Last year, I wrote that the iPhone 15 Pro “feels like the culmination to a future knockout punch in the next installment of this series.” Now that the Apple iPhone 16 Pro has arrived, that haymaker has landed.
The smartphone lifecycle should be familiar by now, especially for Apple devices. Every fall, a new generation is introduced with unique incremental upgrades and one or two standout features. For the iPhone 14 Pro, it was the always-on display and dynamic islands. Last year, it introduced the iPhone 15 Pro with standardized USB-C connectivity and an impressive A17 chip, pushing the platform towards better gaming.
The 2024 iPhone 16 family focuses on new camera control buttons that act as tactile shortcuts to the advanced Fusion camera system. It’s such a simple and intuitive addition that you’ll wonder how you ever did without it, and it shines on the iPhone 16 Pro. Combined with some new features in iOS 18, this could very well be the beginning of a new era for Apple’s smartphones.
iPhone 16 Pro: Specs
Let’s start with the numbers. Compared to last year’s Pro, the iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch screen. That’s only a 0.2-inch improvement on paper, but it’s even better because it has the thinnest bezels on a smartphone to date, allowing for a resolution of 2622×1206. It’s 0.12 inches taller, 0.9 inches wider, and weighs 12 grams more, but the device maximizes screen real estate without feeling much larger by comparison.
The new model boasts the same specs in almost every parameter, including Super Retina XDR, all-screen OLED, HDR display, and up to 120Hz refresh, but there’s one thing that shines and is underrated. The iPhone 16 Pro reaches a minimum brightness of 1 nit. This is about the same amount of light that a screen emits. Ideal for always-on displays.
These features make the iPhone 16 Pro feel more like a DSLR than most smartphones.
The new A18 chip in this year’s iPhone Pro is a small but notable upgrade. Like last year, it’s supported by a 6-core CPU, 6-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine, but with an overall The architecture has been improved. Thanks to this chip, we’ll also see an increase in the quality of game graphics as the hardware continues to push the limits of what developers can achieve with their smartphones. The “Ultra” setting is now more valuable than before.
But Apple’s biggest highlight this year is its updated camera system. The main lens of this array is a 48MP Fusion camera. “Fusion” refers to the behind-the-scenes processing that enhances your photos. To this, it adds a 48MP ultra-wide-angle lens (a significant step up from the iPhone 15 Pro’s 12MP) and a 12MP telephoto lens, in addition to a virtually unchanged 12MP front camera.
iPhone 16 Pro boasts the best battery ever in Apple’s smartphone, rated at up to 27 hours of non-streaming video playback, 22 hours of streaming video playback, and up to 85 hours of audio playback. Although the game still puts a considerable strain on the battery, I noticed a slight improvement in the consumption rate during standard operation. Unless you use the device minimally, you still can’t expect it to last 2-3 days on a single charge. Nevertheless, progress is progress, and it’s good to see batteries at least keeping pace with other technologies.
iPhone 16 Pro: Design
Looking at the exterior, the iPhone 16 Pro has a more modern color tone than the lower-level iPhone 16 Pro. While the standard iPhone 16 models feature vibrant shades of aluminum and glass-backed casings, the Pro’s titanium shell comes in a choice of more marble-like colors (Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium, white, or black). I am. The natural titanium model I reviewed comes in a stately gray hue, giving the phone durability while keeping it light and nimble.
As I mentioned earlier, this year’s pros don’t feel much different from last time in every sense of the word. If you put the standard Apple-issued silicone cases side by side, they’re virtually identical. Even the cameras look the same despite the internal upgrades. (However, the regular iPhone 16 and 16 Plus stand out with their two vertical cameras.)
Without the camera control button at the bottom right of the iPhone 16 Pro, it would be even harder to tell them apart. Similar to the action button above the volume control in the top left, the new button acts as a programmable shortcut. By default, the camera app will launch. This is perfect for those moments when you need to quickly capture a subject.
Once you’re in the app, pressing the control button all the way down will act as a shutter. Alternatively, you can press “half” to bring up the manual zoom adjustment and slide your finger along the button in either direction to zoom in or out. It may take some time to get used to pressing with the right amount of pressure to properly activate this shortcut (noticeably more effective when using haptic vibrations to determine if pressed correctly). works).
