The iPhone 16 lineup has arrived, and it’s packed with upgrades across all models, blurring the lines between the standard and premium versions. From the iPhone 16 to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple is offering a range of choices, each vying for a spot as the best smartphone in your pocket.
While the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max boast their own set of advanced features, the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus haven’t been left behind. This year, Apple has ensured that every model in the iPhone 16 family brings something significant to the table, making the decision process more nuanced than ever.
With so many compelling options, how do you choose the right iPhone 16 model for your specific needs? This comprehensive comparison breaks down the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. We’ll delve into their specifications, weigh the pros and cons, and share insights gleaned from hands-on testing to help you navigate Apple’s latest smartphone offerings.
Here’s a detailed look at how the iPhone 16 compares against the iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
iPhone 16 Pro & Pro Max EXPERT Review: Worth the Upgrade? – YouTube
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone Pro Max: Detailed Specs Comparison
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus share a core identity, primarily differentiated by screen and battery size. Choosing between these two often boils down to your preference for a larger display and extended battery life. The day-to-day user experience with the iPhone 16 versus the iPhone 16 Plus will be remarkably similar, offering the same processing power and core features.
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| Feature | iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $799/£799/AU$1,399 | $899/£899/AU$1,599 |
| Display Size | 6.1 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Processor | A18 Chip | A18 Chip |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage Options | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Rear Camera System | 48MP Main (f/1.6, 2x optical zoom), 12MP Ultra-wide (f/2.2) | 48MP Main (f/1.6, 2x optical zoom), 12MP Ultra-wide (f/2.2) |
| Front Camera | 12MP (f/1.9) | 12MP (f/1.9) |
| Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision up to 24fps | 4K Dolby Vision up to 24fps |
| Battery Capacity | 3,561 mAh | 4,674 mAh |
| Battery Life (Web Surfing) | 12 hours 43 minutes | 16 hours 29 minutes |
| Dimensions | 5.8 x 2.8 x 0.31 inches (147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm) | 6.3 x 3.1 x 0.31 inches (160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8mm) |
| Weight | 6 ounces (170 grams) | 7 ounces (199 grams) |
| Available Colors | Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine | Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine |
Similarly, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max share a robust feature set, with screen real estate and battery size as the primary distinctions. This contrasts with the previous iPhone 15 Pro generation, where the iPhone 15 Pro Max held a unique advantage in camera technology with a more advanced telephoto lens. This year, both Pro models offer consistent camera capabilities, simplifying the Pro model choice to size and battery preferences. For a more in-depth comparison, we have a dedicated article on the iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max.
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| Feature | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $999/£999/AU$1,799 | $1,199/£1,199/AU$2,149 |
| Display Size & Resolution | 6.3 inches (2622 x 1206) | 6.9 inches (2868 x 1320) |
| Refresh Rate | Adaptive 1 – 120Hz (ProMotion) | Adaptive 1 – 120Hz (ProMotion) |
| Processor | A18 Pro Chip | A18 Pro Chip |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage Options | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Rear Camera System | 48MP Main (f/1.78), 48MP Ultra-wide (f/2.2), 12MP Telephoto (5x optical zoom, f/2.8) | 48MP Main (f/1.78), 48MP Ultra-wide (f/2.2), 12MP Telephoto (5x optical zoom, f/2.8) |
| Front Camera | 12MP (f/1.9) | 12MP (f/1.9) |
| Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision up to 120fps | 4K Dolby Vision up to 120fps |
| Battery Capacity | 3,582 mAh | 4685 mAh |
| Battery Life (Web Surfing) | 14 hours 7 minutes | 18 hours 6 minutes |
| Available Colors | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium |
| Dimensions | 5.89 x 2.81 x 0.32 inches | 6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches |
| Weight | 7 ounces | 8 ounces |
For a deeper dive into the distinctions between the standard and pro models, our iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro comparison provides a head-to-head analysis.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Biggest Differences Explained! – YouTube
iPhone 16 Models: Price Breakdown
Following a price increase for the iPhone 15 Pro Max the previous year, Apple has maintained stable pricing for the iPhone 16 series, aligning the starting prices with their iPhone 15 predecessors.
The iPhone 16 begins at $799 for the 128GB configuration. Stepping up, the iPhone 16 Plus is priced at $899, and the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999. The iPhone 16 Pro Max, which doubles the base storage to 256GB, starts at $1,199.
Upgrading storage within each model line follows a consistent $100 increment for each tier jump (e.g., from 128GB to 256GB). For the 512GB option, expect to add $300 to the base price of the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, and iPhone 16 Pro. The 512GB iPhone 16 Pro Max is priced at $1,399.
For professional users or those needing maximum storage, both Pro models offer a 1TB version. The iPhone 16 Pro 1TB variant costs $1,499, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max 1TB is priced at $1,599.
To find the best deals and potential savings across the lineup, refer to our guide on the best iPhone 16 deals.
