What model should you buy?

Original release date: September 20, 2024 | Storage capacity: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Screen size: 6.3 inches | Characteristics: A18 Pro Chip, 120Hz Always-On ProMotion Display, USB-C Port (USB 3), Titanium Frame, Camera Control Button, Action Button, 25W MagSafe Charging | Cameras: 48MP wide angle, 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 would recommend to most people. Yes, its $999 starting price may be steep, but a smartphone is a long-term investment. If the question is “which iPhone is most likely to keep you happy for the next three to five years,” we think the iPhone 16 Pro’s advantages over the standard iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are still significant enough to be worth the $100. -200 additional dollars – even if the gap is not as wide as it has been in previous years.

On the one hand, the iPhone 16 Pro’s titanium frame feels of higher quality than the aluminum of the basic iPhone 16. It’s a little 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 nice to hold. It’s powered by the slightly faster A18 Pro chip, which doesn’t make a huge difference in everyday tasks, but it’s still more future-proof, especially if you have any 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 improvement is the screen. While the OLED panels on the iPhone 16 Pro and the standard iPhone 16 are equally sharp and bright, the former is roomier at 6.3 inches (instead of 6.1 inches), even though the phone itself is only 0.08 inch taller and 0.02 inch thicker. This is mainly due to the Pro’s slimmer bezels, which give you more space for streaming videos and reading web pages on a device that’s not much more uncomfortable to hold.

On top of that, the Pro’s display has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, which can make scrolling web pages, gaming, and streaming videos noticeably smoother. Some will tell you that the average person doesn’t need this, and it’s true that not everything plays at 120Hz. But using a smartphone is nothing more than interacting with a small screen, and once you’ve seen a faster refresh rate in action, it’s hard to give up.

It’s a frustrating situation: You can get a cheap Android phone with a 120Hz screen for about $300, but Apple keeps using “ProMotion” as a way to upsell devices that already cost hundreds more. However, it’s our job to tell you what’s best, and the Pro’s screen is simply more current. It’s also always on, unlike the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus screens, so you can see your notifications at a glance without having to physically touch the device.

Another step forward is the camera system. The iPhone 16 Pro has a trio of rear cameras: a 48-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera. The latter is the problem, as the regular iPhone 16 completely lacks a dedicated telephoto lens. Beyond that, the Pro’s main camera has a larger sensor, so it’s a little better in low-light environments, plus it supports fashion portrait at night. You can take sharper macro shots for close-ups, and there are other enthusiastic 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 excellent point-and-shoot cameras. Those devices can now take macro photos as well; they have the same updated photography styles feature that can help you retouch shots that you may find over-processed; and share the new Camera control Button for quick (if sometimes awkward) access to the camera app, adjust settings, and take photos. All that said, the 16 Pro is better, especially if you take your photos with a little more intention.

The professional ought You also get better battery life, although it’s certainly not the longest-lasting smartphone we’ve tested. Apple rates it with up to 27 hours of video playback, compared to 22 hours for the standard iPhone 16, but both devices will likely need a recharge before bed. The base model’s battery is also easier to replace, which irritates Pro owners given the higher price.

Apple is bluntly selling each iPhone 16 based on how well they will work with its new model, but you shouldn’t base any purchasing decisions on them at this time. At the time of writing, the tricks include a slightly more robust Siri, notification and email summaries, and a feature that can remove unwanted objects from photos (much like Google ), . More features will arrive in the coming months. Some of these may be useful at certain points; other times… . Little about them will really change the way you use a smartphone today, and whether anyone needs help writing a one-paragraph email or reading a short article is a matter of debate (to put it charitably). For now, it might be best to view Apple Intelligence as an intriguing first step toward a future that may or may not be realized in the future.

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