iPhone 16 assessment: Practically excellent

I really feel like I write this virtually yearly, however, in terms of the iPhone 16 line, there are only a few causes to purchase the “Pro” iPhone over its base counterpart.

The iPhone 16 contains a enjoyable, extra colourful design; each the brand new Digicam Management button and the Motion Button that debuted on final yr’s iPhone Professional; Apple’s highly effective A18 chip; a much bigger battery; and new good “Photographic Kinds” and “Moods.” The listing goes on. This yr’s key “Pro” differentiators come right down to a 5x optical telephoto lens, 4K 120fps video help, and, in fact, the 120Hz ProMotion display. It is ridiculous Apple nonetheless hasn’t up to date the bottom iPhone’s show refresh price.

After all, the iPhone 16 isn’t perfect. Past the shortage of a better refresh price show, the telephone does not provide any Apple Intelligence options but, with some arriving later in October and others releasing in early 2025. To the common iPhone person, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional will appear almost similar, solely the previous machine contains a extra eye-catching design. However regardless of being a really full package deal, the iPhone 16 just isn’t that a lot of an improve over the iPhone 15, except you are within the new Digicam Management and Motion Button. Because of this these nonetheless utilizing an iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 can possible sit this yr out.

Beneficial

iPhone 16

This yr’s iPhone 16 line blurs the road between the “Professional” and the base-level iPhone by providing a brand new digicam button and the Motion Button, alongside the A18 chip.

Execs

• New colors look nice
• Total spectacular smartphone package deal
• Images Kinds and Digicam Management Button are nice

Cons

• Nonetheless no 120Hz show
• Apple Intelligence options are nowhere to be discovered
• In some methods, not that a lot of an improve over the iPhone 15

Value, availability, and specs

Apple’s iPhone 16 starts at $800 and the iPhone 16 Plus prices $900. The iPhone 16 contains a 2,556 x 1,179 pixel decision 6.1-inch OLED display, whereas the iPhone 16 Plus affords a 2,796 x 1,290 pixel decision 6.7-inch OLED show. Sadly, neither telephone affords a 120Hz show refresh price, that means they’re each locked to 60Hz. Because of this, neither machine affords an always-on display, similar to final yr.

Different specs embody Apple’s A18 chip, a considerable improve from the iPhone 16’s A16 processor. Each the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus characteristic a Digicam Management button for straightforward entry to the Digicam app, and the Motion Button, which was solely featured within the iPhone 15 Professional line final yr. Rear digicam specs embody an f/1.6 48-megapixel essential digicam and an f/2.2 12-megapixel ultra-wide digicam. The front-facing digicam options an f/2.2 12-megapixel selfie shooter.

Apple Intelligence options like AI-assisted writing, object elimination within the Pictures app, and a extra contextual Siri aren’t but out there however ought to launch within the coming months. This yr’s surprisingly vivid colours embody ultramarine (which is featured on this assessment), teal, pink, and black.

iPhone 16 construct and design

Brilliant, saturated colours and a cool-looking digicam bump

Let’s get probably the most fascinating modifications out of the best way first. First, the rear twin digicam array is now vertical and aligned, which appears higher than I anticipated. The bump’s define can be barely darker than the remainder of the smartphone, giving it an odd however cool-looking glow underneath sure gentle, particularly in comparison with the iPhone 16 Professional Max’s drab digicam bump.

Talking of colours, this yr’s stark choices look nice, particularly in comparison with the washed-out colours of the previous few years (which, for the report, I additionally preferred). They stand out from different smartphones, particularly Samsung’s low-key coloured Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, and definitively look completely different from the iPhone 15. Ultramarine is my favourite, however teal and pink are additionally nice trying; Apple actually nailed the iPhone 16’s colours this yr.

Different additions embody the ‘Motion Button,’ which I nonetheless have not discovered a helpful function for but. It is a programmable button that can be utilized to launch just about something for those who use the Shortcuts app. Admittedly, I have not actually given it a lot of an opportunity as a result of I discover launching apps from my Dwelling Display or lockscreen simply as simple. I nonetheless continuously discover myself lacking the basic mute swap from the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 Professional, however I additionally know that lots of people actually just like the Motion Button.

The iPhone 16 additionally options the identical Digicam Management button because the iPhone 16 Professional. Apple does not need folks to name it a button as a result of there’s extra to it, but it surely nonetheless presses inwards, so so far as I am involved, it is a button. One press launches the digicam app and an extra press snaps a photograph, turning your iPhone 16 right into a futuristic point-and-shoot. As somebody who grew up utilizing easy cameras, I actually respect the Digicam Management button, and I am trying ahead to the two-step shutter coming in an replace within the coming months.

