The wait is over — type of. Apple’s iPhone 16 collection is out, together with the kinda reasonably priced 16E, and its much-hyped Apple Intelligence has arrived courtesy of iOS 18.1. However in the event you’re anticipating a completely new type of iPhone expertise, effectively, I’ve some dangerous information for you. The AI options in iOS 18.1, together with the writing instruments and e mail summaries, are fairly commonplace fare at this level. And though Siri has a brand new coat of paint, it’s mainly the identical previous Siri.
Apple has promised way more, however the Apple Intelligence rollout goes to be a sluggish burn that lasts effectively into 2025. Which is all to say that in the event you don’t have any complaints with how your present telephone is working, you undoubtedly shouldn’t rush out and get a brand new one only for Apple Intelligence.
What I thought of
Total worth
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The most costly, souped-up iPhone isn’t robotically the most effective one for everybody. What I search for is a contented medium — options that can fulfill most individuals at the most effective worth. Typically, that’s final yr’s mannequin.
Battery life
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Battery efficiency can differ by a big margin between present iPhone fashions, largely right down to the dimensions of the telephone. Everybody desires a telephone that may final a full day, and these suggestions mirror that.
Display screen measurement
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One measurement doesn’t match all. Some individuals like a small telephone, others need the most important display screen cash should buy. This record consists of iPhones for individuals in each camps.
That’s really the gist of our telephone shopping for philosophy: dangle on to the one you’ve obtained. If you happen to’re not the kind of individual to get excited a couple of new digicam button, up to date photograph processing choices, or incremental efficiency upgrades, then there’s no purpose to expire and purchase an iPhone 16.
However in the event you’re questioning whether or not it’s the yr to interchange your iPhone 11 or 12 (or perhaps a good older mannequin, by which case, effectively performed!), then I feel the reply is a straightforward sure. There are actual positive factors this yr, particularly within the fundamental iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, with out even contemplating AI. And if Apple Intelligence seems to be one thing particular ultimately, effectively, you’ll be prepared for it.
The very best iPhone for most individuals
$799
The Good
Dependable digicam with versatile photographic stylesHandy new Motion ButtonMore RAM and a current-gen chipset
The Unhealthy
Normal refresh fee screenCamera Management is a blended bag
Display screen: 6.1-inch, 2556 x 1179 OLED, 60Hz refresh fee / Processor: A18 Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.6 principal with sensor-shift IS; 12-megapixel ultrawide; 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not marketed / Charging: 27W wired, 25W wi-fi MagSafe, 15W Qi2, 7.5W Qi / Climate-resistance ranking: IP68
Apple’s fundamental iPhone loved a big {hardware} increase this time round, enjoying an overdue sport of catch-up to the Professional collection. The iPhone 16 consists of the Motion Button from final yr’s Professional fashions — helpful if there’s an app in your life you need to entry on the contact of a button — and the brand new Digicam Management. So if buttons are something to go by, this telephone is 2 higher than final yr’s mannequin.
There’s extra happening below the hood, too. The A18 chipset is in the identical technology because the processor on the Professional fashions, which hasn’t been the case for the previous couple of years. That bodes effectively for the 16 collection staying on the identical replace schedule. And there’s further RAM on this yr’s base mannequin, which might solely be a great factor.
The iPhone 16 grew to become a way more attention-grabbing digicam this time round, too. The Digicam Management gives a fast approach to launch the digicam app and regulate settings like publicity compensation. However there’s additionally a brand new set of Photographic Model filters this time round, with choices to regulate distinction, brightness, and undertones to dial in your most well-liked rendering of pores and skin tones. You’ll get higher low-light efficiency by stepping as much as the 16 Professional fashions, and different cool methods like 4K recording at 120 fps. However even with out all that, it’s essentially the most customizable digicam Apple has supplied but.
Exterior of digicam efficiency, there are two main drawbacks to selecting the common 16 over a Professional mannequin: no zoom lens, and no ProMotion display screen. Solely the Professional has a devoted 5x lens, which is helpful for inventive framing. And the usual 60Hz display screen on the iPhone 16 will seemingly solely hassle you in the event you’re used to a smoother 120Hz show, although it’s annoying on precept that Apple retains this function to its Professional telephones when just about each different high-end telephone has one.
Learn my full Apple iPhone 16 assessment.
$999
The Good
New tone management in digicam allows you to dial again HDR processingWho doesn’t love a bodily shutter button?Your video director pals will spend hours gleefully taking 4K120 video portraits of individuals at avenue festivals
The Unhealthy
Digicam Management button is a little bit fiddlyDefault photograph processing is extra aggressive than everThe most incremental of incremental upgrades over the iPhone 15 Professional
Display screen: 6.3-inch, 2622 x 1206 OLED, 120Hz refresh fee / Processor: A18 Professional Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.8 with sensor-shift IS; 12-megapixel 5x telephoto with OIS; 48-megapixel ultrawide; 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not marketed / Charging: 27W wired, 25W MagSafe wi-fi, 15W Qi2, 7.5W Qi / Climate-resistance ranking: IP68
The iPhone 16 Professional will get a small however significant improve this time round: a bump as much as a 5x zoom, which on the 15 collection was reserved for the Professional Max. And whereas the change from a 3x to 5x zoom doesn’t look that spectacular on paper, it goes a protracted approach to making the smaller 16 Professional really feel like an equal to the 16 Professional Max. For as soon as, you don’t have to get the most important telephone to get the most effective telephone.
