iPhone 16 vs Competitors: A Comprehensive Comparison of Flagship Smartphones

iPhone 16 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Who Has the Best Flagship?

Quick LinksWith Bigger Dimensions Comes More Weight Similar Screen Features but Different Sizes A18 Pro vs. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 S24 Ultra Offers an Additional Zoom Lens Both Flagships Offer Excellent Battery Life iOS 18 vs. One UI 6 S24 Ultra Comes with More Storage at a Price Key Takeaways The iPhone 16 Pro costs $999 for 128GB and offers a 6.3-inch ProMotion display, Apple's A18 Pro chipset, and a 5x optical zoom lens. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra starts at $1,299 for 256GB and has a 6.8-inch AMOLED screen, runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and features a four-camera setup (with two telephoto sensors). iPhone 16 Pro runs on iOS 18 with upcoming Apple Intelligence updates, while S24 Ultra boasts One UI 6.1.1 with Galaxy AI. With the introduction of the iPhone 16 Pro, you might be wondering whether to invest in the smaller iPhone or go ultra with Samsung's flagship. Even though both phones offer top-tier hardware, there are quite a few differences that you should consider before making a decision.. With Bigger Dimensions Comes More Weight Of the two smartphones, the iPhone 16 Pro offers a more comfortable form factor, especially for people who prefer one-handed usage. Apple's smaller Pro iPhone measures is much smaller and marginally thinner than the gigantic S24 Ultra, Even though you get a titanium enclosure on both phones (grade 5 on the iPhone and grade 2 on the S24 Ultra), the larger dimensions account for an additional 1.16oz (33g) on the S24 Ultra. Color and finish also vary between the two smartphones. While the iPhone 16 Pro comes in four colors, including black, white, natural, and the new desert titanium, Samsung takes things up a notch by offering seven titanium-infused colors for the Galaxy S24 Ultra. These include gray, violet, yellow, black, green, blue, and orange. It's not just the phone's exterior shell that differs in color, but the S Pen stylus that Samsung includes too. The iPhone has rounded corners, while the S24 Ultra has a more boxy shape. As far as durability is concerned, the smartphone giants don't leave any stone unturned. Apple, for one, equips the iPhone 16 Pro with its second-generation Ceramic Shield front glass, while Samsung goes over the top and includes the new Corning Gorilla Armor (on the front and back). Both phones feature an IP68 dust and water resistance rating and a matte back panel. Similar Screen Features but Different Sizes Even though both phones feature excellent displays, they differ in a few key aspects. The iPhone 16 Pro has Apple's 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display, which appears tiny in front of the massive 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen on the S24 Ultra. The screen on Samsung's flagship is not just bigger but also sharper and brighter than the iPhone's. Even so, both phones support variable refresh rates up to 120Hz (called ProMotion display on the iPhone) and have an always-on mode. It's worth highlighting that the iPhone 16 Pro's screen can be toned down to one nit of brightness, making it easier for the eyes in pitch-dark environments. The S24 Ultra has an Adaptive Color Tone feature, which is similar to True Tone on the iPhone. A18 Pro vs. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 This comparison would be incomplete without mentioning the powerful chipsets that power the iPhone 16 Pro and the Galaxy S24 Ultra. To begin with, the iPhone 16 Pro features the A18 Pro chip with a six-core CPU, a six-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. Tech specs aside, the A18 Pro is the fastest chip on an iPhone and, by extension, one of the most powerful chips on smartphones. In comparison, the Galaxy S24 Ultra runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, which features an eight-core CPU and the Adreno 750 GPU. And even though it is among the top chips on Android smartphones, it is no match for Apple's latest processor. The A18 Pro is about 50% faster in single-core and 20% faster in multi-core Geekbench scores which, once again, establishes Apple's supremacy in the mobile chipset market. Nonetheless, both the processors feature hardware-accelerated ray tracing for rendering realistic lighting in 3D applications. While the S24 Ultra has a vapor chamber for cooling, the iPhone 16 Pro has a new heat dissipation mechanism that sustains peak performance for a longer time. S24 Ultra Offers an Additional Zoom Lens With the inclusion of the 5x telephoto camera that was previously exclusive to last years iPhone 15 Pro Max, the iPhone 16 Pro's camera setup feels complete. The phone can shoot regular pictures with the 48MP Fusion