iPhone 16 Series: A Comprehensive Look at Apple's Latest Smartphone Lineup

iPhone 16 vs 16 Plus vs 16 Pro vs 16 Pro Max: Which iPhone is right for you?

From top to bottom, the new iPhone 16 lineup contains a bunch of improvements -- so many, in fact, that it's hard to distinguish the standard model from some of Apple's more premium handsets. Yes, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max see their share of new features. But the standard model gets some attention from Apple, too. The end result is multiple iPhone models landing on our best phones list, topping some of the best Android phones we've tested in the past year. But which of these four different models is the best iPhone for your needs? To find out, let's compare each model -- the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16 Plus and both iPhone 16 Pro offerings -- going through their specs, weighing their pros and cons and sharing our experiences from testing and reviewing these new Apple handsets. Here's how an iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Plus vs. iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max comparison shakes out. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are basically the same phone, with the main differences coming down to screen size and battery size. Otherwise, your iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Plus experience will be pretty much the same. Similarly, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max share plenty of features in common, with screen size and battery size the primary differentiators. That's a change from last year's iPhone 15 Pro lineup, when the iPhone 15 Pro Max came equipped with a more powerful telephoto camera. After a $100 price hike for the iPhone 15 Pro Max a year ago, Apple kept prices the same, with the entire iPhone 16 lineup keeping the starting prices of their iPhone 15 equivalents. To that end, the standard iPhone 16 starts at $799 for the 128GB model. From there we go up in $100 increments with the iPhone 16 Plus at $899 and the iPhone 16 Pro at $999. The iPhone 16 Pro Max features double the storage in its base model with 256GB; it also starts at $1,199. To upgrade from a 128GB iPhone to a 256GB, tack on another $100 to the price of the base model, regardless of which phone you're looking at. The 512GB variant costs $300 more than the base models of the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro; you'll pay $1,399 for a 512GB iPhone 16 Pro Max. Both the Pro phones offer a 1TB version. That costs $1,499 for the iPhone 16 Pro and $1,599 for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Check out our round-up of the best iPhone 16 deals to see what you can save on each model. The iPhone 16 Pro models are bigger than previous Pro editions to accommodate thier larger screens. (More on that in the Display section of this iPhone 16 face-off.) As before, the iPhone 16 Pro models also use titanium frames while the standard iPhone and Plus version turn to aerospace-grade aluminum. The difference in material should make the Pro models more durable. All four new iPhones get the latest version of Apple's Ceramic Shield glass. That's supposed to be 50% tougher than the previous iteration, though we'd still recommend additional protection, such as the best iPhone 16 cases (or the best iPhone 16 Pro cases, if that's the model you pick). All four phones feature the new Camera Control button, making it easier to launch the Camera app and start taking pictures. The Camera Control button also lets you switch models and zoom in on a subject -- the latter capability being more useful on the Pro models with their dedicated telephoto lens. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus adopt the Action button first introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro. The four iPhone 16 models continue to offer a USB-C port for charging. As before, the Pro models can support faster USB 3 connectivity with data speeds at up to 10GB/s. As before, Apple splits color options between the standard iPhone and the Pro models. For a more muted, metallic experience the Pro models come in White, Black and Natural Titanium. The most popular color appears to be the new Desert titanium, sort of a rosy gold. However, if you prefer brighter, more friendly tones than the standard and Plus models have you covered with Ultramarine (light blue), teal, pink, white and black offerings. The biggest change to displays can be found on the iPhone 16 Pro models, with the both the standard Pro and Pro Max benefitting from thinner bezels and bigger screens. Specifically, the iPhone 16 Pro now has a 6.1-inch panel, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max features the biggest display ever on an iPhone at 6.9 inches. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus retain the sizes of their predecessors, measuring 6.1 and 6.7 inches, respectively. The extra screen space on the Pro models gives you more real estate to work with when running productivity apps, streaming videos or gaming. But in the case of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, it does make for a larger phone that's difficult to use with one hand. A key difference in iPhone displays remains for the iPhone 16 family, as the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus continue to offer 60Hz refresh rates. The displays on the Pro models can adapt up to 120Hz for smoother screening and more immersive gaming. Playing games that support faster refresh rates can be quite a different experience on the iPhone 16 than it is on the iPhone 16 Pro. Brightness ratings haven't changed with the new iPhone 16 models. Each phone claims the same 1,600 nits of peak brightness and 2,000 nits in outdoor lighting as the equivalent iPhone 15 versions. In fact, test results for the iPhone 16 displays proved to be pretty even across the board. All four phones capture the same percentage of the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spectrums, with very similar Delta-E ratings for color accuracy. (The iPhone 16 Pro is the most accurate of these models.) We measured brightness peaks of 1,348 nits (the iPhone 16) to 1,553 (iPhone 16 Pro), with all four phones visible in sunlight. We've already talked about the Camera Control button that's standard on all four models. In our testing, we found it takes some getting used how much pressure to use when operating the button, and our reviewers are still learning what each swipe and press can do. But the ability to quickly switch between modes makes Camera Control a worthwhile addition. Other camera changes tend to favor the Pro models. Both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max get a bigger 48MP sensor for their ultrawide camera, and the main camera has a faster shutter than before. The iPhone 16 Pro now features the same tetraprism telephoto lens as the Pro Max, so both models can support 5x zooms. Apple limited the hardware changes to the ultrawide camera on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. That lens lets in more light for better image quality than before. The ultrawide lens on those two phones also has a new macro mode that really impressed in our testing. A change to the layout of the cameras in the rear array for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus opens up a new feature for those phones. Because the main and ultrawide lenses are now stacked vertically, you can capture spatial photos and video from an iPhone 16. Previously that capability was limited to the Pro models. The iPhone 16 Pro models get a boost in video recording with increased video capture 4K at 120 fps. 4K video is capped at 60 fps on the iPhone 16. All four models get four microphones to isolate sounds in audio recording but the Pro version does get "studio-quality" mics. Because of those video capture features and the dedicated telephoto lens, we rate the iPhone 16 Pro as the best camera phone you can buy. But the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus also take high-quality photos, especially for phones in their price range. For the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15, Apple used different chipsets in its standard and Pro handsets. That's changed with the iPhone 16, as all four phones feature some version of the A18 system-on-chip. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus run on A18 silicon, which delivers dramatic improvement over the A16 Bionic that the iPhone 15 used. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro phones turn to the A18 Pro, which gets an extra core in its GPU. (That's six cores for the A18 Pro compared to five in the standard A18.) Otherwise, the A18 chipsets have the same 6-core CPU and 16-core Neural Engine for handling features that draw on artificial intelligence. In our testing, all the iPhone 16 models produced similar Geekbench 6 single-core scores, though the Pro versions showed a bit more muscle in the multicore test. Our Adobe Premiere Rush test, in which we have phones transcode a video clip, also showed a slight advantage for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. Those phones completed the task 1.5 seconds faster than the standard iPhone. It's graphics testing where you really notice the difference between the standard and pro models, with the iPhone 16 Pro posting much higher frames-per-second results in the 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited test. That's a compliment to the extra graphics core, we'd assume. The bottom line: you'll get very strong performance from the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. But it's the iPhone 16 Pro models you'll want to turn to for the best performance from one of Apple's devices. We don't officially know how big the batteries are in the iPhone 16 models -- just that Apple says they're bigger than power packs used by the iPhone 15. Fortunately, between regulatory filings and iPhone 16 teardowns, we can get a sense of the unofficial battery sizes. As you'd expect, the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max feature heftier cells owing to their larger size. Whether it's the increased battery size or the more efficient A18 silicon, all four iPhone 16 models saw better battery life in our testing than their iPhone 15 counterparts. In some cases, the gains proved quite extraordinary. