The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are

smartphone A smartphone is a mobile phone with advanced computing capabilities. It typically has a touchscreen interface, allowing users to access a wide range of applications and services, such as web browsing, email, and social media, as well as multi ...

s developed and marketed by

Apple An apple is a round, edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus'' spp.). Fruit trees of the orchard or domestic apple (''Malus domestica''), the most widely grown in the genus, are agriculture, cultivated worldwide. The tree originated ...

. They are the eighteenth-generation

iPhone The iPhone is a line of smartphones developed and marketed by Apple that run iOS, the company's own mobile operating system. The first-generation iPhone was announced by then–Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs on January 9, 2007, at ...

s, succeeding the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. The devices were announced alongside the higher-priced iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max during the Apple Event at Apple Park in

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, on September 9, 2024.

History

The devices were unveiled during an event on September 9, 2024, marking the first time an iPhone release had been announced on a Monday. It is also the first iPhone not to include Apple stickers in the box, as Apple removed them for environmental reasons. Stickers can be included if a customer asks for them at an Apple Store.

Design

The iPhone 16 is equipped with an aluminum design with a color infused (all but White) glass back. Like the iPhone 15, the device features rounded edges, a slightly curved display, and back glass. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have a vertical camera layout, similar to the iPhone 12, as opposed to the diagonal layout for iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and iPhone 15. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus come in five colors: Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, and Black.

Hardware

The iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Plus use an Apple A18

system on a chip A system on a chip (SoC) is an integrated circuit that combines most or all key components of a computer or Electronics, electronic system onto a single microchip. Typically, an SoC includes a central processing unit (CPU) with computer memory, ...

. The chip is optimized for running

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and features a Neural Engine that is twice as fast as its predecessor. The iPhone 16 includes an updated 48-megapixel Fusion camera, the same resolution as the iPhone 15, with 2 μm, quad pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). It has a new ultrawide camera with a wider aperture, automatic focus and 1.4 μm, 100% Focus Pixels. The iPhone 16 International model supports Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM, while the US model is eSIM only and the China model does not have any eSIM support. All ‌iPhone 16‌ models have an improved thermal design. The main logic board has been updated, centralizing chip placement and optimizing the surrounding architecture. The recycled aluminum substructure dissipates heat for up to 30 percent higher sustained performance for gaming. Every model in the iPhone 16 lineup has support for WiFi 7.

Display

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus retain their screen sizes of 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches, respectively. They use Super Retina XDR OLED display technology and feature a full-edge screen design with slim borders. The iPhone 16 has a resolution of 2556x1179 pixels, while the iPhone 16 Plus has a resolution of 2796x1290 pixels. Both run on a 60 hz refresh rate and neither are flicker free due to the use of pulse-width modulation for brightness control.

Camera

iPhone 16 features a more refined dual-lens array on the back, with a 48 megapixel Fusion wide-angle lens and 12 megapixel ultra-wide lens. The cameras are now aligned vertically for the first time since the iPhone 12, instead of diagonally like on the iPhone 15, enabling spatial video capture. There is also an improved Photographic Styles feature for real-time lighting and color adjustments, allowing specific tones and colors to be manipulated.

Action Button

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus come with the Action Button, which was first featured on the iPhone 15 Pro lineup. By default, the Action Button toggles silent mode. However, users can change the button's feature to do different things other than silent mode, like open the Camera app or toggle a focus mode.

Camera Control button

All iPhone 16 models now come with a new button called Camera Control. This button is on the right side of the device and allows the user to open the camera app, switch between different camera controls and features, and take photos and videos. The button can distinguish between light and hard presses. By pressing the button once, it opens the camera app. By lightly pressing it twice, it opens a small menu with different camera controls, such as zoom or tone. Pressing the button hard once takes a photo, while holding for a few seconds starts a video. The button can also be customized to open other apps that use the iPhone’s cameras, such as Magnifier, Code Scanner, or third party camera apps.

Battery and charging

The iPhone 16 has been upgraded in terms of battery capacity. The base iPhone 16 has a video playback duration of up to 22 hours, while the iPhone 16 Plus has a video playback of up to 27 hours. The iPhone 16 has a duration of audio playback of up to 80 hours, 20% less than the iPhone 16 Plus with 100 hours of audio playback. The MagSafe wireless charging standard has been refreshed with a longer cable as an option, allowing the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus to charge at a faster speed of 25W with a 30W power adapter.

Software

The iPhone 16 launched with iOS 18. While the device was announced alongside Apple Intelligence, these features were delayed until after release. iOS 18 includes RecoveryOS on the iPhone 16 series that allows users to recover and restore

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wirelessly using another iPhone. Prior to the launch of iOS 18.4, Apple added the ability to open Visual Intelligence by customizing the Action button or Lock Screen, or opening Control Center on the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Plus, in addition to the ability to press and hold the Camera Control button to open the Visual Intelligence.

Release and pricing

The iPhone 16 has a starting price of , while the iPhone 16 Plus starts at . Pre-orders began on September 13, 2024, and sales started September 20.

Availability by region

; September 20, 2024 *

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; September 26, 2024 *

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; October 18, 2024 *

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Indonesian sales ban

On October 20, 2024, the Indonesian Ministry of Industry announced a formal ban on the sale and use of iPhone 16 models in Indonesia, citing that Apple has not fulfilled their promised investments in the country, and failing to meet the 40% local content requirement threshold for certification. Apple subsequently offered a $100 million investment in exchange for lifting of the ban, but the Ministry of Industry rejected this offer, stating that it "has not met principles of fairness" and demanded a larger amount, which later said to be at least $1 billion. After further negotiations, which included the plan to build manufacturing, research and development facilities, the Ministry of Industry lifted the ban on February 26, 2025, with Apple now in the process of obtaining a local content certificate for selling the iPhone 16 models in Indonesia, starting from April 11.

Reception

The iPhone 16 has received positive feedback for several aspects but also shows a few limitations. The upgraded design is a favourite, bringing a refreshed aesthetic with the available vibrant color options, which feel more dynamic than past models. The display maintains Apple's Super Retina HDR quality but is limited to a 60 Hz refresh rate, which some users find outdated compared to faster displays on cheaper competitor phones. The iPhone 16 Plus has been praised, weighing 30 grams less and having longer battery life than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, while having a similar screen size to the Pro Max. The "base model iPhone has often felt like a notable downgrade from its Pro counterparts, but that’s not the case this year", with the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus having enough features to make the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max somewhat redundant.

References

{{Apple Inc. hardware *16 Mobile phones introduced in 2024 Mobile phones with 4K video recording Mobile phones with multiple rear cameras Flagship smartphones