Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models launch on September 20, bringing with them a handful of updates that make the upgrade worthwhile if you’re using an older iPhone. There’s a new camera button, improved camera performance, larger screens on the Pro models, and better battery life overall.
I spent some time testing both the iPhone 16 (starting at $799) and iPhone 16 Pro (starting at $999), and if you’ve had an outdated iPhone up until now, you’ll appreciate the improvements the new phones bring, but the biggest upgrade in Apple’s latest iPhones is the company’s Apple Intelligence platform.
Apple Intelligence will be available as a software update in October — no, it won’t launch at the same time as the phones — and will bring a number of AI-powered features to iPhone, including a smarter Siri, AI-based writing tools to summarize and rewrite your messages in a specific tone, and the option to summarize your notifications so you don’t have to read 57 unrelated texts to figure out what time you and your friends are having dinner tonight.
To use Apple Intelligence, however, you need either an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, or iPhone 16 Pro. If you have an iPhone 15, you’re out of luck. Apple says the base 15 model just isn’t powerful enough to run Apple Intelligence software.
Apple is positioning Apple Intelligence as its next revolutionary product. And while it’s too early to say whether that’s true or not, after using a beta version of the software, I can say that the new features are certainly a welcome addition to the iPhone.
I can’t say that Apple Intelligence makes it worth upgrading your iPhone just yet, but overall the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro lineups offer the right improvements that make them solid updates.
Camera control and new cameras
Let’s talk about what’s new on the iPhone 16 lineup. First of all, there’s the new camera control button. The camera control button is a new way to launch and control the camera, and it’s located on the bottom right side of both the iPhone 16s and iPhone 16 Pros.
Press the button and you’ll instantly launch the iPhone’s camera app. Lightly press the button twice and the app’s exposure, depth, zoom, cameras, styles, and sound options will appear. Lightly tap the button again to dive deeper into each setting. Of course, you can already launch the camera app by swiping right or tapping the camera button on the iPhone’s lock screen, but the camera controls make it feel like you’re using an old-fashioned point-and-shoot camera. Man, calling it that makes me feel old.
Still, it’s true. Being able to take photos and videos by pressing or holding the camera control button makes capturing your subjects as easy as using an old, dedicated camera. You don’t have to move your finger around the screen to change the zoom level or adjust the exposure, losing the frame and risking dropping your iPhone. Is that the only reason to upgrade? No, but it’s a helpful addition to the iPhone.
As for the camera, Apple’s new Styles feature lets you change the look of your shot from pure black and white to vibrant colors by adjusting different areas of the photo rather than simply covering it up with a filter. The result is a camera option that really makes your shots look a lot more interesting and vibrant than they otherwise would. It’s an excellent addition to the Camera app and one you’ll want to try out as soon as you get the chance.
Apple has also added a new Audio Mix editing mode for your videos, designed to enhance the voice of the person in your recording compared to the ambient noise around you. There’s a Standard mode that keeps all audio levels the same, an In-Frame option that focuses more on the subject in the shot and reduces background levels, and Studio and Cinema modes.
It’s nothing short of impressive how much of a difference the modes make to your video. Switching between modes as you edit your piece will help you see which one is better for your project. If you’re in a crowded place and want to record a video of your friends and family, In-Frame mode is the way to go. And since you adjust the audio style as you edit, not as you record your video, you don’t have to worry about recording it in the wrong mode and risk ruining your video as you record it.
All four iPhones also get new cameras. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus now have 48MP ultra-wide-angle cameras that can capture macro photography and provide better low-light shots. Apple also says the phones offer the equivalent of 2x optical zoom thanks to their 48MP Fusion cameras.
The iPhone 16 Pro now has a 5x telephoto camera, replacing the 5x camera on the Pro Max, and both Pro phones get new 48MP Fusion Cameras and 48MP ultra-wide cameras. All of this adds up to some incremental changes to the iPhones’ cameras. Overall, the ability to take macro photos on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus and the addition of a 5x telephoto zoom to the iPhone 16 Pro are the best upgrades of all.
In the future, Apple will also add a feature called “Visual Intelligence” to the iPhone, which will allow users to point their phone’s camera at real-world objects and get information about them. One example of this that Apple has offered is a picture of a restaurant, from which you can quickly check its opening hours and user reviews. But that won’t be available until later this year.
Displays and performance
In addition to updated cameras, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max get new larger displays. The iPhone 16 Pro’s screen increases from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches, while the Pro Max’s grows from 6.7 to 6.9 inches. Apple has achieved this by slightly increasing the size of the phones and slimming down their bezels, making them look more like a single piece of glass at the front.
It’s not a huge increase in screen size, but if you’re streaming movies or scrolling through Reddit, any extra space is an improvement. Apple’s Always-On Display is also making a comeback on the Pro and Pro Max, but it’s still not available on the 16 or 16 Plus, which is a shame.
However, Apple has brought the Action Button to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. The Action Button, which was previously only available on the Pro models, is a customizable button on the left side of the iPhone that lets you do things like launch the voice recorder, magnifying glass, or, my favorite, the flashlight.
In terms of performance, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus get Apple’s new A18 chip, while the Pro and Pro Max get the A18 Pro processor. There’s no performance hit with either chip, whether you’re playing games or just browsing TikTok or Instagram, and both are designed to run Apple intelligence.
As for battery life, I got through my entire workday on the iPhone 16, then streamed the Mets game, and the battery was still at 19% at around 10:30 p.m. As for the Pro, I used it for email and Slack, browsing social media apps, and ordering from Dunkin’ and still had 71% battery life after about 7 hours of use.
Should you get it?
The latest iPhones bring faster chips, larger displays on the Pros, improved cameras, and a new camera button. But if you just bought an iPhone 15 or 15 Pro, or even own an iPhone 14, you can wait.
I can’t say whether Apple Intelligence is worth upgrading to a new phone, as it’s not ready for production yet. And since it’s still in beta, Apple could change, add, or remove features before releasing the software.
All in all, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro are exactly what you’d expect from Apple. Great phones that are always better than their predecessors. We’ll have to wait for Apple Intelligence to come out to know if the phones will get even better.
Email Daniel Howley at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley.
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