Hands-on with the new iPhone 16 Pro
If there’s one thing you can count on every year, it’s that Apple will release new iPhone models in September. But, just because there are tempting new iPhones with slightly refined designs and features, it doesn’t mean that you need to upgrade.
That’s especially true if you’re still using a phone that was released in the last two years – these devices are built to last a long time. In fact, I’d still give the iPhone 14 Pro and 15 Pro my wholehearted recommendation for most shoppers who aren’t demanding all the newest perks.
Having said that, though, the latest iPhone 16 Pro models feature all of the best and newest extras that you could want from the top-of-the-line Apple handsets. I’ve been testing out the iPhone 16 Pro for just over a month to come to my verdict, and there’s a lot to say about everything that Apple’s managed to stuff into this impressively capable smartphone.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro: At a glance
Apple iPhone 16 Pro: Design and display
I spent about half of the past year using the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the other half using the iPhone 15 Pro – the larger phone is harder to use one-handed and very big, but it also has that bigger screen and improved battery life. In the iPhone 16 series, the Pro gets a slight increase to a taller 6.3-inch display that makes me feel far less like I’d need the more expansive display of the Pro Max.
Along with the battery life improvements (more on those later), the iPhone 16 becomes a “no compromises” handset with a display that feels like it’s the perfect size for day-to-day use and is ideal for watching videos and reading without weighing you down. It’s easier to use one-handed and still notably lighter than the 14 Pro and 13 Pro due to the use of titanium in its construction. This phone now comes in four titanium colours – Black, White, “Natural Titanium” and the bronze “Desert Titanium” of the model I’m reviewing here.
The rest of the design doesn’t offer a huge reinvention compared to the 15 Pro series – it still has the same camera layout and port placement and, for those upgrading from older phones, it’s worth remembering that Apple has switched from a Lightning port to USB-C for data transfers and charging.
The 16 Pro is a sleek and polished handset that still weighs under 200g, just like the 15 Pro. The 16 Pro Max is heavier at 227g, but still much more portable than the 240g of the old 14 Pro Max. The titanium body adds a premium feel compared to the aluminium of the older models, and I think it’s something you’ll notice when upgrading.
One big change? After introducing a new button to the iPhone 15 Pro models in 2023, Apple has added yet another with “Camera Control” on the 16 and 16 Pro. It’s a touch-responsive switch that can respond to half-presses and swipes, and it’s located on the bottom right-hand side, designed to sit where your finger will be when taking landscape photos and videos. It works as a shutter button, a quick launcher for the camera and a way to customise camera settings.
On test, I’ve found it great as a way to get to the camera quickly and to take photos and videos, but swiping across the Camera Control to change settings unfortunately isn’t always the most intuitive and I’m awaiting the promised upgrade to this button that’ll allow it to lock focus and exposure, much like a dedicated camera can.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro: Camera
Is the camera actually better this time around? Yes, but this answer is also complicated. That’s mainly because smartphone cameras have become so capable in recent years that many of us are unlikely to see an enormous difference between the last three or four generations.
However, with that said, Apple continues to pack improvements into its iPhone camera system. Continuing the theme of not making compromises for the smaller iPhone 16 Pro, that model now includes the same camera system as the 16 Pro Max – you’re getting an identical 5x telephoto lens, an improved 48-megapixel ultra-wide lens and all-new Photographic Styles, in addition to better slow-motion clips and audio-focused upgrades to get better sound in your videos.
In my weeks of testing, including taking over 500 photos using this camera in London and on a long weekend trip to Edinburgh, I’ve seen terrific results with this camera. It not only delivers detailed and consistent shots in everyday lighting conditions but also low-light settings, indoors and outdoors. The 5x zoom is a noticeable upgrade, helping me capture photos of Edinburgh Castle in the distance from street level. I’ve included a gallery showing the zoom range below, so you can see just how much extra reach you get compared to the older 3x zoom in the phone you’re probably upgrading from.
