iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: What to Expect from Apple's Next Flagship Phones

iPhone 16 -- 5 reasons to buy and 3 reasons to skip

Should the iPhone 16 be your next phone? Here are the pros and cons The iPhone 16 may not have a new display size, a big jump in megapixels for one of its cameras or some of the other headline-grabbing changes that Apple made to the iPhone 16 Pro. But that doesn't mean it's not a significant update. Apple's entry level flagship makes some intriguing design tweaks, while marking an end to the company's dubious policy of using year-old silicon in its less expensive flagship models. And it introduces all these changes without any hike in price, a rarity among major handsets these days. There are some missing features with the iPhone 16 to be sure. And we may discover more about the phone as we get a chance to put it through more rigorous tests. (You can get our first impressions of the device by reading our initial iPhone 16 hands-on.) But at first glance, we can see plenty of reasons to buy the this new phone once iPhone 16 pre-orders get started this Friday (September 13). And we can also point out a few reasons why you might want to turn to a different phone from Apple. Last year's iPhone 15 featured an A16 Bionic system-on-chip that had actually made its debut a year earlier in the iPhone 14 Pro models. The iPhone 16 doesn't have to make do with a hand-me-down -- instead, it's using new A18 silicon that's two generations ahead of the chipset in its immediate predecessor. That's going to translate to performance gains for the iPhone 16. Apple says the A18's CPU is 30% faster than what you got with the A16 Bionic, while the GPU is 40%. You also get better power efficiency, with the A18 using less energy to deliver the same performance. And that's before we even consider the more powerful neural engine in the A18 that's perfectly capable of handling all those Apple Intelligence features on device. Yes, the A18 Pro in the iPhone 16 Pro is a step up, thanks to an extra core in the GPU. But the important thing is that there's some level of parity between iPhone 16 models. The standard iPhone doesn't feel like an afterthought the way it has the past two years. Not long ago, it seemed like Apple was determined to remove all the buttons it could from its devices. Now, it can't seem to stop adding them. The iPhone 16 picks up two new buttons -- the Action button from last year's iPhone 15 Pro models and a Camera Control button that's appearing across the four new iPhones. It's the Camera Control button that seems especially promising. You get the features you'd expect from such a button -- one press launches the Camera app, another press snaps the photo and a press and hold captures video. But there's more to it than just those simple controls. You can also swipe Camera Control to zoom in on a subject or cycle through photographic styles. It sounds like a really clever implementations that gives you a quicker way to operate the camera if you don't care to fool around with on-screen controls. My colleague Mark Spoonauer found Camera Control to be a little finicky, though his time testing out the feature has been limited. It could well be that Camera Control becomes easier to use the more chance you have to explore it. Because of that A18 chipset we mentioned above -- and what we presume to be a lot of RAM packed into Apple's new phones -- the iPhone 16 should prove to be just as capable running new Apple Intelligence features as the latest Pro models. That means you can still get the writing tools, smart summaries and enhanced Siri that iPhone 16 Pro owners will benefit from while spending $200 less on your phone. We should point out here that the iPhone 16 costs the same $799 that Apple charged for the iPhone 15 back when that phone arrived a year ago. It's rare for a phone maker to hold the line on prices these days -- just ask Google about its Pixel 9's cost -- so Apple deserves credit for keeping the price of getting access to Apple Intelligence relatively affordable. Camera hardware changes on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are really few and far between, especially when you consider the improvements to the Pro lineup. (That includes a faster main camera sensor, 48MP ultrawide lens and -- in the case of the smaller Pro model -- an improved telephoto camera design with longer zoom.) But there's some welcome changes, particularly to the iPhone 16's ultrawide lens. Unlike the iPhone 16 Pro, the iPhone is sticking with a 12MP sensor for its ultrawide camera. But the sensor itself is larger, allowing it to collect 2.6x more light than before for sharper images. Apple added autofocus to the ultrawide camera, too, so the iPhone 16 can now take macro shots with that camera. It's certainly not a major overhaul, but it does make the iPhone 16's camera setup more flexible than previous models. And we're betting it translates to better quality shots when we get a chance to put the camera to the test. Everyone has different tastes, but I've found Apple's recent color choices for its standard iPhones to be a little too muted. That's particularly true of the iPhone 15, where the blue color option is so pale, it's easy to confuse with white. Someone at Apple must have realized that the less-expensive iPhone flagships need a bit more splash of color to them, because I've been pretty impressed with the look and finish of the iPhone 16 models I've seen. While the white and black colors on the iPhone 16 are fairly workmanlike, the remaining colors -- pink, teal, and especially ultramarine all catch the eye. They make the iPhone 16 look fun, and isn't that part of the appeal of Apple's products? Apple remains an outlier among major phone makers who've long since equipped their top phones with fast-refreshing displays. A higher refresh rate leads for smoother scrolling and more immersive graphics, and at this point, it's just about the default standard for flagship phones. But not so far as Apple is concerned. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus remain stuck at 60Hz. Apple might argue that it's not that big a deal, and that people who really want a fast refreshing display can always just go with the iPhone 16 Pro for a mere $200 more. I suppose there's something to that argument, though it becomes less convincing considering that I can go out a pick up a Pixel 8a for less than $500 and I'd have a phone a 120Hz display. Apple's supposedly correcting this shortcoming next year with the iPhone 17, where there are enough LTPO panels on hand to support fast-refreshing screens for all of the new iPhones. But that's small consolation if you want to upgrade to the latest entry-level iPhone right now. While we're criticizing the iPhone 16's display, we should note that it doesn't feature any notable improvements over the iPhone 15. Specifically, the panel has the same 2,000-nit peak brightness rating as its predecessor. That's not a bad number by any means. And the iPhone 15 proved to be quite bright in our testing, hitting 1,401 nits on a light meter. Should the iPhone 16 match that, its 6.1-inch panel should be very easy to see in direct sunlight. The trouble with the iPhone not making any changes, though, is that its competitors have. Samsung boosted the brightness on the Galaxy S24, and that device edged ahead of the iPhone 15 in terms of brightness. The Google Pixel 9 blows both of those phones away, as we measured a peak of 1,769 nits on its 6.3-inch display. Can the iPhone 16 match that? It doesn't seem very likely. As intriguing as some Apple Intelligence features sound -- and we've been impressed in our time with things like Photos Clean Up and some of the writing tools -- there's still a lot of work to be done on Apple's end. Apple Intelligence won't even be active should you get your hands on an iPhone 16 right away. The features won't appear until October, and then, only as a beta. Apple is to be commended for trying to make up for lost time with its push into AI features that are already firmly in place on Google's flagship phones. But the early parts of any journey can sometimes hit a few bumps in the road, and slapping a beta label on Apple Intelligence features suggests that Apple is being careful not to oversell things. If the main reason you're considering an iPhone 16 upgrade is because of Apple Intelligence, you need to bear all that in mind and act accordingly. No one would blame you if you wait to see if the AI features are worth the hype. The iPhone 16 doesn't introduce dramatic changes to Apple's phone lineup, even if the enhancements it does offer seem well-thought-out. Anyone who decides to upgrade to the new model is going to get a top-performing phone with a better camera setup. We're confident in that before we even get a chance to finish our iPhone 16 testing. But Apple Intelligence remains the wildcard. Early previews of the features have been encouraging, but the key word in that description is "early." If you want your AI-powered capabilities to come with a bit more polish, you may not want to rush into an iPhone 16 upgrade -- at least not until the Apple Intelligence update arrives.

iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: Here are the biggest differences

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro just took center stage to fully introduce Apple Intelligence into our lives. During Apple's September event, we got to see all the big upgrades these smartphone juggernauts deliver. This includes an Action button across all models, an all-new Camera Control button for easy-access camera features, an A18 chipset to power Apple's generative AI, improved cameras and battery life, and plenty more. Quite the jump from the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models, but what are the key differences that separate the "regular" iPhone 16 from its beefier Pro sibling? That's what this comparison aims to find out. As with last year's iPhones, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models won't come with a price increase. That's welcome news for anyone looking for an upgrade, and we hope this trend continues in future releases. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus start at $799 and $899, respectively, with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage sizes available. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are set at $999 and $1,199, coming in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage sizes. As is the norm now, the Pro Max model is $200 more than its smaller counterpart. All iPhone 16 models are available at the Apple Store. So, what sets them apart? Here's a brief summary of the iPhone 16's specs: And what the iPhone 16 Pro brings to the table: As you might expect, the iPhone 16 Pro is an improved version of the iPhone 16, but this time with a bigger display. The 120Hz refresh rate and Always-On display always earn bonus points, but there isn't a grand divide between processors this time. There's always been a difference in display when it comes to the baseline iPhones and their Pro peers, but display sizes have matched. This time, the iPhone 16 Pro will have an edge over the iPhone 16. The iPhone 16 brings the same 6.1‑inch (2,556 x 1,179 resolution) OLED display from last year, but the iPhone 16 Pro sports a 6.3‑inch (2,622 x 1,206 resolution) OLED display -- 0.2 inches more than the iPhone 15 Pro. That's not all, as both models will come with thinner borders around the display, offering more display real estate. Both models bring a more efficient OLED display, too, with brighter micro-lens technology. You can also expect the iPhone 16 Pro to come equipped with a 120Hz refresh rate and Always-On display, which the iPhone 16 (once again) misses out on. While both offer 2,000 nits of peak brightness, the iPhone 16 Pro offers 1,200 nits of typical SDR brightness, while the iPhone 16 sticks with its 1,000 nits. Bar the increase in size, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro look more alike than ever before, until you turn them over to see their rear camera design. The Pro models have the extra telephoto lens as usual, placed in a diagonal design, but the iPhone 16 is now going back to its iPhone 12 roots with a vertical camera layout. Otherwise, these phones offer the same design traits. The iPhone 16 now comes equipped with an Action Button rather than the typical Ring/Silent switch, just like last year's Pro model, and the iPhone 16 lineup has an all-new Camera Control button. Placed right below the Power button, it acts as a shutter button, can zoom in and out of photos or videos with swiping gestures, and lets you focus on specific subjects. Of course, the iPhone 16 Pro delivers its titanium finish, but this time with a micro, while the iPhone 16 offers a lighter aerospace aluminum finish with a color-infused cover glass. The former is supposed to be more robust, but a drop test shows it isn't quite as durable. In the color department, the iPhone 16 will come in Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, and Black. On the other hand, the iPhone 16 Pro will be available in darker Black Titanium, lighter White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium color options. The iPhone 16 shows the base iPhone models are catching up to the Pro models fast, but the iPhone 16 Pro is now slightly bigger and still retains its usual camera layout. Apple decided to bring the iPhone 16 up to speed by skipping a generation so it could match the iPhone 16 Pro's power, as both will have an A18 Bionic chip under the hood. To set itself apart, though, the iPhone 16 Pro will get the A18 Pro chip, which comes with a 16-core Neural Engine. This is 15% faster than on the A17 Pro chip. Plus, there's a 6-core GPU, for even greater-looking games and graphics. Based on TSMC's enhanced 3nm process, the A18 comes with more Neural Engine core to support Apple Intelligence, meaning it has more processing power to handle new AI features coming to both models. Each year, Apple ups the ante with its A-series chips, so it's clear that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro will outshine last-gen processors. Moreover, the iPhone 16 Pro comes Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, offering even faster internet speeds. The iPhone 16 will stick with Wi-Fi 6E. Either way, despite an extra helping of GPU cores, the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro should offer the lightning-fast performance we've come to expect with each annual release, with the former getting an even bigger upgrade compared to last year. It's upgrades all around in the battery department, as both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro come with increased battery capacities and charging speeds. While the Pro model offers slightly more space, it isn't by much. The iPhone 16 is set to offer up to 22 hours of battery life, while the iPhone 16 Pro offers up to 27 hours. Generally, they can both last a full day before needing a charge, but the Pro can last a little longer. For even more battery, however, you'll have to look to the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max. This is where the iPhone 16 Pro comes into its own. Allow me to list the specs: And here's what the iPhone 16 has to offer: While the iPhone 16 carries over the impressive 48MP wide camera and will feature a 12MP ultra-wide with autofocus to handle low-light photography better and offers macro photography, the iPhone 16 Pro steps up by bringing an improved 48MP ultra-wide for enhanced image quality. What's more, you can also expect to use Spatial Capture in the iPhone 16, too. Moreover, the iPhone 16 Pro will take the tetraprism telephoto that was exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, increasing optical zoom from 3x to 5x and up to 25x digital zoom. As for video, you can expect 4K at 120 frames per second, making Cinematic Mode even better in slow motion with greater details and colors. All in all, you can expect ultra-wide shots to take in the scenery with finer detail, an increase in light capture for more natural-looking shots, and less lens flares and ghosting issues thanks to the added anti-reflective coating on the Pro model's cameras. The biggest feature that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro have in common is they are both backed by Apple Intelligence. It's the tech giant's own stamp on AI, and it brings new features that are exclusive to the latest lineup of iPhones. We've had a sneak peek at what Apple's AI can do at WWDC 2024, including prioritized notifications, which can put the most important notifications at the top of your iPhone's feed and even offer brief summaries of stacked notifications. There's a lot more on offer, such as the ability to rewrite, summarize, and proof blocks of selected text, automatic audio transcriptions, and AI image generation and easy image search by typing a description. Plus, there's Private Cloud Compute, protecting your personal information any time you access Apple Intelligence. Basically, your data is never stored. All iPhone 16 models will harness the power of Apple Intelligence, including being able to create your own emojis with Genmoji. It's hard to tell which iPhone 16 model offers more bang for your buck without real-world use, but it seems the base iPhone 16 has a lot going for it considering its price. It may lose out on the bigger display, A18 Pro chip, and upgraded ultra-wide lens that the iPhone 16 Pro boasts, but this year's "regular" iPhone is more Pro than ever. With the same Action and Camera Control buttons, A18-type chip, upgraded battery life, and perks with Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 16 doesn't look to miss out on much of what the iPhone 16 Pro has to offer.

iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: Should You Go Pro?

