Apple iPhone 16 release date, price, and features
The iPhone 16 range is now official.
The iPhone 16 lineup consists of four models: the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Plus, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Max grow up to 6.3 and 6.9 inches, while the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have stayed at 6.1 and 6.7 inches, respectively. The Pro models have scored drastically thinner bezels.
The iPhone 16 Pro range gets new 48MP ultra-wide cameras. The iPhone 16 Pro also scores the 5X telephoto camera that debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro Max. No major hardware changes are coming to the iPhone 16/ iPhone 16 Plus camera system, except for a new vertical camera layout which allows them to capture spatial video for the Apple Vision Pro headset.
The iPhone 16/iPhone 16 Plus get the regular A18 Bionic chip, while the iPhone 16 Pro models boast the Apple A18 Pro chip. Both are 3nm ones.
Colors-wise, the iPhone 16 Pro is available in Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium, while the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus come in Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine.
The iPhone 16 range comes with iOS 18 out of the box. The upcoming update includes tons of customization features and changes to core apps like Photos and Messages. The intriguing part of the software update is the Apple Intelligence suite of AI features (coming with iOS 18.1) and a new, more capable Siri (coming in 2025). All iPhone 16 models support Apple Intelligence.
Prices are unchanged in comparison with last year.
Jump to section:
- iPhone 16 release date
- iPhone 16 price and deals
- iPhone 16 camera
- iPhone 16 storage
- iPhone 16 design
- iPhone 16 Camera Control button
- iPhone 16 display
- iPhone 16 battery
- iPhone 16 features and software
- iPhone 16 hardware and specs
- iPhone 16 preliminary comparisons
- Should you wait for iPhone 16?
Also read: iPhone 17 release date expectations, price estimates, and upgrades
iPhone 16 release date
The iPhone 16 series was officially unveiled on September 9, 2024, at the "It's Glowtime" event. Pre-orders kicked off on September 13, and the iPhone 16 range hits the shelves on Friday, September 20.
| iPhone lineup | Announcement date | Market release date |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 16 | September 9, 2024 (Pre-orders September 13) | September 20, 2024 |
| iPhone 15 | September 12, 2023 | September 22, 2023 |
| iPhone 14 | September 7, 2022 | September 16, 2022 |
| iPhone 13 | September 14, 2021 | September 24, 2021 |
iPhone 16 price and deals
Apple has kept the iPhone 16 range prices unchanged in comparison with the previous iPhone 15 generation, which was mostly our expectation. Here's a rundown of the pricing broken down by storage available.
| iPhone model | 128GB of storage | 256GB of storage | 512GB of storage | 1TB of storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 16 | $799 | $899 | $1,099 | - |
| iPhone 16 Plus | $899 | $999 | $1,199 | - |
| iPhone 16 Pro | $999 | $1,099 | $1,299 | $1,499 |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | - | $1,199 | $1,399 | $1,599 |
| iPhone 15 | $799 | $899 | $1,099 | - |
| iPhone 15 Plus | $899 | $999 | $1,199 | - |
| iPhone 15 Pro | $999-$1,099 | $1,099 | $1,299 | $1,499 |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | - | $1,199 | $1,399 | $1,599 |
- Apple: Cupertino's iPhone Upgrade program lets you get a new iPhone every year, along with AppleCare+ coverage. You can trade in your existing iPhone and get a new one after making 12 payments to Apple. Prices currently start at $39.50/mo for a 128GB iPhone 16, $44.91 for a 128GB iPhone 16 Plus, $49.91 for an iPhone 16 Pro, and $58.25 for a 256GB iPhone 16 Pro Max. You can sign up online, through the Apple Store app, or through any Apple Store.
- Verizon: The new iPhone 16 lineup gets some sweet pre-order deals from Verizon. If you add a new line, enroll in an eligible unlimited plan, and exchange your previous phone, you may be eligible for a complimentary iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, or iPhone 16 Pro. As for the top-of-the-line iPhone 16 Pro Max, it can be yours for as low as $5.55.