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has the best battery life of any iPhone we've ever tested, lasting more than 18 hours on our test in which phones surf the web over cellular until they run out of power. That places the Pro Max on our best phone battery life list, where it holds down third place as of this writing. The iPhone 16 Plus lands on that long-lasting phone list, too, with a time that's just shy of 16.5 hours. As for the more compact models, the iPhone 16 Pro improved its longevity by 4 hours over the iPhone 15 Pro, lasing 14 hours and 7 minutes. The iPhone 16 may have the shortest battery life of any new iPhone, but short is relative here. At 12 hours and 43 minutes, the iPhone 16's result is still nearly 2 hours better than its predecessor. Charging speeds are roughly equal on all four iPhone 16 models. When we charged the phones with a wired connection, each one managed to get 55% to 57% full after 30 minutes. There's nothing separating the iPhone 16 models on the software front. All four phones ship with iOS 18 installed, and all four will be capable of supporting the same Apple Intelligence features when those AI capabilities debut with the arrival of iOS 18.1 in October. (You can try a public beta of iOS 18.1 right now if you want an early peek at the writing tools, Memory Movies feature and revamped Siri that will be part of Apple Intelligence.) That's a mark in the favor of the less expensive iPhone 16 models. Even if you opt for an iPhone 16, you're getting the same Apple Intelligence features you would find on an iPhone 16 Pro, but you're spending hundreds of dollars less on your phone. Your decision on which iPhone to buy will depend on what you're looking for in a phone. Fortunately, the four new models offer enough improvements so that there's something for everyone with each iPhone. While the Pro iPhones deliver better graphics performance -- and offer the 120Hz displays that take advantage of graphic-rich games -- you'll get comparable performance no matter which iPhone you buy. you'll reap the benefits of Apple Intelligence on every iPhone 16 model as well. The larger iPhones -- the Plus and the Pro Max -- have the benefit of larger screens (though some may find the Pro Max screen to be almost too big). That also means more space for batteries, so it's no surprise that the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max last the longest on a charge. That said, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro also outperform the average smartphone when it comes to battery life. So if you prefer more compact phones, you can still expect to last the full day on a charge. It's cameras where the iPhone 16 Pro models enjoy the biggest edge. Not only do they have a dedicated telephoto lens, they also have more extensive video features and better microphones. You can approximate a 2x optical zoom on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, but anything beyond that won't match what the zoom lens on the iPhone 16 Pro can capture. In the end, screen size, camera and price will likely be the biggest factors in determining which iPhone you should get. Figure out what you're looking for there, and your iPhone 16 purchase becomes a lot easier.

I tested the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus - and they left me with no Pro-model envy at all

The features that I hoped Apple would improve this year -- such as the 60Hz refresh rate and slower-than-average 20W wired charging -- haven't changed. I've been testing the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus for the past week, and they've quickly unseated last year's iPhone 15 series as the handsets I recommend to most people. Considering it's the iPhone 16 that we're talking about, perhaps I shouldn't be as surprised by the polish and familiarity. Also: We've used every iPhone 16 model and here's our best buying advice for 2024 However, once you factor in all the new features, including the Action button, Camera Control, and Apple Intelligence, the standard iPhones feel more capable than ever -- so much so that I'm not feeling much Pro model FOMO. It helps that they look better than ever, with bold and tasteful colors that most people will be drawn to when they walk inside an Apple store. I guarantee it. With this year's standard iPhones, Apple is taking what I'd like to call the "Sibling" strategy. You know how the older sibling tends to get all the latest and greatest things first -- shirts, toys, shoes? After a year, or when the excitement for something wears off, it's passed down to the younger sibling, so what's old is new again. That's exactly what Apple has done with last year's iPhone 15 Pro model and this year's iPhone 16, and I don't mind that at all. Also: iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 16: Should you upgrade to Apple's latest model? The new Action button, for example, replaces the physical mute-switch toggle and can be mapped to a unique function, from turning on the flashlight to starting a voice memo to firing up the camera. Of course, you can also set the Action button to switch between alert and silent. Considering this is the iPhone's have-it-your-way era, you should really try to embrace the customization freedom here. My Action button is currently set to "turn on AirDrop for 10 minutes" as I'm camera-testing the phone and frequently uploading images and videos to my MacBook. That prompt will likely change by the end of the week, possibly to quick-launch the ESPN app so I can catch up on NFL scores and be let down by the Giants again. That's all part of the beauty of the Action button... and Giants football. There's also a new Camera Control located on the bottom right side of the phones, which looks and functions like the one on the Pro versions. At the most basic level, pressing the Camera Control snaps a photo or starts a video recording. For some Apple magic, a lighter, more gentle press of the same key (Apple tells me not to call it a button) brings up a slider for your most recent camera setting, whether that's zoom range, exposure, or f-stop. Also: Apple says the iPhone 16 is a lot easier to repair than its predecessor. Here's how A double light press on Camera Control brings up a carousel of shooting modes and settings, each of which you can access with another light press. Lastly, swiping on the touch-capacitive surface will dial between the settings. That's to say, Camera Control has a learning curve, so much so that I wouldn't have been mad if Apple made the feature exclusive to the Pro models. Because it's not, it will be many users' first experience with adjusting camera settings at such a finite level, and that's very exciting. Going into my testing, my biggest concern was whether the placement (or ergonomics) of the Camera Control would spoil what was otherwise a genius feature. Since the key is situated closer to the middle of the side edge (more so if you're on the smaller iPhone 16), you're now capturing photos by pressing down with your index finger instead of your thumb. Retraining your muscle memory is required here; I often found myself habitually tapping the screen to focus and capture instead. The positioning of Camera Control also means that whenever I capture photos in a 16:9 aspect ratio (like the ones for this review), which takes up more viewfinder space, my shutter hand often covers part of the screen. That may be a concern when I'm taking a family photo or of a landscape that spans from one end of the viewfinder to the other, and I want the proper framing. While it works both ways, Camera Control encourages you to position the iPhone in landscape orientation, playing to the 16's newest ability to capture immersive spatial photos and videos for VR. It's another feature that's trickled down from last year's Pro model, but nothing I'd stress using. Much like how you'll need an elusive 8K TV to watch 8K videos, you'll need a compatible VR headset to consume spatial content. I've watched several spatial videos on both the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3, and while they're much more immersive than any other digital content out there, the ability to capture them should be seen as a bonus and not a requisite as you consider the iPhone 16. Also: Every iPhone 16 model features a new camera button. Here's what it can do Something you're more likely to take advantage of: the new 12MP ultrawide camera. With an f/2.2 aperture (versus last year's f/2.4), the iPhone 16 can pull in more light (read: capture more details both during the day and night) and take macro shots, much like how the iPhone 15 Pro did with its ultrawide lens. Combine the utility of the ultrawide with the new 48MP Fusion camera (combines the main with a 2x digital zoom capability) and Photographic Styles that can now be modified before and after the shot (which is a game-changer if you've never been a fan of the balanced, low-contrast look of the iPhone's default color profile), and you've got one of the most versatile iPhone camera systems ever. Whether it was reproducing the vibrant colors of my dinner in a dimly lit restaurant, extracting details from small succulents, or capturing the controlled chaos of my morning commute, I rarely felt like the iPhone 16 was unable to get the shot. Also: Why my new iPhone 16 cost me way more than its retail price I say rarely because there was one evening when I wanted to take a photo of the moon. It appeared closer to the Earth than ever, was glowing in a warm orangish hue, and felt like the perfect photo-op with my family celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. But the iPhone 16's zoom capability, capped at 2x like last year, was barely able to capture the essence of the moment. There was a noticeable amount of noise as I hesitantly dialed up the digital zoom, and, for once, I missed the 5x optical camera on the Pro models. While