The Digicam Management button might be finicky, although, notably when swiping between the extensive and ultrawide shooters or altering the “Photographic Fashion” or “Temper” (extra on this later). However when you get the cling of the Digicam Management button, it is a streamlined option to entry key digicam options, amounting to one of the vital fascinating additions to the iPhone line in years.

Past the above modifications, the iPhone 16 contains a design that’s similar to its predecessor. This consists of coloured, squared-off aluminum sides, a matte again that repels grease and smudges, the Dynamic Island cutout that made its option to the base-level iPhone 15 final yr, and a USB-C port that also options USB 2.0 speeds (given I hardly ever switch knowledge with a USB-C cable, I do not see this as a difficulty). And lastly, the iPhone 16 options the identical next-generation Ceramic Protect know-how because the iPhone 16 Professional, which ought to enhance its means to resist drops.

iPhone 16 show

Nonetheless no 60Hz or always-on show

The most important concern with the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Plus is the shortage of a 120Hz show. That is the form of characteristic that when you’ve got skilled a 120Hz display, it is tough to return. However, for those who’ve by no means encountered a silky {smooth}, excessive refresh price smartphone display, you most likely will not discover the distinction and will likely be fully nice with the iPhone 16’s display. Regardless, it is 2024 and a 60Hz display is fairly unforgivable since almost each Android smartphone price shopping for options not less than a 90Hz display.

On a extra constructive notice, the display appears nice and as much as par with the iPhone 16 Professional’s when it comes to vibrancy and shade, although it nonetheless options quite chunky bezels. Brightness is available in at 2,000 nits at its peak, making the iPhone 16’s show simple to view underneath direct daylight, and it may well additionally crank all the best way right down to 1 nit for darkish environments. The bottom-level iPhone nonetheless does not characteristic an always-on show just like the Professional tier units. This is not a significant loss for me as a result of I’ve turned the always-on show off because it arrived with the iPhone 14 Professional. I do not discover it helpful sufficient to be definitely worth the battery life trade-off.

iPhone 16 digicam

Images Kinds, however no telephoto digicam

Just like the iPhone 16 Professional, nearly all of the iPhone 16’s upgrades are associated to the digicam — however solely on the software program facet. Concerning {hardware}, the rear digicam options an f/1.6 48-megapixel extensive and an f/2.2 12-megapixel ultra-wide shooter, whereas front-facing digicam options an f/2.2 12-megapixel selfie shooter.

The important thing improve this yr autofocus coming to the 12-megapixel ultrawide, permitting the lens to shoot surprisingly handsome macro photographs which are almost as much as par with the iPhone 16 Professional. On one other notice, 2x zoom remains to be out there by way of sensor cropping, however I want Apple simply supplied actual optical zoom with the iPhone 16 (I do know it is a key differentiator between the 2 telephones, however I can nonetheless dream). Like in years previous, that is the important thing characteristic I miss shifting from the iPhone 16 Professional to the iPhone 16 (aside from the shortage of a 120Hz refresh price).

Digicam efficiency, normally, appears marginally higher than the iPhone 15, however there is not a large leap. It is also tough to discover a actual distinction between iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional photographs. There’s extra definition and higher distinction, notably with shadows, however you really want to look intently (the common particular person will possible assume the photographs are similar).

Sticking with pictures, all of the Photographic Kinds and Moods from the iPhone 16 Professional can be found with the iPhone 16. That is an fascinating transfer on Apple’s half, as I would think about these Professional options. They assist you to tweak your photographs exactly the way you need, earlier than and after you shoot them. Are you on the lookout for just a little extra pop in your photographs? Then the “Vibant” Temper is what you are on the lookout for. Possibly you desire a gloomy look to your photographs? Then go for “Stark B&W” and dwell out your emo pictures desires. These Photographic Kinds and Moods may also be tweaked manually with a considerably awkward-to-used d-pad-like settings sq..

It is price noting that as nice because the Photographic Kinds are, they don’t seem to be excellent. For one, they’re solely out there in HEIF, a file format that does not at all times work properly with third-party apps. However I have not encountered any points but. I am hoping Apple modifications the characteristic to work with normal JPEGs quickly.