- T-Mobile: The Magenta carrier also allows you to buy an iPhone 16 and trade in an eligible phone. If you’re on T-Mobile’s Go5G Next plan, you can get up to $1,000 or $500 off, depending on your trade-in. On the Go5G Plus plan, you can get up to $800 or $400 off. You’ll get part of the discount right away and the rest as monthly credits for 2 years.
- AT&T: The carrier is offering up to $1,000 in bill credits over the next 36 months on the new lineup, as long as you opt for an eligible unlimited plan and trade in an eligible device. You could get an iPhone 16 or 16 Pro for free, and an iPhone 16 Pro Max or 16 Plus for as low as $5.56 or $2.78 a month, respectively.
iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Plus camera
- Main: 48MP f/1.6
- Ultra-wide: 12MP f/2.2 w/ macro mode
- Telephoto: 2X sensor crop w/ lossless optical quality
The iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 camera specs are identical. Both inherit the 48MP wide-angle and 12MP ultra-wide camera from the iPhone 15. The latter gets upgraded with a faster f/2.2 aperture and with autofocus capabilities for macro mode, though.
Despite the lack of a telephoto camera, the iPhone 16/16 Plus will offer a 2X toggle that will use sensor cropping to deliver lossless zoom. We also get a dedicated macro mode for the first time on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.
The digital zoom goes up to 10x, if you're taking shots of objects in the distance.
One major change is the camera layout: unlike previous iPhone models, which have diagonal camera alignments, the iPhone 16 adopts a new vertical camera alignment (like the one on the iPhone 12), which enables the capture of spatial video.
iPhone 16 Pro Camera
- Main: 48MP f/1.78
- Ultra-wide: 48MP f/2.2
- Telephoto: 12MP f/2.8 5X optical/25X digital
The iPhone 16 Pro scores some important updates to its camera system. Firstly, we get a new 48MP Fusion main camera, which features a faster and more efficient quad-pixel sensor. It can process data twice as faster as before, enabling zero-shutter lag and super-cinematic 4K@120fps video capture support, which can be further edited in post straight in the Photos app.
The new ultra-wide camera is also a 48MP high-res one, and it also features a quad-pixel sensor with improved light sensitivity and macro mode.
Finally, the iPhone 16 Pro gets the same 5X tetraprism telephoto camera that debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro Max last year.
iPhone 16 storage and RAM
Storage-wise, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus start with 128GB and top out at 512GB, while the iPhone 16 Pro also starts at 128GB and goes up to 1TB of storage, making it the most flexible new model in terms of storage options.
| iPhone model | Anticipated storage capacities |
|---|---|
| iPhone 16/iPhone 16 Plus | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| iPhone 16 Pro | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
iPhone 16 design
- iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus: New Camera Control button, new Action Button, vertical rear camera placement
- iPhone 16 Pro: Thinner bezels and larger display, new Camera Control button, revamped internal design with better thermal management
Size-wise, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are slightly taller, marginally wider, and heavier than their predecessors, while the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are mostly unchanged in comparison to the previous models.
Here is a size comparison of the iPhone 16 range and the dimensions of all iPhone 16 models:
| iPhone model | Height | Width | Depth | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 16 | 147.6mm | 71.6mm | 7.8mm | 170gr |
| iPhone 16 Plus | 160.9mm | 77.8mm | 7.8mm | 199gr |
| iPhone 16 Pro | 149.6mm | 71.5mm | 8.25mm | 199gr |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | 163mm | 77.6mm | 8.25mm | 227gr |
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus keep the aluminum design of the previous models, with little to no changes. There are further adjustments on the inside, it seems: Apple says it has revamped the inner design to allow for a larger and more serviceable battery, as well as a better heat-dissipation system that will passively improve the performance.
The iPhone 16 Pro continues to utilize the new titanium frame that debuted on the previous iPhone lineup. New here is the latest generation of the Ceramic Shield protecting the display, reportedly twice as tough as the glass on the iPhone 15 Pro.
The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max keep the Action Button of the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max, which substituted the mute switch, but the feature is now universal across the range, as it is also available on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.
Another major development for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus is the vertical camera layout placement, which will let you capture spatial video intended for the Apple Vision Pro headset.