How to Wirelessly Transfer Files Between Windows, macOS, Linux, and Mobile Quick LinksBoth Models Get Camera Control and New Colors iPhone 16 Pro Offers a Bigger Display The iPhone 16 Pro Gets a More Powerful A18 Pro Chip iPhone 16 Pro Has a Telephoto Lens Both iPhones Get Faster Wireless Charging Apple Intelligence Will Be Available on Both Models The iPhone Pro Demands a $200 Premium With the release of the new iPhone 16 models comes the big question: should you go with the regular iPhone 16 with a new A18 chip or spend more money and get the iPhone 16 Pro with better cameras, battery life, and more? Here's a detailed comparison to answer all your questions. Both Models Get Camera Control and New Colors First, let's address one of the main highlights of the "It's Glowtime" Apple event: the Camera Control Button. It is a hybrid button on the side of the device that includes a tactile switch, a high-precision force sensor, and a capacitive touch sensor. Together, these components unlock a completely new experience on the iPhone, wherein you can not only interact with the Camera app but also get information about items in the real world by pressing the Camera Control button. The latter feature, dubbed Visual Intelligence, will arrive later this year as Apple's response to Google Lens. The Camera Control button is available on both the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Pro. Unlike the diagonally-placed cameras on the iPhone 15, the iPhone 16 gets a vertical camera setup, wherein both the sensors are stacked one over the other. Further, the new handset is available in five colors: Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, and Black. While the rear panel is still color-infused glass, the front gets a new Ceramic Shield protection that is 50% more durable than its first generation. The enclosure, like the iPhone 15, is built with aluminum. The iPhone 16 measures 5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches (147.6 x 71.6 x 7.80 mm) and weighs 6oz (170g). And yes, the baseline iPhone now has an Action Button. The iPhone 16 Pro, on the other hand, features a square-shaped camera array that houses three lenses (similar to the iPhone 15 Pro). Unlike the aluminum frame on the regular iPhone 16, the Pro version features a titanium frame and is available in four colors: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium. Measuring 5.89 x 2.81 x 0.32 inches (149.6 x 71.5 x 8.25 mm), the iPhone 16 Pro is slightly taller than the iPhone 16, making room for a slightly larger screen (more on that later). Last but not least, the Pro version weighs 7.03oz (199g), making it noticeably heavier than its non-Pro counterpart. In summary, the iPhone 16 Pro is a tad bigger and heavier than the iPhone 16 and features the iconic triple-camera array that immediately separates it from the non-Pro models. The vanilla iPhone 16, on the other hand, provides a slightly more compact form factor with some refreshed colors and now includes the customizable Action Button. iPhone 16 Pro Offers a Bigger Display The regular iPhone 16 features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate, which, in my opinion, is a bit disappointing. In contrast, the iPhone 16 Pro flaunts a slightly bigger 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR ProMotion display that can support up to 120Hz. Apple has managed to pack in the additional screen area by increasing the phone's dimensions and reducing the thickness of the bezels. Apple claims that the iPhone 16 Pro models feature "the thinnest borders on any Apple product." Aside from the size and the refresh rate, both displays share a lot of commonalities. For instance, they have a pixel density of 460ppi, feature Apple's innovative Dynamic Island, support for True Tone technology, and a peak brightness of 2,000nits. In addition, the screens on these smartphones can also drop to a minimum brightness of one nit. Even the contrast ratio (2,000,000:1) and support for HDR content are similar on both models. Ultimately, the iPhone 16 Pro provides more screen real estate, which could be beneficial for consuming different forms of content on the device. The ProMotion display technology on the Pro model ensures a smooth 120Hz visual experience, while the slimmer borders are pure elegance. The ProMotion display also allows the phone to drop to 1Hz, allowing an Always-On display for the Pro models. You can't go wrong with the iPhone 16. It doesn't look odd or outdated by any means, but it's missing a higher refresh rate that Apple's rivals offer in this price range. The iPhone 16 Pro Gets a More Powerful A18 Pro Chip The iPhone 16 features a new A18 chip with a six-core CPU, which, according to Apple, is 30% faster than the A16 Bionic chipset on the iPhone 15. Further, the chipset is "faster than all competition," a subtle reference to the top-tier chipsets from MediaTek and Qualcomm. Thanks to the second-generation, 3nm technology, the new chip consumes 30% less power than the A16 Bionic. Then there's a five-core GPU that is 40% faster than the GPU on the A16 Bionic, too. Built on the same fabrication technology as the A18 chip, the A18 Pro in the iPhone 16 Pro range features a similar CPU but a six-core GPU that is about 20% faster than the one on the A17 Pro chip. The processor also features machine-learning accelerators, which improve AI-powered experiences on the device by up to 15% compared to the A17 Pro. With the A18 Pro, the iPhone 16 Pro (and the iPhone 16 Pro Max) takes the crown for the fastest smartphone on the market, at least until Qualcomm tries to challenge it with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, which is expected to arrive in Android smartphones later this year. While the A18 Pro is the champion, the chipsets have a few common features. For instance, both offer hardware-accelerated ray tracing for more realistic shadows and reflections in video games. In addition, both processors support AAA video games with new titles like Honor of Kings: World. Both offer Apple Intelligence AI features, too. Other common features include a heat dissipation mechanism that improves sustained performance and 17% additional system bandwidth. The iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Pro ship with 128GB of storage on the base model. Last but not least, both of them feature a 16-core Neural Processing Unit for handling on-device AI features. For tech-savvy users, the A18 Pro features a larger cache than the A18, has an improved display engine for ProMotion, and always-on display, and can handle faster data processing for recording higher-quality videos. iPhone 16 Pro Has a Telephoto Lens The iPhone 16 has a 48MP (f/1.6) Fusion camera for up to 2x lossless zoom and a 12MP (f/2.2) ultrawide sensor that can also capture macro shots. On the front, users get a 12MP (f/1.9) TrueDepth camera for taking selfies or attending video calls. In comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro also features a 48MP (f/1.76) Fusion camera that provides a similar lossless zoom. However, the ultrawide camera on the Pro is an upgraded 48MP (f/2.2) sensor, also capable of taking macro shots. Unlike the previous generation, where the 5x telephoto lens was reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple has equipped the iPhone 16 Pro with the same 12MP (f.2.8) telephoto sensor for 5x zoom. Further, both iPhones feature the new Camera Control button that unlocks new ways to take a picture. While users can launch the Camera app by tapping the button, they can hold the button for a quick video recording. The button can also differentiate between a full click and a lighter press. Other common camera-related features include the ability to record and shoot spatial videos and photos, the latest-generation Photographic Styles, a Sapphire crystal lens cover, and portrait lighting with six effects. Certain Apple Intelligence features, particularly the ones for editing pictures, will also be available on both models. However, the new image signal processor in the iPhone 16 Pro supports 4K video recording at 120fps. Users can also adjust the playback speed between 24fps and 120fps after they've shot a video. Professionals or enthusiasts may also appreciate the composition guidelines available on the iPhone 16 Pro. Apple has also worked on improving the audio quality with four microphones on the Pro variant that can record studio-quality input. With the new Audio Mix feature, the iPhone 16 Pro uses machine learning to isolate people's voices from the background. Users can also play around with different audio settings: In-Frame, Studio Mix, and Cinematic. Like last year, the ability to record Log videos (which are ideal for color grading) is also restricted on the Pro model. Moreover, the iPhone 16 Pro offers you much more flexibility and versatility in terms of camera performance, while the iPhone 16 offers a pretty robust but limited set of options. Both iPhones Get Faster Wireless Charging The iPhone 16 is rated to last for up to 22 hours of video playback, while the iPhone 16 Pro can manage around 27 hours. Clearly, both phones have improved upon the battery life offered by their predecessors. What's good is that Apple has upgraded the MagSafe wireless charging speed up to 25W (on both models) with a 30W adapter or higher. The smartphones also support Qi2 wireless charging up to 15W and Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W. Apple also claims that both phones can charge up to 50% in around 30 minutes with a 20W wired adapter. Apple Intelligence Will Be Available on Both Models Thankfully, Apple hasn't restricted its AI features to the Pro variants; both the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Pro will get access to Apple Intelligence, which will be available as a free software update. The first set of AI-enabled features will roll out in beta as part of the iOS 18.1 update expected in October 2024. Apple Intelligence will include tools that can help users rewrite their messages, proofread their emails, or create emojis by providing a text description. You will also be able to generate images on both handsets, thanks to the Image Playground feature that will arrive soon. Apple Intelligence promises to change the way many users interact with their devices, including the iPhone's voice assistant Siri, Photos app, Mail, and Visual Intelligence. Regarding software support, both the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Pro should get the latest operating system upgrades for at least another four to five years. For those wondering, iOS 18 will be available as a stable update on September 16. The iPhone Pro Demands a $200 Premium The baseline iPhone 16 with 128GB of storage costs $799, while the iPhone 16 Pro with similar storage costs $999. Both models will be available for pre-order on the company's official website from September 13 and will hit stores on September 20, 2024. If you wish to be among the first batch of users who get their hands on the new iPhones, I'd suggest you pre-order a unit instead of waiting for the sales to begin. iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB $799 $899 $999 - 256GB $899 $999 $1,099 $1,199 512GB $999 $1,199 $1,299 $1,399 1TB - - $1,499 $1,599 The iPhone 16 Pro offers a lot of features that the vanilla iPhone 16 doesn't, but the real question is whether you need those features. If you're fine with a 6.1-inch smartphone that offers one of the most powerful chipsets on any smartphone, a dual-camera system, and decent battery life, you can't make a mistake with the regular iPhone 16. If you're an iPhone 12 or an iPhone 13 user, the iPhone 16 will be a significant upgrade for you. However, if having the additional telephoto lens, the most powerful chipset on a smartphone, and a better battery life matters to you, I'd suggest you go with the iPhone 16 Pro, especially if you're an enthusiast or professional photographer. Apple iPhone 16 Apple's newest iPhone featuring a camera button, programmable action button, and artificial intelligence features. 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.