sensor, ultrawide angle (and macro) images with a new 48MP sensor, and telephoto photos with the 12MP periscope lens. Then, there's a 12MP front camera for selfies or attending video calls. Besides the new ultrawide camera, the iPhone 16 Pro also gets the ability to record 4K videos at 120 fps, a feature S24 Ultra already has. Furthermore, Apple has equipped all the iPhone 16 models with a new Camera Control button. Located below the power button, the Camera Control button allows instant access to the Camera app and makes capturing photos and videos easier. The button supports multiple pressure and touch-based inputs and lets you toggle between the lenses and camera features. While the iPhone 16 Pro has a solid camera setup, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is no slouch either. The phone flaunts an incredible 200MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, and two telephoto sensors (10MP and 50MP) that provide 3x and 5x optical zoom. Samsung's handset provides more flexibility in terms of zoom range, allowing photographers to frame their shots the way they want, with Samsung's 100x Space Zoom feature being particularly impressive. The selfie camera on the Galaxy reaches 12MP and features optical image stabilization. With Galaxy AI, the S24 Ultra gets a few AI-based editing features. Further, the phone can record 8K videos at 30 fps, which isn't possible on the iPhone. You can also use the S Pen as a remote shutter to capture selfies or record videos from a distance. Both Flagships Offer Excellent Battery Life Given that the A18 Pro chip is more power efficient than its predecessor, Apple has managed to add a few more hours of juice to the iPhone 16 Pro. Now, the handset is rated to last for up to 27 hours of offline and up to 22 hours of streamed video playback. In comparison, the S24 Ultra can provide up to 30 hours of video playback (wireless). Samsung's flagship should, in theory, last longer. Of course, real-world usage doesn't always reflect manufacturer-quoted numbers but both devices should comfortably last the day under normal use. Regarding charging speeds, the iPhone 16 Pro now supports 25W MagSafe charging (with a 30W or higher adapter), but unfortunately, the wired charging rates remain the same (about 26W). The iPhone also supports Qi2 wireless charging at 15W, a feature that's missing on the Android counterpart. In comparison, the S24 Ultra offers a faster 45W wired and slower 15W wireless charging rate. iOS 18 vs. One UI 6 Out of the box, the iPhone 16 Pro runs on iOS 18, Apple's latest operating system that offers plenty of customization options. An upcoming update will also add Apple Intelligence, the company's suite of AI-based features that will let users perform a variety of tasks, like generating content, summarizing emails, and having human conversations with Siri (and many more). The Camera Button also lets you use Visual Intelligence, Apple's response to Google Lens. Team Samsung gets One UI 6.1.1, which unlocks all the new Galaxy AI features, including Call Assist, Chat Assist, Interpreter, Drawing Assist, Circle to Search, and Instant Slow-Mo. Compared to iOS, One UI offers additional customization and utility features. The Korean giant has also promised to provide seven major operating systems and security updates, which extend the phone's life. S24 Ultra Comes with More Storage at a Price The iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 for the baseline variant with 128GB of storage. The S24 Ultra, on the other hand, is available at $1,299 for the baseline variant with 256GB of onboard storage. iPhone 16 Pro Galaxy S24 Ultra 128GB $999 - 256GB $1,099 $1,299 512GB $1,299 $1,419 1TB $1,499 $1,659 In the end, whether you choose an iPhone 16 Pro or Galaxy S24 Ultra comes down to preference and priorities. The iPhone 16 Pro offers a compact form factor, a more powerful chip, and faster wireless charging. You also get to toy with the new Apple Intelligence, which will arrive later this year. If you really want a bigger iPhone, you could opt for the iPhone 16 Pro Max which is the same as the 16 Pro with a larger screen. The S24 Ultra, on the other hand, is suitable for power users who consume a lot of content on their smartphone and can make use of the additional zoom lenses. Another selling point is the S Pen, which offers features like note-taking and a remote shutter. Apple iPhone 16 Pro 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 Apple Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra The new Galaxy S24 Ultra is Samsung's high-end flagship phone. It features a titanium frame, a flat display with Gorilla Glass armor, and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC powering new Galaxy AI features. See at Amazon$1300 at Samsung$1300 at Best Buy

iPhone 16 vs. Samsung Galaxy S24: How Do the Base Models Compare?