I hoped to see at least a 90Hz refresh rate on the new iPhones, assuming that ProMotion (120Hz) was restricted to Pro devices only, Apple continues to ship the standard models with 60Hz panels. This isn't a deal-breaker by any means, and frankly, users coming from older non-Pro iPhone models won't know what they're missing. Rendering fewer frames also helps the iPhone 16's battery life, which, so far, has been sufficient enough to last me about a day and a half per charge. But in 2024, when even a $150 Android phone comes with smoother display tech, a 90Hz panel, let alone a 120Hz panel, would've made me instantly upgrade from an iPhone 14 or 15. Also: How iOS 18 changes the way you charge your iPhone To Apple's credit, it did bump up the wireless charging speed (up to 25W via MagSafe) on iPhone 16 models, though wired charging rates remain at 20W. From my testing, the iPhone 16 Plus charged from 0% to 100% in roughly one hour and 47 minutes, which is noticeably slower than most flagship phones ($700+) on the market. But, again, if you're coming from an older non-Pro iPhone, the speeds won't impress or disappoint you. There's one thing I haven't mentioned yet in this review, and that's Apple Intelligence, the suite of artificial intelligence tools scattered across iOS 18. That's because the bulk of the AI experience, which includes a revamped Siri, call recording, and text generation, won't be readily available until October, though you can download the iOS 18.1 public beta today. I've been testing the public beta, and some AI features are certainly more useful and practical than others. For example, I'm a fan of the new Siri, which understands natural language better, taking into account stutters, pause fillers, and corrections you make in your prompts. I can ask Siri to show me the AFC standings and follow up with a question specifically about the Giants, and it'll understand that I'm referencing the football team and not the baseball team. Other Apple Intelligence features, like notification summaries, have been hit-or-miss for me. They often oversimplify or misinterpret things, such as when a Thread user's comment was summarized as "Red iPhone and Google phone is lavender." Fortunately, most of this can be fixed via training and software updates, so there's room for recovery. That's to say, you shouldn't buy the iPhone 16 for its AI capabilities -- not yet, at least. Until the software is official, my advice is that unless your carrier offers a generous trade-in deal for your iPhone 14 or 15, you should wait a few more months and see how Apple progresses with its AI developments and if there are any features you would use on a regular basis. Until then, I'll continue to evaluate the iPhone 16 for what it is, and you should consider it for what it offers today. That means buying it for the performant A18 chipset, the more flexible camera system, and the exceptional battery life. If you value one-handed usability and comfort, go with the smaller iPhone 16. If you value longer battery life and a more immersive viewing experience and are willing to pay $100 more for those benefits, go with the iPhone 16 Plus. Everything else about the two models, from the camera systems to the processors to the charging speeds, are identical.

Apple iPhone 16 Plus review: Not as big as the Max, not as pricey either

In years past, Apple's Pro iPhones have garnered the biggest preorder sales, but this year's an exception. This time around, it's the iPhone 16 Plus leading the way. I'm actually surprised by this because the Plus sits in between the similarly spec'd iPhone 16 and the pricier iPhone 16 Pro, which puts it in a tough position when it comes to naming the best iPhone. We're actually three years in of having a Plus model in the iPhone lineup, and while that $899 starting cost puts it closer to premium territory, there are still compelling aspects about this year's iPhone 16 Plus. Namely, it's packing a lot of the features you find in the Pro models -- including the new Camera Control button. It also adopts features previously limited to the Pro phones, like the Action Button and support for spatial photo and video capture. These are just a few of the compelling reasons to get this model that I'll elaborate on in my iPhone 16 Plus review. Likewise, I'll explain how the Plus compares against some of its direct rivals, like the $999 Galaxy S24 Plus, to see how Apple's big-size iPhone stacks up at an $899 starting price. Good news for those itching to get the iPhone 16 Plus. Apple retains the same $899 starting cost as previous generations. Keeping the price the same means there's more value in the iPhone 16 Plus given how there's a narrower gap between this model and Apple's Pro phones. First announced at Apple's 'Glowtime' event on September 9, 2024, the iPhone 16 Plus has since gone on sale starting on September 20. It's available in three storage options: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. With this year's model, the color options are bolder, making it a much more stylish option than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. You have your usual black and white options, but pink, teal, and ultramarine are much more polarizing to the eyes. There are some minor year-over-year changes to the design of iPhone 16 Plus. Apart from the color changes for this year, Apple refreshes the design by switching to a vertical arrangement with the rear cameras, opening up support for spatial photo and video capture. I also love how the cameras are outlined in a slightly darker shade that contrasts nicely with its paint job. Other changes include the addition of the Action and Camera Control buttons, which are also found on the Pro models. Apple uses aerospace-grade aluminum with this phone's chassis, resulting in a much lighter weight at 7.03 ounces (versus 7.09 ounces with the iPhone 15 Plus). It's shockingly lightweight for a larger phone, but I also love how the iPhone 16 Plus has a matte-like finish that keeps it cleaner looking and resilient to finger smudges. Unlike other big phones I use, the iPhone 16 Plus is an anomaly because it's surprisingly not as bulky -- making it much easier to hold and manipulate with one hand. Apple keeps the same 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display as before. There's nothing wrong with that, especially when the panel's 2,796 x 1,290 resolution makes everything on the screen sharp and detailed. There's also the same cutout as before for Apple's Dynamic Island feature, which doesn't change much in terms of its size. Loading up the Rings of Power season 2 trailer, the iPhone 16 Plus offers a satisfying viewing experience indoors with its punchy colors and wide viewing angles. While it doesn't affect much of how I watch videos on the iPhone 16 Plus, the display' 60Hz refresh rate is seriously showing its age by now when I play games and navigate around the phone's interface. This remains my biggest criticism about the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus because similarly priced phones have better refresh rates -- so do less expensive ones. For example, the cheaper Google Pixel 8a and Nothing Phone 2a Plus both have 120Hz refresh rates -- and the difference is noticeable, as they have more fluid looking animations. Despite this, Apple does improve the brightness of the iPhone 16 Plus panel. In our testing, the iPhone 16 Plus reaches a peak brightness of 1,458 nits, which is an improvement over the 1,310 nit max recorded for the iPhone 15 Plus. The numbers show the newer display brighter, but it still falls short of Apple's claim of 2,000 nits. To be fair, though, it's very rare that I see phones ever get close to their ratings. Still, it's a smidge brighter than the Galaxy S24 Plus' reach of 1,396 nits. On the right side of the phone you'll find the new Camera Control button, which can sense how much pressure is applied to it. Anyone with a point-and-shoot will appreciate this, but Camera Control comes with a learning curve. When I press the button down all the way after launching in the Camera app, I can take a photo, while pressing and holding down the button starts a video recording that stops the moment I let go. One of Camera Control's convenient features is how the button can discern swipes to change between some of the settings, like zoom controls, exposure adjustment, tones, aperture control, and more. Sometimes, Camera Control requires a firm touch in order for it to discern swipers, which makes it finicky to operate as smoothly as I'd like. Since I shoot a ton of videos, I still wish Apple would have added more controls and gesture support -- like access to the shutter speed and ISO, as well as customizing its functions. I also want to see Camera Control integrated into more third-party apps because as it stands, it does not work with Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook. That said, support will come eventually once those apps are updated with the proper APIs. Most people will find Camera Control handy to quickly take photos without the hassle of unlocking their phones and running the camera app. But for someone like myself who's quite versed in operating a proper camera, I'm craving more functionality and intuitiveness with this feature. On paper, it doesn't seem like Apple changes anything with the cameras on the iPhone 16 Plus. The rear cameras consist of a 48MP main shooter paired with a 12MP ultrawide one, while a 12MP TrueDepth selfie camera rounds out the optics. The only big upgrade here pertains to the ultrawide lens, which now features a wider f/2.2 aperture that can gather 2.6x more light than before. Starting off our tests with the main camera on the iPhone 16 Plus, I like how it pulls in a lot more detail around the branches and bar around the tree in the middle of my backyard. The cracks on the bark, in particular, have more definition from the iPhone's shot. While my eyes pay extra attention to the vibrant colors of the leaves and grass with the Galaxy S24 Plus' photo, it's very much on the over-saturated side. Sticking with the same tree in my backyard, I switched to their