Apple iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus review: Closing the gap to the Pro

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 The “regular” iPhone has become like a second child. Year after year, this model has gotten the hand-me-downs from the previous version of the iPhone Pro – the older, smarter sibling. The iPhone 15 received the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island and A16 Bionic processor, and the iPhone 14 before that got the A15 Bionic chip and a larger Plus variant with the same screen size as the iPhone 13 Pro Max. For the iPhone 16 ($799 & up), there are trickle-down items once more. But this time around, that’s not the entire story for the Apple phone that’s the best option for most people.


Surprisingly, Apple gave some of the most attractive features it has for 2024 to both the regular and Pro iPhones at the same time. This means you won’t have to wait a year to get expanded camera tools and another brand new button. Sure, Apple Intelligence is still in the works, but that’s the case for the iPhone 16 Pro too. The important thing there is that the iPhone 16 is just as ready when the AI features arrive.



So, for perhaps the first time – or at least the first time in years – Apple has closed the gap between the iPhone and iPhone Pro in a significant way. ProRAW stills and ProRES video are still exclusive to the priciest iPhones, and a new “studio-quality” four-microphone setup is reserved for them too. Frustratingly, you’ll still have to spend more for a 120Hz display. But, as far as the fun new tools that will matter to most of us, you won’t have to worry about missing out this time.

Pros
  • Pro-level features without the Pro price
  • Action button is handy
  • Bolder new colors
  • Photographic Styles are really good
Cons
  • Overall design is due for a refresh
  • Camera Control takes time to master
  • No high-refresh-rate display
  • Apple Intelligence isn’t ready yet

Expert Score

Apple iPhone 16 Plus

For once, you don’t have to wait a year to get the best new features from the iPhone 16 Pro.

Editors’ note: The current score reflects our experience with the hardware and iOS 18 features that will be available to users at launch. We will evaluate Apple Intelligence and other post-launch

Pros
  • Pro-level features without the Pro cost
  • Action button is handy
  • A bigger screen, if you’re into that
  • Photographic Styles are really good
Cons
  • Overall design is due for a refresh
  • Camera Control takes time to master
  • No high-refresh-rate display
  • Apple Intelligence isn’t ready yet

Another year has passed and we still don’t have a significant redesign for any iPhone, let alone the base-level model. As such, I’ll spend my time here discussing what’s new. Apple was content to add new colors once again, opting for a lineup of ultramarine (blueish purple), teal, pink, white and black. The colors are bolder than what was available on the iPhone 15, although I’d like to see a blue and perhaps a bright yellow or orange. Additionally, there’s no Product Red option once again — we haven’t seen that hue since the iPhone 14.

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