iPhone 16 Review: Features, Pros, Cons & Verdict

Apple’s latest contribution to its flagship phone series, the iPhone 16, was released back in September 2024. The lineup also includes the Plus, Pro, and Pro Max models, plus a brand new addition (replacing the iPhone SE) for 2025: the iPhone 16e, which offers similar performance capabilities to the standard model at a more affordable price.

But whether you’re considering making the upgrade from an older iPhone or switching from a Samsung device, is the iPhone 16 really worth the $799 price tag? Or should you wait for the next generation?

In this iPhone 16 review, we’ll discuss the benefits and drawbacks of Apple’s most recent model to help you make the right choice. 

Apple iPhone 16 Specs

Pros of the Apple iPhone 16

The base iPhone 16 is the closest to the Pro and Pro Max when it comes to performance, narrowing the gap between Apple devices more than ever before. Here are four key reasons why we’d recommend the iPhone 16:

1. Durable Design

The Apple iPhone 16 delivers many of the same seamless design features as the 15 series. This device uses an aluminum frame and an attractive color-infused glass back, although the latest model has different options – including new white, pink, teal, and ultramarine colors.

You’ll benefit from the latest-generation Ceramic Shield glass with the 16 series too, which is 50x tougher than the previous version used for the iPhone 15. It’s also 2x more durable than any other smartphone glass, including the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus found on Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices.

With an IP68 rating, the iPhone 16 is pretty durable in terms of water and dust resistance. This rating protects the device in pools of water up to 5 feet deep for around 30 minutes at a time. 

Despite its durability, we’d still recommend investing in a shockproof case to shield your iPhone 16 from scratches, cracks, and internal damage caused by any accidental drops.

2. New Buttons

No longer must you upgrade to the Pro models to enjoy the iPhone’s more premium features; the iPhone 16 has the same Action button as the 15 Pro and Pro Max. This can be used for everything from activating the flashlight to silencing the phone, with customizable shortcuts available too.

You’ll also benefit from a brand new Camera Control button, which launches on both the base and Pro models. What we love about this new feature is that it acts like a shutter, adding a shortcut for opening the Camera app and capturing those precious memories.

Press the button once after the app launches to take a photo or press and hold to start video recording. You can also adjust zoom, style, exposure, and tone settings to easily achieve your desired photo effects.

3. Enhanced Performance

The iPhone 15 contains the A16 Bionic chipset, which features high-performance 6-core central and 5-core graphics processing units. But what’s so great about the iPhone 16 is its inclusion of the A18 processor – completely skipping the A17 generation. 

The A18 chip works 30% faster than the previous model, with a new and improved 16-core Neural Engine to support graphics-intensive gaming. The base model therefore feels just as powerful as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which uses the enhanced A18 Pro processor.

This upgraded performance is also designed to facilitate Apple Intelligence, the company’s artificial intelligence platform.

At 3561 mAh, the 16’s battery capacity is slightly bigger than the previous generation. But when coupled with the new chipset and boosted memory, this higher capacity provides improvements in battery life – including an extra 2 hours of video playback, plus an impressive 80 hours of audio.

4. Great Camera Quality

A big design upgrade for the iPhone 16 is the new vertical camera lens setup. This creates a much tidier look compared to the iPhone 15’s diagonal alignment. Other than the Camera Control button, this is pretty much where the changes end for Apple’s newest model.

Like the iPhone 15, it features a great quality 48 MP Main Fusion camera that offers a super high resolution. The iPhone 16 camera also delivers 10x Digital Zoom via the main sensor – but you’ll need to invest in one of the Pro models to benefit from the additional Telephoto lens with 5x Optical Zoom.

Cons of the Apple iPhone 16

One of the biggest drawbacks of purchasing the iPhone 16 is its lack of any major changes over its predecessor, other than the upgraded chipset and performance. Its design remains nearly the same, while the iPhone 15’s cameras offer great quality – so, is the newer model really worth the extra $100? 

Looking at the iPhone 16 alone, another important consideration is the quality of its display. The Super Retina XDR OLED screen works and reacts quickly to touch input, but it doesn’t operate as smoothly as its competitors, like the Google Pixel 9. 

This display also offers minimal improvements from the iPhone 15. For instance, the 16 includes the same 6.1-inch screen and 2556 x 1179 resolution with a density of 460 pixels per inch. 

It has a relatively slow 60 Hz refresh rate compared to Android devices too, which generally offer smoother scrolling through their 120 Hz screens. This is thanks to the variable refresh rates, which are designed to support always-on displays.

While the iPhone 16’s 2000-nit maximum brightness is good, it’s not as impressive as the Pixel 9’s 2700 nits. A higher peak brightness makes it easier to see your screen in sunny conditions. 

The only improvement in terms of brightness is that the screen can now be reduced to just 1 nit, allowing you to scroll at night while still being visible in the dark.

Our Verdict: Is the iPhone 16 Worth It?

There’s no doubt that the iPhone 16 is one of the best phones on the market right now, joining the Samsung Galaxy S25 and the Google Pixel 9.

If you’re interested in Apple Intelligence features, it’s worth upgrading to the 16 from older generation iPhones, since this (along with the 15 Pro range) is the only series that supports the platform.

Photography fans might prefer either the iPhone 16 Pro Max or the regular Pro model with their Pro camera systems. This includes a 48 MP Ultra-Wide lens, upgraded from the 16’s 12 MP, plus an extra 12 MP Telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. 

However, we’d only recommend a Pro device if you’re willing to pay an extra $200. The 16 has everything the standard smartphone user could ever want, from high-quality cameras and fast performance to a durable design.