Apple iPhone 16 vs. Samsung Galaxy S24: The Best Flagship Phone

The iPhone 16 and Galaxy S24 lineups include seven phones. The entry-level iPhone 16 and Galaxy S24 with 128GB of storage are both $799, while the most expensive models are the $1,599 iPhone 16 Pro Max and the $1,659 Galaxy S24 Ultra -- both with 1TB of storage. Adding more storage increases the price of each device. In dollars and cents, the iPhone 16 and Galaxy S24 series are relatively close, though Samsung charges the most for its 1TB model. Apart from the boxy Galaxy S24 Ultra, every Galaxy S24 and iPhone 16 shares a similar and familiar rounded rectangle shape. Displays dominate the front of these phones with little bezel surrounding the screens, though Samsung's in-display front-facing camera is in a small, circular cavity while Apple embraces its pill-shaped Dynamic Island. Beyond the camera, the Dynamic Island also houses components that make Face ID possible. Samsung still uses an under-display fingerprint sensor as its most secure biometric option. The two lineups differ more obviously from the rear. The iPhone 16 places its dual cameras within a vertical camera bump, while the iPhone 16 Pro features a squarish assembly for its triple-rear cameras. Meanwhile, Samsung's phones feature a flat back with circular camera rings lined up vertically on the top left. When it comes to overall looks, design is completely subjective. In terms of sizing, the iPhone 16 measures 5.81 by 2.82 by 0.31 inches (HWD) and weighs 6.00 ounces. The 16 Pro is a little larger and much heavier, measuring 5.89 by 2.81 by 0.32 inches and 7.03 ounces. The Samsung Galaxy S24 is the smallest and lightest in its family, measuring 5.79 by 2.78 by 0.30 inches and 5.93 ounces. The second-largest iPhone is the 16 Plus, which measures 6.33 by 3.06 by 0.31 inches and weighs 7.03 ounces. Samsung's medium-size S24+ is a bit smaller, measuring 6.24 by 2.99 by 0.30 inches and weighing 6.95 ounces. Note that the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro share the same weight despite their size difference. The largest iPhone 16, the Pro Max, is slightly taller, more narrow, and less thick at 6.42 by 3.06 by 0.32 inches than the Galaxy S24 Ultra (6.40 by 3.11 by 0.34 inches). Apple's offering is also lighter at 7.99 ounces versus the S24 Ultra's 8.22 ounces. Regarding toughness, every iPhone 16 and Galaxy S24 is rated IP68, so they are virtually dust and waterproof. Apple's new Ceramic Shield glass covers the front and back of the iPhone 16 lineup, which the company says is 50% tougher than the first generation. Apple also says its newest glass is two times tougher than any smartphone glass. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects the Galaxy S24 and S24+, while the S24 Ultra uses Victus 2 on the rear and the tougher Gorilla Armor on the front. Apple uses aluminum frames for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus but employs titanium in the Pro line. Similarly, Samsung relies on Armor Aluminum for the S24 and S24+ and upgrades the S24 Ultra to titanium. The metals may be a draw, but if Apple's glass is as tough as it says, the iPhone 16 could be tougher than the S24 lineup. All of this year's iPhones feature a customizable action button and a new, small touchpad called Camera Control, which is in addition to the standard power button and volume rocker. Camera Control is aptly named as it lets you control camera functions with a tap or slide. Some advanced features are slated for a future update. The S24 Ultra is the only device in the S24 lineup that includes an S Pen stylus, which allows you to jot down notes. If dedicated buttons or a stylus garage excites you, you will have an easier time choosing a device. The iPhone 16, like the iPhone 15 before it, no longer supports physical SIM cards and must be activated with an eSIM. However, the Galaxy S24 series supports both a physical SIM and eSIM. Typically, eSIM installations require a few taps of a screen, while a physical SIM requires a paper clip. Some find the latter more convenient than the former. All seven phones have high-resolution, pixel-dense OLED displays for crisp, detailed pictures in vivid colors. Let's focus on the key differences. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus use a panel with a fixed 60Hz refresh rate and do not feature an always-on display. Always-on displays have been a feature of many Android devices for several years and are helpful for glanceable information like time and notifications. The more expensive 16 Pro models have screens with variable refresh rates ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz (what Apple calls ProMotion), allowing for smoother animations and a power-efficient always-on display. Meanwhile, every Samsung Galaxy S24 model features adaptive refresh rates of 1Hz to 120Hz and an always-on display. Apple's iPhone 16 lineup maxes out at 2,000 nits at its peak, while all the S24 phones reach a brighter 2,600 nits. These bright screens are capable of overcoming strong external light, which is great on a sunny day. Both companies offer a variety of screen sizes, so there is a device to fit every hand. The Galaxy S24's 6.1-inch display is the smallest, while the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max has the largest at 6.9 inches. Please take a look at our charts for all the display details. Since every Galaxy S24 features a variable refresh rate and exceeds the iPhone 16 in brightness, Samsung gets the win here. We have yet to benchmark the iPhone 16 series, but historically, Apple-made processors outperform the latest from Qualcomm. The entire Galaxy S24 line is powered by the same chip, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy. It handles the most demanding tasks easily, which makes for an excellent overall experience no matter which model you get. Apple says its new chips are built for Apple Intelligence, and the successors to the A16 Bionic and A17 Pro are a huge leap forward. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus use the Apple A18 processor, while the more powerful 16 Pro and Pro Max put the A18 Pro processor to work. Both offer improved CPU and GPU performance compared with the A16 Bionic and A17 Pro chips, which were already outstanding in their performance. Benchmarks tell only so much of the story. In the real world, responsiveness and results are key. The newest iPhones are banking on Apple Intelligence to separate them from the pack, and how well they perform will impact perception. We've found that Galaxy AI, Samsung's suite of AI tools, provides useful productivity boosts and fun features that make the S24 enjoyable to use. If Apple Intelligence works like the demos, it could give Apple a leg up here over Samsung (and maybe even Google). On the gaming front, Apple says the iPhone 16 is capable of running console-level games, while the Galaxy S24 series makes short work of even the most resource-intensive games. Apple and Samsung flagships produce excellent photographs thanks to their combination of high-end hardware and intelligent software. Additionally, both companies invested in AI image editing tools for improved final photos. Apple's new iPhones are all capable of capturing spatial photos and videos that are viewable on the Apple Vision Pro. Apple differs from Samsung in one crucial way when it comes to video. While Samsung caters to the social creator crowd, Apple touts the ability to use the iPhone as an honest-to-goodness professional video camera -- particularly the iPhone 16 Pro. It is capable of shooting ProRes video at up to 4K resolution at 120 frames per second (fps) when using an external recording device. The Galaxy S24 series can also capture 4K120fps video, though its files are compressed. Additionally, the entire S24 lineup can capture 8K video, something not possible on any iPhone 16. Here is the camera hardware breakdown: The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus use the same rear dual-camera array. There is the 48MP f/1.6 main shooter that Apple calls a Fusion camera since the same sensor can take 48MP images at 1x, 12MP images at 2x, or combined 24MP images that blend the detail of all 48MP with the light-capturing power of the 12MP binned sensor. The 12MP ultrawide camera features a 120-degree field of view for expansive landscapes and funky closeups, and supports macro shooting. The Pro line also features a similar 48MP main shooter, though its aperture is at f/1.78. It can produce 48MP or 24MP images, while the lens can also produce 12MP 2x telephoto pictures. The 48MP ultrawide offers a 120-degree field of view and full-resolution pictures. A dedicated 12MP 5x optical telephoto lens using Apple's tetraprism tech is in both iPhone 16 Pro models. The Galaxy S24 and S24+ have identical rear camera arrays with a 50MP f/1.8 main shooter, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera with a 120-degree field of view, and a 10MP f/2.4 telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. We will have to see how Apple's telephoto equivalent images compare to Samsung's in testing. The S24 Ultra has the same ultra-wide and telephoto lenses as the other S24s but upgrades to a 200MP main camera and adds a second 50MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. The world of front-facing cameras is not as glamorous. All iPhone 16 phones use a 12MP f/1.9 front-facing camera, while the S24 series uses a 12MP f/2.2 selfie cam. Considering the amount of image processing done on these phones, it is difficult to make a judgment simply on specs without actual samples to look at. We have yet to put the iPhone 16 lineup through our battery tests, but last year, Apple claimed 16 hours of battery life for the iPhone 15, and that is what we found in testing. This year, Apple says the iPhone 16 will reach 18 hours of battery life, with the 16 Plus getting 24 hours, the 16 Pro reaching 22 hours, and the 16 Pro Max maxing out at 29 hours. Every iPhone 16 supports MagSafe wireless charging at up to 25W, Qi2 charging at up to 15W, and regular Qi charging at 7.5W. The company did not disclose battery size or wireless charging speed. The Galaxy S24 has a 4,000mAh battery that charges at 25W wired. The S24+ has a 4,900mAh battery and the S24 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery, both of which charge at a faster 45W wired. We found the S24 lasted 13 hours and 5 minutes in testing, and the S24+ and S24 Ultra endured 14 hours and 10 minutes. If Apple's claims are accurate, the new iPhones would surpass the Galaxy S24. Apple supports its iPhones with updates for at least several years, though it does not make specific claims. According to a UK filing, the iPhone 15 is officially supported for a minimum of five years from the first supply date. However, a maximum support term is still unknown. Samsung, on the other hand, explicitly states that the Galaxy S24 series will receive seven years of OS updates and security patches. Either way, your phone will be updated for longer than most. The new iPhones appear to be incredibly competitive with the Samsung Galaxy S24 series from afar. If the devices live up to Apple's claims -- particularly where Apple Intelligence is concerned -- then the iPhone 16 Pro phones could usher in a new era of mobile creativity and practicality. Samsung's Galaxy AI leans pretty hard on Google and is currently available across the Galaxy S24 line and other Samsung devices. Until we get a chance to put the four iPhone 16 phones through their paces, we can't deliver a definitive verdict, so check back soon for a more in-depth assessment.

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Biggest differences explained

If you're deciding between the iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro, you should know that the iPhone 16 has picked up a lot of formerly Pro-exclusive features, like the customizable Action button and Apple Intelligence, as well as new upgrades -- including the Camera Control button and the powerful A18 chipset. But the iPhone 16 Pro series obviously has a bunch of extra benefits for those willing to pay extra for them. The screens are now even bigger, and the 5x tetraprism lens is now available on iPhone 16 Pro. That will be coming alongside an upgraded camera system with larger quad-pixel sensors -- not to mention a 48MP ultrawide lens. Plus, the adaptive ProMotion display, larger batteries and exclusive camera features. But even once you've decided between standard and Pro models, you also need to decide which size to get. There isn't a whole lot of difference between them all other than screen size, but those little factors could be the difference between you spending more or saving a few extra hundred bucks. So when it comes to iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro, which one is the best iPhone for you? The major similarity between all four iPhone models is the new Camera Control button, which lives on the bottom left-hand side of the phone, and the fact they all run Apple Intelligence. All of the new iPhone 16 devices will also offer Visual Intelligence, which allows you to look up real-time information on what the camera sees and act on it. The Camera Control is a multi-purpose haptic button that also ties into Visual Intelligence if you want it to. The primary function of the button is to open the camera app quickly, and better control what happens without having to rely on the usual touchscreen controls. But there's more to it than that. A light tap on the Camera Control will launch a minimalistic, distraction free camera interface, with the option to slide over the button to control features like camera zoom. A second light tap opens up a small menu, which you can navigate through options like aperture, depth and camera styles. The Action button may have debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro series but it's made the jump to non-Pro phones this year. Meaning iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro owners alike will be able to customize the button to do one of a number of actions or shortcuts. Other iPhone 16 features previously exclusive to Pro models also include the ability to capture spatial photos and video with the new camera layout, hardware accelerated ray-tracing from the new A18 chipset, and the ability to play AAA game titles on the go. Wi-Fi 7 connectivity is also available on all four models, though that's completely new for 2024. Visual Intelligence is an AI camera mode which links Apple Intelligence to the camera and lets you scan and analyze the world around you. Think of it as a kind of AI Vision, which we've seen from various AI chatbots, or Google Lens. Visual Intelligence is able to scan text, identify animals or objects, translate text, search Google or get ChatGPT to help you out and so much more. All using a mix of on-device and cloud-based computing. Naturally every every other Apple Intelligence feature we've heard about so far, which will be available on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, are available on all iPhone 16 models. That means all iPhone 16 owners will be able to enjoy features like Image Playground's image generation, custom genmoji, AI-enhanced search in Apple Photos, the enhanced version of Siri, AI mail and notification summaries and more. The same goes for all the new features coming to iOS 18, including satellite messaging, customizable home screens, locked apps and Hidden Folder, iPhone Mirroring on Macs, RCS messaging and more. There are a significant number of iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro differences you need to know. Normally the standard and Pro iPhones some in the same size configurations -- but that's no longer the case. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus still have the same 6.1- and 6.7-inch displays as ever, but the Pro and Pro Max have grown to a respective 6.3 and 6.9 inches. This also means the the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the largest iPhone Apple has ever made and that could be appealing for those of you that like large screen phones -- or a complete turn off for those who don't. Sadly, beyond this screen upgrade on Pro models, the rest of the display has stayed exactly the same on all four new iPhones. That means the standard models don't have the ProMotion upgrade people have been pestering Apple for for years, and are stuck with a 60Hz display instead of a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Likewise, the titanium shell is also an iPhone 16 Pro exclusive, complete with a new internal thermal management system aided by a new graphite-clad aluminum substructure. Considering the iPhone 15 Pro did have some issues with overheating, and the fact the A18 Pro is likely to be a very hard worker, the more heat Apple can dissipate the better. The A18 Pro may have a similar name to the iPhone 16's A18 chipset, but the Pro chip is an upgrade in itself. While Apple hasn't said how much more powerful the chip is compared to the standard A18, it is supposed to be 15% faster and 20% more efficient than the A17 Pro with 2x faster ray tracing and video encoding to boot. According to Apple, a lot of the focus is on Apple Intelligence and on-device AI, but the speed of the chip will be beneficial for other things -- especially in the camera department. According to Apple it will help power the new 4K 120fps Dolby Vision video recording capabilities -- and a zero-lag camera shutter. The A18 Pro's AI prowess also enables a number of audio-based features, including Audio Mix that helps separate speech from background noise across a variety of apps -- offering more studio quality and true-to-life audio. The iPhone 16 Pro has an upgraded camera, including the debut of the tetraprism telephoto lens on the iPhone 16 Pro -- complete with 5x optical magnification. While the tetraprism hasn't changed on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, both Pro phones have had some major improvements on the other two rear camera lenses. The most obvious is the ultrawide now offers 48MP resolution, compared to 12MP on iPhone 16 Pro. That lens, and the 48MP main camera lens, also have larger quad-pixel sensors. This new sensor also helps with shutter lag, while promising 2x faster performance and auto-focus. Larger sensors generally allow more light to be captured as well, offering better picture quality and low light performance. Naturally, the Pro models are the only iPhones to offer USB 3 charging and data transfer speeds, while the iPhone 16 is limited to the same USB 2.0-speeds you'd get back when Lightning cables were still a thing. Both phones also promise to have larger batteries, with the Pro Max allegedly having the largest battery of any iPhone. While we don't know how much bigger these batteries are, it does mean the Pro models should longer on a single charge as a result -- but we won't know for sure until we do our testing. There are times when it pays off to go the cheaper route, and the iPhone 16 might be one of those times. While there is a very clear boundary between the standard and Pro models, the various upgrades offered this year mean that the iPhone 16 is closer to being a Pro model than ever before. Of course, various things are still missing from the regular iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, like the tetraprism telephoto lens, adaptive ProMotion display, the higher performance A18 Pro chipset and the new 48MP ultrawide camera and audio upgrades. We won't know exactly how much of a difference those things make until we've spent some more time with the iPhone 16. There's no doubt that those are all great things, but the question is whether they're worth an extra $200+ dollars to get hold of now. Saving that money might be worthwhile, and it could be enough to get you a storage upgrade or some useful accessories -- like a case, the AirPods 4, or part of an Apple Watch Series 10. It all depends on just how much you care about the iPhone 16 Pr's larger displays and extra camera and performance features.

iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 15: How are they different?

