I tested the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus – and they left me with no Pro-model envy at all

I’ve been testing the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus for the past week, and they’ve quickly unseated last year’s iPhone 15 series as the handsets I recommend to most people. Considering it’s the iPhone 16 that we’re talking about, perhaps I shouldn’t be as surprised by the polish and familiarity. 

Also: We’ve used every iPhone 16 model and here’s our best buying advice for 2024

However, once you factor in all the new features, including the Action button, Camera Control, and Apple Intelligence, the standard iPhones feel more capable than ever — so much so that I’m not feeling much Pro model FOMO. It helps that they look better than ever, with bold and tasteful colors that most people will be drawn to when they walk inside an Apple store. I guarantee it.

View at Apple

With this year’s standard iPhones, Apple is taking what I’d like to call the “Sibling” strategy. You know how the older sibling tends to get all the latest and greatest things first — shirts, toys, shoes? After a year, or when the excitement for something wears off, it’s passed down to the younger sibling, so what’s old is new again. That’s exactly what Apple has done with last year’s iPhone 15 Pro model and this year’s iPhone 16, and I don’t mind that at all. 

Also: iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 16: Should you upgrade to Apple’s latest model?

The new Action button, for example, replaces the physical mute-switch toggle and can be mapped to a unique function, from turning on the flashlight to starting a voice memo to firing up the camera. Of course, you can also set the Action button to switch between alert and silent. 

Considering this is the iPhone’s have-it-your-way era, you should really try to embrace the customization freedom here. My Action button is currently set to “turn on AirDrop for 10 minutes” as I’m camera-testing the phone and frequently uploading images and videos to my MacBook. That prompt will likely change by the end of the week, possibly to quick-launch the ESPN app so I can catch up on NFL scores and be let down by the Giants again. That’s all part of the beauty of the Action button… and Giants football.

There’s also a new Camera Control located on the bottom right side of the phones, which looks and functions like the one on the Pro versions. At the most basic level, pressing the Camera Control snaps a photo or starts a video recording. For some Apple magic, a lighter, more gentle press of the same key (Apple tells me not to call it a button) brings up a slider for your most recent camera setting, whether that’s zoom range, exposure, or f-stop.

Also: Apple says the iPhone 16 is a lot easier to repair than its predecessor. Here’s how

A double light press on Camera Control brings up a carousel of shooting modes and settings, each of which you can access with another light press. Lastly, swiping on the touch-capacitive surface will dial between the settings. That’s to say, Camera Control has a learning curve, so much so that I wouldn’t have been mad if Apple made the feature exclusive to the Pro models. Because it’s not, it will be many users’ first experience with adjusting camera settings at such a finite level, and that’s very exciting.

Going into my testing, my biggest concern was whether the placement (or ergonomics) of the Camera Control would spoil what was otherwise a genius feature. Since the key is situated closer to the middle of the side edge (more so if you’re on the smaller iPhone 16), you’re now capturing photos by pressing down with your index finger instead of your thumb. Retraining your muscle memory is required here; I often found myself habitually tapping the screen to focus and capture instead. 

The positioning of Camera Control also means that whenever I capture photos in a 16:9 aspect ratio (like the ones for this review), which takes up more viewfinder space, my shutter hand often covers part of the screen. That may be a concern when I’m taking a family photo or of a landscape that spans from one end of the viewfinder to the other, and I want the proper framing.

While it works both ways, Camera Control encourages you to position the iPhone in landscape orientation, playing to the 16’s newest ability to capture immersive spatial photos and videos for VR. It’s another feature that’s trickled down from last year’s Pro model, but nothing I’d stress using. Much like how you’ll need an elusive 8K TV to watch 8K videos, you’ll need a compatible VR headset to consume spatial content. I’ve watched several spatial videos on both the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3, and while they’re much more immersive than any other digital content out there, the ability to capture them should be seen as a bonus and not a requisite as you consider the iPhone 16.

Also: Every iPhone 16 model features a new camera button. Here’s what it can do

Something you’re more likely to take advantage of: the new 12MP ultrawide camera. With an f/2.2 aperture (versus last year’s f/2.4), the iPhone 16 can pull in more light (read: capture more details both during the day and night) and take macro shots, much like how the iPhone 15 Pro did with its ultrawide lens.

