The iPhone 16 is here. The new smartphone has a new processor, a new button and Apple Intelligence which brings AI smarts to your pocket.
The device launched alongside the AirPods 4 at Apple's September event. Here's everything you need to know...
- Apple launches new AirPods Max 2024 with minor upgrades – and one big omission
iPhone 16 release date
The iPhone 16 range launched on 9th September 2024, and will go on sale on 20th September. Pre-orders open on 13th September.
That's in keeping with previous years. The last few iPhones have been announced on these dates:
- iPhone 11: 10th September, 2019
- iPhone 12: 13th October, 2020
- iPhone 13: 14th September, 2021
- iPhone 14: 7th September, 2022
- iPhone 15: 12th September, 2023
iPhone 16 price
The iPhone 16 range launched at about the same prices as the iPhone 15 – welcome news to many who feared a price rise.
All four handsets are available to pre-order from 13th September and will ship from 20th September.
iPhone 16 screen
The iPhone's screen size options have changed for the first time in years. The two Pro models have increased their screen sizes by 0.2 inches, bringing the iPhone 16 Pro to 6.3 inches and the iPhone 16 Pro Max to a whopping 6.9 inches. The non-Pro models remain at 6.1 inches for the iPhone 16 and 6.7 inches for the iPhone 16 Plus.
Brightness goes up to 2000 nits, and as low as 1 nit. That should make them easy on the eye in any lighting conditions, be it bright sun or cinema-style darkness. Peak HDR brightness is 1600 nits.
All four models have always-on displays as well, so they can show you useful information at a glance, like the time or notifications without you having to wake the phone – handy if you use yours as a bedside clock. Previously, only the Pro models had always-on displays.
iPhone 16 design
All four models of iPhone 16 might look very similar to their iPhone 15 counterparts, but there are some subtle differences. Every handset in the range now comes with the Action button (which was previously exclusive to the Pro models) – this replaces the mute switch, and can be customised to perform all sorts of functions, from muting the phone to activating the torch.
They all have a new Camera Control button too, which activates the camera without having to wake the phone first (there's more on this in the 'Camera' section).
There are some new colours, too. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus come in Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White and Black, and the two Pro variants come in Desert, Natural, White and Black.
The lack of a big design refresh has led Bloomberg's Mark Gurman to predict that many people will hold off upgrading this year, and save it for next year's iPhone 17 (which is rumoured to be a bigger change). The main change visually between this year's models and last is the new colour schemes – not really enough to convince most people to upgrade.
iPhone 16 camera
The cameras have gotten better again, but for most of us the biggest change will be the new Camera Control button. Not only does this let you take a photo without having to swipe to open the camera app, it also performs different functions depending on how you press it.
One click opens the camera app, and another takes a photo, while clicking to hold takes a video. A light press shows a preview of what you're about to shoot, while a new overlay gives you access to functions like the zoom and switching between lenses. Visual Intelligence is an AI feature that gives you contextual info on whatever you point your camera at. Point it at the Statue of Liberty and it'll tell you all about it, for example. Point it at a dog and it'll tell you its breed (maybe get permission from the owner first, though).
Previously, all buttons on the iPhone 16 range were rumoured to be capacitive, but it seems only the Camera Control button is. Because they have fewer moving parts, capacitive buttons are less prone to wear and tear, meaning they should last longer. And because they're sensitive to pressure, they react differently depending on how hard you push them. They also respond with tiny vibrations known as haptic feedback.
In terms of actual camera spec improvements, the Pros now feature a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera, up from the 12-megapixel one on standard iPhone 16. And the iPhone 16 Pro's telephoto zoom lens has been bumped up to 5x (up from 3x on the iPhone 15 Pro), equalling the iPhone 16 Pro Max's.
The Pro models also get Dolby Vision video recording in 4K at up to 120fps. And all four models can capture 3D videos and photos to be viewed in Apple's Vision Pro 'spatial computing' headset. If anyone owns one of them.
iPhone 16 features
AI is the big feature, but it won't be available at launch. Rather, Apple Intelligence will land later in the year, with individual features drip fed over time. But AI aside, there's plenty to enjoy with these new devices.
The Pro models each boast four studio-quality mics, and Spatial Audio capture for a more immersive listening experience. There's also a new audio mix feature, powered by AI. This identifies and separates background sound from speech, and lets you choose what to prioritise.
You'll soon be able to layer tracks on Voice Memos as well, so you can sing over a pre-recorded guitar solo, for example. But please, never do this.
The Dynamic Island is back again, and all four iPhones are again equipped with USB-C ports. The iPhone 16 range now support 25W MagSafe wireless charging, using a 30W adapter or higher.
All four iPhone 16 variants feature an A18 processor, but the Pros get a Pro version of this which is more powerful. Both the A18 and A18 Pro contain six-core CPUs with two performance and four efficiency cores, but the Pro variant has a six-core GPU to the non-Pro's five-.
We didn't see any folding functionality with the new iPhone, but that's not to say an Apple foldable isn't coming soon. A leaked Apple roadmap recently slated the product for release in 2026, with an iPhone SE 4 supposedly arriving in 2025. This was bolstered by a recent report that also said Apple's foldable will launch in 2026, and that it's gone past the conceptual stage. Expect a clamshell device similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6. If it ever lands.
iPhone 16: our take
Bigger and brighter screens, processors with more grunt, new buttons, a better zoom... the iPhone 16 looks like a corker, and at the same price as its predecessor too.
But for all its tweaks, these are all relatively minor improvements, and the lack of a new look – or a killer app – could mean lots of potential customers hold onto their cash for another year. The iPhone 17 is said to be a more significant upgrade, with a new 'Slim' model mooted.
What will be more interesting is how these phones fare on the audio-visual side. Apple usually tweaks the performance, but fails to tell anyone, so here's hoping the iPhone 16's improvements go beyond the 1 nit low brightness and 4K at 120Hz that we already know about.
We'll bring you a review as soon as we can...
MORE:
Browse today's best Apple deals: iPhone, iPad, HomePod
These are the best smartphones for music and movies
Google fans, check out the best Android phones