These features make the iPhone 16 Pro feel more like a DSLR than most smartphones. This feature is a blessing when you don’t have easy access to a proper camera. Having professional-grade technology like this at your fingertips is invaluable for quickly capturing moments with your kids and pets. On the other hand, more advanced photographers will enjoy exploring the various intricacies of this camera array.
Apple’s standard silicone case includes a camera control interface on the side, providing seamless protection without sacrificing this signature new feature. Granted, the additional layers don’t make it fully functional, but at least you don’t have to sacrifice functionality for security.
application
We will now explore the true nature of smartphones: how well they function in our daily lives, and how they power the apps and tools we rely on most for utility, communication, and entertainment. We are facing trials. With so much in common with its predecessor, it’s no surprise that the iPhone 16 Pro is a powerful application.
I’ve always liked the Pro tier of the iPhone because it hits the sweet spot between the ultimate power of Apple’s Pro Max devices and the relatively low price point of the standard iPhone and Plus. These tend to be more advanced than the basic models, but you’re not paying for top-of-the-line creative or processing features that the majority of users don’t take advantage of. This year’s model continues that trend.
iPhone 16 Pro lets you easily control games, utilities, creative apps, media, and social apps. The 15 Pro isn’t slow by any conceivable standard, but the newer model generally runs slightly smoother when running the same apps on the same network.
One of the biggest selling points for the iPhone 16 Pro and iOS 18 at Apple’s big reveal was the integration of Apple Intelligence, a suite of machine learning-enabled features designed to make smart devices more intuitive to use. . The feature is scheduled to roll out in American English later this month (and Canadian English in December), so as of publication, I have yet to test these new tricks. In theory, these seem like the kinds of tasks machine learning should focus on: small, simple tasks that improve productivity.
For example, the Messages app can summarize a long series of texts you receive while you can’t check your phone, while Photos lets you search your vast camera roll to find specific photos or create themed collections. You can make your selection instantly. Siri interacts with anything you quickly snap with the camera control button, like adding an event from a flyer or checking business information. Audio for calls and videos can also be better filtered, allowing you to remove wind noise during calls and record movie-quality videos. The A18 Pro chip is optimized to enhance these features, but we’re still not able to fully understand the difference they make.
However, iOS 18 introduces some welcome additions that make the iPhone 16 Pro (and other Apple Silicon chip-powered equivalents) even more sophisticated. Game mode works well with the power of Pro by prioritizing games and reallocating computing power from background processes to ensure performance doesn’t suffer. From how buttons function in certain focus modes to the long-desired ability to rearrange your home screen icons, you’re now more customizable than ever. These features are not unique to this phone, but they do improve the overall experience.
One of my favorite features is the camera’s ability to record in 4K at 120fps. I don’t usually care about frames per second in PS5 games, but being able to capture important moments of my family’s adventures in such smooth video is priceless. Otherwise, some experimentation will be required to fully adapt your photo camera and ensure the best results. While it works well as a pick-and-shoot camera, to get the most out of your investment in this advanced array, users should take the time to learn new features, take lots of photos, and experiment with the results. need to spend.
iPhone 16 Pro’s sophisticated camera process extends to another valuable new feature: Photo Styles. These take your filters to the next level. Instead of simply applying a filter to the entire photo, iPhone uses the filter situationally, depending on the subject. For example, if you’re shooting a portrait, the subject’s skin tone will take priority and the effect will be applied to other areas of the photo accordingly.
Finally, my favorite under-selling feature of the iPhone 16 Pro is the speaker. The acoustics of this year’s model are even more subtle than before.
conclusion
Every time a new smartphone is released, consumers wonder, “Should I upgrade?” We can confidently say that it’s worth upgrading to the iPhone 16 Pro this year (depending on your personal circumstances, of course).
If you use your current smartphone to play games or create content, you’ll notice significant improvements in performance and efficiency with this year’s iPhone Pro. Whether you’re primarily using it to capture everyday moments or outings with friends and family, a sleek new camera will preserve those memories even more clearly. Even without the full Apple Intelligence suite of utilities, the iPhone 16 Pro seems to me to be the most exciting new iPhone since the Apple Silicon era began.
