The Apple iPhone 16 was unveiled on Monday rolling out a lineup boasting upgrades that indicate the tech giant’s push toward better performance, improved photography, and extension of user experience.
Apple introduced the latest flagship smartphones in the iPhone 16 lineup; the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, and the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max during the “It’s Glowtime” event on Monday.
Apple’s major selling point with each new iPhone iteration is its camera. The iPhone 16 Pro models feature a 48MP Fusion camera with a faster quad-pixel sensor. This allows for 4K120 fps video recording in Dolby Vision, making the iPhone 16 Pro models the first smartphones to offer this level of video quality.
What’s new in Apple iPhone 16 series?
While the new models offer some new features, the changes largely reflect incremental upgrades rather than exciting innovations.
“iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus bring huge advancements that will make a real difference in our users’ daily lives,” Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing says. “With new ways to capture memories using Camera Control; a 48MP Fusion camera that gives you two optical-quality cameras in one; a big boost in battery life; and powerful, efficient performance thanks to the A18 chip, this is the perfect time for customers to upgrade or make the switch to iPhone.”
In the 16 series, Apple has added more functionality to its action button which was introduced in the 15 pro and 15 pro max models replacing the silent switch. “The Action button comes to iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, allowing users to easily access a variety of functions with just a press. Users can quickly open the camera, flashlight, or controls; switch between Ring and Silent; recognize music with Shazam; activate Voice Memos, Focus, Translate, and accessibility features like Magnifier; or use Shortcuts for more options. The Action button can also access in-app functionality, like helping a user unlock and lock their car with FordPass,” says Apple.
The other button Apple introduced is a camera control feature that is thought to open up a whole change in the way users can interact with their cameras on their iPhones. As described by Apple, this camera control features “a tactile switch that powers the click experience, a high-precision force sensor that enables the light press gesture, and a capacitive sensor that allows for touch interactions.”
“Camera Control can quickly launch the camera, take a photo, and start video recording so users don’t miss the moment. A new camera preview helps users frame the shot and adjust other control options — such as zoom, exposure, or depth of field — to compose a stunning photo or video by sliding their finger on the Camera Control. Additionally, developers will be able to bring Camera Control to third-party apps such as Snapchat,” according to Apple.
Apple iPhone 16 specifications:
In terms of display and design, both the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus retain the same screen sizes as last year—6.1 inches and 6.7 inches, respectively—but Apple has introduced what it claims are the “thinnest borders” to date, offering a sleeker look and improved screen-to-body ratio. This design enhancement mirrors some aspects of the iPhone 16 Pro models, though the standard models still sport aluminium frames compared to the Pro’s titanium. Both models will be available in five colours: black, white, pink, teal, and ultramarine.
The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max now feature slightly larger displays—6.3 inches for the iPhone 16 Pro and 6.9 inches for the Pro Max—compared to 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches in the iPhone 15 Pro series. The borders around the screen are also the thinnest Apple has ever produced.
Apple has upgraded the materials, switching from stainless steel to titanium for the first time. This makes the devices significantly lighter than their predecessors while maintaining durability. Apple claims that their latest-generation Ceramic Shield, has an “advanced formulation that is 2x tougher than glass on any other smartphone.”
Performance
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are powered by the A18 chip, which is a step up from the A16 found in last year’s models. “The new chip,” Apple says, “is built on second-generation 3-nanometer technology to enable graphics-intensive gaming, power computational photography features, and further accelerate Apple Intelligence. An upgraded 16-core Neural Engine is optimised for large generative models and runs ML models up to 2x faster than the A16 Bionic chip.”
Behind all the sensational features of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max is the newly designed A18 Pro chip with second-generation 3-nanometer technology. Apple’s focus on optimising power and performance sees the A18 Pro chip offering 17% more memory bandwidth and a 6-core CPU that is 15% faster than its predecessor while consuming 20% less power. This chip delivers smoother performance in gaming, computational photography, and features the use of Apple Intelligence—a personal AI system designed to streamline user interactions.
Apple iPhone 16 battery life
Apple is also promising improved battery life across the board. Apple says it has reengineered the iPhone 16’s internal design to accommodate a larger battery, paired with the power management capabilities of iOS 18. With this, users of the the iPhone 16 can expect up to a 30% boost in battery life compared to previous models. The iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts the best battery life of any iPhone to date, according to its maker.
According to Apple’s estimates:
- iPhone 16:
- Video playback: Up to 22 hours
- Video playback (streamed): Up to 18 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 80 hours
- iPhone 16 Plus:
- Video playback: Up to 27 hours
- Video playback (streamed): Up to 24 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 100 hours
- iPhone 16 Pro:
- Video playback: Up to 27 hours
- Video playback (streamed): Up to 22 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 85 hours
- iPhone 16 Pro Max:
- Video playback: Up to 33 hours
- Video playback (streamed): Up to 29 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 105 hours
Both models come with built-in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, offering fast charging capabilities, with up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes using a 20W adapter or higher paired with a USB-C charging cable. MagSafe wireless charging is supported up to 25W using a 30W adapter or higher, Apple says.
Apple iPhone 16 camera
One of the more significant upgrades is in the camera system. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus feature a new 48MP Fusion camera that offers a 2x telephoto option, essentially providing two cameras in one, a 12MP Ultra Wide camera with autofocus enables macro photography. “Additionally, iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus now take spatial photos and videos to help users relive memories with remarkable depth on Apple Vision Pro,” according to Apple. This allows for improved image detail, colour accuracy, and low-light performance. It also introduces some features from the Pro models, such as the ability to shoot in Apple’s ProRAW format, although telephoto and ultra-wide cameras remain exclusive to the Pro line.
Apple’s major selling point with each new iPhone iteration is its camera. The iPhone 16 Pro models feature a 48MP Fusion camera with a faster quad-pixel sensor. This allows for 4K120 fps video recording in Dolby Vision, making the iPhone 16 Pro models the first smartphones to offer this level of video quality. The new camera system also introduces a 48MP Ultra Wide camera and a 5x Telephoto camera, meaning users can capture distant subjects with better clarity. The camera control feature is not left out in the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. Apple has also introduced new studio-quality microphones with spatial audio capture, designed specifically for vocal and acoustic recordings,
In terms of connectivity, for the first time, Apple has adopted USB-C across all iPhone models, replacing the proprietary Lightning port. This change aligns with the European Union’s recent regulations and allows for faster charging and data transfer speeds—another incremental but important improvement over the iPhone 15’s Lightning connection.
Price and Availability
The iPhone 16 starts at $799, while the iPhone 16 Plus will start at $899. Pricing for the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max begins at $1,199. Preorders begin on Friday, with the devices becoming available in stores on September 20.
With the introduction of the new A18 chip, a Camera Control feature, and an expanded battery, Apple has to offer something more to keep up with the competition in the saturated smartphone market.
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