Images Kinds have additionally been out there up to now. What’s completely different is now you can add them after taking pictures a picture. They’re additionally smarter and may differentiate between faces, the sky and different objects, as an alternative of working like a extra conventional picture filter that layers throughout all the picture in a uniform method. Normally, the addition of Photographic Kinds solves all the problems I’ve had over the previous few years with the best way the iPhone processes photographs, together with firming down the awful-looking, blown-out HDR highlights that I hate a lot. So far as I am involved, that is a large win.

In a welcome addition, new mixing options can change the best way audio sounds and shift its high quality after you shoot a video. For instance, “Studio Mode” removes background noise, whereas “Cinematic Mode” focuses on folks speaking within the heart of the body. It is at all times been doable to tweak audio with third-party apps, however bringing this performance on to the Pictures app makes the method much more streamlined. That is additionally the kind of characteristic Apple sometimes reserves for its Professional tier iPhone, so it is nice to see it make its option to the iPhoen 16.

iPhone 16 efficiency

AAA video games hit the base-level iPhone

This yr, the iPhone 16 affords the A18 Professional chip, a leap from the iPhone 15’s A16 processor (this implies the base-level iPhone skips the A17 fully). I have not skilled efficiency points with an iPhone in years, so as soon as once more, the A18 is overkill for many duties. Nonetheless, it does open the smartphone as much as AAA video games like Resident Evil and Murderer’s Creed Mirage.

I spent a short period of time taking part in Murderer’s Creed Mirage, and it runs slightly worse than it did on the iPhone 15 Pro’s A17 Pro chip. This implies it is playable, however there’s the occasional stutter, and aliasing points are ample (turning down the graphics helps a bit). Nonetheless, the truth that it is now doable to play massive cellular ports on the bottom iPhone is fairly cool. The iPhone 16 does get quite scorching when taking part in resource-intense video games, nonetheless (normally, I’ve discovered that the iPhone 16 runs heat this yr, no matter what you are doing with the telephone). If you happen to care about benchmarks, the iPhone 16 hits 3,233 for single-core and seven,880 for multi-core with Geekbench 6.

I obtained a number of extra hours out of the iPhone 16 in comparison with the iPhone 16 Professional, pushing late into the night after a day of doom-scrolling on varied social media platforms, watching podcasts and sending a few emails. That is possible on account of its barely bigger battery. I’ve heard that the iPhone 16 Plus will get even higher battery life, however I have not examined the machine myself.

iPhone 16 software program

Make iOS 18 as ugly as you need

The addition of the A18 chip additionally implies that the iPhone 16 will likely be able to operating Apple Intelligence, Apple’s suite of AI options coming later in October and subsequent yr. This consists of AI writing instruments, an AI Picture technology app known as “Picture Playground,” a extra contextual Siri, and extra. It is clear Apple designed the iPhone 16 to drop alongside Apple Intelligence, however the launch schedules did not line up.

That is additionally why the telephone options the Digicam Management button, which is ready to double as a option to launch the digicam to make use of Apple’s AI-powered identification characteristic Apple says can do issues like figuring out canine breeds and including dates from a flyer to your calendar. If this appears like a barely extra superior model of Google Lens, you are heading in the right direction. None of those options are completed or formally out there but, although, so I do not know if any of them will likely be a purpose to purchase the iPhone 16 (the iPhone 15 doesn’t help Apple Intelligence).

That is to not say that Apple does not provide new options in iOS 18. Simply to call a number of, you possibly can change the colour of your app icons with usually terrible trying tints, customise the Management Heart, and prepare icons nonetheless you need. With its newest cellular OS replace, Apple is de facto letting you make the iPhone your individual, which is a refreshing change of path from the tech large.

Must you purchase the iPhone 16?

Except 2x optical zoom and a 120Hz refresh price show are necessary to you, most individuals should purchase the iPhone 16 over the iPhone 16 Professional. The improve is extra substantial this yr, even for those who’re coming from an iPhone 15, although I would by no means suggest upgrading your iPhone yearly. These with an iPhone 12 or an iPhone 13 will get probably the most out of the iPhone 16’s key upgrades, together with the A18 chip, the Motion Button, the intense new colours and flashy digicam bump, and the considerably finicky, however nonetheless nice Digicam Management Button.

Me, although? I am unable to return to a 60Hz display, and I respect optical zoom far an excessive amount of to provide it up, however I spotted years in the past that I am not the common iPhone person.

Beneficial

iPhone 16