPhones , replacing the silent shift .
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The Action Button makes its way to the non-Pro iPhones, replacing the mute switch.
iPhone 16 and 16 Plus: Action Button and Camera Control
With theiPhone 15 Pro , Apple inaugurate the Action button , which replaced the mute permutation . It ’s still on the iPhone 16 Pro but it ’s now on the iPhone 16 , too , so there ’s one “ pro ” feature of speech that made its way down the product line . By default , the Action button is set for mute to mimic the late switch ’s behavior , but it can be changed in iOS ’s preferences to activate Focus , the Camera , the Flashlight , Voice Memo , Shazam , Translate , Magnifier , a Control Center control , a Shortcut you ’ve created , an Accessibility feature , or No natural action .
The Action Button is so easy to treasure , especially if you ’re tired of navigating through iOS to get to a characteristic or app you constantly apply . I set mine to Flashlight and now it ’s uncommitted at the push of a clit rather of suffer to wake the phone and tap - and - curb the Flashlight icon on the Lock screen or admission Control Center . The next clock time I travel to a non - English speaking country , I ’ll set it to Translate and have speedy access to the Translate app . If you need the Action clitoris to do more than the provided options , you may make and specify it to a Shortcut – it sound daunting , but it ’s really not . get a line how to habituate Shortcuts to make the Action Button do more .
Camera Control is a unspoiled idea , once you get used to it .
Camera Control is a good idea, once you get used to it.
The young Camera Control button , which is on the button the case of feature Apple usually stockpile for Pro model phones , is available on the whole iPhone 16 card . This clit is grade below the power button on the low-pitched veracious side , and when holding the iPhone 16 horizontally with the Camera Control on top , its placement is akin to the shutter button on a traditional television camera . The release works disregarding of how you hold the iPhone 16 , but if you ’re not well-fixed with its placement , you’re able to still practice the Action push to launch Camera and you’re able to plough off Camera Control completely – it ca n’t be reassigned to do a non - camera related task .
By default , Camera Control is dedicated to the neckcloth Camera app . you’re able to change the Camera Control setting in theCamerasettings so that it spread a third - political party tv camera app such as Halide , Obscura , or Instagram , and it even works with Final Cut Camera . Apple has an API for Camera Control for third - company camera - centric apps , so if you do n’t see your favourite app in the configurations , be on the lookout for a future app update .
Considering how often exploiter get at the camera , Camera Control is a great musical theme , though it has a steep learning curved shape for figuring out its subtlety . For lesson , press it completely , andthenupon releaseyour photographic camera app opens , but it does n’t lose it a picture . But once in the camera , the push button play as a shutter . you may also hold the clit down to immediately commence recording a video but you ’ll need to keep it pressed the whole time . As soon as you lift your digit , it stops memorialise .
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus lack a dedicated telephoto lens.
The Camera Capture button does more than shoot ; it provide access to choice like rapid growth , pic , and trend . To get to those options takes a “ double light - wardrobe ” of the button , not a full press , but after a hebdomad I ’m still mastering the timing and sensitivity of this activeness . substance abuser can align the sensitivity and speed of pressing the release inAccessibility > Camera Control , which I ’ve see helpful in getting comfortable with Camera Control . Get all the details on how to conform the Camera Control button .
See how Apple and third - party face makers have dealt with the Camera Control in our roundup of thebest cases for iPhone 16 .
iPhone 16 and 16 Plus: Camera
Apple continues to outfit the non - Pro iPhones with a dual camera arrangement and the iPhone 16 has livelihood for take spatial pic – that ’s why the cameras are now draw up in a row rather of diagonally . The main Fusion camera ( as it ’s now called ) has a 48MP camera that include livelihood for 2x ocular telephotograph . Then there ’s the 12 - megapixel ultrawide television camera that ’s capable of drive macro shots – yet another feature that was previously only on the iPhone Pro .
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus lack a dedicated telephotograph lens .
The iPhone has always taken great word-painting and Apple has done nothing here to negatively bear on the quality . The new macro power allows users to regain a creative issue that was n’t antecedently available in the non - Pro iPhone . gratefully , the ultrawide camera is better in humbled - brightness situations .
Photographic Styles can be used to give your photos an artistic twist.
A new tv camera feature of speech throughout the iPhone 16 lineup is the fresh Photographic Styles , which are basically a crowd of themed presets to give your pic a certain feel . I ’ve never been into photographic filters or pull off setting in such a manner to make a dramatic , esthetic impression , but I wish the way Photographic Style has been implemented in the Camera app . It uses an port that looks like a scatter chart and you move the dot within it to tweak each style . It ’s well-off to utilise and previews are instantaneous .
Photographic Styles can be used to give your pic an artistic crook .
The video camera has a new Audio Mix feature of speech on the whole iPhone 16 card . It offers three unlike ways to align the audio after you ’ve captured the video . For anyone who does even a small amount of editing to recorded videos , Audio Mix provides flexibleness for making your content sound how you require it to sound . It feels like a feature that Apple could ’ve easily made undivided to the iPhone 16 Pro , but again , it did n’t .
iPhone 16 and 16 Plus: Display
The video display stay on one of the major components separating the iPhone 16 from the 16 Pro . The iPhone 16 uses a video display with a 60Hz refresh rate while ProMotion , which offers the power to mechanically correct the refresh pace to a fast 120Hz when scrolling , persist a Pro feature .
