While many of the features in the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro series build on what we've seen in previous iPhone models, Apple has packed the 2024 lineup with iOS 18 and plenty of fresh upgrades worth considering.
The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max boast several groundbreaking features, like a 6.9-inch display and ProRes video recording at up to 120 fps, and the standard iPhone 16 and 16 Plus still deliver notable improvements over last year's models. Features exclusive to the Pro versions are noted, but most of these exciting additions are available across the entire iPhone 16 lineup.
The four new iPhone 16 models were available for preorder on Sept. 13 and officially launched on Sept. 20. Pricing starts at $799 for the iPhone 16 and $899 for the 16 Plus, while the iPhone 16 Pro begins at $999, and the 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199.
1. Advanced A18 Chips
The A18 Bionic chip in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus is a significant leap forward, making this year's iPhones faster and smarter than ever. It's built two generations ahead of the A16 Bionic found in the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, with improvements in speed, graphics, and power efficiency. This new chip powers features like Photographic Styles, Camera Control, and console-level gaming, all while extending battery life.
One of the standout benefits of the A18 Bionic chip is how it supports Apple's new Apple Intelligence-powered features, such as a revamped Siri, more advanced photography tools, and visual intelligence. Compared to the A16 Bionic:
- The 16-core Neural Engine runs machine learning two times faster.
- There's 17% more system memory bandwidth to aid generative models and keep Apple Intelligence running smoothly.
- The 6-core CPU is 30% faster and uses 30% less power.
- The 5-core GPU is up to 40% faster and uses 35% less power.
- It has hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
Unlike previous iPhone lineups, where only the Pro versions had the latest chips, every 2024 iPhone gets a powerful boost. Even the base models can handle demanding tasks like real-time AI processing and high-end gaming while maintaining excellent battery life.
The A18 Pro in the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max takes things further, making it ideal for users needing extra power for photography, AAA gaming, or AI tasks. Compared with A17 Pro:
- The 16-core Neural Engine is faster.
- There's 17% more system memory bandwidth.
- The 6-core CPU is 15% faster and uses 20% less power.
- The 5-core GPU is up to 20% faster and can perform ray tracing twice as fast.
- The video encoder processes data twice as fast.
- It has hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
2. Camera Control
The new Camera Control on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models makes capturing moments exactly the way you want easier than ever. With a click, it instantly opens the Camera app, and with another click, it can snap a photo. To record a quick video, use a click-and-hold gesture.
And that's not all. Press twice lightly on the Camera Control to open up the list of manual controls in a handy overlay that slides out from the edge of the screen. You can then slide your finger on the button to pick between exposure, depth, zoom, cameras, styles, and tones. Press lightly again to choose an option, then slide your finger to adjust the setting. Whenever the overlay is visible, other UI elements on the screen are hidden to help you focus and frame your shot.
Press once lightly when the new Camera Control overlay is hidden to open your last-used option.
Whether using the built-in Camera app or a third-party camera app like Snapchat, this feature gives you direct access to key camera functions, even from the Lock Screen or while using other apps.
3. Visual Intelligence
The Camera Control has another built-in feature, visual intelligence, which gives you information about anything you snap. Point your camera at a restaurant to see operating hours and reviews. Take a picture of an event flyer to add it to your calendar. Put an animal in the frame to find its breed and more details about it. You can also snap photos to find out information from Google Search and ChatGPT.
To use visual intelligence, click and hold the Camera Control button, click to capture what you want to learn more about, and get results.
4. Improved Ray Tracing
Hardware-accelerated ray tracing, one of the standout features powered by the A18 Bionic and A18 Pro, provides improved console-level gaming graphics to the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro series. This technology provides more realistic lighting effects — with up to 5x higher frame rates than software-based ray tracing — by simulating how light interacts with objects in a scene, creating lifelike shadows, reflections, and textures.
While the iPhone 15 Pro series with A17 Pro were the first iPhones to have hardware-accelerated ray tracing, the A18 Pro offers up to twice the performance, delivering smoother and more immersive visuals in supported games. The iPhone 15 series only has software-based ray tracing, so this is the first time the base models gain hardware-accelerated support. So, the iPhone 16 series can run all the AAA games introduced last year with the iPhone 15 Pro series.
5. Fresh Colors for a Bold Look
The iPhone 16 lineup comes with new color options that stand out. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus come in beautiful new teal, ultramarine, and pink colors that have never been on any other iPhones before. While there have been similar blue, green, and pink colors, the new shades are exclusive to the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. The standard white and black colors are also available.
Apple also introduced a new desert titanium finish, exclusive to iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, which adds a sleek, premium touch to the device. Returning colors include black titanium, white titanium, and natural titanium. These elegant, metallic tones elevate the Pro lineup, giving it a distinct, high-end aesthetic while maintaining the durability and sophistication Apple is known for.
