iPhone 16 Plus Review: Best Big Screen iPhone Ever & Surprisingly Affordable!

Quick Take: Apple iPhone 16 Plus

The iPhone 16 Plus raises the question: do I really need a 120Hz display or a telephoto camera? These aren’t essentials, but rather luxuries we’ve grown accustomed to. After spending a week with the iPhone 16 Plus, showcased in a stunning Ultramarine shade, it’s evident that this large-screen iPhone will please many. It introduces significant upgrades including the handy Apple Action Button for customization, though the Camera Control and the A18 processor are the true stars here.

Featuring a 48-megapixel main camera and a 12MP ultrawide camera, the iPhone 16 Plus doesn’t revolutionize photography from its predecessors, but it enhances the experience significantly. The improved processing power, new photo styles, and Camera Control enrich the photo-taking experience, setting it apart from the iPhone 15 Plus. This device transforms the art of photography, allowing real-time adjustments to effects, zoom, and focus.

The introduction of the new Camera interface somewhat overshadows the debut of the Action Button. However, this button is still a significant addition and aligns well with the overall theme of iOS 18.

While no longer the leader in battery life—that title now belongs to the iPhone 16 Pro Max—the iPhone 16 Plus remains a powerhouse. It reliably carries you through the day right into the night, and benefits from improved charging speeds.

All things considered, the iPhone 16 Plus is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a feature-rich big-screen iPhone without the premium cost. It offers a blend of unique features like the Camera Control and solid performance from the A18 chip, along with enhancements that have trickled down from the more expensive models. The storage options begin at 128GB, which could be more generous, but the vibrant color options might distract you from this minor shortfall.

There’s no urgent need to upgrade from the iPhone 15 Plus unless photography is a priority. However, anyone with an iPhone 14 Plus or older will notice significant improvements in performance, camera quality, battery life, and support for upcoming Apple Intelligence features. Note that AI features are expected to roll out by October 2024.

Availability and Pricing of the Apple iPhone 16 Plus

The iPhone 16 Plus, along with its siblings, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models, is currently available for pre-order, with an official release set for September 20, 2024. Prospective buyers might be able to receive their device on launch day or pick it up in-store.

The device comes in 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage configurations, with color options including Teal, Ultramarine, Pink, Black, and White. The pricing remains consistent with last year’s models, starting at $899 / £899 / AU$1,599 for the 128GB version. Prices increase with larger storage capacities.

Specifications Review: Apple iPhone 16 Plus

Design Highlights of the Apple iPhone 16 Plus

• A lighter 6.7-inch iPhone compared to the Pro Max
• Ultramarine is my top pick, though Pink and Teal are equally vibrant
• The versatile Camera Control is a standout feature

It’s challenging to distinguish the iPhone 16 Plus from its predecessor, the iPhone 15 Plus, especially from the front. Both models feature a USB-C port, color-coordinated aluminum sides, and similar button placements.

The previously familiar ringer silencer has been replaced by the new Action Button, a feature that migrated from the iPhone 15 Pro models. This button allows for significant customization through the Shortcuts app, offering a variety of quick actions like unlocking a car or accessing commuter train tickets with a long press.

Below the Action Button are the volume controls, while the right side houses the power button alongside the new Camera Control, which is cleverly integrated about a third of the way down. This new control is not just a button but a versatile tool that enhances the photographic experience, allowing users to wake the phone, open the camera, or take a picture with sequential presses.

Camera Control, made from sapphire glass, supports presses, light touches, and swipes, thanks to its advanced force sensor and Taptic Engine, providing tactile feedback similar to a high-quality keyboard.

The redesigned camera bump at the back now features two vertically aligned cameras instead of the previous square layout, supporting new features like Spatial Photos and Videos for use with the Apple Vision Pro headset. The cameras themselves are encircled by color-matching rims, adding to the aesthetic appeal.

The iPhone 16 Plus continues to sport a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display, maintaining the same dimensions as the iPhone 15 Plus but at a slightly lighter weight of 199 grams compared to 201 grams, though this difference is barely noticeable. The phone still requires two hands for comfortable use but feels less cumbersome due to its balanced ergonomics.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

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Display Features of the Apple iPhone 16 Plus

• The 6.7-inch screen is perfect for enjoying content like photos and videos
• Lacks a 120Hz always-on panel
• The display remains exceptionally bright, similar to the iPhone 15 Plus

The iPhone 16 Plus features a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display with a resolution of 2556 x 1179. This vibrant display offers excellent brightness, making it suitable for use in bright outdoor or indoor environments. The large screen size enhances the viewing experience for various content types.

While gaming titles like Resident Evil or Asphalt 9 benefit from the display’s smoothness, color accuracy, and contrast, the iPhone 16 Plus does not include the 120Hz refresh rate or always-on functionality found in the Pro models. These features are reserved for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which boasts ProMotion technology.

Although I regularly use an iPhone 15 Pro Max with ProMotion and always-on display, I haven’t missed these features significantly while using the iPhone 16 Plus. The display’s performance is still impressive, whether watching movies, reviewing photos, or engaging with interactive media, thanks to the beta version of Apple Intelligence—though keep in mind that full AI capabilities will not be available at launch unless you are running an iOS 18 beta.

