Now that the wraps have been taken off the iPhone 16, it’s time to decide if you want Apple’s latest marvel.
There are a host of enticing features to tempt you, including a sleek camera-control button that allows you to effortlessly click and swipe for great photos. Not to mention the Apple Intelligence AI tricks that will follow later down the line.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro Max sports a massive 6.9-inch screen and comes with the biggest battery ever for an iPhone, per Apple. As a result, you’ll be able to watch up to 33 hours of stored videos on a single charge (or 29 hours of streamed video). That’s a lot of Netflix shows, and probably even more time for scrolling apps and browsing the web.
While the new additions are eye-catching, the chances are you’ve probably made your mind up on the iPhone 16, especially if your current phone is on its last legs. So, when can you get Apple’s latest gadget? Here’s what you need to know about pre-ordering the new iPhone.
When will iPhone 16 pre-orders start?
Apple and other retailers will open up iPhone 16 pre-orders on Friday, September 13, at 1pm UK time. The new range will then be available to buy in-store on September 20.
If the flurry of excitement from last year is anything to go by, expect the top models, including the two Pro versions, to sell out immediately.
The Apple Store website should also be hit with a wave of traffic as eager Apple fans try to snag the new iPhone 16, causing possible technical glitches in their wake.
To avoid any ensuing downtime, you could try your luck with the Apple Store mobile app, which also lets you pre-register your interest for your favourite model so that you can complete your pre-order quicker.
How much is the iPhone 16?
Here’s how much you can expect to pay for all four models at launch:
iPhone 16: £799 (128GB) / £899 (256GB) / £1,099 (512GB)
iPhone 16 Plus: £899 (128GB) / £999 (256GB) / £1,199 (512GB)
iPhone 16 Pro: £1,099 (256GB) / £1,299 (512GB) / £1,499 (1TB)
iPhone 16 Pro Max: £1,199 (256GB) / £1,399 (512GB) / £1,599 (1TB).
For those looking to save some cash on the new devices, Apple is offering between £415-£645 for iPhone 15 trade-ins.
Where can you buy the iPhone 16?
Alongside the Apple Store, you’ll also be able to pre-order a SIM-free iPhone from the usual crop of stores. Think Amazon, John Lewis, Currys, Argos, and Carphone Warehouse.
The same goes for the UK’s top mobile networks, though they’ll also try to entice you with contract deals.
iPhone 16 network deals
Speaking of which, the likes of EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three have all confirmed that they will offer the iPhone 16 on their 5G plans.
EE
EE is offering the iPhone 16 range on 24-month and 36-month device plans, starting from £23.24 per month (plus a £30 upfront cost) for the base iPhone 16. The company’s data plans start from £25 per month for 5GB of data, with additional charges for unlimited data at faster speeds.
The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are available from £29.26 per month (£30 upfront) and £35.32 per month (£30 upfront), respectively, with the above data plans.
Vodafone
For its part, Vodafone is offering a series of 36-month plans for the new lineup, starting from £23.34 per month for the iPhone 16 (plus a £30 upfront cost), with data plans starting at £20 per month for 24 months for 3GB of data.
The iPhone 16 Pro is available for £29 per month (£39 upfront) and the Pro Max is £34.76 a month (£50 upfront), with both on the same data plan as above.
The new iPhone 16 will also be included with Vodafone’s new “Xchange” programme. The recently launched service essentially lets customers on a 24-month plan upgrade to the latest model annually without paying any extra fees.
O2
On O2, you can get the iPhone 16 range and 25GB of monthly data for 36 months, with a £30 upfront fee. Prices are as follows: iPhone 16 (£49.21 p/m), iPhone 16 Plus (£52.25), iPhone 16 Pro (£55.25 p/m), iPhone 16 Pro Max (£61.30 p/m). Additional tariffs will snag you more data for an extra monthly fee.
Seeing as O2 and Virgin Media have joined forces, the latter’s broadband customers can connect their accounts for perks including broadband and data boosts.
Three
Elsewhere, Three is also offering the iPhone 16 on 36-month device plans and 24-month data plans. The base iPhone 16 will set you back £30.50 per month (£30 upfront), while you can expect to pay £37.25 per month for the Pro Max (£60 upfront). Three’s data plans start from £9 for 15GB of data.
Sky Mobile
Sky Mobile is selling the iPhone 16 from £26 per month, the iPhone 16 Plus from £30 per month, the iPhone 16 Pro from £33 per month, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max from £39 per month. Customers will be able to choose from 24-month and 36-month device plans, with data plans starting from £5 per month for 5GB of 5G data, including unlimited calls and texts.
While that may seem modest, it's important to note that data used within Sky-owned apps does not count towards your monthly limit. That way, you can stream Sky Go, Sky Sports and other Sky apps without worrying about depleting your data allowance.