A deep-dive into how the iPhone 16 differs from the iPhone 15. Credit: Mashable Composite; Apple This iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 15 face-off will help you understand the differences between the two. The recently dropped iPhone 16 comes with several notable (yet familiar) updates, including a new vertical camera layout. Announced at Apple's September event, the new iPhone 16 delivers a fresh design with Action and Camera Control buttons, improved camera support for fancier pics, bigger battery capacity with faster charging speeds, and an upgraded A18 chip. Oh, and the major addition of Apple Intelligence, no less. Is this all enough to warrant an upgrade over the still commendable iPhone 15, though? Possibly, but for a better answer, let's break down the differences between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15. Apart from their chips, batteries, and memory, there are too many glaring changes. But that's doing the iPhone 16 an injustice, as the subtle improvements offer more processing power and longer battery life. Moreover, a few more traits are trickling down from the previous Pro models to the iPhone 16 that the iPhone 15 missed out on. Like the size of the iPhone 15's 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR (2,556 x 1,179 resolution) OLED display? You'll be happy to know the iPhone 16 is sticking with the exact same size, along with a few other specs that many hoped to see improved. This includes the 60Hz refresh rate, which is a shame to see since its competitors' base flagship smartphones have now upgraded to a 120Hz display. Onscreen visual appeal isn't as smooth, so you'll have to look at the iPhone 16 Pro models for a stutter-free experience. There's also the same 2,000 nits of peak brightness and Dynamic Island as per last-gen models. Still no always-on display, though, meaning Apple's StandBy feature is still fairly useless unless you have one of the Pro models. Apple already pulled off a minor redesign with its iPhone 15, bringing its Dynamic Island over to the "regular" iPhone models. However, we also saw more rounded edges and aerospace aluminium color-infused glass. This time, the iPhone 16 sticks with this motif, but brings other features from its Pro model siblings and an all-new button. Instead of the usual Ring/Silent switch, Apple decided to put the Action button in its place. Going forward, we're likely to see the Action button as a staple on all iPhone models, which is ideal news if you enjoy being able to customize any action with one simple press. Interestingly, Apple introduced another handy button to mess around with: the Camera Control button. Placed right under the Power button, this focuses on helping to access camera features on the iPhone 16. Not only can it activate the shutter so you can snap away, but it can also zoom in and out of photos or videos with swiping gestures and allows you to focus on subjects. This will come in handy for the snap-happy ones out there. You may have noticed the rear cameras are now aligned vertically on the iPhone 16, rather than diagonally as with the iPhone 15. It's almost as if Apple is reintroducing the design of the iPhone 12, with a few modern design traits as previously mentioned. As for colors, the iPhone 16 comes in the following: Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, and Black. A couple more than the iPhone 15's color options, which include Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, and Pink. The iPhone lineup gets more powerful with each annual release, and that's no different with the iPhone 16. Instead of the trickle-down effect of getting last year's iPhone 15 Pro chipset, the iPhone 16 models will get their very own A18 Bionic chip. It goes without saying that this is a step up from the iPhone 15's A16 processor, which is already one of the fastest chips on the market. With the A18, there's even more processing power to play around with, and this will come in handy with Apple Intelligence now in play (more of this later). With a 6-core CPU, it is 30% faster than the iPhone 15 and uses 30% less power. There's also a 5-core GPU for 40% faster efficiency. To support Apple's AI, the iPhone 16 also supports more cores in its Neural Engine, with the iPhone 15 sporting a 16-core Neural Engine. Suffice it to say, the iPhone 16 will be yet another blazing-fast smartphone that tops its predecessor. We're finally getting a notable bump in battery life with the iPhone 16, as it brings a bigger battery capacity and faster charging speeds compared to the iPhone 15. Not that it's exactly needed; the iPhone 15 is rated at 20 hours, so around a full day of use. With the iPhone 16, that number is set to go up. It's equipped with a bigger battery, and this boost should bring around 22 hours, which is a nice improvement to see especially compared to the iPhone 15. It's also nearly double the speeds, as the last-gen phone has 27W wired charging and 15W wireless. Not a major boost, but enough to eke out an extra couple of hours before needing to be plugged in. And yes, it's still through the universally favored USB-C port. The iPhone 15 models already received a worthwhile camera upgrade, which includes a 48MP with ƒ/1.6 aperture. This iPhone 16 follows this trend, but this time it arrives with a 12MP ultra-wide with ƒ/2.2 aperture and autofocus for improved low-light photography. This will put the ultra-wide lens to good use, as the iPhone 15's ƒ/2.4 ultra-wide often blurred pictures, especially in low-light conditions. That's not all that's changed; we can also expect macro photography support, giving close-up snaps more detail than the last-gen iPhone. Otherwise, it's the same capable dual-camera system that the iPhone 15 presented, now with some fine-tuning in the iPhone 16. Arguably the biggest difference between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 is being able to utilize Apple Intelligence, the tech giant's very own security-focused generative AI (with the help of ChatGPT). Unfortunately, it's only reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max and later with an iOS 18 update. As shown off at WWDC 2024, it comes with several AI-enhanced features. This includes prioritized notifications, which can put the most important notifications at the top of your iPhone's feed and even offer brief summaries of stacked notifications. It will also be able to rewrite, summarize, and proof blocks of selected text in a flash, which will especially come in handy when writing emails or texts. What's more, there's AI image generation and easy image search by typing a description, automatic audio transcriptions, and even Genmoji, which allow you to create your very own emojis. You'll also find Private Cloud Compute, protecting your personal information any time you access Apple Intelligence. Basically, your data is never stored. There's a lot on offer here, and that's where the iPhone 15 will struggle to keep up. Until they've been used in the wild for a while, though, there's no telling if these Apple Intelligence features will be a defining reason to upgrade to an iPhone 16. With the iPhone 16, Apple not only brings a few Pro features to its baseline iPhone models, but it also introduces its own brand of generative AI. Minor hardware differences aside, which now include an Action button, a new Camera Control button, a bigger battery, and vertical rear cameras, the real reason to upgrade to an iPhone 16 is to utilize everything Apple Intelligence brings to the table. Sure, it isn't as if you can't use AI features by simply visiting ChatGPT on your browser, but having it fully integrated into the iPhone 16's software can offer new ways to interact with your smartphone. Will Apple Intelligence be the next big reason to get the latest iPhone? It's hard to tell, but so far the iPhone 16 looks to impress -- especially since there's no bump in price.

iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16: Is new always better?

The iPhone 16 brings Apple Intelligence, more controls and plenty of other features that were lacking in the iPhone 15. But is it enough? Here are all the differences between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15. Apple unveiled a new generation of iPhones at the GlowTime event on September 9, 2024. The iPhone 16 comes with Apple Intelligence features and a selection of upgrades and tweaks that we've come to expect with the annual releases. Some people update their iPhones every year and will be wondering if it is worth updating from the iPhone 15 to the iPhone 16, others will be updating from an older iPhone and deciding whether to go whole hog and get the iPhone 16, or if they would be better off saving some money and getting the iPhone 15. We are here to help you choose between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16. In this article, we'll explain what's different and what is the same and whether the iPhone 16 is worth the extra cash. We compare the old and the new models to see which one you should buy. Viewed from the front, the two generations of iPhone look very similar: both have a Dynamic Island (the evolution of the notch), both have squared-off edges on an aluminum chassis. However, turn the iPhone around and it's clear they are different. The iPhone 16 colors are much bolder and darker, and the camera layout is different, so it will be clear that you're sporting the latest model. iPhone 15 came in Pink, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Black. While the new iPhone 16 boasts Ultramarine, Teal, a rather vivacious Pink, along with Black and White liveries. The other difference can be seen on the side of the new iPhone 16. The iPhone 16 sports two buttons on the side. First it gains the Action button first seen on the iPhone 15 Pro models. The Action button replaces the Mute switch found on the iPhone 15 and can be customized to trigger various tasks which can be chosen via a menu created using Shortcuts. Joining the Action button is the Camera Control button. This is a recessed surface built over a taptic engine (like those found in the last few generations of Home buttons on iPhones) and it's touch sensitive. It brings cool new tools, which we'll cover in the Camera section. The size and weight of the two models are practically identical, with the newer iPhone being slightly smaller and lighter, as you can see below: Both phones sport the same IP68 water and dust resistance ratings, Face ID, USB-C charging and MagSafe. The iPhone 16 adds support for 25W wireless fast charging if you have a 30W or higher MagSafe charger. Apple uses the same 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR panel on both models, with a 2,556 x 1,179 resolution and 440ppi, HDR, True Tone, Haptic Touch, wide color display, and typical max brightness of 1,000 nits or 1,600 nits in HDR and 2,000 nits in outdoor mode. The key difference is that the iPhone 16 can drop down to a 1 nit brightness when in the dark and Apple states that it is protected by the latest version of its Ceramic Shield (although it doesn't say how much this is better than the Ceramic Shield on the iPhone 15). This should mean that if you drop the phone the glass will be less likely to shatter, but we still recommend putting a screen protector on your iPhone, or at the very least an iPhone case that has a raised lip around the edge. The Dynamic Island that first appeared on the iPhone 14 Pro devices is present on both devices. The Dynamic Island makes the notch required for the camera and Face ID technology more useful by adding software animations around it that depend on what function you are using. As you can see from the comparison table below, the iPhone 16 is slightly lighter and smaller than its predecessor, it offers two more hours of battery life, features the new Fusion camera, can take Macro photographs (first time in a non-Pro iPhone) and offers the new Spatial Capture feature. There's also Wi-Fi 7 and support for faster MagSafe charging. The biggest difference between the two models is found in the processing department. Apple has moved from the A16 chipset in the iPhone 15 to brand new A18 silicon for the iPhone 16. This marks a change from the past couple of years when the standard iPhone adopted the processor of the Pro iPhone in the previous generation. This not only brings generational improvements in performance and power efficiency, but it also unleashes the main selling point of the iPhone 16 range - Apple Intelligence. More on that in a minute. Apple announced that the A18 has a 6-core CPU with 2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores. It is built on an updated 3nm process, with a 16-core neural engine that's 2x faster at machine learning than that of the A16 Bionic. There's also 17% more system memory bandwidth to keep things snappy. Apple says the A18 is it 30% faster than the A16 and 30% more power efficient. This can be evidenced by the additional 2 hours of battery life that Apple says you'll get with the iPhone 16. Remember, these devices are exactly the same size so that's some impressive gains. There are also enhancements to the GPU, which is stated to be 40% faster and 35% more power efficient than the one in the iPhone 15. So far, the iPhone 16 has stolen quite a march on its older sibling. So, enter Apple Intelligence. This is Apple's AI assistant, which permeates iOS 18 and brings a wide range of helpful software tools for day-to-day tasks. We've already had a preview of the AI features at the WWDC event in July where Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence. But, in a nutshell, it will help you write emails or pretty much anything you like, tidy up anything you've already typed, create emojis from text prompts, find photos in your library just by describing what's in them, give you summaries of messages in Mail, improve the way Siri works and what it can do, plus a range of other potentially very useful things. Visual Intelligence is something akin to Google Lens, where you can point your camera at places or products and Apple Intelligence will find more information about it for you. There's also the big advantage of Private Cloud Compute, where Apple's servers will process information for you, but not store your data. In the age of AI, where prompts and what they create are often stored and used by companies, this could well be a selling point on its own. Apple Intelligence requires specific hardware to run, so it isn't available for iPhone 15, but you'll get it on iPhone 16 and all iPhones from this point on. It does feel like a demarcation point for iPhone, so be sure to factor that into any buying decision. The iPhone 15 comes equipped with a 48MP f/1.6 sensor in the main camera, paired with a 12MP f/2.4 Ultra Wide sensor. These combine to offer 0.5x, 1x and 2x optical zoom capabilities. There's also Sensor-Shift optical stabilization to keep things crystal clear, Smart HDR 5, portrait lighting, Night mode and other cool photographic features. It's a great combination that will satisfy most people, who just want an excellent camera with a few options. It's almost the same on the iPhone 16, although Apple has called the 48Mp f/1.6 main module a Fusion camera. Apple claims that this can capture optical quality 2x telephoto zoom images, but the iPhone 15 also had a 2x zoom option. We can only assume at this point that the increased computational power of the A18 processor must be adding something here to the quality. There's still a 12Mp Ultra-Wide camera accompanying the main shooter, but this time the aperture goes up to f/2.6 and there is a new macro photo feature for close-ups of small details (previously the macro was a Pro iPhone only feature). Again, the iPhone 15 had a 0.5x zoom, so it must be something in the software that makes Apple more excited about the images. There are no updates to the front-facing FaceTime camera, so you'll find the same 12MP f/1.9 TrueDepth sensor on both. A new positioning of the rear cameras (in conjunction with the A18 chip) means that the iPhone 16 offers a new Spatial Capture feature. This means that stereoscopic images that will work with Apple Vision Pro can be taken. Obviously there is quite a niche market for that right now. On the video side of things, both iPhones can record video up to 4K at 60fps, offer Cinematic and Action modes, and have Night mode time-lapse, slo-mo, and regular slo-mo modes, plus audio zoom and shift-sensor stabilization. The iPhone 16 gains Spatial video and audio for the Apple Vision Pro, plus it has a new Wind Reduction feature to clean up noisy recordings. The main boost for the cameras on the iPhone 16 though is the new Camera Control button on the side. This gives you quick access to software controls for the camera just by giving it a soft-press, you can then adjust the settings by sliding your finger across the touch-sensitive surface, which translates to the options on the screen. Then, when you want to take the shot, a harder press turns it into the shutter button. The Camera Control button also lets you instantly launch the camera so you don't miss those important moments. As is usually the case, Apple slots the new model in at the same price as the one it replaces, with the older one getting a discount but remaining in the catalog. So, the new iPhone 16 starts at $799/£799 for the 128GB model, while the iPhone 15 gets a new $699/£699 price tag for the same storage configuration. With just $100/£100 between the two phones it looks like the newer iPhone 16 offers much better value for money, but it is worth considering if storage is more important to you than the latest tech, because that extra $100/£100 can also double your storage. Apple announced pre-orders for the iPhone 16 start on 13 September with the devices going on general release a week later on 20 September. Apple will continue to sell the iPhone 15, but you may be able to find a good deal at one of the many third-party retailers. Check out our best iPhone 15 deals U.S. and iPhone 15 deals U.K. pages as there could be some decent offers now that the iPhone 16 has arrived. The iPhone 15 is still a great device and will make most people very happy, but the A18 chip in the iPhone 16 does feel like a significant step forward. Yes, AI has promised much before and not delivered, but the rate at which it's improving is frightening, plus the way Apple has baked Apple Intelligence into iOS 18 and the iPhone 16 makes it feel like we might get the experience that was promised all those years ago when Siri first arrived. Add to that the improved battery life, performance, extra physical controls and their customization options, and the iPhone 16 feels like a real step forward rather than just a cautious upgrade. There's only $100/£100 difference between the two and the iPhone 16 looks well worth the money.

