iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus Overview: Price, Specs, and Key Features
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are currently available for pre-order, with the iPhone 16 starting at $799 and the iPhone 16 Plus at $899. The increased price for the iPhone 16 Plus is attributed to its larger display and bigger battery, which offer extended battery life. Despite these differences, both models share several key specifications:
- A18 Chip
- 8GB RAM (necessary for Apple Intelligence support)
- New Camera Control Button
- Action Button inherited from last year’s iPhone 15 Pro models
- Storage options: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB
A detailed review recommends considering at least the 256GB storage option to avoid running out of space quickly.
Design Features
The iPhone 16 Plus model comes in an eye-catching "Pink" shade, described as vibrant and appealing. The regular iPhone 16 is available in deeper and richer color options, including black, white, and teal. The design also includes an upgraded Ceramic Shield 2 glass, reportedly 50% tougher than its predecessor, offering better resistance to drops and impacts. However, unlike previous models, the cameras on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are vertically stacked, a change that might not appeal to everyone.
Display Specifications
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus continue to feature a 60Hz refresh rate screen, with display sizes remaining unchanged:
- iPhone 16: 6.1 inches, 2,556 x 1,179-pixel resolution, 1,000 nits of brightness (2,000 peak)
- iPhone 16 Plus: 6.7 inches, 2,796 x 1,290-pixel resolution, 1,000 nits of brightness (2,000 peak)
Both models retain the Dynamic Island feature at the top of the screen, which houses the TrueDepth selfie camera.
Action Button
Introduced the previous year, the Action Button allows users to customize its function, making it highly versatile. Various tasks can be assigned to this button using Shortcuts, providing practical and personalized uses. Suggestions have been made for Apple to allow more gestures, like double or triple presses, to further extend the functionality of the Action Button.
Camera Control
A standout feature, the Camera Control button, has been praised for its intuitive design and ease of use. It enables quick access to various camera functions, including zoom, switching between different lenses, and applying photographic styles such as filters. Additionally, this feature facilitates easy activation of the Camera app, even when the phone is locked.
Cameras
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus offer a "2X optical quality zoom," achieved without a telephoto sensor, producing sharp and clear images. The devices feature 48MP wide lenses, supported by an ultrawide lens that captures more light and supports macro photography for detailed close-ups. The selfie camera remains a 12MP lens, with new Photographic Styles filters exclusive to the iPhone 16 series.
Performance
Powered by the new A18 chip, both models boast impressive performance metrics, notably multi-core scores in Geekbench tests rivalling budget gaming laptops. These scores underline Apple’s continued superiority in smartphone performance.
Battery Life
Battery performance has seen a notable improvement, with the iPhone 16 Plus achieving nearly 19 hours in a TikTok rundown test. This improvement is partly attributed to the energy efficiency of the A18 chip, with the iPhone 16 also performing robustly.
Apple Intelligence
Apple has taken strides in integrating more AI capabilities with the introduction of Apple Intelligence, set to be supported across the entire iPhone 16 lineup. Features include an enhanced Siri, Writing Tools for adjusting email and text tones, call recording, the Clean Up tool for photo editing, and more.
Conclusion
Given the enhanced battery life and new features such as the Camera Control button, tougher display, and improved zoom, the iPhone 16 and particularly the iPhone 16 Plus are considered worthwhile investments. The introduction of three new colors and the future support for Apple Intelligence further enhance their appeal. The iPhone 16 starts at $799, while the iPhone 16 Plus starts at $899.
