Apple iPhone 16 review

Trade in Apple iPhone 16

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Each year, Apple aims to persuade consumers to opt for its standard iPhones, and this year’s approach with the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus is no exception. However, I must admit that the reasons to consider this year’s models are much more compelling.

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus come in stunning new colors that outshine any previous release, while also receiving upgrades like an ultrawide camera, a new Camera control feature, the A18 chip, and several functions typically reserved for the more expensive ‘Pro’ models. While I can’t definitively say the gap between the standard and Pro models has disappeared, these devices certainly shouldn’t be overlooked—especially if you’re looking to save some cash without sacrificing key features.

In my hands-on review of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, I’ll cover all the new updates and help you decide if they’re compelling enough to deter you from spending more on a Pro model.

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APPLE IPHONE 16 & 16 PLUS HAND-ON REVIEW: SPECIFICATIONS

APPLE IPHONE 16 & 16 PLUS HAND-ON REVIEW: PRICE AND RELEASE DATE

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Great news—there are no price hikes for either model! Each year, I worry that Apple might raise the price of its standard iPhones, but this time both the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus maintain their $799 and $899 price tags. Given the features packed into these models, it’s a relief that we’ve been spared another increase.

Pre-orders kick off on September 13, with full availability starting a week later on September 20. Both models come with a base storage of 128GB, but you can also opt for 256GB or 512GB variants. While I’d love to see the base storage bumped up to 256GB, 128GB remains in line with what other comparable phones offer.

There are five color options to choose from this year: black, white, pink, teal, and ultramarine. While I appreciated last year’s palette, the iPhone 16 colors are notably richer and more vibrant. The ultramarine and pink, in particular, stand out with their vivid tones and shimmer beautifully when the light hits them just right—stylish enough to make you think twice about using a case!

APPLE IPHONE 16 & 16 PLUS HAND-ON REVIEW: DESIGN

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In addition to the bolder colors, the iPhone 16’s design takes an evolutionary step by becoming both lighter and more durable. I thought last year’s iPhone 15 was impressively lightweight, but the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, with their aerospace-grade aluminum bodies, feel even lighter than their predecessors. The smooth finish also makes them less prone to smudging.

Apple has introduced three key design changes: a new vertical arrangement for the rear cameras, an Action button, and a capacitive Camera Control button. While these tweaks don’t drastically alter the overall look, they enhance functionality, bringing the standard models closer in utility to the Pro series. Notably, both models now support recording spatial photos and videos, allowing you to view 3D content using an Apple Vision Pro or other compatible headsets.

With their lighter builds and striking colors, these new iPhones are more visually appealing than ever. Ultimately, the decision between the two comes down to your preference for the more compact iPhone 16 or the larger screen offered by the iPhone 16 Plus.

APPLE IPHONE 16 & 16 PLUS HAND-ON REVIEW: DISPLAY

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The screen sizes on the new iPhone 16 models remain unchanged, with the iPhone 16 sporting a 6.1-inch display and the iPhone 16 Plus featuring a 6.7-inch screen. While it’s a bit disappointing that these sizes haven’t grown—especially given the larger screens on the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max—I’m not too upset. The current sizes still make the devices comfortable to hold with one hand.

As before, both models feature OLED-based Super Retina XDR displays, complete with the familiar pill-shaped cutout for the Dynamic Island. Apple boasts a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, though it’s difficult to verify this claim in the event’s indoor lighting. Given that the Pixel 9 reaches a peak brightness of 2,390 nits in our tests, the iPhone 16 falls short in this regard.

Nevertheless, the display remains sharp, vibrant, and offers excellent viewing angles. My only frustration is Apple’s continued reluctance to upgrade the display refresh rate. In this day and age, a 60Hz refresh rate feels outdated, and the iPhone 16 deserved a better upgrade after being stuck at 60Hz for so long.

APPLE IPHONE 16 & 16 PLUS HAND-ON REVIEW: CAMERAS

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As before, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus come equipped with upgraded dual rear cameras: a 48MP main sensor and a refreshed 12MP ultrawide lens. This time, the ultrawide camera is especially noteworthy because it introduces macro photography capabilities—a feature previously reserved for the Pro models.

Apple emphasizes the versatility of this new camera setup, highlighting its ability to deliver high-quality photos without a dedicated zoom lens. It relies on pixel binning techniques similar to those used in the iPhone 15 to provide usable 2x zoom photos.

