Original release date: September 20, 2024 | Storage capacity: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Screen size: 6.3 inches | Parts: A18 Pro chip, Always-on 120Hz ProMotion display, USB-C port (USB 3), Titanium frame, Camera Control button, Action button, 25W MagSafe charging | Cameras: 48MP wide, 48MP ultrawide, 12MP 5x telephoto, 12MP front | Color options: Natural Titanium, Desert, White, Black | Dimensions: 5.89 x 2.81 x 0.32 inches | weight: 7.03 ounces

Read our full iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max review

the iPhone 16 Pro is the iPhone we recommend to most people. Yes, the starting price of $999 may be steep, but a smartphone is a long-term investment. If the question is “which iPhone is most likely to make you happy in the next three to five years,” we think the advantages of the iPhone 16 Pro over the standard iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are significant enough to add value. which is $100-200. — although the gap is not as wide as in previous years.

For one, feel the blasted titanium frame of the iPhone 16 Pro higher quality than the aluminum of the base iPhone 16. It’s heavier than the standard 16 and last year’s iPhone 15 Pro, but it’s far from an anchor, and its slightly curved edges are pleasing to hold. It runs on the slightly faster A18 Pro chip, which doesn’t make a huge difference in day-to-day tasks but is more future-proof all the same, especially if you have an interest in gaming or content creation. And while every iPhone 16 has a USB-C charging port, the Pro models support faster data transfer speeds (as long as you have the right cable).

The most notable upgrade is the display. While the OLED panels on the iPhone 16 Pro and standard iPhone 16 are both sharp and bright, the former is wider at 6.3 inches (instead of 6.1 inches), even though the phone itself is 0.08 inches taller and 0.02 inches narrower. lung. This is mainly due to the thinner bezels of the Pro, which gives you more room for streaming videos and reading web pages on a device that is not too difficult to hold.

On top of that, the Pro’s screen has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, which makes scrolling web pages, playing games and streaming video smoother. Some will tell you that the average person doesn’t need it, and it’s true that not everyone plays at 120Hz. But using a smartphone is nothing if not interacting with a small screen, and when you see a faster refresh rate in action, it’s hard to stop.

This is a frustrating situation: You get a budget Android phone with a 120Hz display for about $300, yet Apple continues to use “ProMotion” as a way to upsell people from devices that already cost hundreds more. However, our job is to tell you what’s best – and the Pro display is very innovative. It is also always, unlike the screens of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, so you can see your notifications at a glance without having to physically touch the device.

Another step is the camera system. The iPhone 16 Pro has a trio of rear cameras: a 48-megapixel main camera, a 48MP ultrawide shooter and a 12MP telephoto camera. That last one is big, because the regular iPhone 16 lacks a dedicated telephoto lens altogether. On top of that, the Pro’s main camera has a larger sensor, so it’s better in low-light environments, and it supports fashion image at night. You can take a sharper one macro shots for close-ups, and has other fancy features like the ability to shoot ProRAW or record 4K Dolby Vision and ProRes video up to 120 frames per second. If none of this jargon means anything to you, know that the regular iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are still great point-and-shoot cameras. Those devices can now also take macro photos; they are the same upgrade Photo Styles feature that helps touch up shots you might find over-processed; and they share the new Camera Control button for quick (if sometimes awkward) access to the camera app, adjusting settings and snapping photos. All that said, the 16 Pro is better, especially if you take your photos with less intent.

The Pro NEED also gets better battery life, though it’s not the longest-lasting smartphone we’ve tested. Apple rates it for up to 27 hours of video playback, up from 22 hours with the standard iPhone 16, but both devices will probably need a top-up before you go to bed. The base battery model is easier to replacetoo, which is aggravating for Pro owners because of the higher price.

Apple has been very straightforward in selling each iPhone 16 on how they work on its new one “Apple Intelligence” AI featuresbut you shouldn’t base any purchasing decisions on it now. As of this writing, tricks include a slightly stronger Siri, email and notification summaries, writing help and uses, a cleansing feature that can remove unwanted objects from photos (like Google’s Magic eraser) and “” custom emoji maker, among OTHERS. More updates will come over time.

Some of these AI features can be useful at points; other times… not much. A few of them will really change the way you use a smartphone today, and if anyone needs help writing a paragraph long email or reading a short article for debate (to put it in charity). For now, it’s best to look at Apple Intelligence as an interesting first step toward a future that may or may not materialize down the road.

While we think the iPhone 16 Pro is a great flagship, our next pick should be better suited to those who don’t mind a larger device and want a phone that can last all day. day.