The latest iPhone 16 series is turning a lot of heads. There are some new design changes to talk about, plus on-board tech powered by generative AI (what the tech-giant calls “Apple Intelligence”) to keep you connected and engaged like never before. We'll take a deep dive into iPhone 16, iPhone16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, exploring the new AI tools, the powerful processors that’ll make it all possible, as well as the displays, battery power, storage, camera upgrades and more.
Apple Intelligence: What Can It Do?
Let’s start with the biggest change, Apple Intelligence, the generative AI tech that will power all of the new phones in the series. These are the first iPhones developed from top to bottom with AI in mind, which means it’s deeply integrated into each phone, letting you get pretty much everything done faster and more efficiently (while having some fun!) on your new phone. Here’s a quick look at some new advances, courtesy of AI, on the iPhone 16 series.
- Siri gets smarter and more lifelike. Advances in AI give new personality to Siri, and let you communicate in a more natural way. For example, if you pause while talking or stumble over your words, Siri will still be able to understand you. Need help with something on your iPhone? Just ask. For example, if you want to write an email now, but need to schedule delivery for later, just ask Siri and you’ll get step-by-step instructions.
- Camera Control takes visual intelligence to new heights. This cool new feature (kind of like a sleek button) on the iPhone 16 series not only lets you take perfect pics and videos in just a simple slide of your finger, it’s also a gateway to instant information from third-party apps. For example, you’re out walking and see a new restaurant. Just click and hold Camera Control and it'll give you instant info like hours, menus, pictures, and more. See a cute dog and want to know the breed? Click and hold to find out! Spot a poster for an upcoming concert? Just click to add it to your calendar—dates, times and all.
- Writing tools help you write like a pro. Say, for example, you quickly record something in Notes while on-the-go but need to create a polished email on the subject for your co-workers. AI can summarize it in a transcript and then rewrite different versions until the tone and wording are just right. Tools like this are infused every place you write (your inbox, messages, etc.)
- All your communication is streamlined. AI makes it easy to quickly survey your inbox or text, creating summaries with the most useful info and prioritizing important emails and notifications. One of the coolest updates is the Genmoji feature, which lets you simply describe something (instead of just choosing from a list of emoji images) and have it instantly turned into a custom emoji!
- You can find and reimagine your favorite memories instantly. No more scrolling through dozens of photos looking for that certain one. Simply describe it and it pops up, for example, “Amy dancing with her shoes off at my wedding.” If it’s a video you need, a simple description can take you to the specific moment in that video and even create a fun little movie.
- All your stuff stays private. Many worry that accessing AI means others will have access to your private information. With the iPhone 16 series, no one can access your data—not even Apple. Your data is never stored and is used only by request. This all comes with a verifiable privacy promise.
So, those are just a few of the things to look forward to. Now that we've got your attention, let take a closer look at each individual iPhone 16-series device so you can find the right fit for you. We'll start with the premium device in the lineup and go from there.
iPhone 16 Pro Max
Key Features
- 6.9" Super Retina XDR display
- ProMotion Technology
- Always-on display
- Titanium design with textured matte-glass back
- Color options: Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium, Black Titanium
- A18 Pro chip
- Apple Intelligence
- Action Button
- Pro camera system
- 48MP Fusion, 48MP Ultra Wide Telephoto
- Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
- Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control
- 48MP Macro Photography
- Dolby Vision up to 4K at 120 fps
- Spatial photos and videos
- Latest-generation Photographic Styles
- 4,676 mAh battery
- USB-C
- Supports USB 3
- Up to 33 hours of video playback
- 256GB, 512GB and 1TB capacity
- Price: Starts at $1,199
Who will love iPhone 16 Pro Max the most?
Photographers, moviemakers, musicians, influencers and anyone who is looking for a powerhouse when it comes to just about everything will love this phone. Let’s start with the biggest ever iPhone display (6.9-inches) and the best battery life ever on an iPhone (up to 33 hours of video playback). It also has a pro-style camera system with a high-resolution 48MP Fusion camera, 48MP ultrawide and 5x telephoto camera. There’s even 48MP Macro Photography for flawless close-up shots. Photo buffs can express themselves like never before and adjust everything in real time using the latest photographic styles. Video effects like cinematic slow motion truly lets you create movies and videos like never before.