Quick LinksThe Designs Are Very Similar Both Have Large and Bright Displays The S24 Has a Telephoto Lens Samsung Has a Bigger Battery But Slower Wireless Charging Both Smartphones Use Cutting-Edge Hardware Samsung and Apple Each Have an AI Solution Both Models Start at $800 Key Takeaways The iPhone 16 and Galaxy S24 share many commonalities including similar designs, a focus on class-leading power, AI features, excellent camera systems, and the same price point. The iPhone is stuck with a 60Hz screen compared to the S24, is rated for lower battery life, but leans more heavily into AI features. The S24 pulls ahead with a telephoto lens, 120Hz display, but lacks the iPhone 16's 25W wireless charging. Ultimately there's more to hardware at stake, and your preference for Apple and Samsung's ecosystem (or iOS and Android) will be more important than the raw numbers. The iPhone 16 is upon us, so how does it compare to 2024's Samsung Galaxy S24? In this battle of the base models, knowing the differences and similarities is crucial. Let's dive into the details and help you decide which one suits you best. The Designs Are Very Similar It's no secret that most smartphones these days look pretty similar. At first glance, both the Galaxy S24 and the iPhone 16 are rounded, rectangular phones with a notch at the top for the front-facing camera. So far, so good. On the iPhone side, it's rocking the same aluminum casing as its predecessors. It comes in five different colors, including black, white, pink, teal, and ultramarine, and weighs 6.07oz (172g). There are some upgrades, though, with a new Action button replacing the mute switch, and a new dedicated Camera Control button. The Galaxy S24, in contrast, has a few more color options to choose from: black, gray, violet, yellow, orange, blue, and green. Like the iPhone 16, it comes wrapped in an armored aluminum frame. As standard, it has the usual volume buttons and side key (largely used for power), but nothing else. It weighs 5.93oz (168g), so it's slightly lighter than the iPhone 16. If you're worried about the size, then the iPhone is the bigger model here, but only just. The iPhone is a little bit taller, wider, and thicker than its South Korean counterpart, but the difference is so small that it's barely noticeable. Both Have Large and Bright Displays There are some modest differences between the iPhone 16 and the Samsung Galaxy S24 on paper when it comes to display tech. The iPhone 16 is slightly bigger, but the S24 has a larger 6.2-inch AMOLED screen, compared to the iPhone's 6.1-inch OLED screen. Samsung's AMOLED display can adjust its refresh rate up to 120 Hz, while the iPhone 16's refresh rate stays at 60 Hz. Unlike the Samsung, the iPhone 16 doesn't have an always-on display. The iPhone 16 has a slight edge in pixel sharpness, with 461 pixels per inch (PPI) compared to the Samsung S24's 416 PPI. However, the Galaxy S24's screen is brighter, with a max brightness of 2600 nits versus 2000 nits on the iPhone. Both phones support HDR. This last point comes down to personal preference. Apple's Dynamic Island combines the front camera and Face ID sensors with alerts, while the Samsung S24 has a small cut-out for the front camera at the top. The Dynamic Island may take up more space, but it's in an area of the screen that isn't very useful on either phone. The S24 Has a Telephoto Lens Both Samsung and Apple have thrown the kitchen sink at providing professional quality camera functionality in both the iPhone 16 and Samsung Galaxy S24. The iPhone 16 comes with a 48MP primary camera for standard photography and a 12MP ultrawide camera for wide-angle shots. There's also the same 12MP TrueDepth front-facing camera that Apple included in the iPhone 15. One change that Apple has introduced is a new, dedicated Camera Control button for quickly taking snaps and changing camera settings. On the Samsung Galaxy S24, you'll see a slightly better 50MP main camera and a 12MP ultrawide, along with a 10MP telephoto camera for a three-times optical zoom. Like the iPhone 16, there's also a 12MP front-facing camera. On paper, Samsung nudges ahead with a higher resolution main camera, but until we see real-world shots, it's going to be very difficult to tell these apart. Samsung Has a Bigger Battery But Slower Wireless Charging Battery -- always a compromise for the base models versus the flagships, and there's no difference here. There's more to be had with an iPhone 16 Plus or a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the base