respective cameras and the results are no different. Again, the iPhone 16 Plus delivers more detail and definition -- but I have to zoom into parts of the picture to see it. Samsung, on the other hand, continues to be aggressive with the saturation to the point the photo doesn't look as true-to-life as what I see with my eyes. The one area where I find the Galaxy S24 better than the iPhone 16 Plus is with zooming, mainly because it benefits from having a proper telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The iPhone 16 Plus can create a 2x optical-quality zoom by cropping in one images with its main camera, but otherwise, the phone relies on a digital zoom. With these shots, I set both phones to 25x zoom for an even matchup. There's distinctively more detail in the tree with the Galaxy S24 Plus because of the over-sharpening effect it applies to better expose the details hidden there. Usually I find a noticeable difference between the Plus and the Pro Max, but this macro shot tells me otherwise. I made sure to keep the same distance and focus when I captured this flower. When I zoom in, they're both evenly matched when it comes to their sharpness, detail, and clarity -- so much so that I can even make out all the fuzzy hairs around the flower with both photos. I also took a different macro shot of the flowers above against the Galaxy S24 Plus, which lacks a dedicated macro mode. As a result, it can't get as close to subjects -- and the focal point is fixed to a small region as opposed to the larger one with the iPhone. I thought I copied the same files with my selfies above, but the meta data tells me that they're from the iPhone 16 Plus and 16 Pro Max. Not surprisingly it's an even matchup here because of the identical selfie cameras they're carrying, so they produce the same amount of detail and color saturation. There's no comparison between the iPhone 16 Plus and the Galaxy S24 Plus when it comes to panoramas. The iPhone is a big step ahead of the Galaxy here because of its brighter and evenly exposed shot. It looks like I captured it on a sunny day with the iPhone, while it's clearly cloudy skies under-exposing the shot with the Galaxy. Taking photos in the dark with the iPhone 16 Plus is like having a pair of night vision goggles on me. That's because in almost pitch black conditions, I can immediately see what I'm shooting with the iPhone, whereas the Galaxy S24 Plus is too dark and dim. But once they both capture the shot with their respective night modes, the iPhone pulls slightly ahead with its better definition. Just take a peek at the gallery above to see their differences. On one hand, I was expecting the iPhone 16 Plus to beat the Galaxy S24 Plus because of how far apart they're released, but I didn't think that it would nearly be as good as the iPhone 16 Pro Max either. Both its main and ultrawide cameras can confidently shoot any subject in any situation, so the only thing it's lacking on is proper long distance zooming. Rather than leaning on an older chipset, which has been the tradition for the standard series, the iPhone 16 Plus is powered by the new A18 chip and based on a new 3nm manufacturing process. Apple claims the A18 offers 30% faster CPU performance over the prior A16 Bionic in the iPhone 15 Plus, and our own testing verifies that. In Geekbench 6, the iPhone 16 Plus ejoys a marked improvement over its predecessor with single and multi core scores of 3,302 and 8,042 respectively. Compared to the iPhone 15 Plus, this is an improvement of 29% and 28% for both tests -- with a couple of the runs hitting closer to 30%. There's also a boost to the A18's graphics processing performance, reaching an average frame rate of 98.13 fps in 3DMark's Wild Life Unlimited test. That's much faster than the 74.57 fps rate that the iPhone 15 Plus averages running the same test. I loaded up Resident Evil Village, which is an excellent title to showcase the iPhone 16 Plus' support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing. In addition to the smooth frame rates it maintains, I'm more impressed by the shading and lighting effects whenever I go from dark to light areas. But again, I have to mention that the iPhone 16 Pro doesn't quite achieve that buttery smooth look I see in other phones -- mainly because of its 60Hz refresh rate. This is more prominent with gaming than it is with watching video on the phone, so I hope Apple can finally give its less expensive phones an upgraded display next year. Overall, there's very little to complain about the new A18 chipset. The iPhone 16 Plus handles everything I do on my phones with ease, all without any of the wait or sluggishness I see in budget phones. Even though Apple doesn't come out to say how large of a battery is inside of the iPhone 16 Plus, the company will confirm that it's larger than the previous model. Really, it doesn't matter because it all comes down to its excellent power efficiency. Whether it's the new A18 chip or simply optimizations with iOS 18, the iPhone 16 Plus doesn't disappoint with its long-lasting battery. During one of its battery rundown tests, it scored an outstanding time of 17 hours and 14 minutes -- a substantial boost over the iPhone 15 Plus' 14 hours and 14 minutes. It also outlasts the Galaxy S24 Plus running the same test, landing Apple's Plus a spot on our best phone battery life list. I didn't have any problem using the iPhone 16 Plus casually throughout my day, so I know it can handle the most demanding users out there. This is an epic increase, with only the iPhone 16 Pro Max eclipsing the Plus in our iPhone battery testing. I'd expect that kind of outcome for the much larger, more expensive phone. In contrast, the iPhone 16 Plus is much lighter and much more inexpensive, while still lasting a very long time. Apple doesn't upgrade the charging speeds of its USB-C connection, getting to 29% in 15 minutes -- and subsequently to 55% in 30 minutes. These aren't the speediest times, but they're not turtle trotting speeds either. However, Apple does upgrade the iPhone 16 Plus to 25W MagSafe charging, which is a boost to the prior 15W MagSafe charging speed of last year's model. The software is just as critical as the hardware, and with iOS 18, it's more of an iterative update when I compare it to iOS 17. That's not a bad thing, quite the contrary, because it won't be long before Apple's secret weapon is unleashed. More on that in a little bit. For now, Apple adds more personalization and customization with iOS 18 -- like the ability to rearrange icons in the homescreen and adding themed colors to them. Control Center also gets a facelift that lets me rearrange the layout, resize the icons, and it's expanded to four panels I'm also thrilled about the updates to Messages, which adds support for RCS that lets me enjoy some of the best features I use such as read receipts and messaging indicators. The iPhone 16 Plus also supports iOS 18's new Message via satellite feature, which will allow the phone to access the entire suite of features with iMessages when the phone has no cell connection and gets on satellite connectivity. All of this is good and well, but I don't think they're anything to the extent we got with iOS 17 -- like StandBy Mode, making Contact Posters, interactive widgets with the home screen, and the intuitive NameDrop feature to send your business card to another iPhone. I'm not going into more detail about all of this because our iOS 18 review dissects everything new, but I will tell you that it all feels iterative rather than revolutionary. The secret weapon I was referring to earlier is Apple Intelligence. Based on what I've tested with a developer beta, Apple Intelligence expands the functionality of the iPhone 16 to the next level. Quite simply, the features lend a helpful hand in many ways, even if Apple still needs some catching up to do before it convinces me it's got the AI phone to beat. I've gone through some of my favorite Apple Intelligence features, like the more natural conversations I can have with the new Siri, along with how the Photo Clean Up feature in the Photos app that turns me into a bonafide Photoshop pro to edit images with the help of generative AI. I also love how emails are quickly summarized for me in my inbox, so I don't have to waste time opening them up. Still, there's a single Apple Intelligence feature I'm most looking forward to seeing -- Visual Intelligence. It's basically Apple's answer to Google Lens, and it uses AI and machine learning to learn more about anything by simply using the camera to search it. One example is being able to take a photo of a restaurant to find out its hours of operation, or using the camera to identify a dog breed. If this sounds familiar, it should because Google Lens and Circle to Search are similar features on some of the best Android phones around. There's no denying that Apple Intelligence will transform the experience with the iPhone 16 Plus. But in the greater scheme of things, this is Apple catching up to what Google has done with its Pixel phones for years now -- as well as what Galaxy AI has done for the Galaxy S24 series earlier this year. People love big phones, but I'm reluctant to pay a foolish amount for a phone like the $1,199 iPhone 16 Pro Max. Even though that device has its merits, the iPhone 16 Plus offers more value at $899. This time more than in any other previous year, the gap between the Plus and Max is at its narrowest. I'm astounded by the A18's excellent processing performance, the bolder looking color options, and how its main camera can rival some of the best camera phones around. As much as I want to place a lot of emphasis on the hardware, the software in the iPhone 16 Plus is no different from the 16 Pro Max -- especially when it's tapped to get the same Apple Intelligence features. Everything about the iPhone 16 Plus makes it hard to pass up if you're looking for a big phone. Compared to Galaxy S24 Plus, it certainly cruises to first place in many areas -- including the low light performance of its main camera. Ultimately, it has the pro features I crave with the Max price.