Design and Build: iPhone 16 Family
(Image credit: Future)
The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models have slightly increased in size to accommodate their larger displays. Staying consistent with previous generations, the Pro models utilize durable titanium frames, while the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus feature aerospace-grade aluminum. Titanium offers enhanced durability, making the Pro models more resilient to everyday wear and tear.
All four iPhone 16 models are equipped with the latest iteration of Apple’s Ceramic Shield front cover. Apple claims this glass is 50% tougher than previous versions, although protective cases are still recommended for optimal damage prevention. Explore options with the best iPhone 16 cases or best iPhone 16 Pro cases for dedicated protection.
A universal design enhancement across the iPhone 16 series is the new Camera Control button. This physical button simplifies launching the Camera app and capturing photos. The Camera Control button also offers tactile control over zoom and mode switching, with the zoom functionality being particularly advantageous on the Pro models due to their telephoto lens. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus inherit the Action button, initially introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro, providing customizable quick access to various functions.
USB-C connectivity remains standard across all iPhone 16 models for charging and data transfer. The Pro models maintain an advantage with faster USB 3 data transfer speeds, reaching up to 10GB/s for quicker file handling.
iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
Color options diverge between the standard and Pro iPhone 16 models. The Pro lineup adopts a more refined, metallic aesthetic with color choices including White Titanium, Black Titanium, and Natural Titanium. The Desert Titanium, a rosy gold hue, appears to be a popular new addition to the Pro color palette.
For those preferring more vibrant colors, the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are available in Ultramarine (light blue), teal, pink, white, and black.
Display: Screen Enhancements Across the Range
iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future)
The most significant display upgrades are found in the iPhone 16 Pro models, with both the standard Pro and Pro Max featuring slimmer bezels resulting in larger screens. The iPhone 16 Pro now sports a 6.3-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts the largest iPhone display to date at 6.9 inches.
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus retain the same screen sizes as their predecessors, at 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches respectively.
The increased screen size on the Pro models provides more screen real estate for productivity apps, video streaming, and gaming. However, the larger size of the iPhone 16 Pro Max may make it less comfortable for single-handed use for some users.
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| Display Metric | iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brightness (Nits) | 1,348 | 1,458 | 1,553 | 1,510 |
| sRGB/DCI-P3 (%) | 112.2 / 79.5 | 112.1 / 79.4 | 113.5 / 80.4 | 114.1 / 80.9 |
| Delta-E (Color Accuracy) | 0.27 | 0.25 | 0.24 | 0.26 |
A key display difference persists in the iPhone 16 lineup: the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus continue to utilize a 60Hz refresh rate. In contrast, the Pro models feature adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz (ProMotion), dynamically adjusting for smoother scrolling and enhanced gaming visuals. Games supporting higher refresh rates will deliver a noticeably more fluid and responsive experience on the iPhone 16 Pro models compared to the standard versions.
Brightness levels remain consistent with the previous generation, with all iPhone 16 models claiming the same 1,600 nits of typical peak brightness and 2,000 nits for outdoor peak brightness.
Display testing reveals consistent performance across all four iPhone 16 models. Color spectrum coverage (sRGB and DCI-P3) and color accuracy (Delta-E) are very similar across the board, with the iPhone 16 Pro showing a slight edge in color accuracy. Measured peak brightness ranged from 1,348 nits on the iPhone 16 to 1,553 nits on the iPhone 16 Pro, ensuring all models remain visible even in bright sunlight.
Camera Capabilities: Enhancements for Photography and Videography
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra | Here’s the Winner – YouTube
As mentioned, the Camera Control button is a standard feature across all iPhone 16 models. While it may require some adjustment to master pressure sensitivity and gesture controls, the added convenience for quick mode switching and photo capture makes it a valuable addition.
Camera upgrades are primarily focused on the Pro models. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max both benefit from a larger 48MP sensor for their ultrawide cameras and a main camera with an improved, faster shutter. Notably, the iPhone 16 Pro now incorporates the tetraprism telephoto lens previously exclusive to the Pro Max, enabling 5x optical zoom on both Pro models.
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus see hardware enhancements limited to the ultrawide camera, which now captures more light, resulting in improved image quality. The ultrawide lens on these models also introduces a new macro mode that has shown impressive results in testing.
iPhone 16 Plus (Image credit: Future)
A significant change in the camera layout of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus unlocks a new feature. The vertical stacking of the main and ultrawide lenses enables spatial photo and video capture on these models, a capability previously limited to the Pro iPhones.
Video recording capabilities are boosted on the iPhone 16 Pro models with support for 4K video capture at 120fps. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are capped at 4K 60fps. All four models are equipped with four microphones for enhanced audio recording, but the Pro models feature “studio-quality” microphones for superior audio fidelity.
Due to these advanced video features and the dedicated telephoto lens, the iPhone 16 Pro is considered one of the best camera phones available. However, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus also deliver excellent photo quality, particularly within their respective price brackets.