models hold their own here. The S24 comes with a 4,000mAh battery as standard, along with 24W wired charging and Qi2 wireless charging at 15W. Samsung claims the S24 comes with up to 29 hours of battery life during video playback, too. Our colleagues over at Android Police found that the battery itself lasted around 8 to 10 hours with adaptive brightness switched on without needing a charge. For the iPhone 16, Apple is claiming up to 22 hours of video playback time but there's no data yet on how big the battery is. Apple does say it'll support 25W wired charging with MagSafe, which is better than the S24. If you grab a 30W USB-C charger, you'll see a 50% charge in 30 minutes via MagSafe. Both Smartphones Use Cutting-Edge Hardware The iPhone 16 comes with Apple's new A18 all-in-one chip that offers huge performance gains over the A16 Bionic it replaces. According to Apple, the A18 is 30% faster in CPU performance and 40% faster in GPU performance than the A16 Bionic, as well as a 16-core Neural Engine processor that offers two times the performance to help power its new Apple Intelligence functionality. Other than that, the base iPhone 16 comes with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options, but it hasn't disclosed how much onboard memory it'll have. The storage matches that offered by Samsung with the base S24 model, except that the S24 lacks a 512GB version. The S24 does come with 8GB of RAM, however. The S24 uses a different system on a chip depending on your location. It comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in North America or Samsung's own Exynos 2400 chip in the rest of the world. The Qualcomm model is an octa-core CPU, while the Exynos 2400 is a deca-core. That's plenty of power for gaming and AI. Either way, there's some serious power in both phones here, and you're unlikely to notice a difference between them. Samsung and Apple Each Have an AI Solution The iPhone ships with iOS 18 and, as it's AI season, it's no surprise to see a wealth of AI functionality appear front and center. Apple Intelligence dominates new features here, with Apple integrating ChatGPT-style chatting into Siri to make it more powerful. There are also AI tools for image editing and creation, writing, and productivity. Samsung introduced Galaxy AI functionality with the S24 series. Like the iPhone 16, there are AI writing image and editing tools, but Samsung's approach is far more subtle than the all-in approach that Apple is taking with the iPhone 16. The S24 is running the latest version of Android 14 using Samsung's One UI 6.1 overlay. Samsung is committed to supporting the Galaxy S24 series with new OS and security updates for seven years. There's no clear indication yet of how long Apple intends to support the iPhone 16, but a minimum of five years is expected. Both Models Start at $800 The iPhone 16 will be available for pre-order from September 13, 2024 and will hit Apple's own stores from September 20, 2024. It'll cost you $799 for the base 128GB storage model. The Samsung Galaxy S24 launched back on January 31, 2024, and is already on sale. Like the iPhone 16, the base S24 with 128GB of RAM costs $799.99. iPhone 16 Samsung Galaxy S24 128GB $799 $799.99 256GB $899 $859.99 512GB $999 N/A Trying to choose between the iPhone 16 and the Samsung Galaxy S24 will depend on what you're looking for and where you're coming from. They're excellent phones, but they're incremental upgrades from last-gen models. You're going to have to look at it through that prism, and you're unlikely to want to upgrade from an S23 or an iPhone 15 unless you're really looking for AI. For Android and iPhone users switching sides, there's a big culture shock to contend with. Both models are priced roughly the same, but iOS 18 is leaning more heavily towards AI than Samsung right now. Features like the new Camera Control button could have their advantages for regular snappers, but it's a nicety, not a deal breaker. What we know right now is that the same, endless battle continues to be fought between these two smartphone behemoths, and you won't lack power or performance with either. Apple iPhone 16 Apple's newest iPhone featuring a camera button, programmable action button, and artificial intelligence features. See at Apple Samsung Galaxy S24 The Samsung Galaxy S24 may be the smallest in the line, but it has big-time processing power and a fantastic camera, perfect for selfies, group shots, and more. Buy on Amazon

iPhone 16 vs. Google Pixel 9: How Do the Base Models Compare?

