Every iPhone 16 model compared: Should you buy the standard, Plus, Pro, or Max?

Jason Hiner/ZDNET

Apple unveiled its newest handsets earlier this week, together with the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Whereas the lineup embodies Apple’s push for bigger shows, improved efficiency, and important digicam upgrades, all fashions have key variations that it’s best to think about going into this yr’s shopping for cycle.

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All the lineup options help for Apple Intelligence, Apple’s synthetic intelligence (AI) instruments that can be launched for some iPhone fashions with iOS 18 over the following few months. Except for the iPhone 16, the one iPhones suitable with Apple Intelligence are the iPhone 15 Professional and iPhone 15 Professional Max. 

Nevertheless, different options make the iPhone 16 lineup a sensible choice for an improve. Here is how one can select the very best one for you:

Options iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Professional iPhone 16 Professional Max
 
$799 $899 $999 $1,199
Show 6.1-in Tremendous Retina XDR OLED 6.7-in Tremendous Retina XDR OLED 6.3-in Tremendous Retina XDR OLED 6.9-in Tremendous Retina XDR OLED
Finishes Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine Black Titanium, White Titanium, Pure Titanium, Desert Titanium Black Titanium, White Titanium, Pure Titanium, Desert Titanium
Processor A18 A18 Apple A18 Professional Apple A18 Professional
RAM 8 GB 8 GB 8 GB 8 GB
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Decision 2446 x 1179 pixel 2796×2290 pixel 2622 x 1290 pixel 2868 x 1320 pixel
Digital camera 48 MP Fusion | 12MP UW 48 MP Fusion | 12MP UW 48MP Large | 12MP Tele 5x | 48MP UW | 12MP Selfie 48MP Large | 12MP Tele 5x | 48MP UW | 12MP Selfie

You should purchase the iPhone 16 if…

Apple iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus Camera Control button
Kerry Wan/ZDNET

1. You need Apple Intelligence options for much less

Fortunately, you will not have to purchase the most important, costliest iPhone to entry the Apple Intelligence options, as all 4 iPhone 16 fashions will help Apple’s new AI instruments. Apple Intelligence requires an A17 chip or newer and no less than 8GB of RAM. The iPhone 16 options the A18 Professional chip to help AI processes and extra superior machine studying duties. 

Additionally: iPhone 16 hands-on: So packed with features, I almost forgot about its Pro model

Apple Intelligence requires appreciable processing energy, largely depending on RAM capability. Larger RAM capability permits pure language processing (NLP) and AI-powered photograph modifying. The A18 chip is constructed with second-generation 3nm know-how, a six-core CPU with two efficiency cores and 4 effectivity cores, and is 30% sooner than the iPhone 15’s CPU whereas utilizing 35% much less energy than the A16 Bionic chip. 

The iPhone 16 additionally has an upgraded neural engine for extra environment friendly AI activity processing. The neural engine powers AI duties like voice instructions, picture recognition, and predictive textual content.

2. The Digital camera Management function speaks to you

All the brand new iPhone 16 fashions will function a seize button that works as a shortcut for the digicam perform. The touch-sensitive seize button will let customers management the main focus, zoom, and digicam set off with totally different gestures. This devoted seize button is new to the iPhone expertise and is offered on the bottom mannequin, which is noteworthy.

Additionally: Four reasons I’m not upgrading to an iPhone 16 Pro from my iPhone 14

The iPhone 16 may also get the Motion button, which was launched with the iPhone 15 Professional and 15 Professional Max rather than the mute swap.

You should purchase the iPhone 16 Plus if…

Apple iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus Camera Control button
Kerry Wan/ZDNET

1. You need a huge display screen that is not too huge

The iPhone 16 Plus contains a 6.7-inch display screen, which continues to be giant, simply the identical dimension because the iPhone 15 Plus, however barely smaller than the iPhone 16 Professional Max display screen. It additionally helps Apple Intelligence and options the A17 chip and a few RAM enhancements.

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2. You’d fairly follow a value that is extra midrange

The iPhone 16 Plus options midrange pricing at $899, sitting squarely between the bottom and Professional variations. For a cheaper price, you will get the improved efficiency featured within the iPhone 15 Professional fashions final yr and the identical seize button out there within the iPhone 16 Professional fashions.

You should purchase the iPhone 16 Professional if…

iPhone 16 Pro Max
Kerry Wan/ZDNET

1. You need a photographer’s digicam in your pocket

The iPhone 16 Pro fashions function the very best digicam programs of any iPhone, however you do not have to splurge for the Professional Max to take pleasure in them. The iPhone 16 Professional has a 48-MP ultra-wide digicam, up from 12 MP on the iPhone 15 and 14 Professional fashions. The brand new lineup brings the iPhone 16’s UW digicam according to the principle sensor, which is predicted to cut back noise and enhance picture high quality considerably

Additionally: Apple just gave me a compelling reason to buy the smaller iPhone 16 Pro over the Max this year

Except for a brand new digicam structure, the iPhone 16 Professional has extra picture seize options that make it interesting for pictures lovers, together with a 5X optical zoom, new and improved digicam sensors, 4K video help at 120fps (together with slo-mo) and spatial video recording. You possibly can take pleasure in your photos within the bigger 6.3-inch show, up from the 6.1-inch display screen within the older Professional fashions, and select a mannequin with as much as 2TB of storage. 

2. You need Wi-Fi 7 help

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus each help Wi-Fi 6E, however the 16 Professional and 16 Professional Max additionally help Wi-Fi 7. Wi-Fi 7 interprets into sooner speeds, decrease latency, and extra environment friendly spectrum use, which is useful for high-demand duties like on-line gaming, video conferencing, streaming 8K video, digital actuality (VR), and downloading giant information.

3. Quick charging is necessary to you

The iPhone 16 Professional helps as much as 40W wired charging and 20W MagSafe wi-fi charging. Whereas the iPhone 16 Professional’s battery is barely about 2.5% bigger than the iPhone 15 Professional, the charging speeds are a particular improve from the iPhone 15’s 15W charging with MagSafe and 27W with wired chargers.

You should purchase the iPhone 16 Professional Max if…

iPhone 16 Pro Max
Jason Hiner/ZDNET

1. You need the most important iPhone show ever

The iPhone 16 Pro Max has an enormous show, rising to six.9 inches with the replace. It options thinner bezels than earlier fashions to maximise actual property show and a barely taller body for extra space. 

2. A protracted battery life is necessary to you

The iPhone 16 Professional Max additionally has a bigger 4,676 mAh battery, about 5.7% bigger than the iPhone 15 Professional Max. If 5.7% doesn’t sound like a giant distinction, consider how typically your telephone dies and the way badly you would like you would have just a few additional battery share factors. 

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The 4,676 mAh battery on the iPhone 16 Professional Max continues to be smaller than I hoped, particularly contemplating that the direct competitor, the Samsung Galaxy Extremely, has a 5,000 mAh battery. We’ll see what we will anticipate from the iPhone 17 Professional Max.

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