iPhone 16 assessment: Almost excellent

I really feel like I write this virtually yearly, however, on the subject 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 Digital camera Management button and the Motion Button that debuted on final yr’s iPhone Professional; Apple’s highly effective A18 chip; an even bigger battery; and new good “Photographic Types” and “Moods.” The checklist goes on. This yr’s key “Pro” differentiators come right down to a 5x optical telephoto lens, 4K 120fps video help, and, after all, the 120Hz ProMotion display. It is ridiculous Apple nonetheless hasn’t up to date the bottom iPhone’s show refresh fee.

In fact, the iPhone 16 isn’t perfect. Past the shortage of a better refresh fee 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 typical iPhone consumer, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional will appear practically equivalent, solely the previous gadget contains a extra eye-catching design. However regardless of being a really full package deal, the iPhone 16 will not be that a lot of an improve over the iPhone 15, except you are within the new Digital camera Management and Motion Button. Which means that these nonetheless utilizing an iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 can seemingly sit this yr out.

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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
• Pictures Types and Digital camera 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 fee, which means they’re each locked to 60Hz. In consequence, neither gadget affords an always-on display, identical 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 Digital camera Management button for simple entry to the Digital camera 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 major 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 removing within the Photographs app, and a extra contextual Siri aren’t but obtainable 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

Shiny, saturated colours and a cool-looking digicam bump

Let’s get probably the most fascinating adjustments out of the best way first. First, the rear twin digicam array is now vertical and aligned, which seems to be higher than I anticipated. The bump’s define can also be barely darker than the remainder of the smartphone, giving it an odd however cool-looking glow beneath 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 couple of years (which, for the file, 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 goal for but. It is a programmable button that can be utilized to launch just about something when you use the Shortcuts app. Admittedly, I have never actually given it a lot of an opportunity as a result of I discover launching apps from my Residence Display or lockscreen simply as straightforward. I nonetheless ceaselessly discover myself lacking the traditional 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 Digital camera 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, however it nonetheless presses inwards, so so far as I am involved, it is a button. One press launches the digicam app and a further 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 admire the Digital camera Management button, and I am trying ahead to the two-step shutter coming in an replace within the coming months.

The Digital camera Management button could be finicky, although, notably when swiping between the broad and ultrawide shooters or altering the “Photographic Type” or “Temper” (extra on this later). However when you get the hold of the Digital camera Management button, it is a streamlined solution to entry key digicam options, amounting to some of the fascinating additions to the iPhone line in years.

Past the above adjustments, 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 solution to the base-level iPhone 15 final yr, and a USB-C port that also options USB 2.0 speeds (given I not often switch information 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 expertise because the iPhone 16 Professional, which ought to enhance its skill to resist drops.

iPhone 16 show

Nonetheless no 120Hz or always-on show

The largest subject with the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Plus is the shortage of a 120Hz show. That is the kind of characteristic that after you have skilled a 120Hz display, it is tough to return. Alternatively, when you’ve by no means encountered a silky {smooth}, excessive refresh fee smartphone display, you in all probability will not discover the distinction and shall be totally high quality with the iPhone 16’s display. Regardless, it is 2024 and a 60Hz display is fairly unforgivable since practically each Android smartphone price shopping for options at the very least a 90Hz display.

On a extra optimistic be aware, the display seems to be nice and as much as par with the iPhone 16 Professional’s when it comes to vibrancy and coloration, although it nonetheless options moderately chunky bezels. Brightness is available in at 2,000 nits at its peak, making the iPhone 16’s show straightforward to view beneath direct daylight, and it could 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 gadgets. 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 well worth the battery life trade-off.

iPhone 16 digicam

Pictures Types, 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 aspect. Concerning {hardware}, the rear digicam options an f/1.6 48-megapixel broad 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 pictures which can be practically as much as par with the iPhone 16 Professional. On one other be aware, 2x zoom continues to be obtainable by way of sensor cropping, however I want Apple simply supplied actual optical zoom with the iPhone 16 (I do know this can be a key differentiator between the 2 telephones, however I can nonetheless dream). Like in years previous, that is the important thing characteristic I miss transferring from the iPhone 16 Professional to the iPhone 16 (apart from the shortage of a 120Hz refresh fee).

Digital camera efficiency, typically, appears marginally higher than the iPhone 15, however there is not an enormous leap. It is also tough to discover a actual distinction between iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional photographs. There’s extra definition and better distinction, notably with shadows, however you really want to look carefully (the typical particular person will seemingly suppose the pictures are equivalent).

Sticking with pictures, all of the Photographic Types 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 pictures exactly the way you need, earlier than and after you shoot them. Are you in search of a little bit extra pop in your photographs? Then the “Vibant” Temper is what you are in search of. Perhaps you need a gloomy look to your pictures? Then go for “Stark B&W” and stay out your emo pictures desires. These Photographic Types 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 Types are, they are not excellent. For one, they’re solely obtainable in HEIF, a file format that does not all the time work effectively with third-party apps. However I have never encountered any points but. I am hoping Apple adjustments the characteristic to work with normal JPEGs quickly.

Pictures Types have additionally been obtainable prior 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 your complete photograph in a uniform approach. Typically, the addition of Photographic Types solves all the problems I’ve had over the previous few years with the best way the iPhone processes pictures, together with firming down the awful-looking, blown-out HDR highlights that I hate a lot. So far as I am involved, that is an enormous 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 all the time been attainable to tweak audio with third-party apps, however bringing this performance on to the Photographs 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 solution 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 soar from the iPhone 15’s A16 processor (this implies the base-level iPhone skips the A17 totally). I have never skilled efficiency points with an iPhone in years, so as soon as once more, the A18 is overkill for many duties. Nevertheless, it does open the smartphone as much as AAA video games like Resident Evil and Murderer’s Creed Mirage.

I spent a quick period of time enjoying 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 attainable to play huge cell ports on the bottom iPhone is fairly cool. The iPhone 16 does get moderately scorching when enjoying resource-intense video games, nevertheless (typically, I’ve discovered that the iPhone 16 runs heat this yr, no matter what you are doing with the telephone). In the event you care about benchmarks, the iPhone 16 hits 3,233 for single-core and seven,880 for multi-core with Geekbench 6.

I received 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 numerous social media platforms, watching podcasts and sending a few emails. That is seemingly on account of its barely bigger battery. I’ve heard that the iPhone 16 Plus will get even higher battery life, however I have never examined the gadget 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 shall 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 referred to 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 Digital camera Management button, which is about to double as a solution 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 seems like a barely extra superior model of Google Lens, you are heading in the right direction. None of those options are completed or formally obtainable but, although, so I do not know if any of them shall 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’ll be able to change the colour of your app icons with usually terrible trying tints, customise the Management Middle, and prepare icons nevertheless you need. With its newest cell OS replace, Apple is de facto letting you make the iPhone your personal, 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 fee show are necessary to you, most individuals can purchase the iPhone 16 over the iPhone 16 Professional. The improve is extra substantial this yr, even when you’re coming from an iPhone 15, although I would by no means advocate 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 Digital camera Management Button.

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

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iPhone 16