Review: Apple's iPhone 16 Pro Is All About the Camera, For Better and Worse

Key Takeaways The iPhone 16 Pro adds a Camera Control button to enhance the photo-taking experience. The phone's 5x zoom improves optical reach for better photos from farther away. Despite adding faster charging, faster Wi-Fi, and better cooling, the iPhone 16 Pro remains very familiar. People upgrading to this year's Apple iPhone 16 Pro will be greeted with a (slightly) larger screen, new camera optics, and a new Camera Control (shutter) button. While the individual advancements year-over-year aren't overly exciting for tech nerds, the sum of the parts equals a highly advanced device capable of keeping people who care about getting good photos happy. Apple iPhone 16 Pro 8/ 10 A version of Apple's newest iPhone with a larger screen featuring a camera button, a programmable action button, and artificial intelligence features. ProsCamera Control is great for taking pictures5x zoomFaster chargingDoesn't get as hot as 15 Pro ConsIterative upgrade from 15 ProCamera Control can be tricky to use for camera settings See at AppleSee at Best Buy Price and Availability The iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 with 128GB of storage and is available in four shades of titanium: black, natural, desert, and silver. It's joined by the iPhone 16 starting at $799 and the iPhone Pro Max at $1,199. Specifications SoC A18 Pro Display 2,622 x 1,206 resolution (460 ppi) RAM 8GB Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB Ports USB-C Operating System iOS 18 Display type OLED Weight 199g Charge speed Up to 45W (wired) IP Rating IP68 Main Camera 48MP Fusion: 24 mm, ƒ/1.78 aperture Wide-Angle Camera 48MP Ultra Wide: 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture and 120 degree FOV Telephoto 12MP 5x Telephoto: 120 mm, ƒ/2.8 aperture and 20 degree FOV Expand iPhone 16 Pro Overview: Here's What You Get Last year, the iPhone 15 Pro's lightweight titanium frame, Action Button, and USB-C port stood out as the phone's highlights. Those elements continue to be meaningful in day-to-day use, but this year it's the 5x zoom and Camera Control button that have stood out to me the most while going hands-on. This year, you're getting something even more refined. There are no surprises here, but in turn, the iPhone 16 Pro has become one of the most polished phones in history. There are almost no compromises to it. It features speed, optics, and an abundance of other features packed into a sleek package. Even the gold/pink-ish color (Desert Titanium) isn't offensive. There's a lot here, while also not much to get excited about. The iPhone 16 Pro is a bit of a paradox. Finally, Real Zoom Comes to the Smaller Pro iPhone It's not that last year's (regular-sized) iPhone 15 Pro didn't have any optical zoom, but it didn't have the best reach possible. This year, the iPhone 16 Pro gains a 5x optical zoom thanks to Apple's tetraprism design. Let me tell you, it's a great addition to this year's smaller Pro phone. The zoom isn't perfect, of course, it works better with more light, but the advanced zoom is going to help a lot of people capture photos of their kids on a sports field as they're back on the sidelines. I was stunned by some of the photos I was able to capture of far-off landscapes from my backyard. It didn't feel like I was missing this type of zoom before, but almost instantly the feature feels indispensable. The ultra-wide camera also sees an improvement, going from 12MP to 48MP. It's not the same lens as the main camera, but it is visibly better. If nothing else, this lens upgrade also helps improve spatial photos and videos if you shoot in the format made for the Vision Pro. The main camera is roughly the same as last year, but it technically gets better with a two-times faster write speed, which may or may not enable some of the more professional, higher-resolution camera features. The Camera Control Is Cool, but Tricky If you need an excuse to upgrade to this year's iPhone 16 Pro, you can point to the Camera Control as a must-have feature because it's a physical button. Pressing it at any point will launch the camera. Swiping your finger over it will then switch settings. Before testing it, I was optimistic about the new button for the camera, but after the first few days, my excitement about it has seriously waned. The button itself feels solid to press. It's big enough for my finger to find easily. There's nothing wrong with it, per se. My hesitations are mostly about swiping to change the settings and navigating that small contextual drop-down menu directly under it. You have to apply pressure without actually pressing the button, which I found awkward. It's also hard to discover how to use it fully, unlike most of Apple's other interactions. Related The iPhone 16's Camera Control Button Is Useful but Also incredibly Inconvenient Camera Controls is a great shortcut button that'll quickly be ignored. Not only is it difficult to navigate the menu, but the button's location on the phone's side is not ideal for vertical or horizontal shooting. The button is a little too far from the right side when in landscape and not high enough when shooting in portrait. I don't expect everyone will feel the same because of different-sized hands and fingers, but there's a chance you might not find it the most comfortable position. In the end, I don't want to give up the Camera Control. But it just didn't wow me in the way I thought it might. Set your expectations, and you should be happy with it. (By the way, not all case makers handle the Camera Control in the same way.) The Photo Gallery Here are some sample photos taken without editing. The first two sets are the progression of available zoom presets. Close Close There are general sample shots taken with the main camera at 1.5x (35mm equivalent) with no edits. Close The latest version of the Photographic Styles feature is now prominent in the Camera app. It's fancier and more complex than a "photo filter," even if it doesn't appear much different from one for someone applying it to their picture. Here are some examples of Photographic Styles. The first image is the original, non-edited one. Close Close The 16 Pro Gets Better: Screen, Battery, and Processor The iPhone 16 Pro technically has a larger screen -- 6.3 inches compared to last year's 6.1-inch display. The screen has grown, but the phone's physical dimensions haven't ballooned. The 16 Pro is 0.12 inches taller. Without a side-by-side comparison to the iPhone 15 Pro, most people probably won't be able to tell that the size has changed. Having a larger screen is always nice for watching videos and viewing photos, but in practice, I only noticed the difference when transferring data from my 15 Pro to the 16 Pro, and they were sitting right next to each other. I've mostly forgotten about the larger screen on the new phone. One subtle change that you might notice more often is an increased battery capacity. Apple quantifies this as four hours longer for video playback time. Of course, I've spent more time going through all the ins and outs of the phone, using it more than normal, so it's harder to tell. Anecdotally, the 16 Pro does seem to be getting a little more life than the previous model. Even better, the new phone doesn't feel as hot while bouncing back and forth between apps or the more advanced tasks like editing photos. Another battery tweak is the addition of faster charging. The phone is now capable of 45W fast charging with a high-speed charger. It also gains increased MagSafe charging capabilities, going from a 15W top wireless speed to 25W with a supported charger. At the time of publishing, Apple makes the only MagSafe charger that supports the new 25W output. The addition of Wi-Fi 7 means that with a supported router and internet connection, your wireless data transfer and internet speeds could be much faster. Again, there are plenty of caveats to get all the pieces in place, but this phone is now closer to the front of the pack regarding technical abilities for streaming and connections. The A18 Pro system on a chip isn't unimportant -- it helps enable the coming Apple Intelligence and improves battery performance, after all -- but there's not a whole lot to discuss as it pertains to regular consumers. It's the newest and latest chip that Apple offers, which means it's the best and fastest. For those curious, it's a 6-core CPU (two performance cores