We already know what the iPhone 16 colors are. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus come in Black, White, Pink, Teal, and Ultramarine, while the iPhone 16 Pro can be yours in Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium colors.
iPhone 16 Camera Control button
One intriguing new design feature that is also universal across the iPhone 16 lineup is the new Camera Control button. It's a pressure-sensitive capacitive button with sapphire coating that provides haptic feedback for that satisfying camera shutter click, a force sensor for light presses, and a capacitive sensor for swipes and other touch interactions.
With Camera Control, you can launch the camera, snap a pic, or start recording a video in no time. There’s also a fresh and minimal camera preview that lets you easily frame your shot and adjust things like zoom, exposure, or depth of field by just sliding your finger.
But that's not all: Camera Control will score important updates later this year.
You will be able to access visual intelligence with the button by simply pointing it at a landmark or a business, receiving relevant information from Google or ChatGPT with a simple tap. Later on, the Camera Control button will score two-stage focus, which allows you to lock the exposure and focus and reframe your scene for a more creative photo.
iPhone 16 display
| Specs | iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display size | 6.9-inch | 6.3-inch | 6.7-inch | 6.1-inch |
| Aspect ratio | 19.6:9 | 19.6:9 | 19.5:9 | 19.5:9 |
| Design | Pill-shaped Dynamic Island | Pill-shaped Dynamic Island | Pill-shaped Dynamic Island | Pill-shaped Dynamic Island |
| Display technology | LTPO OLED | LTPO OLED | LTPS OLED | LTPS OLED |
| Max refresh rate | ProMotion 120Hz | ProMotion 120Hz | 60Hz | 60Hz |
The screens of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus haven't scored any major upgrades, but the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max got larger displays with slimmer bezels.
The Liquid Retina XDR display of the iPhone 16 Pro has grown to 6.3 inches in size, while the Super Retina XDR screens on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus remain at 6.1 and 6.7 inches, respectively.
The iPhone 16 Pro display is a 120Hz ProMotion one, but the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus remain at 60Hz for yet another year in a row.
The Dynamic Island punch-hole remains a staple and universal feature of the iPhone 16 range.
There have been no changes to the peak brightness of any device (they all max out at 2,000 nits), but the minimum brightness has been improved and can now reach a single nit on all iPhone 16 models, perfect for late-night usage.
iPhone 16 connectivity
All new iPhone 16 models come with Wi-Fi 7 and a faster new Snapdragon X75 5G modem. Both of these upgrade deliver faster data speeds, lower latency, and a more reliable connectivity.
iPhone 16 battery
Apple says all new iPhone 16 models have scores better battery life (more on the iPhone 16 battery life here), both courtesy of larger batteries (of yet unspecified sizes) and greatly improved efficiency. Here are the official battery size figures provided by Cupertino and a comparison versus the previous generation.
| iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro battery life in hours | iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 15 Plus battery life in hours | iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15 battery life in hours |
|---|---|---|
| Video Playback 27 / 23 | Video Playback 27 / 26 | Video Playback 22 / 20 |
| Video Playback (Streamed) 22 / 20 | Video Playback (Streamed) 24 / 20 | Video Playback (Streamed) 18 / 16 |
| Audio Playback 85 / 75 | Audio Playback 100 / 100 | Audio Playback 80 / 80 |
We don't get faster wired charging speeds; the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus still charge up to 50% in 30 minutes with a 30W adapter.
Apple has greatly improved wireless charging. Aside from supporting the new Qi2 standard, providing up to 15W of wireless charging speed (vs Qi's 7.5W), the iPhone 16 has a new 25W MagSafe on all new models. You will have to get a new 30W wireless charger to make use of the improvement.
iPhone 16 features and software: iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence are here
- iOS 18 out of the box, a minimum of five years of software support
- Apple Intelligence coming with iOS 18.1, new Siri in 2025
- You can read our full iOS 18 review here
The iPhone 16 range supports iOS 18 and will feature it right out of the box. The upcoming major software update was unveiled on June 10, 2024, at the WWDC'24 opening keynote. Key highlights are Apple Intelligence and a redesigned Siri, which will arrive at a later date though: iOS 18.1 will bring most new AI features, but the new Siri is coming in early 2025.