As someone who antecedently used an iPhone 14 Pro Max daily , the difference between the 60Hz and 120Hz rate is detectable at times , but it ’s more about nuance than practicality . There was never a tip while using the iPhone 16 to play games , watch picture , web browsing , or any other workaday task where my experience feel lessen because of the 60Hz display . Most of the sentence I did n’t even notice .
The iPhone 16 also lack an always - on display , so when the headphone sits idle or you turn off the show , the display go coloured . In my carrying experience , not having an always - on display did n’t bother me ; I could just press the world power button or intercept the display to see notifications or the time . But when using the iPhone 16 inStandBy modeas a nightstand clock , the display also goes disconsolate and to see the time you have to tap the screen , or trip the phone ’s accelerometer by stir the tabular array or stand , or practice Siri . That ’s the most pestering part and if you expend Standby Mode , reckon a Pro model .
iPhone 16 and 16 Plus: Performance
The iPhones in late history are more than tight enough for most people . However , Apple continues to ameliorate performance with each fresh coevals . To see how much of an improvement the fresh A18 offering , we ran a series of benchmark , starting with Geekbench 6 , which offers sixth sense into general , all - around performance .
Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark
Geekbench 6 results are stated as scores . in high spirits scores / longer bar are faster .
Since the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have the same A18 cow dung , the performance between the two is going to be practically identical . compare to the iPhone 15 ’s A16 potato chip , the A18 posted Multi - core and Single - sum results that were 27 percentage and 30 percentage quicker , respectively . That ’s a little better than the common year - over - year rise , but think back , the iPhone 15 used an older - generation chip .
3DMark graphics tests
consequence are build per second . Higher scores / longer ginmill are fast .
The iPhone 16 offers a hike in graphics carrying into action , too , so if you wish to bet in writing - intensive game , there ’s an advance . I should take down that while the A18 ’s mainframe is similar to the A18 Pro in the iPhone 16 Pro , the graphic processor is what makes the chips different . The A18 Pro has one more GPU heart and soul and a bit more oomph than the A18 .
Geekbench AI test results
Geekbench AI test using the Neural Engine . Higher scores / foresighted bars are faster .
Apple ’s freehanded selling push with the iPhone 16 is to tie it to Apple Intelligence . So , AI performance is now a thing to consider and to estimate AI performance , we practice theGeekbench AItest .
The results show dramatic improvement over the iPhone 15 , as much as 107 percent . The outcome distinctly reflect Apple ’s determination to make the non - Pro iPhones capable of supporting its upcoming AI feature – the iPhone 15 is n’t on theApple Intelligence compatibility list , but the iPhone 16 is . ( More on the iPhone 16 and Apple Intelligence below . )
iPhone 16 and 16 Plus: Battery life
One major change between the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus and the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus is that the new phones have heavy battery . conflate that with the improved efficiency of the A18 chip in these earpiece and that means longer stamp battery life . The iPhone barrage lifespan has always been good , but now it ’s even better . Way well .
Battery sprightliness was tested using Geekbench 4 ’s electric battery psychometric test . It ’s a more arduous test compare to the ways Apple gauges battery life , so the number here should be taken within the context of our results , not versus Apple ’s numbers .
Geekbench 4 battery test
Geekbench 4 electric battery run results are put forward in minute . Longer blockade / high results are unspoiled .
These result are unbelievable . The iPhone 16 ’s improvement is nearly four hours longer than the iPhone 15 and two hour longer than the iPhone 15 Plus which has a larger battery . The iPhone 16 Plus can last over four hours longer than the iPhone 15 Plus . Under regular manipulation , the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are going to get you through the day and then some , and you may palpate comfortable about doing something that will take its price on the battery – you’re still fit to have wad of charge left over .
As you could see in ouriPhone 16 battery sprightliness tests , the electric battery spirit for the whole iPhone 16 - serial is drastically better .
iPhone 16 and 16 Plus: Apple Intelligence
If you were convinced that the marquee feature of the iPhone 16 is Apple Intelligence , that ’s belike because Apple is promoting it that agency . But Apple Intelligence is n’t available yet . That new version of Siri you desire to confab with ? Does n’t work yet . The clean - up putz for editing out that strange dude in the background of your photograph ? Ca n’t do it yet . The summary you ’re count for about the long email thread you ’ve disregard ? Sorry , you better start from the beginning .
Apple will start roll out Apple Intelligence features later this fall , starting with iOS 18.1 . That will let in a few features , and then later updates will gradually roll out more features . We have item of what ’s coming and when . The iPhone 16 hardware is all ready to go with Apple Intelligence , and it could make your raw phone feel even newer .
Should you buy the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Plus?
Almost everything the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus does , they do very well . It has all the features most people demand every day and a few more that are normally set aside for Apple ’s Pro lineup . The iPhone 16 Pro still has more feature , but they ’ve ventured into the niche arena , addressing the demand of gamy - conclusion user , such as video producers and professional capacity creators . You should learn ouriPhone 16 Pro reviewto check more – what you ’ll plausibly count on out that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have all that you necessitate .
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone history
Find connectedness below to our reviews of all iPhone manakin , including the up-to-the-minute contemporaries . TheiPhone SE ( quaternary generation)andiPhone 17are potential to appear in 2025 . Learn more about all thenew Apple mathematical product coming this yearandwhen is the next Apple effect . You might also care ouriPhone purchasing guidebook , best iPhone dealsandcomparison of every iPhone that is usable to corrupt today .