Also: We’ve used every iPhone 16 model and here’s our best buying advice for 2024
However, once you factor in all the new features, including the Action button, Camera Control, and Apple Intelligence, the standard iPhones feel more capable than ever — so much so that I’m not feeling much Pro model FOMO. It helps that they look better than ever, with bold and tasteful colors that most people will be drawn to when they walk inside an Apple store. I guarantee it.
The iPhone 16 Plus (7.03 ounces) weighs slightly less than the iPhone 15 Plus (7.1 ounces).
Kerry Wan/ZDNET
There’s also a new Camera Control located on the bottom right side of the phones, which looks and functions like the one on the Pro versions. At the most basic level, pressing the Camera Control snaps a photo or starts a video recording. For some Apple magic, a lighter, more gentle press of the same key (Apple tells me not to call it a button) brings up a slider for your most recent camera setting, whether that’s zoom range, exposure, or f-stop.
Also: Apple says the iPhone 16 is a lot easier to repair than its predecessor. Here’s how
A double light press on Camera Control brings up a carousel of shooting modes and settings, each of which you can access with another light press. Lastly, swiping on the touch-capacitive surface will dial between the settings. That’s to say, Camera Control has a learning curve, so much so that I wouldn’t have been mad if Apple made the feature exclusive to the Pro models. Because it’s not, it will be many users’ first experience with adjusting camera settings at such a finite level, and that’s very exciting.
For lefties, you can also flip the phone so the cameras are on the right side and press the key with your thumb.
Kerry Wan/ZDNET
While it works both ways, Camera Control encourages you to position the iPhone in landscape orientation, playing to the 16’s newest ability to capture immersive spatial photos and videos for VR. It’s another feature that’s trickled down from last year’s Pro model, but nothing I’d stress using. Much like how you’ll need an elusive 8K TV to watch 8K videos, you’ll need a compatible VR headset to consume spatial content. I’ve watched several spatial videos on both the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3, and while they’re much more immersive than any other digital content out there, the ability to capture them should be seen as a bonus and not a requisite as you consider the iPhone 16.
Also: Every iPhone 16 model features a new camera button. Here’s what it can do
Something you’re more likely to take advantage of: the new 12MP ultrawide camera. With an f/2.2 aperture (versus last year’s f/2.4), the iPhone 16 can pull in more light (read: capture more details both during the day and night) and take macro shots, much like how the iPhone 15 Pro did with its ultrawide lens.
Both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus feature a 48MP Fusion camera (26mm, f/1.6) that shoots at 24MP via pixel-binning by default.
Kerry Wan/ZDNET
While I hoped to see at least a 90Hz refresh rate on the new iPhones, assuming that ProMotion (120Hz) was restricted to Pro devices only, Apple continues to ship the standard models with 60Hz panels. This isn’t a deal-breaker by any means, and frankly, users coming from older non-Pro iPhone models won’t know what they’re missing. Rendering fewer frames also helps the iPhone 16’s battery life, which, so far, has been sufficient enough to last me about a day and a half per charge.
But in 2024, when even a $150 Android phone comes with smoother display tech, a 90Hz panel, let alone a 120Hz panel, would’ve made me instantly upgrade from an iPhone 14 or 15.
Also: How iOS 18 changes the way you charge your iPhone
To Apple’s credit, it did bump up the wireless charging speed (up to 25W via MagSafe) on iPhone 16 models, though wired charging rates remain at 20W. From my testing, the iPhone 16 Plus charged from 0% to 100% in roughly one hour and 47 minutes, which is noticeably slower than most flagship phones ($700+) on the market. But, again, if you’re coming from an older non-Pro iPhone, the speeds won’t impress or disappoint you.
The state of Apple Intelligence (for now)
There’s one thing I haven’t mentioned yet in this review, and that’s Apple Intelligence, the suite of artificial intelligence tools scattered across iOS 18. That’s because the bulk of the AI experience, which includes a revamped Siri, call recording, and text generation, won’t be readily available until October, though you can download the iOS 18.1 public beta today.
Until then, I’ll continue to evaluate the iPhone 16 for what it is, and you should consider it for what it offers today. That means buying it for the performant A18 chipset, the more flexible camera system, and the exceptional battery life. If you value one-handed usability and comfort, go with the smaller iPhone 16. Everything else about the two models, from the camera systems to the processors to the charging speeds, are identical.
ZDNET’s review team spends upwards of a year testing the ins and outs of every major phone release, evaluating the day-to-day performance, camera quality, battery life and endurance, and special features. Here’s a breakdown of every factor we consider before we make recommendations:
- Design and ergonomics: How good a phone looks and feels plays a big role in many users’ buying journeys, so we consider these aspects heavily when testing.
- Performance: Several factors affect a phone’s performance, including LTE/5G signal, battery life, and background tasks. Therefore, we typically begin our evaluations with a fully charged handset, all background tasks closed, and as stable a mobile connection as possible.
- Camera quality: ZDNET tests phone cameras by capturing hundreds of photos and videos of various subjects and in various lighting conditions. We also compare the output to that of older models.
- Battery life and charging: It’s also important for us to evaluate how long phones last under light, moderate, and heavy usage, how long they take to recharge, and how they do it (wired, wireless, or both).
- Special features: These features distinguish tested devices from a bustling smartphone market and hopefully bring added value to users, not the opposite.
- Pricing and availability: Beyond budget considerations, we also note if a phone is available in the US or only internationally.
For a more extensive breakdown, check out our comprehensive phone testing methodology page.
Source : ZDNet