From top to bottom, the new iPhone 16 lineup contains a bunch of improvements — so many, in fact, that it’s hard to distinguish the standard model from some of Apple’s more premium handsets.
Yes, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max see their share of new features. But the standard model gets some attention from Apple, too. The end result is multiple iPhone models landing on our best phones list, topping some of the best Android phones we’ve tested in the past year.
But which of these four different models is the best iPhone for your needs? To find out, let’s compare each model — the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16 Plus and both iPhone 16 Pro offerings — going through their specs, weighing their pros and cons and sharing our experiences from testing and reviewing these new Apple handsets.
Here’s how an iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Plus vs. iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max comparison shakes out.
iPhone 16 Pro & Pro Max EXPERT Review: Worth the Upgrade? – YouTube
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iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone Pro Max: Specifications
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are basically the same phone, with the main differences coming down to screen size and battery size. Otherwise, your iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Plus experience will be pretty much the same.
Swipe to scroll horizontallyiPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus specsRow 0 – Cell 0 iPhone 16iPhone 16 PlusStarting price$799/£799/AU$1,399$899/£899/AU$1,599Screen size6.1 inches6.7 inchesRefresh rate60Hz60HzProcessorA18A18RAM8GB8GBStorage128GB, 256GB, 512GB128GB, 256GB, 512GBRear cameras48MP main (f/1.6) with 2x opitcal quality zoom, 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2)48MP main (f/1.6) with 2x opitcal quality zoom, 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2)Front camera12MP (f/1.9)12MP (f/1.9)Video 4K Dolby Vision up to 24fps4K Dolby Vision up to 24fpsBattery size3,561 mAh4,674 mAhBattery life12:43 hours16:29 hoursSize5.8 x 2.8 x 0.31 inches (147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm)6.3 x 3.1 x 0.31 inches (160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8mm)Weight6 ounces (170 grams)7 ounces (199 grams)ColorsBlack, White, Pink, Teal, UltramarineBlack, White, Pink, Teal, UltramarineSimilarly, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max share plenty of features in common, with screen size and battery size the primary differentiators. That’s a change from last year’s iPhone 15 Pro lineup, when the iPhone 15 Pro Max came equipped with a more powerful telephoto camera.
For a closer comparison of the two current Pro models, we’ve got an iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max face-off.
Swipe to scroll horizontallyiPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max SpecsRow 0 – Cell 0 iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro MaxStarting Price $999/£999/AU$1,799$1,199/£1,199/AU$2,149Screen Size6.3 inches (2622 x 1206) 6.9 inches (2868 x 1320)Refresh rateAdaptive 1 – 120HzAdaptive 1 – 120HzProcessorA18 ProA18 Pro RAM8GB8GBStorage128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB256GB, 512GB, 1TBRear cameras48MP main (f/1.78), 48MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 12MP telephoto (5x, f/2.8)48MP main (f/1.78), 48MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 12MP telephoto (5x, f/2.8)Front camera 12MP (f/1.9) 12MP (f/1.9) Video 4K Dolby Vision up to 120fps4K Dolby Vision up to 120fpsBattery size3,582 mAh4685 mAhBattery life14:07 hours18:06 hoursColorsBlack, White, Desert and Natural Titanium Black, White, Desert and Natural Titanium Size5.89 x 2.81 x 0.32 inches6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inchesWeight7 ounces8 ouncesFor additional comparisons of individual models, check out our iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro head-to-head.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Biggest Differences Explained! – YouTube
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iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone Pro Max:Price
After a $100 price hike for the iPhone 15 Pro Max a year ago, Apple kept prices the same, with the entire iPhone 16 lineup keeping the starting prices of their iPhone 15 equivalents.
To that end, the standard iPhone 16 starts at $799 for the 128GB model. From there we go up in $100 increments with the iPhone 16 Plus at $899 and the iPhone 16 Pro at $999. The iPhone 16 Pro Max features double the storage in its base model with 256GB; it also starts at $1,199.