Key Takeaways The iPhone 16 has a slightly smaller display, a new Camera Control button, and a faster A18 chip. It also features faster 25W MagSafe charging. The Pixel 9, on the other hand, flaunts a bigger, smoother, and brighter screen, along with a better ultrawide camera and access to Gemini voice assistant. The baseline iPhone 16 with 128GB of storage costs $799, which is the same as that of the 128GB Pixel 9. With the launch of iPhone 16, Apple has kicked off a battle of base models with the Google Pixel 9. While the former offers a new A18 processor with support for Apple Intelligence, the latter runs on Google's Tensor G4 and provides access to all the Google AI features. So, which one should you choose? iPhone 16 Is Slightly Smaller and Lighter The iPhone 16, like its predecessor, is a compact smartphone that fits easily in the pocket. On the back, the phone features a new vertical camera array for recording spatial photos and videos. It's also available in a few different colors compared with its predecessor, with your choice of black, white, pink, teal, and ultramarine. On the front, the iPhone 16 features a Dynamic Island that houses sensors and lets you interact with notifications. Then, there's a second-generation Ceramic Shield front that promises tougher glass to guard against drops. While the left side of the phone has a new programmable Action Button, the right side features the Camera Control button, which is exclusive to the iPhone 16 lineup. The Pixel 9, on the other hand, looks more like its predecessor. It features a horizontal camera visor on the back, but instead of merging it with the side frames, Google has carved it as a separate pill-shaped island that doesn't run throughout the phone's width. The phone is available in four colors: peony, wintergreen, porcelain, and obsidian. The Pixel 9 is 5.2 mm taller and 0.4 mm wider, which makes space for a bigger screen, but it is also noticeably thicker (about 9%) and heavier than the iPhone 16 (about 16.5%). Further, the handset sports Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection on the front and back panels. Both phones have a matte glass back with a textured aluminum frame on the iPhone 16 and a satin finish frame on the Pixel 9. Both have an IP68 dust and water resistance rating. Both phones also have flat side edges and rounded corners. Google's Base Model Has a Brighter Display While design is a subjective aspect of comparison, the screen size, brightness, refresh rate, and resolution are objective parameters that help determine how good a phone's display is. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't have that going in its favor this year. With its 6.3-inch Actua display that supports a 120Hz refresh rate and 2,700 nits of peak brightness, the Pixel 9's screen is considerably bigger, and brighter than the iPhone 16's 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display. The Pixel will also feel smoother since it has double the refresh rate of the iPhone, at 120Hz. That said, the iPhone has a slightly sharper screen thanks to its 9% higher pixel density. Another striking difference between the two screens is the notch. The iPhone 16 features a pill-shaped notch that Apple calls the Dynamic Island. Through a combination of hardware and clever software optimizations, the Dynamic Island unlocks new ways of interacting with notifications on an iPhone. Conversely, you get a regular punch-hole notch on the Pixel 9. The OLED screen on the Pixel 9 also lets the company pack an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication. Apple's A18 Chip Is Miles Ahead of the Tensor G4 Yes, Google has clarified that it isn't chasing raw performance or the highest benchmark scores with its Tensor chipsets, but that's still a big point of difference between these two devices. One of the biggest reasons to upgrade to the iPhone 16 is the new A18 chip. It is based on the second-generation 3nm fabrication process, making it faster and more efficient than the previous generation of processors in the iPhone 15. With the powerful five-core GPU, the chipset supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing for running AAA video games. Most importantly, the chip supports Apple Intelligence, which will be available as a free software update later this year. The Pixel 9, by comparison, is powered by the Tensor G4 chip. While it doesn't offer as much raw processing power as Apple's chip, it is made for taking care of day-to-day tasks like multitasking apps, web browsing, casual gaming, or shooting photos and videos. In How-To Geeks' review of the Pixel 9, Joe Fedewa says that the smartphone "feels more like a high-end flagship