The 16 Professional is roughly the identical measurement because the 15 Professional, however it has an even bigger display screen: 6.3 inches, up from 6.1 inches. There’s additionally the brand new Digicam Management, an upgraded 48-megapixel ultrawide on board, and naturally, a brand new chipset that — naturally — helps Apple Intelligence.
There’s nothing right here that makes the 16 Professional an absolute must-upgrade. Nonetheless, loads of individuals will need the newest machine with all of the bells and whistles, and the 16 Professional represents a possibility to get all of these options with out having to purchase the most important telephone.
Learn our full Apple iPhone 16 Professional assessment.
The iPhone with the most effective battery life
$899
The Good
Dependable digicam with versatile photographic stylesHandy new motion buttonMore RAM and a current-gen chipsetBig display screen for large display screen followers
The Unhealthy
Normal refresh fee screenCamera management is a blended bag
Display screen: 6.7-inch Tremendous Retina OLED / Processor: A18 Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.6 principal with sensor-shift IS; 12-megapixel ultrawide; 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not marketed / Charging: 27W wired, 25W wi-fi MagSafe, 15W Qi2, 7.5W Qi / Climate-resistance ranking: IP68
The factor a couple of huge telephone is that it has an enormous battery. And whereas that’s straightforward sufficient to know, it nonetheless feels shocking how way more efficiency you may eke out of the iPhone 16 Plus’ battery. It’ll stretch effectively right into a second day of use, and even in the event you’re conditioned to cost your telephone each evening, you’ll be amazed how a lot you have got left within the tank on the finish of every day. It’s a stable antidote to battery nervousness.
Naturally, the 16 Plus’ big-ness comes with one other bonus: an even bigger display screen. The advantages are apparent right here, too. However one thing that stands out to me after I use the telephone is simply how gentle it feels for its measurement, particularly in the event you’re evaluating it to the 16 Professional Max. If you happen to like an enormous show however don’t want all the weight of the Max — metaphorically and bodily talking — then the Plus is the best way to go.
Learn our full Apple iPhone 16 Plus assessment.
Finest inexpensive-ish iPhone
$599
The Good
Dependable performanceGood, if restricted, digicam systemIt’s the most affordable new iPhone you should purchase
The Unhealthy
No MagSafe$599 seems like $100 too muchNo ultrawide
Display screen: 6.1-inch Tremendous Retina XDR / Processor: A18 Cameras: 48MP Fusion with 1x and 2x optical zoom, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not marketed / Charging: 20-watt wired, 7.5W Qi, no MagSafe/ Climate-resistance ranking: IP68
This advice comes with a heavy sigh. Sure, the 16E is the most affordable new iPhone Apple sells. Sure, it’s a great telephone. It has a succesful digicam, dependable efficiency, full water resistance, wi-fi charging, and can be supported with software program updates for years to return. However its $599 price ticket begins to really feel like an excessive amount of when you think about what it’s lacking.
There’s no MagSafe, which you’ll type of add by the use of a MagSafe case, however it’s a bummer to not have it inbuilt when it has mainly develop into a normal iPhone function. There’s no ultrawide digicam, no Dynamic Island housing well timed info, no digicam management (not an enormous loss, truthfully), and no Extremely Wideband for exact object monitoring. It does help Apple Intelligence, however that doesn’t really feel like a lot of a comfort on condition that it’s very a lot a work-in-progress.
The 16E will almost certainly obtain extra years of software program help than a previous-gen mannequin just like the iPhone 14 or 15. And certain, Apple Intelligence may flip into one thing helpful sometime. The 16E is an efficient selection if you need the trail of least resistance to blue bubbles and FaceTime at your fingertips. However in the event you’d like MagSafe, a extra superior digicam, and a few of the different bells and whistles that obtained misplaced on the best way to the 16E, then it’s not a foul concept to take a look at one of many older iPhones.
Learn my full Apple iPhone 16E assessment.
What in regards to the iPhone 15?
Apple nonetheless sells the iPhone 15 new, reducing the worth right down to $699 with the introduction of the 16 collection. There’s a powerful argument for getting a 15 somewhat than the 16E in the event you don’t care about Apple Intelligence; the 15 Professional runs Apple Intelligence whereas the common 15 doesn’t. In comparison with the 16E the iPhone 15 consists of MagSafe, the Dynamic Island, an Extremely Wideband chip for exact merchandise monitoring, and an ultrawide digicam.
There’s no shortcut to correctly testing a telephone; I put my private SIM card (bodily or in any other case) in every telephone I assessment and dwell with it for no less than one full week. I arrange every telephone from scratch, load it up with my apps, and go about dwelling my life — stress testing the battery, utilizing GPS navigation on my bike whereas streaming radio, taking rapid-fire portrait mode photographs of my child — all the things I can throw at it. Beginning over with a brand new telephone each week both appears like a dream or your private hell, relying on how Into Telephones you’re. For me, switching has develop into so routine that it’s largely painless.
Replace, March tenth: Up to date to mirror present pricing and availability.