and four efficiency cores), a 16-core Neural Engine for AI-related tasks, and a 6-core GPU. The regular iPhone 16 has some technical differences, as in, these are not the same processors, but the most notable thing to point to is the GPU, which has one fewer core (5) than the Pro model. Apple Intelligence: TBD After seeing Apple's WWDC keynote in June, I was prepared to dedicate a whole section of this new phone's review to Apple Intelligence, the company's AI software. But somewhere between then and now, Apple pushed Intelligence features back to iOS 18.1, which it says will come out in October 2024. I tried the beta software on an iPad Pro. I like the initial features that are coming, but they aren't here yet. There's also nothing particular about this specific 16 Pro that makes it the "Apple Intelligence" phone. All the iPhone 16 models have 8GB to enable AI tasks, but again, that doesn't make it an AI phone. Apple Intelligence's arrival should be nice on an iPhone 16 Pro, but it will also come to the non-Pro 16. As of right now, it's not a reason to buy an iPhone. Should You Buy the Apple iPhone 16 Pro? The Apple iPhone 16 Pro is the best phone the company has ever made. It's the most refined version of itself thus far. In a vacuum, it's nearly perfect. However, when compared directly with last year's iPhone 15 Pro, the advancements are minimal. Even compared to the iPhone 13 Pro, there's a deep familiarity that can make it seem less special than coming to the phone would be from never having used an iPhone. For better or worse, this year's phone is all about the camera. The 5x zoom is a meaningful feature for people constantly pinching and zooming in while taking photos. The advancement in optical reach should provide much better photos in those instances. The Camera Control might be a boon for certain people. So, on the whole, how could you be disappointed with a great phone? I don't think most people will be. But I also don't think people should be upgrading from the iPhone 15 Pro. Upgrading from an older phone before 2023 will yield a lot more enjoyment, including the USB-C port and Action Button. If you're coming from a really old phone, don't discount the regular iPhone 16 -- it's a banner year for the regular model. Apple iPhone 16 Pro 8/ 10 A version of Apple's newest iPhone with a larger screen featuring a camera button, a programmable action button, and artificial intelligence features. See at AppleSee at Best Buy

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Review

The iPhone 16 Pro Max (starting at $1,099) packs numerous small changes that make for a compelling -- if not quite exciting -- update. A bigger screen provides more real estate for interacting with content, its battery lasts significantly longer, a Camera Control button provides more creative flexibility, and upgraded radios mean faster wireless performance. Moreover, the 16 Pro Max's advanced video capture tools are among the best available from a phone and should tempt creators of all kinds. Those looking to get an early jump on Apple Intelligence will have to wait until it arrives later this year, though the 16 Pro Max should run those features more seamlessly than any other iPhone. If you want a phone for creating content, the 16 Pro Max has absolutely everything you need, though for most people, the standard iPhone 16 (starting at $799) gets you plenty of the way there for a lot less money, making it our Editors' Choice. Design: Minimal Upgrades Of the four iPhone 16 models, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is clearly the flagship thanks to its size and advanced feature set. From a design standpoint, however, it's hardly different from last year's iPhone 15 Pro Max, nor is it all that different from the iPhone 16, 16 Plus (starting at $899), or 16 Pro (starting at $999). The 16 Pro Max is the biggest and heaviest iPhone, measuring 6.42 by 3.06 by 0.32 inches (HWD) and 7.99 ounces. Its top competitors, the $1,099 Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (6.4 by 3.0 by 0.3 inches, 7.8 ounces) and the $1,299 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (6.4 by 3.1 by 0.3 inches, 8.18 ounces), are in the same neighborhood in terms of size, weight, and price. The iPhone 16 Pro has all the same features as the Pro Max but is more pocketable, at 5.89 by 2.81 by 0.32 inches and 7.03 ounces. I carried and used the phone both with and without a case over several days. It is fractionally largely than the 15 Pro Max (6.29 by 3.02 by 0.32 inches, 7.81 ounces) and arguably close to "too big." For some, it will surely be too much phone. The 16 Pro Max has a titanium frame with Apple's Ceramic Shield forming the front and rear surfaces. Apple claims its glass is twice as strong as any other, but we can't verify that. The back panel has a matte finish that's pleasing to the touch, and I like the matte titanium finish of the frame, too. The phone has an IP68 rating for protection against dust and water, which is standard among flagships. It can handle dust and dirt well and survive a 30-minute bath in about 5 feet of water. Even so, we continue to recommend that you use a protective case for a device that costs this much. The 16 Pro Max comes in four color options: Black Titanium, Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium, or White Titanium. We reviewed the Natural Titanium model. The buttons and controls are well placed and work as expected. The left side features the Action Button, followed by two volume keys. The Action Button is a little small and a little close to the volume keys, but it's a nice tool to have for interacting with select apps on your phone. The phone's right edge holds the power button and the new Camera Control key, which lets you quickly open the camera to take photos or videos, as well as interact with several advanced functions. As has been the case for several years, the 16 Pro Max does not feature a physical SIM card tray because US iPhone models rely on eSIM only. The bottom edge of the phone holds a high-speed USB-C port (up to 10Gbps) as well as a microphone and down-firing speaker. Apple hasn't changed the camera module on the rear panel. The phone has three cameras arranged in a triangle, mounted to a large square bump. The bump is quite prominent and makes the phone wobble if you place it on a hard, level surface (without a case). Display: The Big Apple Apple has increased the size of the display from 6.7 to 6.9 inches for the iPhone 16 Pro Max (and from 6.1 to 6.3 inches for the 16 Pro). Other than the size and number of pixels, the two screens share every feature. The 6.9-inch Pro Max has a resolution of 2,868 by 1,320 pixels at a density of 460 pixels per inch (ppi) -- it is the largest-ever screen on an iPhone. Meanwhile, the 6.3-inch 16 Pro has a resolution of 2,622 by 1,206 pixels at 460ppi. Apple was able to increase the size of the screens by squeezing the bezels into a minimal black strip around the display. Some early adopters are experiencing touch problems with the transition from bezel to screen, but we didn't encounter that with our review unit. The TrueDepth camera for Face ID is hidden in the Dynamic Island at the top of the screen. Face ID continues to be one of the top biometric security technologies of any consumer device. Both Pro models feature a screen with a variable refresh rate that Apple calls ProMotion. The refresh rate can change from 1Hz to save power up to 120Hz for smooth performance. The screen supports an always-on mode, which means you can keep a wallpaper with several widgets visible at all times. An always-on display is helpful for gleaning info at a glance without having to turn the screen on. The panel produces 1,000 nits of brightness (typical), with HDR brightness reaching 1,600 nits and peak brightness reaching 2,000 nits. The brightness, combined with the high contrast ratio of 2 million to 1 and fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, make for a superb display that looks great indoors and out. I had zero problems seeing the screen, no matter the ambient lighting conditions. HDR content from apps like Netflix looks outstanding. The Pixel 9 Pro XL features a similar 6.8-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2,992 by 1,344 pixels, a 1Hz to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and 3,000 nits of peak brightness, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra's screen measures 6.8 inches