In addition to the improved zoom range, Apple has also brought some welcome upgrades to its ultra-wide lens on the Pro models. The ultra-wide is a great camera for adding a sense of drama and scale to landscapes and cityscapes, and I found it invaluable for capturing impressive vistas during my trip.
The extra resolution means you can pack more detail into these images and not feel like you’re losing clarity when switching from the main sensor. I’ll continue to get a lot of use out of the upgraded ultra-wide, and I particularly like it when combined with shooting a “Live Photo” and transforming it into a “Long Exposure” as that can add an even more dramatic effect by smoothing running water and clouds in the sky.
I know the camera isn’t only for photos, so I spent time testing out its video capabilities too. The results are unsurprisingly excellent, as they have been for several years from pro-level iPhones. With the 16 Pro, you’re getting upgraded slow-motion videos at 120 frames per second in 4K resolution (these will look smoother than they did before), and a suite of audio upgrades with pro-grade microphones to help you make the sound in your videos more cinematic, intimate, or feel like it was recorded in a studio.
The other new thing that Apple has added to both the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models this year is its new “Photographic Styles”, which give you control over the colour and tone of your shots. I’ve gravitated towards the warmer “Amber” style and the “Stark Black and White” but there are loads of options to choose from, customise and set as your default, making the camera feel much more personal to your preferences.
It is worth saying, as one last note on photography, that the route to the best possible photos on an iPhone is through shooting in a “raw” format (you can choose this in the camera settings menu) and editing your shots after you’ve taken them.
This allows you to skip some of the more heavy-handed image processing and gives you much more control over the light, shadows and colours in your photo.
To help you decide if the iPhone 16 Pro camera is right for you, I’ve included a gallery of photos I’ve shot with the camera below, noting whether they’re unedited, using specific photo styles, or shot in ProRAW and tweaked after capture.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro: Performance
To put this as simply as possible, there’s no chance that you’re going to be disappointed with the lightning-fast performance of the iPhone 16 Pro and it’s a tremendous phone no matter whether you’re using it for intense productivity, gaming or loads of photo editing – it can handle it all.
It now has the A18 Pro chip, which is a similar but slightly improved version of the A18 chip powering the iPhone 16 phones. These are the latest high-end processors and they’re incredibly fast for everything you’d do on a smartphone, with no lag or stuttering even when quickly switching between apps.
The big upgrade comes in the improved thermal performance, though. The iPhone 16 Pro just doesn’t get as hot as the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max both do, making it a better option for sustained use and less likely to need to throttle due to overheating. That’s worth knowing if you’re thinking about buying the phone for someone who spends hours playing mobile games!
Apple iPhone 16 Pro: Battery life
And, there’s a noticeable improvement in battery life too. As good as the iPhone 15 Pro Max is, I’ve found that I’ve barely noticed a difference in the battery life of the smaller iPhone 16 Pro.
This handset has no trouble getting through an entire day with juice to spare, and that remained the case even when using more demanding features like Maps for navigation around the city on my long weekend trip.
You’re not going to end up with any “battery anxiety” as you get towards the end of the day, and unless you’re out for a very long time you might not need a power bank too.
Compared to the previous “Pros” I’ve used (including the 13 Pro, 14 Pro and 15 Pro), this one is by far the best so far and the closest Apple has come to matching the battery life of its biggest phone. And, when it comes to refuelling, it now has faster wireless recharging with the 25W MagSafe puck and can recharge half its battery capacity in about half an hour over USB-C with the right adapter.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro: Software
The iPhone 16 models launch with iOS 18, a software upgrade that’s also available for existing iPhone users with phones as old as the iPhone XR. It’s focused on more customisation and personalisation, allowing you to move icons around the home screen more freely, customise icons with dark mode variants and colour tints, and take advantage of more tweaks available in the Photos, Calendar and Messages apps. It also introduces an all-new Passwords app to help you manage all your logins and wifi passwords.
