I went hands-on with Apple's standard iPhone 16 and didn't envy the Pro models at all

Apple’s new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are officially here, and I spent the afternoon with both models, clicking buttons (which there are more than ever), judging the hand feel and new color options, and forming my initial buying advice for when my parents inevitably ask me tonight whether they should upgrade from their iPhone 15 or not. 

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The short answer is no; year-over-year upgrades are often never worth the splurge. But if any of the newest features speak to you, your lifestyle, and the pain points of your current phone, I wouldn’t fault you for considering the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. For most users, these devices are almost perfect. Almost.

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With this year’s standard iPhone models, 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. 

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 prompting a Siri Shortcut to firing up the camera. You can, of course, also set the Action button to switch between alert and silent. But considering this is clearly the iPhone’s have-it-your-way era, you should really try to embrace it. 

There’s also a new Camera Control button located on the bottom right side of the phones, which looks and functions the same as the one on the Pro versions. At the most basic level, pressing the Camera Control button snaps a photo or starts a video recording. For some Apple magic, a lighter, more gentle press of the same button prompts the camera to autofocus on what it thinks is the primary subject, whether it’s a nearby flower petal or a distant landscape. 

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A double light press on the button brings up a carousel of camera modes and settings, each of which you can access with another light press. Lastly, swiping on the touch-capacitive button will dial between the settings, including for zooming in and out. Basically, the Camera Control button has a learning curve, and I don’t expect everyone to nail down the more intricate capabilities right away.

Going into the demo, my biggest concern was whether the placement (or ergonomics) of the Camera Control button would spoil what was otherwise a genius feature. From my hands-on experience — snapping photos in the bustling demo hall within Steve Jobs Theatre — the button worked reliably, though awkward at times. There were moments when the iPhone 16 would prioritize focus on human faces rather than the phones being held (which, to be fair, is ideal in most real-world scenarios), so recalibrating by tapping the desired subject on-screen was required. There were also moments when trying to use the phone with one hand, where it was difficult to swipe the Camera Control button without fumbling my thumb or ring finger.

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

It certainly helps that the iPhone 16’s biggest camera upgrade this year comes in the form of a new 12MP ultrawide lens. With an f/2.2 aperture (versus last year’s f/2.4), the iPhone 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. The Steve Jobs Theatre, with its Architectural Digest lighting, is anything but a low-light environment, so I’m curious to see how the iPhone 16 fares in real-world testing.

The ultrawide lens has also been repositioned on the camera bump, beneath the 48MP Fusion camera (combines the main with a 2x optical zoom capability), similar to the iPhone 12. Beyond the cleaner aesthetic, this alignment allows the iPhone 16 to capture spatial videos, which leverage both sensors to gather depth information and create 3D-like content for compatible VR headsets. 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 compared: Which new iPhone should you buy?

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus come in five bold, color-infused glass finishes: blue, green, pink, white, and black. They’re much more saturated than iPhone colors of recent years — especially the blue — and remind me of when Apple first launched the iPhone XR. That means no matter which of the new colors you choose, it’ll look unique, have a lot of character, and won’t be as easily mistaken for one another as it does the iPhone 15.

My limited but intimate experience with the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus left me with a very positive outlook for both models. Like last year, buying the standard iPhone no longer means you have to settle for an inferior design or the short end of the software feature stick.

There’s plenty more to dive into as we receive the devices for reviews, including the improved battery life (thanks to the larger capacity and improved efficiency of A18) and whether I’ll forgive Apple for retaining the 60Hz refresh rate display. Until then, if there’s anything you’re particularly interested in learning about, sound off in the comments below.