This year marks the sixteenth-anniversary of the iPhone line, and while the Pro models have always represented the flag-bearing standard, the vanilla iPhone has often been the “middle child”—not quite budget but not quite premium. But the iPhone 16 series presents the most confusing collection ever, just with its standard model being now a slightly greater deal than over the years. Loaded with a fresh chip, a new camera system, and several devices taken from the Pro lineup, this could very well be the best non-Pro iPhone.
Design & Build: The Same Formula, with Minor Adjustments
At a quick glance, the iPhone 16 looks unchanged, with a 6.1-inch display (and a 6.7-inch Plus version). But Apple has implemented some subtle, yet notable updates, such as the new vertical rear camera arrangement as opposed to the diagonal arrangement introduced with the iPhone 13. It now has more contoured edges for better ergonomics.
It is speculated that the color options have also been updated with Ultramarine Blue, Pink, and Teal joining classic Black and White. They all have a matte finish, akin to the glass treatment on the iPhone 15.
However, one of the most easily noticeable changes in the design is adding a Camera Control button alongside the Action button, power button, and volume rockers. Apple doesn’t quite call it a button, but functionally, it acts as one. This mobile hardware has a lot more control over photography and video settings than past designs, which we will cover in greater detail, later.
Display: A Pro-Worthy Screen, but Some Compromises
The iPhone 16 has a Super Retina XDR display that gets as bright as 2,000 nits outdoors and as dim as 1 nit for nighttime use. HDR10 and Dolby Vision are still supported, to guarantee a pretty picture. That said, the standard iPhone 16 is still stuck at a paltry 60Hz, decision that looks foolish in 2024 (even mid-range Android handsets come with high refresh rates) while Apple continues to reserve 120Hz ProMotion and Always-On Display for its Pro models.
The new Ceramic Shield glass has Apple stating that it is two times more resistant than before (Apple, 2024). This should help with longevity, but glass is still glass, so a case is recommended.
Performance: The M2 Chip & More RAM
For the first time in years, there’s a completely new chip in the base iPhone, instead of a version of last year’s Pro. It is manufactured using a 3nm process, improving performance per watt. The A18 offers a 5-core CPU and a 5-core GPU(Apple, 2024) not unlike its Pro sibling, but both utilize an 8-core Neural Engine for Apple Intelligence.
Apple touts a 30% performance increase compared to iPhone 15, and nearly double the speed compared to the iPhone 12. In day-to-day use, this means seamless multitasking and quick app launches and more advanced, AI-assisted features. Pro models were previously exclusive to hardware-accelerated ray tracing for gaming. Games like Assassin’s Creed: Mirage and Resident Evil Village run beautifully, with little heat buildup, due to a reconfigured thermal structure.
Software: iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence
Shipping with iOS 18, the iPhone 16 can take advantage of all the new customization features unlocked with the OS, from home screen icon places to app icon resizability to color-tinted themes. But the true star of the show is Apple Intelligence, Apple's version of generative AI.
The features available to you right now are Notification Summaries, Writing Tools, and Reduce Interruptions. Additional features, including Image Playground, Genmoji and Visual Intelligence, will launch later this year. Apple is catching up to Google and Samsung on A.I. (Apple, 2024), but might be a game-changer with its focus on privacy-first A.I.
Camera: Improved Features + New Control Button
It uses a 48MP wide sensor with sensor fusion to combine 2x zoom focal lengths into a single sensor, for example on the iPhone 16. The 12MP ultra-wide camera features a macro mode, and has been specifically improved for low-light photography as well.
Improved shooting flexibility with new Camera Control button A light press modifies settings like exposure, zoom, and color styles, and a full press snaps a shot. It can be a little adjustment to get used to, but it can be very helpful for photographers who want finer control.
Photographic Styles have been redesigned, too — giving a user a way to adjust skin tones, contrast, and shadows before and after a shot is taken — transcending filters for a more Lightroom-like experience (Apple, 2024).
Battery & Charging: Marginal Upgrades
Apple says the iPhone 16 is capable of 22 hours of video playback, with the efficiency of the A18 chip contributing to the lower numbers. Even with moderate use it can last a full day, but if you keep on gaming or recording video, you may need to top it up by evening. The iPhone 16 Plus comfortably lasts more than a day Mukul Sharma.
Wired charging is still at 20W, while MagSafe wireless charging is now up to 25W—but only with Apple’s new MagSafe puck (sold separately). These speeds are decent, but fall short of the 65W+ charging that's available on some Android devices.
Verdict: The Best Standard iPhone So Far?
The iPhone 16 is, undoubtedly, the Pro-est regular iPhone ever. Now with new A18 chip you also get an upgraded camera system that's more personalised with the new Camera Control button, Apple Intelligence and all which makes it a lot closer to the Pro models. Lacking 120Hz refresh rate and Always-On Display still puts it behind a generation.
If you’re going from an iPhone 14 or older, this is an upgrade worth getting. If you’re coming from an iPhone 15, the upgrades likely aren’t enough to make an immediate jump. But for most buyers, this is one of the finest iPhones Apple has ever made.
Pros:
Strong AI-enabled A18 chip
New 48MP Camera & Camera Control button
Long battery life
Brighter, durable display
Cons:
Still 60Hz refresh rate
Separate purchase: MagSafe 25W charging
No Always-On Display
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