6. Improved Battery Life
Apple has made notable improvements to battery life with the iPhone 16 lineup, delivering a significant boost compared to previous models.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max leads the pack with up to 33 hours of video playback and a remarkable 105 hours of audio playback — which beats the previous high of 29 and 95 on the iPhone 14 Pro Max and 15 Pro Max — and the most ever on an iPhone. The iPhone 16 Pro also beats out its predecessors in battery life.
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have minor battery improvements that give them slightly more video playback hours than their predecessors, while audio playback remains stagnant.
7. Faster MagSafe Charging
Apple has supercharged wireless charging with the new MagSafe Charger for the iPhone 16 lineup. If you're always on the go and need a quick power boost, this upgrade is for you.
When paired with a 30-watt ($39), standard 35-watt ($59), or compact 35-watt adapter ($39), the updated MagSafe Charger (both sold separately) can deliver a rapid 25-watt charge, letting you juice up your iPhone 16 or 16 Pro model to 50% in just 30 minutes. That's a big leap from the previous 15-watt limit, making it perfect for when you're running low on time and battery.
While this faster charging is exclusive to the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models, the improved MagSafe Charger —available in 1-meter ($39) and 2-meter ($49) options — still works with older iPhones but at the slower 15-watt charging rate.
8. Wi-Fi 7
Wi-Fi 7 comes to all iPhone 16 models, from the standard iPhone 16 to the 16 Pro Max. This cutting-edge Wi-Fi standard, never before seen on an iPhone, offers significantly faster data transfer speeds, lower latency, and broader bandwidth, making it perfect for activities that demand high connectivity, such as 8K video streaming and online gaming.
Whether using the iPhone for immersive augmented reality (AR) or engaging with virtual reality (VR) content, Wi-Fi 7 ensures a smoother, more reliable connection by delivering up to 46 Gbps — five times faster than Wi-Fi 6E.
One of the standout features of Wi-Fi 7 is its ability to operate over 320 MHz channels, which reduces interference and network congestion. This wider bandwidth, combined with the 6 GHz band, allows for faster and more stable connections, even in crowded network environments.
The iPhone 16 lineup's inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 means that all users, whether on the base or Pro models, can experience next-level performance, especially in demanding scenarios like live streaming and mixed reality experiences with devices like Apple Vision Pro. However, you need to be on a network supporting Wi-Fi 7 to experience these improvements. If your home network uses Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, or older technology, you may want to upgrade your router to a Wi-Fi 7 one.
9. The Biggest Display Ever (Pro Max Only)
The iPhone 16 Pro Max has the largest iPhone display ever — a stunning 6.9-inch screen that offers more room for everything you do. This upgrade comes alongside a design refresh with the thinnest borders Apple has ever produced, making the display feel even more expansive without adding too much bulk.
While the device itself is slightly taller and wider than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the increase in screen size mainly comes from the slimmer bezels, ensuring a sleeker, more immersive viewing experience without sacrificing comfort.
This impressive 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display, with a resolution of 2868-by-1220 pixels, maintains the same high standards as its predecessor, including ProMotion technology for buttery-smooth scrolling and vivid color reproduction. With peak outdoor brightness of 2000 nits, your display stays sharp and clear even in direct sunlight, making the iPhone 16 Pro Max an ideal choice for users who crave a bigger, bolder visual experience.
10. Brightness as Low as 1 Nit
One of the subtle yet impactful upgrades in the iPhone 16 lineup is the introduction of a minimum brightness level as low as 1 nit. Last year's iPhone 15 lineup could only go down to 2 nits. It may not sound like much of a difference, but you'd be surprised.
This feature allows for an incredibly dim display, perfect for low-light environments, such as using your iPhone in bed or during nighttime activities, without straining your eyes or disturbing others around you. This ultra-low brightness setting also contributes to the always-on display functionality, as it can keep certain elements, like the time or notifications, visible without draining excessive battery.
Similar to its implementation in the Apple Watch, the 1-nit brightness allows the iPhone 16 to be more energy-efficient. The reduced brightness level helps preserve battery life, especially in scenarios where the display remains on for extended periods, like using the always-on display.
11. Strongest Ceramic Shield Display
Apple has reinforced its commitment to durability with the iPhone 16 lineup, introducing a new version of its Ceramic Shield that's 50% tougher than the first generation. This upgraded glass-ceramic hybrid material, first introduced with the iPhone 12, is designed to provide better protection against drops, which is where Apple typically focuses its "toughness" claims. According to Apple, the Ceramic Shield is now twice as strong as the glass found on any other smartphone, offering unparalleled durability in day-to-day use.
12. 48 MP Ultra-Wide Camera (Pro Only)
The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max take photography to new heights with the introduction of a 48 MP ultra-wide camera. Building on the success of the 48 MP main camera found on all iPhones since its introduction on the iPhone 14 Pro series, this new ultra-wide lens allows for even more detailed, expansive shots, perfect for capturing sweeping landscapes or tight spaces without sacrificing image quality. Older models only supported 12 MP with the ultra-wide camera.
13. 48 MP Macro Photography (Pro Only)
The new 48 MP ultra-wide camera on the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max also supports stunning, high-resolution macro photography, allowing you to get incredibly close to the subjects and capture intricate details with unmatched precision. By comparison, the ultra-wide camera on the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max supports 12 MP macro photos.