Apple iPhone 16: all models compared | Stuff

The covers have officially come off the iPhone 16 generation. Each new iPhone model can usually be relied on to carve a spot near the top of any best smartphones list, and this year's four have made meaningful improvements over their predecessors - but how do they compare against each other? Until we get hands on with the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max we won't be definitively picking a winner. In the meantime there's lots to pore over from their respective spec sheets, though. Here's what to expect when the four models go on sale on September 20. The everyman iPhone 16 lands with a 6.1in screen, just like last year's iPhone 15. It uses the same Super Retina XDR display OLED panel, but ProMotion adaptive refresh rate remains exclusive to the Pro models. Peak brightness is pegged at 2000 nits, while it can drop to 1 nit for night time scrolling. Dynamic Island returns, with FaceID authentication. Apple now uses 85% recycled aluminium for the iPhone 16's central frame, and the handset is both water and dust resistant. The Ceramic Shield front glass is 50% tougher than the first-gen glass used on previous iPhones, and there's a new materials mix for the colour-infused back glass. You'll be able to snap one up in black, white, teal, pink and ultramarine hues. The design has been tweaked with a rear camera layout that feels a little inspired by the iPhone X, with two lenses stacked vertically. It has a 48MP main snapper that claims 'lossless' 2x zoom shots, while the 12MP ultrawide lens has a significantly wider f/1.6 aperture for gathering more than twice as much light as the previous iPhone generation. This year's model brings the Action button over from the iPhone 15 Pro, for custom shortcuts and in-app actions. New for 2024 is Camera control, a touch-sensitive switch that recognises softer and firmer presses to perform different actions. It can launch the camera app with a press, then switch between zoom levels or aperture settings with a swipe. Power comes from new Apple A18 silicon, which was made with AI in mind. This is a change of pace from the usual "use last year's flagship chip" approach, likely to avoid a less-then-stellar showing once Apple Intelligence arrives. The second-gen 3nm chip has a 6-core CPU that promises 30% more performance than A16 Bionic; the 5-core GPU is 40% faster; and the 16-core NPU is twice as fast at chewing through AI-based jobs. And all while being more efficient, though Apple isn't claiming dramatically improved battery life over the previous generations. The iPhone 16 goes on sale on September 20, starting at $799 for a model with 128GB of storage. The larger mainstream iPhone brings back the 6.7in screen size of its predecessor, and should have a considerably bigger battery than the iPhone 16 (though Apple doesn't like to talk specifics, so we could be waiting for a disassembly vid to know for sure). It makes the same 1-2000nit brightness claim as the smaller iPhone 16, and has the same screen tech. It has the same A18 processor as the iPhone 16, and same storage options. Camera hardware is identical, and it's launching in the same five colours. Prices will start at $899 when the iPhone 16 Plus goes on sale, on September 20. That's a $100 increase over the iPhone 16. The iPhone 16 Pro arrives with a 6.3in screen, just like last year's iPhone 15 Pro. It has the same OLED panel tech as before, with 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate and an always-on mode. Dynamic Island is present and correct, with FaceID biometrics. It gets the newer, tougher Ceramic Shield glass seen on the regular iPhone 16, while its titanium frame has been microblasted for a more textured finish. It's coming in Black, White, Natural and Desert titanium colours. Expect dust and water resistance, but a look that's otherwise very similar to the outgoing model. That includes the familiar three lens rear camera module, which here contains a 48MP main snapper, 48MP ultrawide and 12MP tetra-prism periscope telephoto good for 5x optical zoom. This year's Pro models step up on stills with Photographic Styles, which can be applied before you press the shutter or after, and removed if you change your mind later. Video recording now maxes out at 4K/120fps, and you can take spatial photos as well as videos for playback on a Vision Pro headset. Inside, a new A18 Pro chipset brings a 16-core neural engine, 6-core CPU and 6-core GPU that Apple reckons is the 'fastest of any phone' while using less power than the previous generation silicon. Officially the iPhone 16 Pro delivers 27 hours of video playback, up from 23 hours on the iPhone 15 Pro - a 17% boost. The iPhone 16 Pro launches at $999, for the 128GB storage model. It'll start shipping from September 10. The newest big daddy iPhone is the first in Apple history to get a 6.9in screen. The slimmest bezels of any Apple device mean the iPhone 16 Pro Max hasn't grown to ludicrous proportions, but it's still an absolute hulk of a handset. It no longer has the edge on cameras over the smaller Pro iPhone, as both models now have the same 5x telephoto camera. You're looking at 48MP sensors for both the main and ultrawide, while the telephoto sticks with 12MP. Battery life is the biggest reason to go Max this year. According to Apple, it should last 33 hours of continuous video playback - a 14% boost over the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which managed 29 hours. Storage starts at 256GB here, a step up from the 128GB seen on the smaller Pro. It's launching at $1199, which is a $200 increase over its little brother. Now that Apple has brought the Pro Max telephoto camera to the smaller iPhone 16 Pro, it seems the only reason to buy big in 2024 is if you genuinely need the extra screen space. The iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max have bigger batteries than their smaller siblings, and the latter comes with more storage as standard, but otherwise there's little to separate the iPhone 16 models. Until a hands-on review suggests otherwise, the iPhone 16 seems like a safe bet for most Apple fans; the uprated cameras and slick physical controls could make it a capable snapper, while the new chipset should be able to handle Apple Intelligence when it arrives in a later software update. Photographers and power users will gravitate to the iPhone 16 Pro; it has the same 5x zoom camera as the Pro Max, same A18 Pro chipset, and same exciting new hardware controls as the rest of the range.

Phone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max features compared

The iPhone 16 Pro Max has gained a new camera, more performance, and an even bigger screen. This is how Apple changed the latest and largest model from 2023's iPhone 15 Pro Max. On September 10, Apple introduced its next wave of iPhones to the world. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is the top-of-the-range option, both in terms of size and in capability. This time around, Apple made sure that the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the biggest option, literally. Size isn't entirely everything, as Apple Intelligence and the cameras had some attention too. Here's how the 2024 iPhone 16 Pro Max differs from the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is, as the name hints, the biggest smartphone in the line. Measuring 6.29 inches long and 3.02 inches wide, it's quite a large smartphone for most people, but Apple did try to shrink the footprint compared to its predecessor. For the iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple decided bigger is better for the Pro models. The super-sized update is now longer and wider at 6.42 inches and 3.06 inches. At 0.32 of an inch, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is quite thin. The iPhone 16 Pro Max maintains that for another year. As well as shaving its physical size, Apple put the iPhone 15 Pro Max on a diet, with the model shipping at 7.81 ounces. This was 0.66 ounces less than the 2022 model it was replacing. This weight loss was largely caused by a major change in construction. The usual Ceramic Shield-protected glass sandwich was accompanied by a switch from a stainless steel frame for a Grade 5 titanium version for added strength. The bigger size of the iPhone 16 Pro Max also adds weight. This time, the model tips the scales at 7.99 ounces. The iPhone 15 Pro Max kept the same display as the iPhone 14 Pro Max, consisting of a 6.7-inch all-screen OLED branded as a Super Retina XDR display. Its 2,796 by 1,290 resolution gave it Apple's usual fantastic pixel density of 460 pixels per inch. This included having a contrast ratio of 2 million to one. For brightness, it reached 1,000 nits for typical uses, 1,600 nits peak HDR brightness, and up to 2,000 nits for outdoor usage. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also has an always-on display, with ProMotion support providing adaptive refresh rates as high as 120Hz, depending on your choice of content. All of these details are reflected in the screen of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, except for the size. At 6.9 inches, it's a bit bigger overall, though Apple did try to minimize the bezels. The larger size also allows for a higher 2,866 by 1,320 resolution in the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This maintains Apple's preferred pixel density of 460 pixels per inch. At the top of the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the Dynamic Island, Apple's UI-based method of hiding the camera module at the top without resorting to the notch. Wide Color (P3) support, HDR, TrueTone, and the oleophobic coating to ward off fingerprints are present as usual in both displays. Around the back of the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the typical square camera bump containing a trio of cameras and LiDAR. For the most part, there's a lot of duplication in the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but some new elements too. The Main camera of the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 48-megapixel sensor, an f/1.78 aperture, and a second-generation sensor shift optical image stabilization system. The sheer size of the sensor allows it to offer three effective focal lengths of 24mm, 28mm, and 35mm, and a 24-megapixel default image size. It also allowed Apple to create a virtual 12MP 2x Telephoto camera, thanks to its sheer size. The Main camera in the iPhone 16 Pro Max is almost exactly the same. Apple simply renamed it the Fusion camera. The Ultra Wide camera on the iPhone 15 Pro Max uses a 12-megapixel sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. Its 120-degree field of view is quite wide, and great for group photography. On the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the Ultra Wide now has a 48MP resolution, four times that of it's predecessor. The field of view and aperture remain the same. The iPhone 15 Pro Max's Telephoto camera was the highlight for the model. While it had a 12-megapixel sensor and an f/2.8 aperture, it was the tetraprism design that stole the show. Tetraprism allowed Apple to shift to a 5x optical zoom, instead of a 3x as used previously. A 3D sensor-shift OIS was also adopted for the camera. As a result, the iPhone 15 Pro Max offered a digital zoom of up to 25x. Apple didn't believe it had to mess with the Telephoto on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Though, you have to expect that it will be the next sensor to be upgraded to 48MP. All of the iPhone 15 Pro Max cameras benefits from 100% Focus Pixel coverage to help with focusing on subjects. The usual LiDAR sensor also aided focusing, especially when used for low-light shots. The cameras on the iPhone 15 Pro Max are the same, except that the Ultra Wide uses Hybrid Focus Pixels instead. Apple continued to press on with its computational photography efforts in the iPhone 15 Pro Max, with the Photonic Engine and Deep Fusion put to work. For stills, there was support for Portrait model with a six-effect Portrait Lighting system, Night Mode, Smart HDR 5, and other usually-appearing functions. Again, Apple didn't really change these specification points when it comes to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. For video, the iPhone 15 Pro Max could handle 4K 60fps Dolby Vision HDR, 4K HDR Cinematic Mode at 60fps, and a 2.8K 60fps Action Mode. Slo-mo remained the same as its predecessor at 1080p 240fps. Apple's big video changes for the iPhone 15 Pro Max started off by enabling 4K 60fps recording of ProRes video, thanks to the addition of external recording support. You could plug a drive into the USB-C port and record to that drive instead of the internal storage. The iPhone 15 Pro Max continued to pander to the videography crowd with log video recording for the first time, as well as support for the Academy Color Encoding System. For the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the 4K Dolby Vision video was upgraded, with it capable of up to 120fps captures on-device. Adding ProRes to the mix meant you could go up to 4K 120fps when recording externally. This time around, Apple decided to make audio a bigger thing for video. Using four studio-quality mics, it offers wind noise reduction and a customizable audio mix feature. The front camera of the iPhone 15 Pro Max was included as part of the TrueDepth camera array. The 12MP sensor with an f/1.9 aperture had Focus Pixels and a six-element lens. Its features included Portrait Mode and Portrait Lighting, recording at 4K 60fps video including external ProRes recording, Dolby Vision at 4K60fps, a 30fps 4K HDR Cinematic mode, and the Log and ACES support. The iPhone 16 Pro Max's front camera is practically the same, though it is still limited to 4K Dolby Vision video at 60fps. One big party piece of the iPhone 16 Pro Max is its new Camera Control button. Placed on the side, it can summon the camera app and function as the shutter button. As a capacitive button, it also allows users to change settings, through a combination of taps and sliding their finger across its surface. Apple's annual improvement to its A-series chips primarily improves its Pro lines before the non-Pro. In 2024, this saw the iPhone 15 Pro Max benefit from having the A17 Pro. The first 3-nanometer chip, it has a six-core CPU with two performance cores and four efficiency cores, a six-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and onboard AV1 decoding. The Neural Engine was also improved, with the 16-core component capable of 35 trillion operations per second. Made from a second-gen 3-nanometer process, the A18 Pro also has a six-core CPU with an identical core split. However, the CPU is marketed as being 15% faster than the A17 Pro, while also using 20% less power. The CPU also benefits from new ML accelerators, which are optimized for Apple Intelligence. The six-core GPU in the iPhone 15 Pro Max is improved upon in the iPhone 16 Pro Max, by about 20%. It's also bumped the performance of hardware-accelerated ray tracing to be twice as fast. The 16-core Neural Engine has also been updated in the A18 to be faster, in part due to having 17% more memory bandwidth. The A18 Pro also benefits from a new image signal processor and video decoder, which are both twice as fast as the A17 Pro equivalents. A key development later in the iPhone 15 generation was the introduction of Apple Intelligence at WWDC. While it would be introduced alongside the iPhone 16 smartphones, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max were the only existing smartphones that were confirmed to support the generative AI functionality. With the various chip improvements, the iPhone 16 Pro Max will offer more performance when it comes to Apple Intelligence tasks. At this early stage just after launch, we cannot perform a direct comparison between the A17 Pro and Apple's newest chip. For the moment, we have to go by Apple's claims of the latest release being faster and better than the older one. On a cellular basis, the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro Max both have 5G support covering both sub-6GHz and mmWave bands, as well as LTE. If you're in a blackspot, Emergency SOS via Satellite will allow you to send messages for assistance. For local connectivity, there's Wi-Fi 6E support as well as a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, and Thread support in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The iPhone 16 Pro Max shifts up to Wi-Fi 7, which will be more useful for future Wi-Fi network infrastructure. The iPhone 15 Pro Max saw Apple change from Lightning to USB-C, which provides 10Gbps data transfers as well as direct charging capabilities. For videographers, this allows the iPhone to be more easily used to capture video and to offload it quickly, if they don't do external recording. The USB-C port is still present and correct in the iPhone 16 Pro Max, with the same level of bandwidth available. The iPhone 15 Pro Max offered the largest battery life in the iPhone range, with Apple claiming 29 hours of video playback for locally-stored video, or up to 25 hours for streamed video. There was also up to 95 hours of audio playback possible. Thanks to a larger battery and reduced resource consumption, the battery life of the iPhone 16 Pro Max is extended further. Local video playback can run to 33 hours, 29 hours if streamed, and up to 105 hours of audio. Charging the iPhone 15 Pro Max was possible via a wired connection over USB-C or wirelessly, using Qi or MagSafe. For wireless, this allowed charging rates at up to 7.5W for Qi or 15W for MagSafe. The iPhone 16 Pro Max does increase the MagSafe charging to 25W, enabling to to charge wirelessly at a faster rate. For USB-C fast charging, the iPhone 15 Pro Max could hit up to 50% of its battery capacity in about 35 minutes using a 20W or higher charging adapter. This is unchanged for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro max are rated at IP68 for water and dust resistance. To consumers, this means the smartphones can rest at a maximum depth of 6 meters (19.7 feet) for up to half an hour, so they can easily survive a swimming pool plunge. Crash Detection is a feature of the iPhone 15 Pro Max which uses sensors to determine if there has been a significant impact. Once one has been detected, the iPhone starts an interruptible countdown, which then calls for emergency assistance if left alone. Added to this for the iPhone 15 Pro Max is Roadside Assistance via Satellite. Similar to Emergency SOS via Satellite in concept, it allows users to get broken vehicle assistance in a cellular dead spot. The iPhone 16 Pro Max continues to have Crash Detection and both "via Satellite" services. For the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple switched out the side toggle for a new Action Button. This could be configured to set the iPhone's ringer to silent, but it can also be used in a variety of different ways. The iPhone 16 Pro Max retains the Action Button for another year, alongside the new Camera Control. The iPhone 15 Pro Max started at $1,199 for a 256GB capacity, with 512GB and 1TB capacities priced at $1,399 and $1,599 respectively. It's available in four colors: Natural Titanium, Blue Titanium, Black Titanium, and White Titanium. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is sold in the same capacities and prices. However, Blue Titanium is out in favor of Desert Titanium. Owners of the iPhone 15 Pro Max probably won't find that much incentive to upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro Max this year. The slightly larger screen is nice, as is the new Ultra Wide camera and the performance bump, but that seems a bit weak overall. What certainly doesn't help is, oddly, Apple's main marketing benefit. The iPhone 16 Pro Max will run Apple Intelligence, but so does the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The big feature is not actually an incentive that applies to iPhone 15 Pro Max owners, who may well have been using it as part of the developer betas for iOS 18.1. For earlier models, it's still a draw. Apple did make the iPhone 16 Pro Max the bigger, better smartphone overall, certainly. But it will be iPhone 14 Pro Max and earlier model owners who will be upgrading to it, not those who own 2023's giant iPhone. Wireless carriers are incentivizing both iPhone models, with AT&T planning preorder deals to the tune of up to $1,000 off the iPhone 16 Pro Max with an eligible trade starting Sept. 13. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, meanwhile, is also incentivized at the following carriers: You can also find trade-in offers at buyback providers, with exclusive bonuses in effect for a limited time. For users of older iPhone devices, it can free up cash to put toward the new iPhone 16 Pro Max.

