Apple has officially announced the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, and if you’ve been holding off on upgrading, now might be the time to get excited. This year’s lineup brings some impressive features, refined designs, and a few new tricks that make these phones stand out, especially if you’re coming from an older model. So, let’s break it down and see what makes the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models worth a closer look.
Design: A Familiar Look, but Refined
If you’ve seen the iPhone 14 or 15, the overall design of the iPhone 16 might feel familiar, but there are some subtle changes. The basic iPhone 16 keeps the rounded edges and sleek aesthetic that Apple is known for, but it’s a little thinner, with slightly slimmer bezels, and the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus models are the same sizes as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. The iPhone 16 Pro takes it up a notch with a slight increase in size for both models. The 16 Pro Display is now 6.3″, up from the 6.1″ display of the 15 Pro, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is 6.9″, compared to the 6.7″ display of the 15 Pro Max.
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have some great new colors – pink, teal, ultramarine and the
The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max colors are more subdued – Black Titanium, Natural Titanium (silver), White Titanium, and Desert Titanium ( a gold tone).
Performance: The A18 Bionic Takes the Lead for the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro
Under the hood, the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro are powered by Apple’s new A18 Bionic chip. Apple always claims their chips are faster and more efficient, and with the A18, that’s absolutely true. If you’re upgrading from an iPhone 13 or 14, you’ll see a solid improvement in speed, especially in tasks like multitasking, video editing, and gaming.
The A18 Bionic comes with a focus on AI and machine learning capabilities. So, your phone will be better at predictive text, real-time photo enhancements, and running complex apps without breaking a sweat. The iPhone 16 Pro models have even more power with the A18 Pro Bionic. This new chip should make Apple Intelligence work more smoothly than the iPhone 15 Pro Models that will also run Apple Intelligence.
Camera: Game-Changing Upgrades
For the iPhone 16, the camera system has some solid upgrades. The 48MP Fusion camera has the same number of megapixels as the iPhone 15, but the new sensor allows for quicker image capture and better performance. It also adds macro photography, 4K Dolby video recording, and macro video recording.
But the 16 Pro is where Apple really flexes its muscles. The 16 Pro also has the main 48MP fusion camera, but it includes a 48 MP ultra-wide and 48 MP macro photography, up from 12 MP on the 15 Pro. Another standout feature? The 16 Pro’s new 5x optical zoom, up from 3x on the previous Pro model. (The iPhone 16 Pro Max keeps the 5x optical zoom.)
It really earns its Pro status when it comes to video. Both the 16 Pro and Pro Max boast ProRes video recording up to 4K at 60 fps with external recording and studio-quality 4-mic array. The iPhone 16 Pro also takes slo-mo video to the next level. It can now capture slow-motion video in 4K resolution at up to 240 frames per second. The quality shown on the promo yesterday was amazing- truly earning the “Pro” name. The slo-mo feature also allows you to edit your videos, adjusting which parts stay in real-time and which stay in slo-mo.
In addition, Apple introduced “Spatial Video” on all the new models, which takes 3D videos that you can later experience with Apple’s Vision Pro headset. Another welcome video function available on all models is wind reduction. I’m very interested to see how much this improves outdoor video clips.
New Capture-Control Button
All the iPhone 16 models feature a new Camera Control Button that’s located on the right side of the phone under the power button. As a photographer, this was probably the most exciting new feature for me. The Camera Control Button is more than a shutter button and can be used for a number of functions for capturing photos and videos.
A single click will the Camera app and take a photo. Click and hold will open the Camera app and start a video. Other actions will allow for adjustments to zoom, exposure and depth of field. It will also swipe through a variety of new stylistic options.
Later this year, the Capture Control will work with a new visual intelligence feature. You will be able to open the Camera app and point it at an object to get information about that object. Pointing it a restaurant, for example, will bring up hours, ratings and menus. This goes way beyond the capabilities of the current Visual Look-up features.
Battery Life: A Welcome Boost
One of the biggest gripes with older iPhones has always been battery life, but Apple has heard the complaints. The iPhone 16 and 16 Pro come with improved battery efficiency. Apple claims you’ll get up to 2 more hours of usage compared to the iPhone 15 models. If you’re upgrading from something like an iPhone 13 or earlier expect a significant bump in how long your phone lasts before needing a charge.
Other New Features: Customizable Action Button and USB-C.
One of the more notable changes this year is the switch from Lightning to USB-C. Apple’s finally making the jump, and while it might feel like a hassle at first, this is great news in the long run. Now you can use the same cable for your iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and other USB-C gadgets.
All iPhone 16 models have the customizable action button that was introduced with the iPhone 15 Pros. This replaces the old mute switch. You can now program this button to do whatever you want, whether it’s starting your camera, turning on the flashlight, or launching an app. It’s a small change, but one that gives you more control over how you use your phone.
How Does It Compare to Older Models?
If you’re still rocking an iPhone 13 or earlier, upgrading to the iPhone 16 or 16 Pro will feel like a major leap. The camera improvements, faster performance, smoother display, and better battery life all add up to a significantly better experience.
For most people, the standard iPhone 16 is going to be plenty powerful and have everything you need. If you’re really into photography and especially high-quality video—the iPhone 16 Pro might be calling your name.
This is the first year that the only differentiation in the iPhone 16 Plus and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is their size. You don’t need to buy a Pro Max model to get additional zoom features.
If you want to use the Apple Intelligence features, you’ll need an of iPhone 16 model or an iPhone 15 Pro. However, the 15 Pro does not have the Capture Button or other new features with the new A18 chip. It also is no longer available at the Apple Store, but will be available through resellers.
The good news is that Apple kept all of the prices unchanged. The iPhone 16 models have the same pricing structure as the iPhone 15 models. The older models are all reduced now by $100. The 128GB iPhone 16 is $829 and prices go up a hundred or two as you increase the storage amount. The 128GB iPhone 16 Pro is $998 and can be maxed out at 1TB of storage for $1499. The Plus and Max models start at $100-$200 above the regular sizes.
The 128GB iPhone 14 is now reduced to $629 while the 128GB iPhone 15 is $729. They are still very capable phones, but they will never be able to use any Apple Intelligence features.
Final Thoughts
The iPhone 16 and 16 Pro are the natural evolution of Apple’s smartphones—more powerful, and packed with new features. Whether you’re a longtime Apple fan or someone just looking for an upgrade, these new iPhones bring enough to the table to get excited about.
So, are you ready to make the jump, or are you holding onto your older model for just a little longer? Are you excited about the new AI features or are you content with the improvements that iOS 18 will bring? Either way, Apple’s giving you plenty to think about with the iPhone 16 series.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 models begin this Friday, September 13, with availability beginning Friday, September 20.
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