phone." Besides the regular stuff, the Tensor G4 can also handle all the GenAI features Google has equipped the Pixel 9 with, and there's plenty of them. Pixel 9 Has a Better Ultrawide Camera With the Pixel 9, Google offers a 50MP primary camera with Super Res Zoom up to 8x. You also get a higher resolution 48MP ultrawide camera that can capture higher resolution images than the iPhone 16. The sensor also doubles as a macro lens. On the front, the Pixel 9 has a 10.5MP selfie shooter. Apart from the impressive hardware, Google's flagship also flaunts a bunch of software-based features, such as Add Me, Face Unblur, Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, and Best Take. The Pixel 9 can record videos in 4K resolution at up to 60 fps. The primary camera on the iPhone 16 is a 48MP Fusion sensor that enables 2x optical zoom by cropping. Then there's a 12MP ultrawide camera that offers better low-light performance than the iPhone 15 and doubles as a macro shooter. These sensors and the A18's advanced image signal processor can capture stunning pictures even in low-light scenarios. Further, you can record 4K video at up to 60 fps, shoot in Cinematic Mode, or stabilize high-intensity action using Action Mode. There's a 12MP TrueDepth camera on the front for taking selfies or attending video calls. You also get a new Camera Control button that opens the Camera app and lets you switch between the lenses, toggle through the various features, and capture a picture. The Pixel has a more versatile camera system with plenty of new GenAI features for editing images. Battery Life is Relatively Similar The iPhone 16 is rated to last up to 22 hours of video playback. It also supports faster MagSafe charging speeds of 25W. You can charge up the iPhone 16's battery to 50% in around 30 minutes with a 20W adapter through wired charging or with a 30W or higher adapter while using the MagSafe charger. With the Pixel 9, Google promises a "24+ hour battery life," which includes "talk, data, standby, and use of other features." When compared to the iPhone 16, the Pixel has slightly faster wired charging. However, it charges slower via a Qi-certified wireless charger. This comparison hinges on each manufacturer's own rating, so it's hard to be perfectly objective. iOS 18 vs. Android 14 Apple's iOS 18 will be available as a stable update starting on September 16. Hence, all the iPhone 16 models that hit stores on September 20 will run on iOS 18 out of the box. Apple Intelligence, however, will be available as a free upgrade starting in October alongside iOS 18.1, with more features coming throughout 2024 and 2025. In contrast, Google's Pixel 9 runs on Android 14, making it the first Pixel smartphone that didn't ship with the latest Android version. Speaking of Android versions, Google should roll out Android 15 by October. Even so, you can already access many Google AI features, like Pixel Screenshots, Call Notes, and Gemini voice assistant. Regarding software support, Apple generally provides new iOS updates to models that are five to six years old. On the other hand, Google has promised to provide seven major OS upgrades with the Pixel 9. Both Phones Are Available for the Same Price The iPhone 16 costs $799 for the baseline variant with 128GB of storage. The Pixel 9 is also available for $799 for the baseline variant with 128GB of storage. While the iPhone 16 provides up to 512GB of storage, the Pixel 9 maxes out at 256GB. iPhone 16 Pixel 9 128GB $799 $799 256GB $899 $899 512GB $1,099 - It's a close call between Apple and Google's base models and ecosystem will likely be the bigger decider. Go with the iPhone 16 if you're comfortable with iOS, already use Apple devices, or desire the additional processing power the smartphone offers. But if you want a slightly larger yet comfortable screen, a more versatile camera system, and cherish the stock Android experience, you can't go wrong with the Pixel 9. Apple iPhone 16 Apple's newest iPhone featuring a camera button, programmable action button, and artificial intelligence features. See at Apple Google Pixel 9 The Google Pixel 9 features a sleek design with a powerful Tensor G4 processor, 12 GB of RAM, and a vibrant 6.3-inch Actua display, making it ideal for capturing stunning photos and videos with its advanced 50 MP main lens and 48 MP ultrawide camera. With improved durability and a fast-charging all-day battery, the Pixel 9 is built to handle daily challenges while delivering top-notch performance and AI-driven capabilities. See at Google Store$785 at AmazonSee at Best BuySee at VerizonSee at AT&TSee at T-Mobile

iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Is This the Perfect Upgrade Cycle?