Until I can get hands-on with the phones and thoroughly test their cameras, it’s difficult to determine if there are any significant improvements over previous models. However, the most notable change appears to be in the way you capture photos. The new Camera Control button enhances the experience, making it feel more like a traditional point-and-shoot camera compared to the on-screen controls used before.

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The Camera Control button, located on the right side of the phone, can detect the pressure applied to it, mimicking the physical shutter button found on today’s top mirrorless cameras. It takes a bit of adjustment due to the additional functions available.

Fully pressing the button captures a photo, while pressing and holding it starts video recording. I appreciate that it can also detect swipes to switch between various settings, such as zoom controls and exposure adjustments—just by lightly pressing the Camera Control button and swiping left or right. It may take some time to get used to, but it’s a positive step toward making the iPhone feel more like a dedicated camera.

That said, I still wish Apple had included more controls, such as options for adjusting shutter speed and ISO, which would be valuable for enthusiasts like me. On the audio front, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus now feature the same Audio Mixing capability introduced with the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, allowing users to adjust audio levels after recording a video. This feature is now available on the standard iPhone 16 models as well.

APPLE IPHONE 16 & 16 PLUS HAND-ON REVIEW: PERFORMANCE

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Skipping over the A17 Pro, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are powered by the new A18 chip, which is built on an advanced 3nm manufacturing process. This chip offers a notable 30% boost in CPU performance compared to the previous A16 Bionic.

Despite these performance improvements, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus maintain the same level of responsiveness for everyday tasks such as launching apps, capturing burst photos, and utilizing the new Apple Intelligence features.

The real highlight, in my opinion, is the enhanced gaming experience. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus now support hardware-accelerated ray tracing, a feature previously exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. I observed this capability in action with Honor of Kings, where the phones handled the game effortlessly, maintaining a smooth frame rate even with complex water reflections in the scene.

I’m confident that benchmark scores will be impressive, given their track record of consistently topping performance charts.

APPLE IPHONE 16 & 16 PLUS HAND-ON REVIEW: BATTERY

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Apple has indicated that the battery in the iPhone 16 is larger, but it’s unclear whether the iPhone 16 Plus also benefits from a bigger battery. The focus seems to be on how the batteries have been redesigned to improve heat dissipation, which should enhance power efficiency. I suspect the efficiency gains from the A18 chip will significantly impact battery life, particularly for the iPhone 16 Plus, given that last year’s iPhone 15 Plus outperformed the 15 Pro Max in terms of battery longevity.

Additionally, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus now feature 25W MagSafe charging and Qi2 support, allowing for faster wireless charging compared to previous models. However, there doesn’t appear to be any improvement in USB-C wired charging speeds.

APPLE IPHONE 16 & 16 PLUS HAND-ON REVIEW: SOFTWARE

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I initially thought that Apple Intelligence features would be exclusive to the Pro models, but that’s not the case. This actually adds considerable value to the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. In fact, there are no exclusive features when it comes to Apple Intelligence; both the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have access to the new Siri, Writing Tools, ChatGPT with OpenAI, and the Photo Clean Up feature.

I’m quite surprised by this decision, as I didn’t expect Apple to extend these features to all iPhones. This means the experience is essentially the same whether you opt for the $799 iPhone 16 or the $1,199 iPhone 16 Pro Max. Additionally, although I haven’t had a chance to test it yet, iOS 18 will introduce Emergency SOS Live Video, allowing iPhone 16 owners to share a live feed or photos with emergency dispatchers.

This year’s iPhones are remarkably similar, and the software reinforces that parity.

APPLE IPHONE 16 & 16 PLUS HAND-ON REVIEW: OUTLOOK

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Apple is making the choice of which iPhone to buy more challenging than ever. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus offer many of the same features as the iPhone 16 Pro models, all while maintaining their previous price points. This could make the standard iPhones an even better value, especially considering they come with the same Apple Intelligence features and Camera Control button.

While it’s difficult to definitively say whether the standard models offer better value than their Pro counterparts, the Pro models do boast larger displays, a 5x zoom telephoto lens, and a more powerful A18 Pro chip. Nevertheless, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus might be sufficiently advanced for many consumers.

Source: Tom’s Guide