Combine the utility of the ultrawide with the new 48MP Fusion camera (combines the main with a 2x digital zoom capability) and Photographic Styles that can now be modified before and after the shot (which is a game-changer if you’ve never been a fan of the balanced, low-contrast look of the iPhone’s default color profile), and you’ve got one of the most versatile iPhone camera systems ever. 

Whether it was reproducing the vibrant colors of my dinner in a dimly lit restaurant, extracting details from small succulents, or capturing the controlled chaos of my morning commute, I rarely felt like the iPhone 16 was unable to get the shot. 

Also: Why my new iPhone 16 cost me way more than its retail price

I say rarely because there was one evening when I wanted to take a photo of the moon. It appeared closer to the Earth than ever, was glowing in a warm orangish hue, and felt like the perfect photo-op with my family celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. But the iPhone 16’s zoom capability, capped at 2x like last year, was barely able to capture the essence of the moment. There was a noticeable amount of noise as I hesitantly dialed up the digital zoom, and, for once, I missed the 5x optical camera on the Pro models.

While I hoped to see at least a 90Hz refresh rate on the new iPhones, assuming that ProMotion (120Hz) was restricted to Pro devices only, Apple continues to ship the standard models with 60Hz panels. This isn’t a deal-breaker by any means, and frankly, users coming from older non-Pro iPhone models won’t know what they’re missing. Rendering fewer frames also helps the iPhone 16’s battery life, which, so far, has been sufficient enough to last me about a day and a half per charge.

But in 2024, when even a $150 Android phone comes with smoother display tech, a 90Hz panel, let alone a 120Hz panel, would’ve made me instantly upgrade from an iPhone 14 or 15.

Also: How iOS 18 changes the way you charge your iPhone

To Apple’s credit, it did bump up the wireless charging speed (up to 25W via MagSafe) on iPhone 16 models, though wired charging rates remain at 20W. From my testing, the iPhone 16 Plus charged from 0% to 100% in roughly one hour and 47 minutes, which is noticeably slower than most flagship phones ($700+) on the market. But, again, if you’re coming from an older non-Pro iPhone, the speeds won’t impress or disappoint you.

The state of Apple Intelligence (for now)

There’s one thing I haven’t mentioned yet in this review, and that’s Apple Intelligence, the suite of artificial intelligence tools scattered across iOS 18. That’s because the bulk of the AI experience, which includes a revamped Siri, call recording, and text generation, won’t be readily available until October, though you can download the iOS 18.1 public beta today. 

I’ve been testing the public beta, and some AI features are certainly more useful and practical than others. For example, I’m a fan of the new Siri, which understands natural language better, taking into account stutters, pause fillers, and corrections you make in your prompts. I can ask Siri to show me the AFC standings and follow up with a question specifically about the Giants, and it’ll understand that I’m referencing the football team and not the baseball team.

Other Apple Intelligence features, like notification summaries, have been hit-or-miss for me. They often oversimplify or misinterpret things, such as when a Thread user’s comment was summarized as “Red iPhone and Google phone is lavender.” Fortunately, most of this can be fixed via training and software updates, so there’s room for recovery.

ZDNET’s buying advice

That’s to say, you shouldn’t buy the iPhone 16 for its AI capabilities — not yet, at least. Until the software is official, my advice is that unless your carrier offers a generous trade-in deal for your iPhone 14 or 15, you should wait a few more months and see how Apple progresses with its AI developments and if there are any features you would use on a regular basis.

Until then, I’ll continue to evaluate the iPhone 16 for what it is, and you should consider it for what it offers today. That means buying it for the performant A18 chipset, the more flexible camera system, and the exceptional battery life. If you value one-handed usability and comfort, go with the smaller iPhone 16. If you value longer battery life and a more immersive viewing experience and are willing to pay $100 more for those benefits, go with the iPhone 16 Plus. Everything else about the two models, from the camera systems to the processors to the charging speeds, are identical.