iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: A Comparison of Apple's Latest Smartphones
With its Camera Control button, 48MP main lens, powerful A18 chipset, and Apple Intelligence on the way, the iPhone 16 is one of the best phones on the market right now.
For
- Camera Control functionality
- A18 chip is plenty powerful
- Gets the Action button
Against
- No telephoto camera
- Still no 120Hz refresh rate
The iPhone 16 Pro boasts better cameras, a display with a 120Hz refresh rate and always-on features, and a titanium design that the iPhone 16 lacks, though you’ll pay much more for the privilege of ownership.
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro are two of the best iPhones (and maybe the best phones, period) money can buy, but which model should you go for? It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the iPhone 16 Pro is, objectively speaking, the more capable of the two new devices, but that doesn’t mean it’s the better model for everyone. Just as the iPhone 15 is a superior value versus the iPhone 15 Pro, the iPhone 16 may be a better buy for those who don’t need all of Apple’s premium bells and whistles.
In this guide, we pit the iPhone 16 against the iPhone 16 Pro in every area that matters. We’ve already reviewed both devices, but if you’re looking for a spec-by-spec comparison, read on.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Specs Comparison
| Feature | iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Resolution | 2556 x 1179 | 2556 x 1179 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Chipset | A18 | A18 Pro |
| Rear cameras | 48MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide | 48MP wide, 48MP ultra-wide, 12MP 5x telephoto |
| Front camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Battery | 3,561mAh (unpublished) | 3,582mAh (unpublished) |
| Charging | 45W wired, 25W wireless | 45W wired, 25W wireless |
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Price and Availability
Both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro were announced at the ‘It’s Glowtime’ Apple event on Monday, September 9, and began shipping on Friday, September 20.
| Model | iPhone 16 Price | iPhone 16 Pro Price |
|---|---|---|
| 128GB | $799 / £799 / AU$1,399 | $999 / £999 / AU$1,799 |
| 256GB | $899 / £899 / AU$1,599 | $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,099 |
| 512GB | $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,949 | $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$2,349 |
| 1TB | N/A | $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$2,699 |
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Design
The iPhone 16 Pro is larger and heavier, measuring 149.6 x 71.5mm x 8.25 and weighing 199g, compared to the iPhone 16’s 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm and 170g weight.
While both phones share aluminum edges and color-infused glass backs, the iPhone 16 Pro introduces a titanium build, increasing durability. The iPhone 16’s colors include Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, and Black, while the Pro offers more subdued options in Black, White, Natural, and Desert Titanium.
Both models feature Apple’s Action button, alongside a new Camera Control button for shutter release and gesture-based camera control.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Display
The iPhone 16 Pro’s 6.3-inch display, thanks to thinner bezels, offers more screen real estate than the 6.1-inch display of the iPhone 16. Both displays are Super Retina XDR OLED with peak brightness up to 2,000 nits.
The key difference lies in refresh rates: the iPhone 16 is capped at 60Hz, while the iPhone 16 Pro provides an adaptive 1-120Hz ProMotion refresh rate with Always-On Display support.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Cameras
The iPhone 16 Pro offers superior camera hardware, featuring a 48MP main lens, 48MP ultra-wide lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens with 5x zoom. The iPhone 16 lacks a telephoto lens but still provides a 48MP main lens and 12MP ultra-wide lens. Both devices include the new Camera Control button, enabling advanced photo adjustments through gestures.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Performance and Software
Both models feature Apple’s A18 chipset, with the iPhone 16 Pro sporting an A18 Pro variant with an additional GPU core. While the A18 chipset offers robust AI and machine learning capabilities, the A18 Pro brings slightly improved graphical performance.
Both devices are ready for Apple Intelligence, which promises advanced Siri features, text summarization, and generative AI tools in iOS 18.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Battery
While the iPhone 16 offers a 3,561mAh battery and the iPhone 16 Pro slightly increases it to 3,582mAh, both phones deliver impressive battery life: 12 hours and 43 minutes for the iPhone 16, and 14 hours for the iPhone 16 Pro. Both models support 45W wired, 25W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wired charging.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Verdict
Both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro are top-tier phones, but the choice comes down to personal preferences and budget. The iPhone 16 is a solid option if you don’t need the Pro’s enhanced camera system, 120Hz refresh rate, or titanium build.
However, if these premium features matter and you can afford the extra cost, the iPhone 16 Pro is the superior choice. The base model still offers excellent performance, and at a lower price, it provides better value for most users.