To upgrade from a 128GB iPhone to a 256GB, tack on another $100 to the price of the base model, regardless of which phone you’re looking at. The 512GB variant costs $300 more than the base models of the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro; you’ll pay $1,399 for a 512GB iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Both the Pro phones offer a 1TB version. That costs $1,499 for the iPhone 16 Pro and $1,599 for the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Check out our round-up of the best iPhone 16 deals to see what you can save on each model.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone Pro Max: Design
(Image credit: Future)The iPhone 16 Pro models are bigger than previous Pro editions to accommodate thier larger screens. (More on that in the Display section of this iPhone 16 face-off.) As before, the iPhone 16 Pro models also use titanium frames while the standard iPhone and Plus version turn to aerospace-grade aluminum. The difference in material should make the Pro models more durable.
All four new iPhones get the latest version of Apple’s Ceramic Shield glass. That’s supposed to be 50% tougher than the previous iteration, though we’d still recommend additional protection, such as the best iPhone 16 cases (or the best iPhone 16 Pro cases, if that’s the model you pick).
All four phones feature the new Camera Control button, making it easier to launch the Camera app and start taking pictures. The Camera Control button also lets you switch models and zoom in on a subject — the latter capability being more useful on the Pro models with their dedicated telephoto lens. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus adopt the Action button first introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro.
The four iPhone 16 models continue to offer a USB-C port for charging. As before, the Pro models can support faster USB 3 connectivity with data speeds at up to 10GB/s.
iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Tom’s Guide)As before, Apple splits color options between the standard iPhone and the Pro models. For a more muted, metallic experience the Pro models come in White, Black and Natural Titanium. The most popular color appears to be the new Desert titanium, sort of a rosy gold.
However, if you prefer brighter, more friendly tones than the standard and Plus models have you covered with Ultramarine (light blue), teal, pink, white and black offerings.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone Pro Max: Display
iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future)The biggest change to displays can be found on the iPhone 16 Pro models, with the both the standard Pro and Pro Max benefitting from thinner bezels and bigger screens. Specifically, the iPhone 16 Pro now has a 6.1-inch panel, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max features the biggest display ever on an iPhone at 6.9 inches.
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus retain the sizes of their predecessors, measuring 6.1 and 6.7 inches, respectively.
The extra screen space on the Pro models gives you more real estate to work with when running productivity apps, streaming videos or gaming. But in the case of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, it does make for a larger phone that’s difficult to use with one hand.
Swipe to scroll horizontally Brightness (Nits)sRGB/DCI-P3 (%)Delta-EiPhone 161,348112.2 / 79.50.27iPhone 16 Plus1,458112.1 / 79.40.25iPhone 16 Pro1,553113.5 / 80.40.24iPhone 16 Pro Max1,510114.1 / 80.90;26A key difference in iPhone displays remains for the iPhone 16 family, as the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus continue to offer 60Hz refresh rates. The displays on the Pro models can adapt up to 120Hz for smoother screening and more immersive gaming. Playing games that support faster refresh rates can be quite a different experience on the iPhone 16 than it is on the iPhone 16 Pro.
Brightness ratings haven’t changed with the new iPhone 16 models. Each phone claims the same 1,600 nits of peak brightness and 2,000 nits in outdoor lighting as the equivalent iPhone 15 versions.
In fact, test results for the iPhone 16 displays proved to be pretty even across the board. All four phones capture the same percentage of the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spectrums, with very similar Delta-E ratings for color accuracy. (The iPhone 16 Pro is the most accurate of these models.) We measured brightness peaks of 1,348 nits (the iPhone 16) to 1,553 (iPhone 16 Pro), with all four phones visible in sunlight.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone Pro Max: Cameras
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We’ve already talked about the Camera Control button that’s standard on all four models. In our testing, we found it takes some getting used how much pressure to use when operating the button, and our reviewers are still learning what each swipe and press can do. But the ability to quickly switch between modes makes Camera Control a worthwhile addition.