How the iPhone 16 Compares to the Pixel 9 and Galaxy S24

Apple unveiled a swath of new hardware today, including the iPhone 16, the AirPods 4, and the Apple Watch Series 10. We've already got you covered when it comes to the new Apple Watch and the latest AirPods, but now it's time to tackle the company's new phones. The iPhone 16 is Apple's first AI-centric phone, but for everyone who hasn't bought into big tech's latest trend, there's still plenty to talk about, including a surprising return to buttons. In an increasingly same-y phone landscape, the iPhone 16 is looking to do something a little different. Here's how it stacks up to its biggest competition: Google's Pixel 9 and Samsung's Galaxy S24. Apple is really pushing Apple Intelligence, its first foray into AI, hard with the iPhone 16. Today's event didn't say much we hadn't heard before, but the shadow of AI loomed over the whole presentation. I'll get to that in a second, but first, the phone you'll be using Apple Intelligence on. Like past models, the iPhone 16 comes in four versions, with two sizes for the base option and two sizes for the upgraded pro version. Unlike past models, Apple is making the "candy bar" rectangular design that's become synonymous with smartphones in general a little fun again. Lately, Apple's been moving towards fewer buttons, adopting a highly generalized design that kept the iPhone from sticking out across the competition. There were even rumors Apple would ditch buttons entirely. This year, Apple decided to go all-in on the tactile, gadget-y feel that can only come with a physical press. All iPhone 16s are getting the customizable Action Button that was exclusive to the iPhone 15's pro models, but there's also now a new Camera Control button. This works a bit like a DSLR shutter, and will allow you to press it with varying levels of pressure to either take a photo or adjust things like zoom, exposure, and focus. You can even slide your finger across the button for even greater control. As someone who bought the iPhone 15 Pro partially so I could use the Action Button to activate the camera, I'm all-in. More physical controls on my phone, please. Aside from that, there's the typical upgrades to camera and battery, but interestingly, all iPhone 16s are getting some version of the new A18 chip. That means people who get the base model won't be stuck with last year's pro chip, which used to be how Apple's base models worked. It also means all iPhone 16s will get Apple Intelligence and will be able to play graphic-intensive games, like Death Stranding. The iPhone 16 Pro will still get a better version of the chip -- the A18 Pro over the A18 -- but all models of this new CPU are supposed to be stronger than anything Apple's released so far. For those Pro models, there's also now bigger screens, too, although Apple has kept the bezels thin to stop the device itself from getting bigger. Now, the iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch screen and the Pro Max has a 6.9-inch screen. As for that promised Apple Intelligence, it's supposed to hit the public next month, coming first in U.S. English. During its event, Apple also announced Visual Intelligence, a way to get AI help by holding the new Camera Control button. Whether all these changes will make the phone feel like a proper upgrade will still need to wait for a full review, but it's certainly a more expansive overhaul than just upping the processor and camera specs. The iPhone 16 starts at $799 for the base model and $899 for the Plus version, while the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 and the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199. While Apple's newest phone is looking for ways to enhance the classic "candy bar" rectangle format, the Pixel 9 instead did something Apple fans are still waiting for: It brought a foldable to the table. The Pixel 9 line wasn't the first time we got a Google foldable, but with the introduction of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Google definitely embraced the idea, no longer spinning it off into a sub-brand. When getting Google's latest phone, you can now choose either a Pixel 9, a Pixel 9 Pro, or a folding version of that 9 Pro. There are different sizes for each of the non-folding models, sure, but folding is a far more interesting design tweak than a shutter button (even if a shutter button is still fun). I'm not sure it's worth it -- folding phones are still far more expensive, and you sacrifice some camera capability going for one here -- but it makes the Pixel 9 a more interesting option for people who don't think slightly better specs are enough of a reason to upgrade. The Pixel 9 still has those too, of course, plus some more of the exclusive software features Google is known for. This year introduced "Add me," which can make group shots easier to take, and Pixel Studio, which is essentially an AI image generator. There's also reimagine, which lets you use AI to edit existing photos, although that's kicked up a bit of a controversy following an investigation by The Verge. Right now, the key reasons to get a Pixel are either that option for a foldable, or those exclusive features, although it's possible Apple Intelligence will make the latter seem a bit less compelling. That's a bit of a shame for Google, because with the base Pixel 9 starting at $799 and the Pixel 9 Pro starting at $999, there's no price incentive to go with its phone instead. The Samsung Galaxy line has long been Android's answer to the iPhone. Where Google's Pixel often focuses more on standing out with unique designs and clever software, Samsung's flagship offers a classy but more traditional design, and focuses on industry-leading cameras. (That said, the company does have its own foldable sub-brand in the Galaxy Z series.) That's still the case here: The Galaxy S24 Ultra packs a 200 megapixel main lens that blows the 48 megapixel lens on the iPhone 16 Pro out of the water. Even the base Samsung Galaxy S24 has a stronger main camera than the standard iPhone 16, at 50 MP vs 48 MP. There's also the S Pen that comes built into the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which gives you some tactile note-taking capabilities that are hard to replicate on an iPhone, even with a third-party stylus (those usually just mimic a finger). AI on the Galaxy S24 is weaker than what Apple Intelligence looks to be offering, borrowing most of its smarts from Google, although features like sketch-to-image make use of the phone's unique capabilities well. Not everyone cares about AI, though, and if you also don't care about the iOS ecosystem, it's arguable that the Galaxy S24 feels like the most premium option on this list. That might just be because I like the square corners (as opposed to rounded) and the camera lenses not being segregated into their own little box. It's certainly a subjective judgment, but I'd say that Apple might not be the luxury king here. That reflects in pricing, too. While the base Galaxy S24 is on par with the iPhone 16's $799 MSRP, the Galaxy S24 Ultra starts at $1,299, so it's a bit more expensive than Apple's premium option. It's a strong competitor for Apple, but one note of warning: having released in January, the S24 line is also due for a refresh soon, so it's probably smart to wait before buying one. Still, this also means you could get a price cut by going for a retailer that's not Samsung itself.

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: Buying Guide

Now that the much-awaited iPhone 16 is officially released, you must be wondering how the iPhone 16 is different from the iPhone 15. Well, that's a fair question. The iPhone 15 is only a year old and it's still one of the most capable smartphones out there. If you're confused between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16, you've landed at the right place. We've done an iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15 comparison on the grounds of their technical specifications and features. This will help you decide if you should stick to the iPhone 15 to save money or upgrade to the new iPhone 16 to unlock new experiences. Let's see if the iPhone 16 is a worthy upgrade over the iPhone 15 or not. Last year, Apple made some significant design upgrades that instantly differentiated the iPhone 15 from the iPhone 14. We saw the debut of Dynamic Island on vanilla models, a stunning color-infused back glass, and a USB-C charging port. The latest iPhone 16 inherited all of them from the iPhone 15 features, but Apple also glazed a layer of design changes that give the new iPhone the identity of its own. The new iPhone 16 is made from Aerospace grade aluminum with a second-gen Glass Ceramic Shield on the front that's 2x tougher than any smartphone glass. One of the major design changes between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 is the addition of new buttons. Unlike the iPhone 15 which features the classic Mute switch, the iPhone 16 gets the programmable Action Button that we first saw on the iPhone 15 Pro models. The new iPhone 16 also features a brand-new sapphire crystal, Camera Control Button on the bottom right that brings an array of dedicated camera functions. This new capacitive button lets you open the camera app, zoom in/out, adjust focus, and do a lot more while you're shooting in the landscape mode. Another noticeable design difference between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 is the rear camera bump. Compared to the square-shaped camera module with diagonally placed lenses on the iPhone 15, the latest iPhone 16 sports a redesigned pill-shaped camera module with vertically stacked lenses. This change alone is enough to instantly recognize the new iPhone 16. You'll get to choose from five iPhone 16 colors - Pink, White, Black, Teal, and Ultramarine. Well, there's nothing much to compare the iPhone 16 to the iPhone 15 in terms of the display. Once again, the non-Pro iPhone model has the same 6.1" Super Retina XDR display display with HDR support and 2,000 nits of peak brightness. Sadly, Apple has continued the '60Hz' refresh rate trend with the iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Plus. So, no matter if you buy an iPhone 15 or iPhone 16, you'll still be stuck with that 60Hz display. Also, just like the iPhone 15 series, you get an option to opt for a bigger 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus that gives you more real estate to enjoy videos and other stuff. Last year, we saw Apple making dramatic camera upgrades with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. We saw the debut of the 48MP primary camera on the base models and improvements to the Night Mode. As a result, you can capture brilliant shots on the iPhone 15 with sharper details and more vivid colors. Interestingly, Apple has made some significant camera upgrades this time as well. The iPhone 16 also features a dual camera setup on the rear panel that houses a 48MP Fusion Camera with 1x and 2x optical zoom capabilities. Thanks to the improved primary camera, you can capture stunning shots with greater details. The secondary 12MP ultra-wide camera now comes with Autofocus and Macro photography for the first time. This will level up the night photography game by allowing users to capture more detailed low-light shots. You can capture incredibly sharp and detailed photos and videos, even at night. That's not all. The iPhone 16 also supports Spatial Capture which lets you take photos and videos in 3D for your Apple Vision Pro. Powered by AI and Spatial Audio capture, the new Audio Mix feature lets you adjust the way voices sound in your videos. You get to choose from In-frame, Studio, and Cinematic options. With the new generation of Photographic Styles, you can add, remove, or change a style so your photo looks more like you. Talking about the front camera, you'll continue to see the 12MP TrueDepth camera on the iPhone 16. This is the area where the new iPhone 16 clearly dominates the older iPhone 15. After using the old chipsets in the new vanilla models for consecutive two years, Apple has finally ditched that annoying habit and launched the entire iPhone 16 lineup with brand-new SoCs. The latest iPhone 16 & 16 Plus are powered by the brand-new A18 chipset with a 6-core CPU, a 5-core GPU, and a more powerful 16-core Neural Engine to support Apple Intelligence. Compared to 6GB RAM on the iPhone 15, you get 8GB of RAM on the new iPhone 16. This means, processing times will be faster, gaming will be better, and you'll get to enjoy other meaningful performance upgrades. Apple claims the new iPhone 16 offers 30% faster CPU performance compared to the previous iPhone 15. Thanks to the A18 processor, the iPhone 16 now supports AAA titles and delivers an improved gaming experience. On top of it, there's a New thermal design that improves heat dissipation and offers 30% higher sustained performance for graphics. The iPhone 15 also offers a nice performance that you would expect from a smartphone. That said, the new iPhone 16 will offer you a fantastic performance boost, all thanks to the A18 chipset. This would make the iPhone 16 the ultimate choice for users who need a faster processor for mobile gaming and other tasks. One of the most important features that put the iPhone 16 one step ahead of the iPhone 15 is Apple Intelligence support. We all know that even last year's iPhone 15 and 15 Plus do not support generative AI capabilities. So, if you're looking to upgrade to iPhone 15 or iPhone 16, you must know that you can't access any AI feature on the iPhone 15. Whereas, the new iPhone 16 offers complete access to all the Apple Intelligence features like a more capable Siri with ChatGPT integration, Writing Tools, phone call recording, and more. Unarguably, this is the biggest differentiator between the new iPhone 16 and last year's iPhone 15 model. If you're holding on to a super-old model and are planning to buy a new phone, Apple Intelligence would be an intelligent reason to upgrade to the new iPhone 16. Both iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 are equipped with a USB-C charging port. That said, the iPhone 16 brings improvements in battery technology and charging. Apple has designed the iPhone 16 to fit in a bigger battery that works together with the capable A18 chipset to deliver a nice boost in battery. Compared to 20 hours of video playback on iPhone 15, the new iPhone 16 offers a 22-hour battery life. So, you get an additional two hours of video playback. Now, let's compare the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 in pricing. After all, it's one of the most important factors a user takes into account while buying a new phone. The iPhone 16 starts from $799 for the base variant of 128GB. It's nice to see Apple sticking with the same price tag. With the debut of the new iPhone 16, Apple has reduced the iPhone 15 by $100, which makes the iPhone 15 starting price at $699. So to say, the iPhone 16 is $100 more expensive than the iPhone 15. Since you get a bunch of new features, upgrades, and more importantly Apple's AI features, spending that extra $100 makes all the sense. Last year, the iPhone 15 brought some dramatic upgrades over the iPhone 14 like the Dynamic Island, a 48MP primary camera, a USB-C port, and more. The new iPhone 16 also brings an array of noteworthy upgrades like improved rear cameras, an Action Button, a Camera Control Button, a new A18 processor, and boosted RAM. That said, if you already own an iPhone 15, the new iPhone 16 won't be a game-changer, except for the Apple Intelligence support. Also, if you're into mobile photography, you'll find the new Camera Control button pretty useful. If you have no or little interest in AI features, you may want to stick with the iPhone 15. It might be a slightly older, but still capable smartphone. On the flip side, if you're using a years-old model like iPhone 11 or iPhone 12, and are planning to get yourself a new phone, we would recommend going for the new iPhone 16. Frankly, it's more capable and packed with some brilliant upgrades, with AI being the prime attraction. The lack of AI support would make even the one-year-old iPhone 15 quite outdated. Are you planning to buy to buy the new iPhone 16? Or, would you stick to your iPhone 15? Tell us in the comments below!

iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 14: Comparing specs, screen size, and price

Apple finally unveiled its next-gen flagship smartphone on Sept. 9 at its Glowtime event: iPhone 16. With all the bells and whistles it boasts, including its on-trend Apple Intelligence AI, you may be wondering, "Wow, that iPhone 14 is looking old now." The iPhone 16 comes with several upgrades to pique people's interest, including a new Camera Control button, the addition of last year's Pro models' action button, better cameras, and other worthwhile improvements. What does the iPhone 14 have? Well, none of these features. Despite only being two years old, the iPhone 14 may already be losing its appeal, even if it's now at a more affordable price. If that's the case, it's time to prove it by breaking down the differences between the two iPhones. Thankfully, Apple has yet to increase the price for its base iPhone, meaning the iPhone 16 starts at the same price the iPhone 14 did when it was released back in 2022. As with all phones, the older they get, the cheaper they are, and that's certainly the case with the iPhone 14. A lot has happened since the iPhone 14, including the favorable switch from Lightning to USB-C. Two years can bring a lot of development, but not enough to offer more than a 60Hz display to the iPhone 16. Still, the iPhone 16 is already showcasing its improvements. If you're used to the iPhone 14's 6.1-inch display, then you'll find the iPhone 16's display to be a familiar sight. It sports the same size and 60Hz refresh rate, but there are a few updates that help it shine over the iPhone 14's screen. Quite literally, too. The iPhone 16 comes with 2,000 nits of peak brightness, while the iPhone 14 fizzles out at 1,200 nits. There's also a slightly better resolution, with the iPhone 16 offering a 2,556 x 1,179 resolution and the iPhone 14 with a 2,532 x 1,170 resolution. Despite brighter, slightly more detailed visuals, you'll find both displays to be virtually the same. You could call the iPhone 16 a "Pro" model compared to the iPhone 14, as it's fitted with all the iPhone Pro features the 14 missed out on -- and then some. For one, it comes with Apple's Dynamic Island instead of the obsolete notch, which was reserved for the iPhone 14 Pro models at the time. You'll also find an Action button like on the iPhone 15 Pro models, which allows you to pick and choose a specific action as opposed to the usual Ring/Silent switch. Already, the iPhone 16 has a lot over the iPhone 14. But it doesn't stop there. The iPhone 16 now sports a new Camera Control button, which focuses on helping to access a range of camera features. It acts as a shutter button to quickly snap pictures, can zoom in and out of photos or videos using swiping gestures, and lets you control focusing on objects. It's placed right below the power button on the left side -- and it's a handy feature to have. The rear camera layout is a tad different this time. While the iPhone 14 is stuck with a diagonal design, the iPhone 16 harkens back to the iPhone 12's vertical rear camera layout. It's a subtle change, but hardly a major difference. The iPhone 14 is equipped with an aerospace aluminum finish and a glass back, but the iPhone 16 changes it up with an color-infused glass back, making it less prone to fingerprints. It also makes the colors it comes in paler than the iPhone 14's. Speaking of, the iPhone 16 will come in the following color options: Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, and Black. The iPhone 14 isn't too different, but they're sharper to look at. It's available in Midnight, Starlight, (Product) Red, Blue, Purple, and Yellow. Processing power is like night and day between the iPhone 14 and iPhone 16. That's not to say the 14's A15 Bionic chip isn't capable of still offering great power, but there's a clear gap compared to the iPhone 16's A18 processor. In fact, the A15 chip has been around since the iPhone 13, meaning it's already showing its age. That said, Apple's custom silicon chips can handle a lot, so there may not be a huge difference in your average, day-to-day performance between the two rivals. Still, the iPhone 16's A18 chip offers even more, and it's needed to handle the newly included Apple Intelligence and all of its AI features. This isn't something the iPhone 14 can handle. No surprises here, but the iPhone 16 outranks the iPhone 14 in performance by being one of the fastest mobile chips on the market. Battery life finally gets an upgrade with the iPhone 16, but only by an extra couple of hours over the iPhone 14. The real difference comes with the increased charging speeds. The iPhone 16 is rated at 22 hours of battery life, while the iPhone 14 is stuck at 20 hours. In reality, that's around a full day before needing to be plugged in. While it's not by much, it's handy to have the extra juice. What's more, the iPhone 16 ditches the Lightning port with a universal USB-C connection -- and that makes it easier to find a cable that fits into the slot. Here's a quick look at the spec differences between both phones, starting with the iPhone 16: And the iPhone 14: Cameras have come a long way since the iPhone 14, as the iPhone 16 comes with an "advanced dual-camera system" now. Forget the iPhone 14's 12MP wide lens; the iPhone 16 boasts a 48MP wide camera and a 12MP telephoto lens (via a quad-pixel sensor). That's two features the iPhone 14 can't contend with. This isn't anything new, as the iPhone 15 also comes equipped with these lenses, but the iPhone 16 now offers a 12MP ultra-wide with ƒ/2.2 aperture and autofocus for improved low-light photography and macro photography. The iPhone 14's 12MP ultra-wide with a ƒ/2.4 aperture is fine, but images generally come out slightly blurry and don't do well when there isn't enough light. There are great shots to be had with the iPhone 16's main camera, and the addition of telephoto brings enhanced zoom capabilities for more detailed images from afar. It's hard for the iPhone 14 to compete in this area. However, it's important to note that it's expected to deliver iOS updates until 2029, meaning it's not even halfway through its life cycle. That's great OS support, but the iPhone 16 is a fresh start, so it will (obviously) last at least two years longer. iOS 18 brings Apple Intelligence to the iPhone 15 Pro models and later, but only the iPhone 16 models will offer exclusive AI features. This takes the iPhone 14 out of the race, even if it gets an iOS 18 update and later. What fancy Apple Intelligence features is it missing out on? As WWDC 2024 showed off, there will be prioritized notifications that put the most important notifications at the top of your iPhone's feed and even offer summaries of stacked notifications, AI image generation and easy image search by typing a description, automatic audio transcriptions, and the ability to rewrite, summarize, and proof blocks of selected text. What's more, there's Private Cloud Compute, protecting your personal information any time you access Apple Intelligence. Basically, your data is never stored. There's also Genmoji, which lets you create a custom emoji by simply typing it out via texting. Apple Intelligence has a lot of perks, but we won't know how useful they are until we've had the chance to use them in the wild. Unlike other generations, there are significant differences between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 14 -- even if there's only a two-year divide. With a Dynamic Island, Action button, new Camera Control button, improved battery life, better cameras, and Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 16 is a true successor of the iPhone 14 in virtually every way (except for that 60Hz display). The iPhone 14 is still a more-than-capable smartphone and does more than enough to offer the complete iOS experience, but the iPhone 16 kicks off a new era of AI for the iPhone, and that may just be worth it for those looking to keep up with the times.

Should You Upgrade to the iPhone 16?

Quick LinksWhat's New With the iPhone 16 iPhone 15 Users: Consider Upgrading for Apple Intelligence iPhone 14 Users: More Reasons to Scratch the Itch iPhone 13 Users: We Wouldn't Blame You for Upgrading iPhone 12 and Older Users: It's Probably Time Or Wait for the Next Refresh Key Takeaways iPhone 15 users may want to hold off upgrading unless they're especially concerned about Apple Intelligence support, Camera Control, and a better ultrawide camera. iPhone 14 users might be tempted by an upgrade due to everything added with the iPhone 15 plus the iPhone 16's enhancements like Camera Control and faster MagSafe charging. iPhone 12 and older users will see significant improvements to almost all aspects of the iPhone experience, from faster performance to brighter displays, better cameras, USB-C charging, Dynamic Island, and much more. New iPhone, new dilemma: to upgrade or not upgrade. The changes seem to be less compelling each year, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Here's an upgrade guide for the iPhone 16, whatever iPhone you currently have. What's New With the iPhone 16 Apple unveiled the iPhone 16 (and the higher-end iPhone 16 Pro) at its September 2024 iPhone event, with a few notable changes over last year's model. The iPhone 16 starts at $799 for the base 128GB model, with the iPhone 16 Plus starting at $899. Both devices are equipped with the new A18 system-on-a-chip, which is compatible with Apple's big new talking point: Apple Intelligence. On top of the faster and more capable system-on-a-chip, the iPhone 16 adds Camera Control, a touch-sensitive button for launching the camera, shooting images, zooming, and accessing photo settings. There's also a new Action button like that found on the iPhone 15 Pro in place of the mute switch. The iPhone 16 gets a better 12-megapixel ultrawide camera that's capable of both macro shooting and spatial video and photo capture thanks to its vertical array. To top things off there's tougher front glass, faster (up to 25W) MagSafe charging, faster Wi-Fi 7 support, and two additional (quoted) hours of battery life over last year's iPhone 15. iPhone 15 Users: Consider Upgrading for Apple Intelligence When Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence at WWDC in June 2024, the iPhone 15 missed out since it uses an A16 Bionic processor. With the new A18 system-on-a-chip, the iPhone 16 is ready for Apple Intelligence when the feature gradually rolls out following the launch of iOS 18. This makes the iPhone 16 a tempting prospect for any iPhone 15 owners who want to use Apple's new AI features. These include a smarter Siri, context-aware requests for information, writing assistance, and even image generation (most of which takes place locally). Your iPhone 15 is still relatively new, which means it should still fetch a decent second-hand price to fund your purchase. Aside from this, the iPhone 16 shares a lot of similarities with its predecessor, like USB-C charging, the Dynamic Island, satellite communication, and a decent camera system (though the iPhone 16 has a better ultrawide camera). On top of this, the iPhone 15 retains a physical mute switch whereas the iPhone 16 replaces it with an Action button that can be reprogrammed to do all sorts of things (like trigger shortcuts, switch on the flashlight, or take a voice memo). The only other "big" change is the addition of Camera Control on all iPhone 16 models, which makes launching the camera and taking photos a little more intuitive. This pressure-sensitive button can be used to trigger the Camera app, zoom by swiping, or access common camera controls with a lighter double-tap. Lastly, if you're a MagSafe addict who loves charging wirelessly, you might want to take advantage of 25W fast charging with a compatible 30W MagSafe charger on the new iPhone 16. Alternatively, sit pretty and plug your iPhone 15 into a 20W adapter. iPhone 14 Users: More Reasons to Scratch the Itch There's nothing wrong with the iPhone 14. It's a solid little device that still performs well thanks to its A15 system-on-a-chip, and it even got an over-the-air update that doubled the speed of wireless charging with a Qi2 charger in late 2023. That said, it is starting to look a little old now thanks to some big changes that arrived last year. The iPhone 14 still uses Apple's "Notch" rather than the Dynamic Island, and it features a Lightning port while all newer devices use USB-C. The camera is also looking a bit long in the tooth with 12MP wide and ultrawide sensors, compared with the 48-megapixel wide and macro-capable ultrawide on the iPhone 16. The older Wi-Fi 6 chip may start to feel slow compared to the Wi-Fi 7 support in the latest models, but you'll need an internet connection and a wireless router that can support these newer standards if you're to take advantage of them. But the iPhone 14 still has some fairly modern features that might make it worth holding onto, like MagSafe support, Crash Detection, satellite SOS calling and texting, and a five-core GPU that should still be good enough to get great performance in 3D games. Remember that Apple will support your device for years to come (until 2028 by our calculations). If you're happy with the quality of photos and videos, haven't noticed performance issues, and don't think you'll make use of the AI features that Apple Intelligence enables, then you might be better off saving your money for a future release. iPhone 13 Users: We Wouldn't Blame You for Upgrading The iPhone 13 features the same A15 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 14, albeit with a slightly weaker four-core GPU. It's starting to show its age, but the chip is still good enough for most users in 2024. The iPhone 13 is MagSafe-compatible, has a bright OLED display, and a fair camera system (it was the first iPhone to feature Cinematic Mode for video, too). More concerning is the state of the average iPhone 13 battery by this stage, which isn't a comment about the phone's hardware but the way the lithium batteries inside them age. An upgrade to the iPhone 16 would yield some big improvements, but these won't necessarily appeal to everyone. You'll gain some nice-to-have features like USB-C charging (though you'll need to replace or adapt your old accessories), dedicated Camera Control and some better camera sensors to use it with, a programmable Action button that replaces the mute switch, and the big one: Apple Intelligence support. There are also some big safety features that you're currently missing out on, like Crash Detection, satellite Emergency SOS, and satellite road assistance (assuming you're in the US and can take advantage of those features). We wouldn't blame you for upgrading to the iPhone 16, and there are plenty of reasons to do so, just remember that the iPhone 13 will likely see software support for another three years so if you're happy with your device as it stands then more power to you. iPhone 12 and Older Users: It's Probably Time If you have an iPhone 12 or older, you're probably feeling a bit left out when it comes to the latest features. The A14 Bionic might be showing signs of slowing down, and the A13 Bionic in the iPhone 11 certainly feels sluggish at this stage. That said, both of these models are still supported by Apple and both can run iOS 18. It feels reductive to say "upgrade now, you're holding an antique" because, for a lot of people, an iPhone 11 or earlier is all they need. But if you're reading this, you're probably already contemplating the upgrade. The good news is that an upgrade to an iPhone 16 will feel transformative in many respects. Almost everything will feel new or better in some way, from the Dynamic Island on the front to the new Camera Control features, improved camera sensors, brighter display, faster wireless chips for both Wi-Fi and cellular, and safety features like Crash Detection and satellite support. Plus you'll get all those AI features, running locally on your device, when Apple eventually releases them. Being able to charge over USB-C is great, assuming you have plenty of USB-C cables already (at least you get one in the box), and if you're coming from a base-level iPhone 12 you'll enjoy the bump in base storage from 64GB to 128GB. iPhone 11 users get another big upgrade in the form of MagSafe support, which might be reason enough to upgrade your iPhone. Or Wait for the Next Refresh The iPhone 16 might be Apple's latest gadget, but the iPhone 17 is already in the works. By waiting another year, and making do with your older device, you could get even more for your money with next year's update. Alternatively, you can grab this year's tech at a slight discount.

