Apple iPhone 16 review

It sounds like Apple has made some meaningful refinements with Apple iPhone 16 especially for those who aren’t necessarily aiming for Pro models. A18 chip gives standard iPhone 16 a fresh speed boost, setting it apart from previous models without making Pro upgrade feel entirely essential. This model seems well-suited for users who prioritize general performance, photography and refined user experience over the highest-end features like ProMotion display or advanced telephoto lens which remain exclusive to Pro lineup.

Enhanced 48-megapixel main and 12-megapixel ultrawide cameras, now supporting macro photography, could be compelling for casual and semi-pro photographers. Plus, new Camera Control button is notable addition for on-the-go content creators offering easy access to a range of shooting settings.

It seems that for anyone with older iPhone model, Apple iPhone 16 would be nice step up, balancing enhanced camera capabilities, processing power & display quality. However, current iPhone 15 owners might find fewer reasons to upgrade unless they’re particularly drawn to the Camera Control or Apple’s anticipated Apple Intelligence features.

Apple iPhone 16 Specification

Feature	iPhone 16
💲 Starting Price	$799 / £799 / AU$1,399
📏 Screen Size	6.1 inches
🔄 Refresh Rate	60Hz
⚙️ Processor	A18
📶 RAM	Unknown
💾 Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB
📸 Rear Cameras	48MP main (f/1.6) with 2x optical zoom, 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2)
🤳 Front Camera	12MP (f/1.9)
🔋 Battery Size	Unknown
⏳ Battery Life	22 hours video playback; 80 hours audio
📐 Size	5.8 x 2.8 x 0.31 in (147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm)
⚖️ Weight	6 ounces (170 grams)
🎨 Colors	Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine

Apple iPhone 16 Price and Availability

New iPhones — iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max — are available for preorder now with official sales starting on September 20, 2024 both online and in Apple stores.

iPhone 16 comes in Pink, Ultramarine, Teal, Black and White with storage options of 128GB, 256GB and 512GB. Each phone includes a white braided USB-C to USB-C cable in the box.

Pricing for iPhone 16 is as follows:

• 128GB: $799 / £799 / AU$1,399
• 256GB: $899 / £899 / AU$1,599
• 512GB: $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,949

Apple iPhone 16 Design

Apple iPhone 16 sticks to Apple’s iconic look with smooth, rounded edges and slightly bolder colors: Pink, Teal, Black, White and Ultramarine. It’s the same size as iPhone 15, so it feels familiar in hand but there are a few updates that make it stand out.

Biggest design change is the vertical camera stack on the back with 48MP main camera over 12MP ultrawide lens. This layout isn’t just for looks – it enables capturing Spatial Photos and Video for Apple Vision Pro.

Apple added two new buttons:

1. Action Button – a customizable button above volume controls that can launch apps, control smart home devices or even play your favorite song.
2. Camera Control – located near the power button, this haptic button lets you wake screen, open camera and adjust settings with different presses and swipes.

iPhone 16 design keeps what works while introducing new features that improve usability especially for photography enthusiasts.

Apple iPhone 16 Display

Apple iPhone 16 sports the same 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display as iPhone 15 which delivers vibrant colors, sharp contrast and deep blacks. With a peak brightness of up to 2,000 nits, screen is bright enough for sunny outdoor use or brightly lit indoor spaces.

While iPhone 16 doesn’t have 120Hz ProMotion or an always-on display – features reserved for Pro models – it’s still a smooth experience for daily tasks like browsing, gaming or streaming videos. Dynamic Island is a standout feature, letting you interact with apps like timers, music or even third-party tools like Flighty for flight tracking. This pill-shaped notch also houses Face ID sensors and 12MP front camera.

Display feels responsive and visually impressive especially if you haven’t used a 120Hz screen before.

Apple iPhone 16 Software and Apple Intelligence

Apple iPhone 16 runs iOS 18 offering more customization and features. You can now arrange app icons with spaces between them, apply color tones and even keep dark mode on all apps. New Passwords app stores logins in one place, including Wi-Fi credentials, making it easier to share with family or friends. Plus, with RCS messaging, texting with non-iPhone users is smoother and you can schedule iMessages to send later.

Apple Intelligence, set to expand with iOS 18.1, includes tools like Writing Tools, Siri improvements and notification summaries. Redesigned Siri now displays a colorful border while listening and new summarization feature groups notifications which is useful for busy group chats. Other features like Image Playground and Visual Intelligence are expected soon. So far, these updates run smoothly on iPhone 16, thanks to A18 processor.

Apple iPhone 16 Camera

iPhone 16 has two cameras: a 48-megapixel main camera and 12-megapixel ultrawide camera offering sharp and bright photos even in low light. New “Camera Control” feature lets you easily adjust settings like zoom, exposure and color style with just a touch, making it easy to capture shots the way you want.

With 2x telephoto option, you can zoom in without losing detail and ultrawide camera is better in low light now. Macro mode is also available, letting you capture close-up details. Camera Control feels premium with sapphire finish and smooth controls. If you’re using a case, go for one that works well with new controls like Apple’s cases or Otterbox options.

Apple iPhone 16 Performance

iPhone 16, powered by Apple’s new A18 chip, is super fast and built to handle demanding apps and games for years to come. With a strong GPU even intense games and creative tasks run smoothly, making iPhone 16 ideal for gaming and future Apple Intelligence features.

A18 includes a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine, plus 8GB of RAM. This setup makes everyday tasks, 4K video editing and even high-performance gaming feel quick and responsive. Phone doesn’t slow down even with multiple apps open though it can get warm with heavy gaming.

Graphics-heavy games like Assassin’s Creed and Asphalt 9 run smoothly with rich detail, making it a great device for mobile gaming, although it lacks 120Hz refresh rate. Benchmark tests also show it surpasses even some high-end Android devices like Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Apple iPhone 16 Battery

iPhone 16 offers all-day battery life, just like iPhone 15. Apple doesn’t share the exact battery size but iPhone 16 can last up to 22 hours for local video, 18 hours for streaming and 80 hours for audio, providing a couple of extra hours over iPhone 15.

In real use, it comfortably lasts a full day (around 15-16 hours of screen time). On more intense days like taking lots of photos and videos, you may need to recharge sooner. In testing, it lasted 12 hours and 43 minutes.

For charging, it supports faster wired and wireless charging. Using a 20W adapter, it can reach 48% in 30 minutes while a 35W charger pushes it to 51%. Wireless charging with MagSafe (up to 25W) or Qi2 (up to 15W) is also supported, though it tends to get a bit warm.

Apple iPhone 16 Pros and Cons

✅Pros	❌Cons
📸 Great camera control for creators	📺 Display refresh rate is only 60Hz
⚡ Powerful A18 chip	⬇️ Not a big upgrade from iPhone 15
🔘 New action button is convenient	❌ Lacks advanced features like ProMotion
🌙 Excellent low-light photo quality	🔍 Limited optical zoom
🔋 Good battery life for all-day use	🖼️ Similar design to previous models
⚡ Fast and improved wireless charging	💾 No expandable storage
🌈 Many vibrant color choices	💵 Still pricey

• Motorola Edge 50 Neo Review: The Future of Mid-Range Gaming
• Poco F6 Review: A Comprehensive Look at the Budget Flagship
• Huawei PURA 70 Ultra Review: Huawei’s Latest Flagship

Conclusion

Gap between standard iPhones and Pro models is shrinking. iPhone 16 is now a strong, affordable option, featuring vibrant color choices, a fast A18 chip, two impressive cameras and a new Camera Control button. It’s a great pick for those who don’t need Pro features.