As mentioned, though, these aren’t exclusive to the iPhone 16 or 16 Pro, and they’re worth upgrading to on your current phone to make it feel a bit more upgraded and more secure. There are anticipated Apple Intelligence (AI) features that are set to be available on the iPhone 15 Pro models, iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, though. These include smarter notifications, text editing and rewriting tools, a custom image generation app, fully customised emojis and a more context-aware Siri assistant.
These AI-powered tools are expected to launch in the UK by December and will use both on-device processing and Apple’s private cloud for privacy. They’ll also remain fully optional if you don’t want to use them, but it’s worth knowing that they’re rolling out gradually as they’re ready.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro: Storage
There isn’t a significant change to note here – the iPhone 16 Pro starts at 128GB of storage, while the bigger iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at 256GB of storage. For most of us, the starting amount of the iPhone 16 Pro should be enough space for the apps and files you keep on a phone. But, should you want more space, they’re available at 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of space.
I tend to find that I use under 100GB, but I like to download videos, podcasts and playlists when travelling, and the extra space available on a larger phone can be essential if you want to hold onto lots of these bigger files.
If you’re buying the phone for somebody who’s into gaming, they’ll also want as much extra space as possible because games tend to be larger apps that can take up at least 8GB but may be as large as 16GB for most graphics-intense titles.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro: Price
Apple’s pricing for its Pro and Pro Max models is the same as last year, and competitive with the competition from Android models.
The iPhone 16 Pro starts at £999 (for 128GB) while the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at £1,199 (for 256GB) – this means that they match the prices of Google’s latest Pixel 9 Pro phones, and are more affordable than the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
However, even with these good value prices, it’s not worth rushing out for an upgrade given the slight changes to the camera, display and performance. If you’re coming from a much older iPhone, though, it’s worth considering this phone.
Good Housekeeping’s verdict on the Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Both iPhone 16 Pro phones are of course the best iPhones that Apple has ever made. But it’s the iPhone 16 Pro in particular that’s such an impressive smartphone over its predecessor.
With only a very minor increase in height, it remains a compact phone to use one-handed with a big and bright display, an upgraded camera system with a 5x zoom lens, a super-fast processor, a notable battery life improvement and a handy selection of customisable buttons that make the handset feel personal.
It’s the phone with the fewest compromises, and the iPhone I’ve been hoping Apple would make after last year’s advancements in the 15 Pro. Of course, the iPhone 16 Pro Max also has all these upgrades and more, with a much more expansive screen and longer battery life. That’s going to mean it’s a little harder to use one-handed, but it’ll be amazing for those with bigger hands or anyone who needs the phone to last a long time.
If you’ve got an older Pro Max phone, though, it might be worth considering the iPhone 16 Pro instead. There’s not a lot of difference in screen size, and the new Pro is light with a long-lasting battery. Overall, either of the newest flagships are a fantastic step up for anybody currently using a model from the iPhone 11, 12 or 13 series, but I’d suggest those with a relatively recent iPhone 14 Pro or 15 Pro hold onto their phones until there are more noticeable upgrades for them to appreciate.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro: Other models to consider
The first thing to say is that the iPhone 15 Pro is still worth it if you can find it at reduced prices. Yes, the iPhone 16 Pro builds on its predecessor with a taller 6.3-inch display and an upgraded A18 Pro chip, delivering better thermals and battery life, but the overall experience remains similar and I’d still highly recommend the 15 Pro after using it consistently over the past year.
Mulling over an Android rival? Compared to Google’s latest Pixel 9 Pro, the handsets are similar and offered at the same price. Apple’s camera offers a more neutral photo quality, while Google leans into AI-driven photo edits and enhancements, but that makes it ideal if you’d prefer to get great results from a point-and-shoot camera. Google’s clean Android operating system is also easy to use and the phone has a refined and distinctive design offered in lovely colours with an excellent display.
Alternatively, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra offers a larger, higher-resolution display and superior zoom capabilities, but it comes at a higher price. I would recommend it only if you know you want maximum versatility and productivity, but Samsung’s version of Android does lack the streamlining of the Apple interface that many users appreciate.
You Might Also Like