Quick LinksiPhone 16 Pro Is Bigger Yet Lighter Make Way for a Bigger Screen on the iPhone 16 Pro A18 Pro vs. A16 Bionic iPhone 16 Pro Offers Two New Cameras Expect Better Battery Life on the iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Won't Get Apple Intelligence iPhone 16 Pro Debuts at the Same Price Key Takeaways The iPhone 16 Pro has a bigger 6.3-inch screen, a new Camera Control button, an improved ultrawide and telephoto camera, and faster MagSafe charging. The iPhone 14 Pro has a smaller 6.1-inch screen, uses a two-year-old A16 Bionic chipset, and still has a Lightning port instead of the USB-C port on the iPhone 16 Pro. While the iPhone 16 Pro will get Apple Intelligence later this year, the iPhone 14 Pro won't make the cut. However, it will still get a stable iOS 18 update. Out of Apple's four 2024 iPhone models, the iPhone 16 Pro seems to offer the best balance between portability and functionality. But does it make sense to upgrade from the iPhone 14 Pro? That depends on your expectations and budget. iPhone 16 Pro Is Bigger Yet Lighter At its core, the iPhone 16 Pro is a slightly bigger and thicker iPhone 14 Pro, with two new buttons on the frame which happens to be made of grade 5 titanium rather than stainless steel. In terms of dimensions, the iPhone 16 Pro is slightly taller and very slightly thicker than the iPhone 14 Pro. Despite the changes, the newer iPhone is 7 grams lighter than the two-year-old version, thanks to the titanium chassis, which was introduced with last year's iPhone 15 Pro. While the iPhone 14 Pro shipped in black, silver, gold, and deep purple, the iPhone 16 Pro is available in black, white, natural, and desert titanium finishes. The iPhone 16 Pro's front is characterized by the Dynamic Island, which first debuted on the iPhone 14 Pro (no change there). Holding the phones side by side, you'll also notice how thin the bezels are on the new 16 Pro. While other aspects, such as the textured matte glass back and the IP68 dust and water resistance ratings, remain the same, the 16 Pro features a second-generation Ceramic Shield front, which is about 50% tougher than the one on the iPhone 14 Pro. The square-shaped camera island on the rear panel is another commonality between the two phones. The iPhone 16 Pro has two new buttons that are missing on the iPhone 14 Pro: the customizable Action Button and the new Camera Control button that makes accessing the camera and capturing pictures more accessible (at the press of a button). Make Way for a Bigger Screen on the iPhone 16 Pro Had it not been for the dimensions of the iPhone 16 Pro, this part of the comparison would have been irrelevant. As previously mentioned, the 16 Pro is taller with thinner bezels which makes way for a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display. This is noticeably bigger than the 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR screen on the iPhone 14 Pro. Beyond this, however, both screens share the same panel technology, resolution, higher 120Hz refresh rate (referred to as the ProMotion display on the iPhones), and peak brightness. You also get an always-on display feature on both smartphones. The only other difference is that the iPhone 16 Pro's screen can reach one nit of minimum brightness, making it easier to use in pitch-dark environments. A18 Pro vs. A16 Bionic With the iPhone 16 Pro, Apple has also introduced the A18 Pro chipset. Based on second-generation 3nm fabrication technology, the processor features a new six-core CPU, which can handle the same workload as the A17 Pro chipset 15% faster while using 20% less power. The A17 Pro, in turn, is about 10% faster than the A16 Bionic chip on the iPhone 14 Pro. This means there's a two-generational leap in terms of performance on the newer model Aside from the CPU, the GPU and Neural Engine of the A18 Pro are significantly better than the A16 Bionic. Even though both the chipsets support hardware-accelerated ray-tracing, you should expect better performance in 3D applications on the iPhone 16 Pro. Thanks to the new heat dissipation mechanism, the newer iPhone can deliver 20% better-sustained