Apple iPhone 16 Pro review

Apple iPhone 16 Pro review

The iPhone Pro model has always straddled the line between premium and mid-range. Where the Pro Max goes all-out and the Plus is an upgraded version of the base handset, the Pro steps in with a balanced offering of the two.

The iPhone 16 Pro follows in these footsteps in many ways, yet it also differs due to some significant technological advancements. In this review, we’ll take you through what these are and the impact they have.

If the Apple iPhone 16 Pro interests you, it can be ordered in various colours such as Desert Titanium and with up to 1TB of storage space.

Specs

Dimensions – 149.6 x 71.5 x 8.25mm
Weight – 199g
OS – iOS 18
Display – 6.3” Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution – 2622 x 1206
Processor – A18 Pro
RAM – 8GB
Storage – 128GB; 256GB; 512GB; 1TB
Rear cameras – 48MP Fusion; 48MP ultra-wide; 12MP telephoto
Battery – up to 27 hours video playback
Water and dust resistance – IP68
Connectivity – 5G; 4G; Bluetooth 5.3

Design

Let’s start by looking at the 16 Pro’s design. At first glance, it’s clear that Apple maintained the core design language that has shaped the Pro series for many years: sleek, rounded, and coated in durable-but-lightweight titanium. The 16 Pro is just as striking as previous handsets.

However, the iPhone 16 range includes something that wasn’t a prominent part of past models: buttons. This might sound fairly benign, but the impact they have on functionality should not be underestimated. First up is the Action button, which you can use to perform a wide range of tasks from triggering the flashlight to turning on Silent mode. The Action button isn’t new to the iPhone 16 Pro (it also featured on the iPhone 15 Pro), but we’re happy nonetheless to see it appear here, too, given how useful it is by cutting out many mundane steps.

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The Camera Control button is one advantage the 16 Pro has over its predecessor, and for photography-lovers, it can be a lifesaver. If you’ve ever found it frustrating to hold your phone and adjust settings, all while lining up the shot, Camera Control cuts out this annoyance by enabling you to tweak things like exposure with the press of a button.

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The cumulative effect of these buttons is much greater versatility, opening up more ways to use the iPhone 16 Pro. Ease-of-use is very much the name of the game, here.

Display

Apple have a long history of producing excellent displays, and the 16 Pro doesn’t disappoint. It’s fundamentally the same screen as the one found on the 16 Pro Max, including the Super Retina XDR panel and ProMotion technology for silky-smooth visuals, but the size comes in at 6.3” instead of 6.9”. As we touched on previously, the 16 Pro model is essentially a downsized Pro Max, so the only decision you’d need to make is whether you want the larger screen.

A tweak to the 16 Pro’s display that has a surprisingly significant effect is the thinner bezel. We say surprisingly, because for such a small change the results are impressive. By reducing the bezel slightly, the screen can be stretched out to cover more of the panel; all without needing to make any drastic changes to the phone’s dimensions. It’s subtle, but it works.

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From a purely hardware perspective, then, the iPhone 16 Pro is up there with the industry’s best. Its underlying software also contributes massively, such as HDR and TrueTone support for enhancing colour levels and contrasts.

Performance & software

Undoubtedly the biggest contributor to the iPhone 16 Pro’s excellence is its processor, and not just for sheer raw performance. The A18 Pro chipset also plays a crucial role in powering its AI features, specifically Apple Intelligence.

Similar to Samsung’s Galaxy AI, Apple Intelligence encompasses a range of AI features for automating tasks on a smartphone. The A18 Pro chipset, combined with 8GB of onboard RAM, ensures that not only can the iPhone 16 Pro run these features, but also run them well.

One of the most useful features within Apple Intelligence is Writing Tools. Got a group chat or a list of notes? With a quick tap, you can get a summary of them without needing to trawl through the chat or lists yourself. Image Wand is another fantastic AI tool; draw something out and watch as the 16 Pro brings it to life as a fully-detailed diagram.

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What we ultimately appreciated about Apple Intelligence was how it didn’t rely on brand strength to carry it; this isn’t a case of put ‘Apple’ on the box and hope for the best. No, Apple Intelligence succeeds because it genuinely makes the 16 Pro far easier to use, more so than any iPhone that came before it. Combined with iOS 18 and its enhancements to the photo gallery and generative emojis, you have one of the smartest iPhones ever made.

Cameras

The iPhone 16 Pro more than stakes its claim as one of the top iPhone cameras around. It includes the same fantastic camera array as the 16 Pro Max, featuring 48MP Fusion, 48MP Ultra-Wide and 12MP telephoto cameras; the only difference here is that you’re getting a smaller screen.

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Filming videos is also incredibly easy, and the results are as stunning as you would expect from an iPhone. Support for 4K 120fps video in Dolby Vision is available, enabling you to create videos that are exceptionally smooth and bursting with detail. 4K resolution means you can even see the pores on a subject’s skin; you won’t get that with typical HD footage.

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If you don’t want or need a large display, the iPhone 16 Pro is the ideal option. It carries the same outstanding hardware as its top-level sibling, so you’re getting an almost identical experience.

Battery

The handy AI features and camera tech aren’t much good without a great battery; thankfully, the iPhone 16 Pro is packed with a superb unit and offers more battery life than the iPhone 15 Pro. Up to 27 hours of video playback is possible on this handset (4 more than the 15 Pro), so it’s more than capable of powering through long gaming sessions on the commute.

The 16 Pro can also be quickly recharged up to 50% in around 30 minutes. If you have a 30W adapter, you can juice it back up even faster.

Summary

The iPhone 16 Pro had a lot to live up to. Past Pro handsets have always nipped at the heels of the larger Pro Max model with brilliant feature sets, and the 16 Pro joins that long line of blockbuster iPhones with well-executed AI tools that take it to the next level, especially on the functionality front.

Moving your data from an old iPhone to a new model? We have you covered with our handy step-by-step guide.