The buzzword with iOS 18 and in extension the iPhone 16 series is on-device AI. Funnily, AI stands for two things here: not only "artificial intelligence", but "Apple Intelligence" as well. Artificial intelligence has been sprinkled into multiple stock apps by Apple, which will fuel apps that are tapping into it. Cupertino also joins forces with OpenAI's ChatGPT to boost the overall AI experience.
iOS 18 will eventually feature a more capable Siri (coming in 2025) capable of executing complex multistep prompts, but only on devices with the A17 Pro chip or newer. All eligible iPhones (iPhone Xs and newer) will get features like free-form app icon placement, app icon customization, customizable lock screen shortcuts, and a revamped Control Center.
iOS 18 will eventually feature a more capable Siri (coming in 2025) capable of executing complex multistep prompts, but only on devices with the A17 Pro chip or newer. All eligible iPhones (iPhone Xs and newer) will get features like free-form app icon placement, app icon customization, customizable lock screen shortcuts, and a revamped Control Center.
The Messages app now supports RCS, advanced formatting, and text scheduling. Users can hide and lock apps with Face ID, and the Photos app has a new, customizable interface.
As they will be launched in 2024, the iPhone 16 lineup will score a minimum of five major yearly software updates, but it's extremely possible the device will be supported for much longer than that.
iPhone 16 hardware: Second-gen 3nm Apple A18 chip
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus come with the new A18 chip, while the iPhone 16 Pro gets the faster A18 Pro. Both chips are 3nm ones and have powerful 16-core Neural Engine units, which will enable much faster Apple Intelligence processing.
The main difference between the two chips is the GPU: the Apple A18 get a pentacore one, while the Apple A18 Pro boasts a hexacore GPU. The CPU arrangement will be the same: dual performance cores running at 4.05GHz and quad efficiency cores.
iPhone 16 Reviews and Comparisons
- Apple iPhone 16 Pro Review: Boringly great––The iPhone 16 Pro is better than ever, so why is it so boring?
- Apple iPhone 16 Plus Review: Is the Plus model still needed?––Is Apple's large affordable iPhone finally good?
- Apple iPhone 16 Review: A Step Forward, But Not a Giant Leap––How has Apple's bread and butter changed in 2024?
Although the iPhone 16 range is still not official, we've already compiled our preliminary comparisons between the upcoming devices and their current best rivals.
- iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: All the expected differences––Old vs new, here's how the fresh iPhone 16 compares against last year's iPhone 15.
- iPhone 16 vs iPhone 14: All upgrades explained––Here's how the older iPhone compares against the latest release.
- iPhone 16 vs iPhone 13: All the upgrades––Is it time to upgrade from the ubiquitous iPhone 13?
- iPhone 16 vs Pixel 9: A promising battle––Compact flagships overwhelming.
- iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 16 Plus: Expectations––Which among these two large iPhones is the better value?
- iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 15 Plus: Expectations––What to expect of the new iPhone 16 Plus?
- iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 14 Plus: Is it time to upgrade?––Should you upgrade your iPhone 14 Plus to the new iPhone 16 Plus?
- iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 16: All expected differences––No two opinions about it: the iPhone 16 Pro is a much more exciting device than the iPhone 16. But should you splurge on the Pro, or is the regular iPhone 16 sufficient for your needs?
- iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: It's worth paying the extra buck––Small but adequate, here's how the Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone 16 compares against the compact iPhone SE!
- iPhone 16 Pro vs Pixel 9 Pro––This year's compact powerhouses are clashing.
Should you get for the iPhone 16?
- You should get for the iPhone 16 if you haven't upgraded in a while and are clinging to a relatively older iPhone. Anyone with a phone older than the iPhone 12 lineup should probably wait to see what major improvements the iPhone 16 could potentially deliver. The generational leap between the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 16 would be sufficient to warrant an upgrade, which would deliver a lot of value to the user.
- You should not get the iPhone 16 if you've recently got a new phone (iPhone or other) and you are perfectly fine with using it for multiple years to come. Those using devices from the iPhone 15, iPhone 14, and iPhone 13 families probably won't be enticed by the potential improvements of the iPhone 16 range, so they should probably hold off on upgrading. Then again, the FOMO and that tempting feeling to always have the best tech might have another say on the matter.
Latest iPhone 16 rumors
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