performance, which means the 16 Pro can go for longer before thermal throttling kicks in. Unfortunately, the A16 Bionic chip on the iPhone 14 Pro (and the regular iPhone 15 models) doesn't have enough horsepower or RAM to run on-device generative models. This is why the two-year-old iPhone didn't make the cut for Apple Intelligence, the suite of GenAI features that will be available on the iPhone 16 Pro later this year. iPhone 16 Pro Offers Two New Cameras While the nature (and alignment) of cameras remain the same on both smartphones, the iPhone 16 Pro is in a league of its own. Though both phones feature the same 48MP primary sensor, the iPhone 16 Pro has a new 48MP ultrawide sensor for shooting sharper landscape (and macro) pictures. Furthermore, the iPhone 16 Pro gets a newer 12MP periscope telephoto camera that provides up to 5x optical zoom (the same sensor Apple released with the iPhone 15 Pro Max). Combined with software, the newer model offers 25x digital zoom, while the older model is capped at 15x. However, the 12MP TrueDepth camera on the front hasn't changed. The iPhone 16 Pro has also learned a couple of new tricks, such as 4K video at 120 fps, 1080p spatial video at 30 fps, and ProRes video in 4K at 120 fps. Another upgrade that's worth pointing out is the ability to shoot QuickTake videos in 4K at 60 fps on the newer iPhone versus 1080p at 30 fps on the older model. You also get the latest-generation Photographics Styles on the iPhone 16 Pro. Expect Better Battery Life on the iPhone 16 Pro While the iPhone 16 Pro is rated to provide up to 27 hours of video playback, the iPhone 14 Pro was limited to 23 hours. Of course, the difference will be more evident if you've been using an iPhone 14 Pro since its launch due to the expected drop in battery health over time. The newer model also supports faster MagSafe charging at 25W (with a 30W or higher adapter) and Qi2 wireless charging at up to 15W. Apple's iPhone 14 Pro, on the other hand, has 15W MagSafe charging and 7.5W Qi wireless charging. Last but not least, the iPhone 16 Pro features a USB-C port (which can handle USB 3.0 transfer speeds), while the iPhone 14 Pro is stuck with a Lightning port that caps out at USB 2.0 speeds. iPhone 14 Pro Won't Get Apple Intelligence In terms of software, both iPhones can run iOS 18. However, as mentioned, the iPhone 14 Pro doesn't have enough processing prowess to support Apple Intelligence. As and when the GenAI features arrive on the iPhone 16 Pro, they will unlock a host of new abilities. These include text generation, proofreading, email, notification summarization, contextually-driven and conversational Siri (with screen awareness), improvements to the Apple Photos app, and Visual Intelligence. It is worth mentioning that the iPhone 14 Pro should get new iOS updates for another three to four years. iPhone 16 Pro Debuts at the Same Price For the last few years, Apple hasn't increased the prices of its iPhones at launch, and the same is true for the new models. The iPhone 16 Pro is available from $999 for the baseline variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The iPhone 14 Pro also debuted for the same price for the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant in 2022. Currently, it is available at Walmart for a discounted price. Apple's iPhone 16 Pro might be an incremental upgrade over the iPhone 15 Pro, but things start to change when you compare it with the two-year-old iPhone 14 Pro. Except for the screen, the iPhone 16 Pro offers considerable upgrades in all the other departments. You get a more powerful A18 Pro chip with support for Apple Intelligence, the most versatile camera system to exist on an iPhone, better battery life, and, faster wireless charging. These are all quality-of-life improvements that are worth considering. That said, the iPhone 14 Pro is still a monster of a smartphone and these upgrades might not mean too much to you, especially if you are a regular user who doesn't care about the GenAI features, gaming performance, or faster MagSafe charging. Apple iPhone 16 Pro 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 Apple