iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus First Look: Camera Highlights, Action Button, and Fresh Colors

Starting now, you can preorder all four models of Apple’s new iPhone 16 phones, which go on sale Sept. 20 and come with iOS 18, Apple Intelligence (what Apple calls its AI software) and, remarkably, two physical buttons you can push down – one on either side of the phone. I went hands-on with the iPhone 16 at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., earlier this week and got to try out the new features in person, including the camera button. I have some thoughts to share.

If you’re wondering what the biggest differences are between the iPhone 16 and last year’s iPhone 15, this new dedicated camera button and the addition of the Action button (previously exclusive to the Pro) are my major callouts. Apple has also upgraded to a new A18 processor and improved the iPhone’s zoom camera quality. Apple is also touting its new iPhone lineup as being the first phones built for Apple Intelligence at a time when tech giants are competing to inject their most important products with more AI.

Pricing remains the same as last year’s phones: The 128GB iPhone 16 starts at $799 (£799, AU$1,399) and the 128GB iPhone 16 Plus starts at $899 (£899, AU$1,599).

iPhone 16: A look at the cameras The iPhone 16’s cameras are vertically stacked. The new iPhones will have a redesigned rear camera bump that aligns the sensors vertically, similar to how they appeared on the back of the iPhone X, XS, XR, 11 and 12 (the iPhone 13, 14 and 15 had rear cameras that were diagonally aligned). Vertically aligning the cameras makes them capable of recording spatial photos and videos for viewing on Apple’s Vision Pro headset.

More notably for those looking to improve their photo and video shooting, there is now a dedicated camera control “button” along the side of the device. Apple has long pitched that the iPhone was on par with DSLRs, and this dedicated button may make it even easier to capture moments and memories.

Clicking the button takes a photo while sliding can adjust zoom. Double pressing can switch modes or settings. Apple says the “camera control” will be usable in third-party apps. Based on the time that CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco spent trying the Phone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, Camera Control seems like a lot of fun to play with. You can access different settings and controls by sliding your finger across the sensor like a touchpad. It feels like a button and a touchpad in one, building on the idea Apple introduced with its QuickTake feature on the iPhone 11, which lets you record a video by holding the shutter button.

CNET will need to spend more time with the iPhone 16 before deciding how useful Camera Control is and how well it works. But so far, it seems like a useful way to manage camera settings and shooting modes without obscuring the screen with your finger.

The more interesting use for Camera Control, though, is a new tool Apple is calling “visual intelligence.” You’ll be able to press and hold the Camera Control button to quickly point the iPhone’s camera at a place or object to learn more about it, almost like Google Lens. It’s another sign that tech companies are positioning the camera as a tool not just for capturing photos but for learning more about the world around you.

As for camera specs, the main camera remains a 48-megapixel shooter (capable of 2x telephoto shots at 12 megapixels), while there is a new ultrawide sensor that Apple says “can capture up to 2.6x more light.”

iPhone 16’s design includes Action button The camera button isn’t the only new addition to the iPhone 16 line, with both models gaining an “Action” button similar to what was added to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max last year. This button lets you set shortcuts to open specific apps or tasks (like setting the phone to “Do Not Disturb,” opening the flashlight or setting a direct coffee order from Dunkin’). It’s a small change, but a practical one that should make the base iPhone more personal and customizable.

Displays for the new phones will be similar to 2024’s iPhone 15 and 15 Plus: 6.1 inches on the smaller model and 6.7 inches on the larger Plus. Those looking for larger displays will need to look at the new iPhone 16 Pro (now 6.3 inches) and 16 Pro Max models (now 6.9 inches). The Pro models will also have improved cameras and even faster processors.

iPhone 16’s ‘bigger battery’ All iPhone 16 models will run iOS 18 on the new A18 processor, which is capable of tapping into the company’s new Apple Intelligence AI features. Apple says the iPhone 16 will have a “bigger battery,” but it didn’t reveal how much longer the battery will last during the presentation.

Looking at the specs page, Apple now says that the iPhone 16 will have 2 more hours of video playback compared with the iPhone 15 (for both watching videos stored locally and streaming videos). The iPhone 16 Plus will have 1 more hour of local video playback and 4 more hours of streaming video playback.

Like the iPhone 15 line, the phones will be able to physically charge over USB-C or wirelessly over MagSafe or Qi2. MagSafe charging can now take advantage of faster 25-watt speeds, an increase from the max of 15 watts on the iPhone 15. (Qi-based wireless charging remains at 15 watts for Qi2 chargers and 7.5 watts for older Qi chargers.)

The iPhone 16’s new color options The new base iPhone 16 and 16 Plus colors are white, black, ultramarine (blue), teal (green) and pink, and they look bright and colorful in person.

Between the new Camera Control and Action button, along with a new processor and camera improvements, the iPhone 16 seems like a notable improvement over the iPhone 15. But the big question on everyone’s minds will likely be whether Apple Intelligence is worth the upgrade, since these new phones are among the only models to run Apple’s new AI features. We’ll know more once we’ve had the chance to spend more time with it and when Apple Intelligence rolls out.