The iPhone 16 is undeniably great hardware - but you should still probably skip it

Every year, iPhone enthusiasts eagerly await Apple's latest release. But this year, as Apple introduces the iPhone 16, the excitement feels underwhelming. A few months ago, I wrote about why you shouldn't buy the iPhone 16 for Apple Intelligence, and now that the launch is here, I stand by my initial assessment. Also: Everything Apple announced at its 'Glowtime' event Despite promises of AI advancements, the iPhone 16 seems more like a stepping stone than a game-changer. Even in my household, the decision to upgrade has divided us -- while I'm upgrading for work because I cover the technology, my wife has made it clear: she's skipping this one. Let's not diminish the product for what it is: the iPhone 16 is undeniably great hardware. But unless you're using a really old phone -- like my colleague David Gewirtz's iPhone 12, which is four generations behind -- you should strongly consider skipping this generation. Why? Because Apple Intelligence, while promising, is still in its infancy. Here's a breakdown of the iPhone 16 lineup: In addition to newer, larger, and brighter OLED screens across the board, the biggest improvements to the iPhone 16 are to its cameras. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus now offer 2X optical zoom via a cropped section of the 48-MP main camera's sensor. On the Pro models, you'll find a 5X optical zoom lens, and the new 48-MP "Fusion Camera" reads data twice as fast, which reduces motion blur and improves the quality of action shots. The Pro models also support 4K slow-motion video recording at 120 frames per second, making slo-mo footage crisper than ever before. Also: 4 best iPhone 16 features that make Apple's standard model worth the upgrade But are these improvements enough to justify an upgrade? Probably not if you already own an iPhone 14 or 15. While the hardware is impressive, the AI features -- centered around Apple Intelligence -- leave something to be desired, especially for those expecting a more mature experience. Apple Intelligence is tied to Apple's own 3-billion-parameter foundation model. This is a relatively small large language model compared to what's available in the cloud. While Apple has indicated it may allow other LLMs to run on-device in the future, you're currently limited to Apple's system. And while Apple has announced ChatGPT support for Siri, that runs in the cloud, not on-device. Also: Every iPhone model that will be updated to Apple's iOS 18 (and which ones won't) Apple has given developers access to its AI APIs, but we're still in the early stages of what Apple Intelligence can do. Most of the exciting features - like Genmoji and App Intents -- won't be available until iOS 18.2. Even iOS 18.1, which unlocks some of the AI functions, won't arrive until at least October. The biggest problem -- other than the fact that you need new iPhone hardware to exploit it -- is that Apple Intelligence is deeply tied to Apple's own apps, limiting its usefulness for users who rely on third-party apps like Gmail, Google Docs, or Microsoft 365. Apple hasn't given developers the ability to integrate their own AI models on the device, so unless third-party apps adopt Apple's APIs, you won't benefit from Apple Intelligence's features if you're not entirely locked into Apple's ecosystem. Google and Microsoft, which both have robust cloud-based AI solutions -- Gemma 2 for Google's Gemini and GPT-4 for Microsoft's Copilot -- are unlikely to switch to Apple's APIs anytime soon. While Apple emphasizes its on-device AI processing, many AI tools people already use today are cloud-based, meaning they don't need the latest hardware. As mentioned earlier, an important distinction about cloud-based gen AI writing tools is that they have much more robust LLMs backing them up, to the tune of hundreds of billions of parameters, compared with the 3B parameter model in Apple Intelligence. Also: iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Is it worth an upgrade? Google's AI writing tools are currently available on iOS and Android through Gmail. While the company has not committed to it publicly, this functionality within "Gemini Apps" will likely be expanded to the mobile versions of Docs and other Google Workspace apps shortly. Grammarly, another cloud-based tool based on Microsoft's Azure OpenAI platform, offers proofreading and editing across over 500,000 apps, including Gmail, Slack, Microsoft Office, and Google Docs. On iOS, it works as an installable keyboard; on Mac, it's available as a desktop plugin for Safari, Chrome, and Edge. Microsoft's SwiftKey iOS keyboard also brings Copilot AI-powered text generation and rewriting to the platform, making these tools accessible across all iPhone models -- not just the iPhone 16. I'm also not crazy about the updated Apple Intelligence-enhanced Photos app in iOS 18. It's been difficult to adjust to, and the Clean Up tool -- Apple's smart erase feature -- while intriguing, hasn't been the game changer I expected. The tool leaves artifacts in many of the photos I've tried it with on my iPhone 15 Pro Max, which detracts from the experience. Also: The 7 best iOS 18 features that will make updating your iPhone worthwhile Google's Magic Eraser, available in Google Photos for iOS, performs similarly without requiring on-device AI processing. That said, Apple's on-device AI processing offers a privacy advantage -- your data stays on the device and doesn't require additional bandwidth. This is particularly useful if you rely on 5G data instead of Wi-Fi. If you're using an iPhone 12 or older, the iPhone 16 could be worth upgrading to for the hardware alone. But if you've got an iPhone 14 or 15, I'd strongly recommend holding out for the iPhone 17. That's when Apple Intelligence will likely be mature enough to make a real impact. Also: iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Should you upgrade to the latest model? Current rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Pro will have even more RAM -- an estimated 12GB -- compared to the 16 Pro's 8GB. This is a strong indicator of just how resource-intensive the fully realized Apple Intelligence will be. If the iPhone 16's RAM has already increased by 17%, the jump to 12GB for the iPhone 17 Pro shows that Apple expects AI tasks to require significantly more memory as they evolve. Unless you desperately need a new phone, don't rush into buying the iPhone 16. The iPhone 17 will likely bring the real leap forward in AI integration, making the iPhone 16 a transitional product at best.

The best iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max preorder deals | Digital Trends

Apple has officially announced the iPhone 16, and now you can begin to make your iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max preorder plans. At the time of this writing, things are still shaping up and we're still figuring out all of the details about where to preorder the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. However, you can already begin to plan your preorder on Apple's page, which also gives up a glimpse at carrier-specific deals. Here, we're focusing specifically on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, which are housed separately in the Apple store, but we've also covered iPhone 16 and iPhone Plus preorder deals. We're going to look at how to plan your order via Apple and what we know about other retailers' offers. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will officially release on September 20. Contents When are iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max preorders available?Where are the best iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max preorder deals?iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max -- Apple preorder guideAT&T's iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max preorder deals We found that getting the best deal from the Apple store was not entirely straightforward. Follow along with our guide for your best price. When are iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max preorders available? If you preorder though Apple, you can begin at 5 a.m. on the September 13, with other places sure to follow. However, you can go ahead and plan your preorder on the Apple store now, and that is what we recommend for most people that want to get in on the action quick. With the most exciting iPhone 16 gen AI features belonging to the Pro and Pro Max versions of the phone, it makes sense to worry about missing out from being too slow to tap the 'Order' button. But that could lead to errors when navigating the confusing order page, inputting your trade in phone, etc. Please note that some carrier-specific deals on the Apple store page say "Get ready on 9.11" instead of "Pre-order on 9.13" though it is not fully apparent what it means to get ready at this time. As a result, we recommend plotting your purchase from Apple now, checking on what your final price will be. Then, reading on for other deals we know about from other carriers to compare. Finally, bookmark this page and come back Friday to double-check your methods and see the full lineup of offers that will, by that time, be more apparent. Where are the best iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max preorder deals? Presently, the only place we're seeing iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max preorder deals is on Apple. Even there you are only able to plan your order. However, just because the product isn't listed with Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart, or even on carrier sites like AT&T doesn't mean it won't be later. We've already, for example, got a sneak peek as to what AT&T will be offering. We expect more and more information between now and the Friday. One point to note, though, is that Apple already has carrier deals on its site, meaning it is still going to have most of the best iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max preorder deals on its site, ready for you to plan out. iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max -- Apple preorder guide If you aren't in the mood for planning out everything today, you can bookmark the and see the basics on preorder deals all in one spot. At the top of the page (in the red rectangle in the image above) you'll see a brief overview of all of the current offers. It's worth noting, though, that there is some fine print and navigating through the store page isn't a perfect experience. To see what we mean, tap the button below and follow along with our iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max ordering guide, where we'll show you exactly what to click to get the lowest price. Apple's iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max carrier deals -- AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile Getting and understanding the available carrier deals from Apple's store is the trick to getting the best preorder deal on the phones. Unfortunately, the numbers and steps to get there are somewhat confusing. By the end of this section, however, you'll know how to get an iPhone 16 Pro for as low as $0.00/month from your favorite carrier and get the best Apple Store deal on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. We'll start by entering a phone into "Apple Trade In." but ignore the price -- it is wrong. When we go to get the best carrier deals, later, you'll find that the trade in is worth more than stated. It makes planning frustrating, but at least it errs in your favor and they're letting you get started early. If the supplied phone meets all of the conditions to be in "good condition" go ahead and tap "Yes" for the relevant box. Note, however, that you can still trade in a phone that is missing one of the conditions to be considered "good" by Apple. Just tap "No" and follow the on-screen questionnaire to the best of your ability. With this requirement out of the way, you're now ready to find your best rate on an iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max via AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile. Once you've input your trade-in phone, tap "Finance" under "Payment options." and hit the "Carrier" button. You'll get a screen that looks something like the image above. These financed deals on the phone offer the very best rates on the phone in exchange for committing to a carrier for two or three years. On this screen you'll get your carrier-specific pre-order offers from Apple. In orange, at the top of each offer, you'll see the full amount you're getting back in bill credits from the carrier. Then, just below the bolded text you'll see a monthly price for the phone and how many months you'll need to be with them. Remember, you'll need to stay with the carrier for the full duration of the term, so you'll still be paying for service even with a great deal. Note that the amount that you can expect to get back will change depending on the version of the phone and how much storage you are after. At this time, you'll want to do your planning to see how much you get back on each phone, with each carrier, at each storage amount until you find something that fits your budget and needs. You can quickly change to other version of the phone (and storage sizes) by scrolling up and choosing them. However, you'll need to remember to tap the 'Carrier' button again when you scroll back down to properly compare the offers. While experimenting with the page, my entered phone sometimes deleted itself when switching between the Pro and Pro Max versions, but not always. This seems to be an error happening on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max page only, so be sure to check if your trade-in phone is still inputted if you see an odd price increase. So, what's the best pre-order deal you can get this way? For AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile you can get $999 in trade-in credit applied to the iPhone 16 Pro 128GB storage version when we traded in a "good" iPhone 15 Pro Max. This makes it $0.00/month with your phone plan purchase. All other versions of the iPhone 16 Pro and all of the iPhone 16 Pro Max storage versions required some additional payment for the phone. Apple's iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max deals -- Boost Mobile Don't have a trade in phone? No problem -- if you want to go with Boost Mobile. When you finance with Boost Mobile and connect on their Boost Mobile Infinite Access Plan for 36 months, you'll receive $1,000 in Boost Mobile credits. That means that you can get the 128GB version of the iPhone 16 Pro for $0 additional dollars per month. This is one of the best ways to get an iPhone 16 Pro preordered on the cheap if you don't have a phone for trade-in. AT&T's iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max preorder deals You can't yet see AT&T's iPhone 16 preorder deals in their shop. However, we do have a sneak peek as to what they'll be. You can get the iPhone 16 Pro "On us" according to information circulating from AT&T, or at least so long as you have an eligible trade-in. If you want the iPhone 16 Pro Max you have two deals to look forward to from AT&T. The first gives you up to $1,000 off with an eligible trade in phone. Alternatively, if you're a new AT&T Fiber internet customer you'll be eligible to get the iPhone 16 Pro Max on them. Tap the button below to find AT&T's iPhone selection, which will all of the iPhone 16 series when they become available for preorder sometime on the 13th.