with the same adaptive refresh rate and 2,600-nit brightness. Performance: Quick, But Warm The entire iPhone 16 family gets new Apple silicon inside. The iPhone 16 Pro Max and 16 Pro rely on the A18 Pro processor, while the less expensive iPhone 16 and 16 Plus use the A18. As you might expect, the A18 Pro performs better than the A18, but not by too much. The A18 Pro includes two performance cores, four efficiency cores, six GPU cores, and 16 Neural Engine cores (or NPU). The iPhone 16 Pro Max is available with 256GB of storage ($1,099), 512GB of storage ($1,399), or 1TB of storage ($1,599). All four iPhones share 8GB of RAM. Some Android phones have as much as 12GB or 16GB of RAM. In terms of everyday performance, we can't ask for a faster, smoother mobile processor. It simply blasts its way through every possible task with ease. I ran intensive apps like GarageBand, iMovie, and Lightroom, and the phone didn't break a sweat. I tested several AAA games like Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, and the phone delivered peppy performance. To quantify the A18 Pro's speed, we ran some benchmark tests so we could better compare it with other phones. On Geekbench 6, which tasks the CPU, the 16 Pro Max reached 3,312 and 8,086, respectively, for the single- and multi-core tests. For comparison, the iPhone 16 Plus (Apple A18) reached 3,091 and 7,129, the Galaxy S24 Ultra (Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy) scored 2,273 and 7,056, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL (Google Tensor G4) tallied 1,961 and 4,718 on the same benchmark. Challenging the GPU required us to run the GFXBench Aztec Ruins test, which saw the 16 Pro Max hit 57.9 frames per second (fps). Comparatively, the 16 Plus scored 57.5fps, the S24 Ultra hit 66fps, and the Pixel 9 Pro hit 43fps. The 3DMark Wild Life Extreme test also provides a glimpse at GPU performance. On 3DMark, the 16 Pro Max hit 4,559, which is notably higher than the iPhone 16 Plus, which scored 3,881. One important thing to note here, however, is that the iPhone 16 Pro Max got warm during every test. It cooled down quickly but was obviously warm to the touch when running benchmarks. It didn't get hot while gaming or performing everyday tasks. Further, Apple Intelligence is not on board the iPhone 16 Pro Max yet. It won't arrive until Apple releases iOS 18.1 later this year. Therefore, we are not able to assess how well the phone handles machine learning and artificial intelligence tasks with real-world apps. We'll revisit the phone's AI performance once Apple makes those features available. Battery: A New Champion According to our battery tests, Apple's Pro Max model is often the longest-lasting iPhone each year. Accordingly, the 16 Pro Max easily steals the crown from the 15 Pro Max. According to MacRumors, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 4,685mAh battery inside, which is up about 6% in capacity compared with the 15 Pro Max. Competing Android flagships typically have batteries of about 5,000mAh. Apple says the 16 Pro Max can play local video files for up to 33 hours, stream online video files for up to 29 hours, and play audio for up to 105 hours. In our rundown test, which involves streaming HD video over Wi-Fi with the screen brightness set to the maximum, the 16 Pro Max lasted an impressive 22 hours and 5 minutes. That's up almost 2 hours compared with the 15 Pro Max, which ran for 20 hours and 15 minutes. For comparison, the S24 Ultra lasted 14 hours and 10 minutes, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL lasted 12 hours and 25 minutes. If you need power in your pocket all day long -- and beyond -- the 16 Pro Max delivers. As for charging that massive battery, the 16 Pro Max supports MagSafe wireless charging at up to 25W (30W brick required), Qi2 charging at up to 15W, and regular Qi charging at 7.5W. Apple says the phone supports up to 45W wired charging, which is an upgrade over older iPhones, which were at about 30W. There is no charger in the box, but Apple supplies a quality, braided USB-C cable with the iPhone. I test-charged the phone with Apple's new MagSafe charger. It needed 90 minutes to reach a full charge, which is 30 minutes less than last year's Pro Max. A full charge via a 45W wired connection took 65 minutes, or 20 minutes less than the 15 Pro Max. These are solid and appreciated improvements that put the iPhone 16 Pro Max in line with the charging speeds of the S24 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro. Connectivity: Powerful Radios All four iPhone 16 models share a nearly identical radio package. They have the same sub-6GHz (including C-band) and mmWave 5G support, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, and Thread radios. The only notable difference is that the Pro models have dual-band GPS while the non-Pro models have single-band GPS. This mostly impacts pinpoint accuracy in dense vegetation and dense urban environments. Apple has not identified the modem inside the 16 Pro Max, but all evidence points to the Qualcomm Snapdragon X75, which is an update over the X70 modem in the iPhone 15. I tested the iPhone 16 Pro Max on Verizon's network in New York City and New Jersey and found that it performed incredibly well. In an area with a strong Verizon Ultra Wideband signal, the 16 Pro Max reached a download speed of 885Mbps, more than double the speed we saw last year from the 15 Pro Max. Upload speeds saw a similar gain at 199Mbps. These speeds are quite good considering the urban area and the number of people nearby. A Pixel 9 Pro XL didn't do quite as well, maxing out at 674Mbps down and 131Mbps up when tested in the same spot. The iPhone was a strong performer in areas with a weak signal, too, hitting a solid 63Mbps down and 42Mbps up despite a single bar of standard 5G service. The 16 Pro gains a nice Wi-Fi upgrade, moving from Wi-Fi 6E to Wi-Fi 7. Though most people won't notice a performance improvement until they adopt Wi-Fi 7 gear at home, the newer spec means the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a bit more future-proof than previous models. When tested near a Verizon Fios router with 1Gbps service, I saw a peak download speed of 798Mbps, which is about the same as the 774Mbps scored by the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Uploads were similarly speedy at 451Mbps compared with 465Mbps for the 9 Pro XL. The iPhone was also impressive when tested at the Wi-Fi network's edge, where it peaked at 28.2Mbps down against the 9 Pro XL's 21.5Mbps. Apple keeps the Bluetooth radio at version 5.3 for a third year in a row rather than upgrading to 5.4, the latest spec. The iPhone's codec support includes AAC, APAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, and FLAC. The phone's stereo speakers are decent. You get about 86dB of output, but the bass in our test track, The Knife's "Silent Shout," was a bit thin. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is good for voice calls. The conversations I had were perfectly clear. The earpiece provides plenty of volume (78dB) no matter where you are, and the Voice Isolation feature effectively eliminates background noise to make your voice stand out. Camera: The Best iPhone for Video One of the biggest changes across the entire iPhone 16 line is the addition of the Camera Control button. Located on the lower portion of the right edge, the Camera Control manages a number of camera-focused functions. A quick press opens the camera. A second quick press takes a photo. A long press starts the video camera. Since Camera Control falls right under your right thumb, it's a natural way to fire up the camera and start shooting (if you're a righty). The button also falls approximately where the shutter button does on many standalone cameras when you hold the phone sideways. For now, the button takes a shot with a single press. It doesn't support a half-press to focus, but it will later this year through a software update. The secondary functions of the Camera Control are where things really get interesting. It's a touch-sensitive surface covered by sapphire crystal. Light presses open a sub-menu of advanced features, including exposure, depth of field, zoom, cameras, styles, and tone. Switching between these controls is aggravating. The combination of presses, screen swipes, and rolling finger motions needed to get them to switch from one to the next is unpredictable. Once you land on