The Pro Max also has four studio-quality mics, great for vocal and acoustic recordings—and there’s even a voice memo feature for musicians that lets you layer on top of an existing recording (add new vocals on top of guitar) then isolate your voice later for pro-sounding voice recordings. iPhone 16 Pro Max will cost more than all of the other phones in the series. However, it may be more than worth it if you demand a huge screen, need the best battery life, love snapping professional-looking photos, shooting videos or recording music. Now, let’s take a look at the Pro.
iPhone 16 Pro
Key Features
- 6.3" Super Retina XDR display
- ProMotion Technology
- Always-on display
- Titanium design with textured matte-glass back
- Color options: Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium, Black Titanium
- A18 Pro chip
- Apple Intelligence
- Action Button
- Pro camera system
- 48MP Fusion, 48MP Ultra Wide Telephoto
- Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
- Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control
- 48MP Macro Photography
- Dolby Vision up to 4K at 120 fps
- Spatial photos and videos
- Latest-generation Photographic Styles
- 3,577 mAh battery
- USB-C
- Supports USB 3
- Up to 27 hours of video playback
- 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB capacity
- Price: Starts at $999
Who will love iPhone 16 Pro the most?
While the screen isn’t as large on iPhone 16 Pro, coming in at 6.3" compared to the 6.9" offered by iPhone Pro Max, it’s still packed with a lot of the same features. In fact, those who prefer a smaller, lighter phone with similar features may choose this one over the Pro Max. The camera setups are the same and the Pro offers the same sleek titanium design with matte-glass back and the same gorgeous color options. The battery, however, is less powerful, offering 27-hours of video playback compared to 33 hours. The Pro also only comes standard with 128GB of capacity—but you can opt for more if you want to pay extra. Now, let's move on to the Plus.
iPhone 16 Plus
Key Features
- 6.7" Super Retina XDR display
- Aluminum with color-infused glass back
- Color options: Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, Black
- A18 chip
- Apple Intelligence
- Action Button
- Pro camera system
- 48MP Fusion, 12MP Ultra Wide Telephoto
- Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
- Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control
- Spatial photos and videos
- Latest-generation Photographic Styles
- 4,006 mAh battery
- USB-C
- Supports USB 2
- Up to 27 hours of video playback
- 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
- Price: Starts at $899
Who will love iPhone 16 Plus the most?
For those who love a huge 6.7-inch screen with amazing resolution, you can still get it on this model for a lower price. However, an aluminum shell replaces the titanium design of the Pro and Pro Max, but the stunning color-infused back glass offered on the Plus may just be worth it for some. If you don't need a ton of extra storage, you may be fine with the fact that the Plus comes with 128GB standard and maxes out a 512GB, compared to the highest 1TB option on both of the previous phones. Not a photographer or videographer? Then the lack of the 48MP Macro Photography and the 4K-120 video probably won’t be a big deal. While the Plus has a nice-sized battery, it doesn’t offer USB 3 support for superfast charging. It also has the A18 chipset vs. the more-powerful A18 Pro on the Pro and Pro Max models. But at just over $900, that massive high-resolution screen may be perfect for you.
iPhone 16
Key Features
- 6.1" Super Retina XDR display
- Aluminum with color-infused glass back
- Color options: Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, Black
- A18 chip
- Apple Intelligence
- Action Button
- Pro camera system
- 48MP Fusion, 12MP Ultra Wide Telephoto
- Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
- Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control
- Spatial photos and videos
- Latest-generation Photographic Styles
- 3,561 mAh battery
- USB-C
- Supports USB 2
- Up to 22 hours of video playback
- 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
- Price: Starts at $799
Who will love iPhone 16 the most?
iPhone 16 is the most entry-level of the pack. It shares the same aluminum/glass design and colors as the Plus, as well as the same camera setup and just about everything else, except for the display, which is the smallest of the bunch at 6.1-inches. The battery is the smallest of the pack, too, with up-to 22 hours of playback. But if you’re on a budget, prefer a smaller phone, and you're not a serious photographer, moviemaker, musician or influencer, this one will more-than do the trick. The best part? It's the least pricey of the three at just over $800.
Ready to buy your new iPhone? Be sure to look for the latest deals and offers. Still undecided?
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