Performance: A18 Chip Across the Board
iPhone 16 Pro Max (Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
Unlike previous generations where Apple differentiated chipsets between standard and Pro iPhones (iPhone 14 and iPhone 15), the iPhone 16 series adopts a unified approach. All four models are powered by a version of the A18 system-on-chip.
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus utilize the standard A18 chip, representing a substantial performance leap over the A16 Bionic used in the iPhone 15. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max step up to the A18 Pro, which features an additional GPU core (six cores in the A18 Pro versus five in the standard A18).
Both A18 chip variants share the same 6-core CPU and 16-core Neural Engine, responsible for powering AI-driven features and machine learning tasks.
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| Benchmark Test | iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (Single-core/Multi-core) | 3301 / 8033 | 3302 / 8042 | 3400 / 8301 | 3386 / 8306 |
| 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited (fps) | 98.2 | 98.1 | 109.3 | 107.5 |
| Adobe Premiere Rush (Seconds) | 22.4 | 22.4 | 21 | 21 |
Benchmark testing reveals similar single-core Geekbench 6 scores across all iPhone 16 models, with the Pro versions demonstrating slightly stronger multi-core performance. The Adobe Premiere Rush video transcoding test also shows a minor performance advantage for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, completing the task approximately 1.5 seconds faster than the standard iPhone 16.
The most significant performance difference emerges in graphics benchmarks. The iPhone 16 Pro models achieve noticeably higher frame rates in the 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited test, likely attributable to the additional GPU core in the A18 Pro chip.
In summary, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus offer robust performance for everyday tasks and demanding applications. However, for users prioritizing peak performance, especially in graphics-intensive applications and gaming, the iPhone 16 Pro models provide a clear advantage.
Battery Life: Extended Performance Across the Lineup
iPhone 16 (Image credit: Future)
While official battery capacities aren’t disclosed by Apple, it is confirmed that the iPhone 16 models feature larger batteries compared to the iPhone 15 series. Through regulatory filings and teardowns, estimated battery capacities have emerged, revealing increases across all models. As expected, the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max, with their larger physical dimensions, house the largest battery cells.
Regardless of battery size increases or A18 chip efficiency gains, all four iPhone 16 models demonstrate improved battery life compared to their iPhone 15 counterparts in testing. In some cases, the improvements are substantial.
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| Model | Estimated Battery Capacity | Percentage Change vs iPhone 15 | Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 16 | 3561 mAh | 6.3% | 12:43 |
| iPhone 16 Plus | 4674 mAh | 6.6% | 16:29 |
| iPhone 16 Pro | 3582 mAh | 9.4% | 14:07 |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | 4685 mAh | 6% | 18:06 |
The iPhone 16 Pro Max achieves the longest battery life of any iPhone tested to date, exceeding 18 hours in web surfing tests over cellular. This performance places the Pro Max high on the list of phones with the best phone battery life.
The iPhone 16 Plus also secures a spot on the long-lasting battery phone list, achieving nearly 16.5 hours of runtime. The more compact iPhone 16 Pro also shows a significant improvement, gaining 4 hours of battery life over the iPhone 15 Pro, lasting over 14 hours.
Even the iPhone 16, with the shortest battery life in the new lineup, still delivers an impressive 12 hours and 43 minutes, nearly 2 hours longer than its predecessor.
Charging speeds are comparable across all iPhone 16 models. Wired charging tests show all models reaching 55% to 57% battery capacity after 30 minutes of charging.
Software: iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence Across the Board
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
Software experience is consistent across all iPhone 16 models. All four iPhones ship with iOS 18 and will support the same Apple Intelligence features upon their release with iOS 18.1 in October. Users can currently test a public beta of iOS 18.1 to preview Apple Intelligence features like writing tools, Memory Movies, and the enhanced Siri.
This uniformity in software is a significant advantage for the standard iPhone 16 models. You gain access to the same advanced Apple Intelligence features as the premium iPhone 16 Pro models, at a more accessible price point.
Outlook: Choosing Your Ideal iPhone 16
Selecting the right iPhone 16 depends on your individual priorities and usage patterns. Fortunately, the enhancements across the entire lineup ensure compelling options for every type of user.
While the Pro iPhones offer superior graphics performance and 120Hz ProMotion displays ideal for gaming and visually intensive tasks, core performance remains strong across all models thanks to the A18 chip. Apple Intelligence features will also be universally available on every iPhone 16 model.
The larger iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max offer benefits of expansive screens and extended battery life. However, some users may find the Pro Max size less ergonomic for daily handling. Despite their smaller size, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro still provide above-average battery performance, easily lasting a full day for most users.
Camera capabilities are the most significant differentiator favoring the iPhone 16 Pro models. Beyond a dedicated telephoto lens, they offer enhanced video features and superior microphones. While the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus offer a respectable 2x optical quality zoom, they cannot match the dedicated optical zoom capabilities of the Pro models.
Ultimately, screen size preference, camera requirements, and budget will likely be the deciding factors in your iPhone 16 purchase. By evaluating these aspects in relation to your personal needs, you can confidently choose the iPhone 16 model that best aligns with your lifestyle.
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