one, though, gently swiping left or right on the Camera Control does make the appropriate adjustments, such as changing the brightness or zooming in. If you're a just-point-and-shoot type of photographer, these extra controls are likely to be visual noise that you can ignore. If you like to tweak your camera settings before shooting, however, these offer a wealth of options for adjusting to get the right shot. Some knowledge is needed, though, to get the most out of them. From a hardware perspective, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max now share identical camera arrangements. Each has a 48MP main camera with an aperture of f/1.78 and optical image stabilization. This camera, which Apple calls a Fusion Camera, blends high-resolution 48MP snaps with 12MP Quad-Bayer shots (binned by a factor of four) to create 24MP final images. Apple claims these pictures include the detail of the 48MP shot with the light sensitivity of the binned 12MP shot. This camera can also take 2x digital telephoto shots by using the central 12MP of the sensor. There's a lot going on here. Apple has updated the ultra-wide camera to a 48MP sensor. It has a 120-degree field of view at an aperture of f/2.2 and can snag full 48MP resolution or 12MP pictures. A dedicated 12MP 5x optical telephoto camera is available to both iPhone 16 Pro models. Previously, the smaller Pro was limited to 3x optical telephoto. In addition to 5x optical zoom, the 16 Pro Max telephoto supports up to 25x hybrid zoom via optical zoom and digital cropping. The TrueDepth selfie camera is a 12MP shooter at f/1.9. The 16 Pro and Pro Max can shoot in ProRAW, HEIF, or jpeg file formats, which give you plenty of flexibility. There's a lot of discourse concerning the iPhone 16's cameras. Most of it has to do with Apple's treatment of dynamic range. Apple often brightens the lows and tones down the highs to bring images into (what it considers to be) balance. Some people don't like this look because it does things like take away the dark moodiness of a deep shadow. Apple is also doing some work on the color. Often, it produces photos that are warmer than they are in real life. Google and Samsung have their own versions of this type of computational photography. Google tends to lean the closest to reality as far as color is concerned, while Samsung often overdoes colors completely. Both are as guilty as Apple at flattening dynamic range. I bring this up because people's feelings about phone photos are changing. Some people want their phones to act like real cameras, which might mean shadows that are too dark, skies that are too bright, but more realistic colors. You're not going to get that with the iPhone 16 if you open the camera app and start firing off shots. You can get that from the iPhone 16 if you take the time to tweak the settings -- the Tone setting, in particular. The Tone control tool is new and available in the camera's control strip. Pressing it opens a small square near the shutter button. Move your thumb around to adjust the tone, from bright to dark, and from saturated to unsaturated. Alternatively, you can swipe through a series of Apple-defined Tone presets. You can do this before you take your shot or when editing your shot later (but only if you choose to store images in the HEIF format). Taking the time to do it beforehand seems like a great way to miss the moment. For people who prefer to point and shoot, the iPhone 16 Pro Max takes fine photos. The results are somewhat flat, and the color doesn't always match what your eyes see in the real world, but they are certainly sharp, free from noise, and contain lots of detail. The fact that you can edit them afterward is nice, but even for quick sharing, the iPhone does absolutely fine. Some people are going to like the photos, and some aren't. The latter group will have to be satisfied with editing the results. This applies to all four of the iPhone's cameras. All the iPhones can shoot 1080p or 4K video at 24, 25, 30, or 60 frames per second in Dolby Vision. You also get Cinematic Mode, Action Mode (at 2.8K), slow motion, time-lapse, and spatial video capture (for the Apple Vision Pro). The Pro and Pro Max add Fusion capture at up to 4K120, so you can get incredibly smooth action or slow things down after the fact with 5x slow motion. The Pros also get ProRes capture at 4K120, Log video recording, and Academy Color Encoding System. Last, they have stabilized sensors and include four microphones for improved audio recording. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is hands-down the best video camera built into a phone. Nothing on the Android side compares in terms of features, ease of use, and execution. You're going to see the same HDR and color issues as you get with the camera, but switching to the professional capture modes sidesteps that issue and leaves you with stunning footage that you can mold into just about anything. The 4K120 Fusion capture is simply amazing. It gobbles through storage like crazy, but the ability to choose your playback speed after the fact and get smooth results at various frame rates is a creator's dream. (Android phones have had this type of high-speed capture for some time, though not packaged in a way that's as easy to use.) Apple is plainly hoping the creator community ditches standalone video gear in favor of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. I'm sure many will. Software: Apple Intelligence Isn't Here Yet The iPhone 16 Pro Max ships with iOS 18. It will receive at least five years' worth of security and feature upgrades from Apple, so you'll (almost) always have access to the latest software over time. The biggest aspect of iOS 18 is the expanded flexibility to customize your experience. You can easily resize and even recolor home screen icons, adjust quick controls in the Control Center, swap out the Lock Screen shortcuts, and much more. iOS 18 also has a revamped Photos app, support for RCS chat, which improves messaging with Android users, a more powerful calculator app, and more. But iOS 18 is just a baby step. Many of the new features headed to iOS 18 aren't here yet. They're part of Apple Intelligence, which is what Apple has spent the last few months marketing. These features won't begin to arrive until iOS 18.1 shows up (hopefully in October). More 18.x updates will arrive later in the year with yet more features. Apple Intelligence will first come to the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, as well as all four iPhone 16 models. These devices have the necessary horsepower to run the machine learning tasks that power Apple Intelligence. Writing Tools will be among the first to arrive and should help with summarizing text, proofreading, and rewriting. The Notes and Phone apps will support recording, transcribing, and summarizing audio. Apple Intelligence will also be able to prioritize notifications and summarize them. Siri should become more powerful with not only a new glowing look but also the ability to respond to more natural spoken language queries. Later on, Apple Intelligence will include Image Playground and Genmojis, which let people type or speak prompts to create new photos and emoji. These features are available to try in the iOS 18.1 Public Beta but we did not test them for this review. In comparison, Google and Samsung announced new AI features for their flagship phones this year and shipped the majority of them when the phones went on sale. Verdict: The Top iPhone for a Niche Audience The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is the best iPhone for creators and artists who want a powerful handset to capture and process their content. It's got the biggest and best screen of any iPhone, the longest battery life, plenty of speed, and lightning-quick connectivity for uploading and downloading as needed. Its cameras are very good, and its video capture functionality is particularly outstanding. That said, many of the Pro Max's features are borderline overkill, particularly its hand-busting size. So, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is easy to recommend to anyone looking for a one-stop content-creation shop, the standard iPhone 16 is our top recommendation for most people. It offers most of the same features and functionality as the 16 Pro Max (including Apple Intelligence when it's available) in a more manageable size and for hundreds of dollars less, earning it our Editors' Choice award.