14. Next-Gen Photographic Styles
The iPhone 16 lineup introduces updated Photographic Styles, offering more flexibility for personalizing your photos. Whether aiming to refine skin tones or experiment with color, the new control pad makes adjusting tone and color simple. Thanks to the A18 series chips, you can preview your changes in real time, so you'll know exactly how the final photo will look before you take it.
Unlike basic filters, these styles let you fine-tune specific colors and tones using a new control pad, giving you more power over the mood of your photos. You can also adjust the intensity to match the exact look you're going for, and if you change your mind later, the styles are easy to swap or remove. It's a practical way to ensure your photos reflect your style, with the added convenience of real-time adjustments.
15. Spatial Photos, Videos, and Audio
With the iPhone 16 series, Apple makes spatial video a standard feature across all models. Spatial videos capture scenes in stereoscopic 3D, offering an immersive experience you can view on devices like the Apple Vision Pro or other compatible VR/AR headsets. Previously, only the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and Apple Vision Pro could capture spatial videos.
For the first time, the Camera app on all four 2024 iPhone models will also let you shoot spatial photos. While spatial photography is possible on the iPhone 15 Pro series, it only works in third-party camera apps.
In another first for iPhones, you can also capture spatial audio with the iPhone 16 lineup, which works for video and audio calls and when recording video with the rear or front camera systems. Spatial audio can be played back on the whole iPhone 16 lineup as well as the iPhone XR and newer models (not counting SE models) and Apple Vision Pro. When listening to spatial audio, the sound will seem to come from the actual direction of its source, enhancing the immersive effect.
16. Dolby Vision Videos Up to 120 FPS (Pro Only)
The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max push the boundaries of video recording with Dolby Vision support at up to 120 frames per second (fps), offering smoother, more cinematic footage on rear and front cameras.
While all 2024 iPhone models allow 4K Dolby Vision recording at standard frame rates like 24, 30, and 60 fps, the Pro models stand out by delivering 100 and 120 fps using the new Fusion camera system, marking a first for smartphones. This higher frame rate is also available for 1080p recordings, giving you more flexibility to capture crisp, professional-quality video, even at lower resolutions.
[It's] the highest resolution and frame-rate combination ever available on iPhone, and a smartphone first.
17. Slow Motion 4K Dolby Vision Up to 120 FPS (Pro Only)
The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max take slow-motion videos to the next level with the ability to capture in 4K Dolby Vision at up to 120 fps using the new Fusion camera. While all iPhone models since the iPhone X support 1080p slow motion at 120 or 240 fps, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max deliver a significant upgrade for those of you who want to film in ultra-high definition.
After shooting, you can easily adjust the playback speed with new options, including full-speed, quarter-speed, half-speed, and fifth-speed, giving you greater control over how your slow-motion footage plays out.
18. QuickTakes Up to 4K at 60 FPS in Dolby Vision
The iPhone 16 lineup enhances QuickTake video by allowing you to record videos up to 4K at 60 fps in Dolby Vision with the rear camera system. The front TrueDepth camera can record up to 4K at 60 fps in Dolby Vision HDR. This makes capturing spontaneous, high-quality video smoother and more vibrant, even in the heat of the moment. QuickTake videos max out on older iPhone models at 1080p at 30 fps.
19. Wind Noise Reduction
The iPhone 16 improves audio quality in videos, audio recordings, and audio and video calls by using advanced machine learning algorithms to effectively reduce wind noise. This ensures clearer, more focused sound, even in windy outdoor environments, enhancing the overall quality of your recordings.
20. ProRes Video Up to 4K at 120 FPS (Pro Only)
The iPhone 16 Pro series takes ProRes video recording to new heights, allowing up to 4K resolution at 120 fps with the rear camera system when using external recording — double the frame rate of the previous generation. This format offers filmmakers greater flexibility with log video recording, capturing a wide dynamic and tonal range for more advanced color grading and visual effects in post-production, alongside support for the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES).
Like last year's Pro models, the TrueDepth front camera supports log, ACES, and footage capture up to 4K at 60 fps.
21. Four Studio-Quality Mics (Pro Only)
The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max come equipped with a studio-quality four-microphone array, delivering incredibly clear and lifelike audio. Whatever you're recording will be captured in rich, detailed sound, making your audio recordings feel more professional and immersive.
22. Audio Mix
The iPhone 16 lineup introduces Audio Mix, a powerful feature that brings studio-quality sound to your videos. Instead of standard mode, In-Frame Mix, Studio Mix, and Cinematic Mix options can isolate voices and background elements, giving your recordings a professional-grade audio experience right from your phone. You can even adjust the levels during recording. And with the help of machine learning, Audio Mix also reduces unwanted noise, like wind, to deliver crisp and clear sound. You'll get even better results on Pro models with their four studio-quality mics.
Images by Apple (unless otherwise noted)
Comments
No Comments Exist
Be the first, drop a comment!