iPhone 16 Pro Review: Mastery Over Innovation

iPhone 16 Pro review: Control before Intelligence

We’re nearing the end of what may be the most static design era in the iPhone’s history. While Apple continues to enhance the specs of its flagship product, the iPhone 16 series visually belongs to a generation that dates back to the iPhone 12. This design consistency reflects a slower pace of smartphone innovation, marking the longest period Apple has maintained a single design approach in the iPhone’s history.

Each time Apple redesigns the iPhone, there tends to be a surge in sales due to the device’s significance in Apple’s revenue. Given this, the company is likely focusing on new technological advances that could enable significant design changes in the future, while continuously improving specs in the meantime.

The iPhone 16 Pro represents a culmination of years of iteration, with substantial improvements over previous models. The line-up over recent years shows the progression:

• iPhone 13 Pro: ProMotion, 3x telephoto lens, chip enhancements
• iPhone 14 Pro: Dynamic Island, Crash Detection, satellite SOS, 48MP camera, always-on display, Action Mode, brighter display, chip enhancements
• iPhone 15 Pro: Action Button, USB-C port, 24MP fusion image, titanium exterior, and early Apple Intelligence support
• iPhone 16 Pro: Larger displays, new 48MP camera, 4K120 video, 48MP ultrawide camera, Photographic Styles workflow, surround audio, 5× telephoto lens, and A18 Pro chip improvements

Apple continues to focus on incremental upgrades rather than groundbreaking redesigns, adding features that collectively make for a robust update.

Four Models Overview

While the review focuses on the iPhone 16 Pro, the iPhone 16 series includes four models. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is mainly a larger version of the Pro, offering better battery life. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus lack some Pro features but have minimal gaps compared to the higher-end models.

A standout feature of the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus is their color variety, which surpasses the more muted options of the Pro models. This year’s color choices for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus include Ultramarine, Teal, and Pink, in addition to standard white and black.

The Camera Control Button

The new Camera Control button is a significant addition, offering a physical shutter button on the iPhone’s side for more intuitive photography. While the button’s basic functionality—click to shoot—works well, the more advanced features (force sensitivity and swipe control) may overwhelm average users due to their complexity.

The Camera Control button’s half-press capability allows for menu navigation, but it introduces unnecessary complexity. The default settings should be simpler, with potential advanced features available as optional settings.

The Action Button’s New Role

The Action Button, introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro, has lost some of its previous importance now that the Camera Control button handles photography functions. It remains customizable, though its expanded use may require more integration with the system to become more user-friendly.

Camera Updates

The iPhone 16 Pro features an enhanced 48MP “Fusion” camera, delivering a 24MP image that combines the light capture of 12MP sensors with the detailed resolution of the full 48MP sensor. The 5× optical zoom is particularly impressive, providing high-quality close-ups even from a distance.

However, the Camera app’s variety of options and modes can be overwhelming. The new Photographic Styles 2.0 offers more flexibility by allowing adjustments post-capture, enabling users to modify the photo’s appearance without being locked into a preset style.

Apple Silicon Developments

This year’s models introduce two distinct chips: the A18 for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, and the A18 Pro for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. The A18 Pro features updated CPU and GPU cores, demonstrating Apple’s ongoing performance advancements. Battery life and thermal management have also seen noticeable improvements.

The addition of Wi-Fi 7 support allows for incredibly fast internet speeds, which will become more valuable as the technology becomes widely adopted.

The Promise of Apple Intelligence

Apple has promoted the iPhone 16 series as “ready for Apple Intelligence,” although many features will not be available until iOS 18.1 is fully released. The rollout of these features will continue throughout 2025, making it unwise to purchase the hardware based solely on anticipated software capabilities.

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus offer appealing new colors, enhanced cameras, and updated controls, while the iPhone 16 Pro adds advanced camera functions and other upgrades. The upcoming Apple Intelligence features are promising, but Apple will need to prove their worth in the coming year.