The iPhone 16 Plus replaces the traditional notch with a Dynamic Island, a pill-shaped cutout that integrates seamlessly with iOS for Live Activities. This allows information to dynamically adjust around the cutout, expanding or contracting as needed. The implementation is clever, with apps like Uber and airlines like United utilizing Dynamic Island to display relevant information such as travel time or boarding details.

Embedded within the Dynamic Island is Apple’s Face ID technology, which remains unchanged, allowing secure unlocking and authentication for actions like Apple Pay. The front-facing camera, used for selfies and video calls, continues to be a 12MP sensor.

• Display score: 4 / 5

Software Enhancements and Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 16 Plus

• iOS 18 introduces subtle yet impactful changes
• Math Notes feature is available at launch in the Calculator and Notes apps, offering practical assistance
• Apple Intelligence features are set to debut in October in select markets

iOS 18, which comes pre-installed on the iPhone 16 Plus, isn’t a complete overhaul but rather a series of thoughtful adjustments that enhance the user experience. The update was released on September 16, coinciding with the phone’s launch.

One of the notable changes is the ability to customize the layout of apps on the home screen. Users can now create spaces between app icons or leave entire rows empty, allowing for more personalized and visually appealing arrangements.

The Messages app has received several enhancements, including support for RCS Messaging, the ability to schedule messages for later delivery, and the option to react with any emoji to received iMessages. Users can also employ new text effects such as bold, underline, and wavy text to add emphasis and creativity to their conversations.

For those who often find themselves dealing with mathematical equations, the Math Notes feature is a welcome addition. Integrated into both the Calculator and Notes apps, this tool allows users to write out equations and see solutions presented in a handwriting style that mimics their own. This feature is particularly useful on the iPhone 16 Plus, given its large display, which provides ample space for writing equations with a finger.

While Math Notes is powered by on-device machine learning, it is not part of the Apple Intelligence suite, which is Apple’s formal foray into artificial intelligence. Apple Intelligence is scheduled to arrive on the iPhone 16 Plus with the release of iOS 18.1 in October 2024.

During my testing of the iPhone 16 Plus, I also experimented with a developer beta version of iOS 18.1 to get an early look at Apple Intelligence. When it launches next month, it will introduce a selection of AI-driven features that aim to be practical and user-friendly, rather than overwhelming.

One of the new features is a “Reduce Interruptions” focus mode, designed to filter out less important notifications and highlight those that require immediate attention. This could include alerts from banks, urgent messages from supervisors, family texts, or important sports scores, while potentially hiding less critical notifications like social media updates or promotional emails. I found this feature helpful in managing notification overload, although it’s important to monitor it closely initially to ensure no crucial alerts are missed.

Apple Intelligence also offers a notification summarization tool, which condenses groups of notifications into brief descriptions. This feature has proven useful in making notifications more actionable, although it occasionally requires a second look to fully understand the context of the summarized messages.

Photo editing on the iPhone 16 Plus is enhanced by the larger screen, making it a more enjoyable and efficient process. Apple has introduced its own version of a feature similar to Google’s Magic Eraser, found on Pixel phones. The “Clean Up” tool in the Photos app allows users to quickly and seamlessly remove unwanted elements from photos, such as background figures or objects.

The performance of this feature is slightly faster on the iPhone 16 Plus compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which uses the A17 Pro chip. The tool not only suggests elements for removal but also prepares these changes in the background, streamlining the editing process.

Apple’s approach to integrating artificial intelligence aims to be helpful and non-intrusive, avoiding the pitfalls of some AI implementations that may feel overwhelming or invasive. This initial release of Apple Intelligence, with its focus on practicality and user-friendliness, aligns well with these goals, and I look forward to exploring its capabilities further as more features are rolled out.

• Software and Apple Intelligence score: 4 / 5

Camera Capabilities of the iPhone 16 Plus

• Camera Control revolutionizes photo-taking
• Enhanced image processing delivers improved photo quality, especially in low-light conditions
• Recording in 4K at 60 frames per second is impressive, but the ability to slow footage down is even more exciting

The iPhone 16 Plus retains a similar camera setup to the iPhone 15 Plus, with a 48MP main camera and a 12MP ultrawide camera that now doubles as a macro lens. The primary camera features a f/1.6 aperture and optical image stabilization, helping to prevent blurry images.

The ultrawide camera has been updated with hardware improvements borrowed from the iPhone 15 Pro, along with new software enhancements powered by the A18 chip. These changes allow for better light capture, enhancing clarity in night photography.

The 48MP main camera uses pixel binning to combine every four pixels into one, resulting in 24MP images. My testing, as highlighted in the gallery below, demonstrates that these photos are rich in detail and offer a balanced approach to color reproduction. The iPhone 16 Plus automatically detects people or pets in the frame, providing the option to apply a Portrait effect, which is quite convenient.

The camera also allows for 2x digital zoom using the full 48MP sensor, which is particularly effective for close-up shots of individuals or groups without compromising image clarity.

Photographic Styles, a new feature rolled out across all iPhone 16 models, can be accessed directly on the screen or through a light double-press of the Camera Control button. These styles, which can be likened to advanced filters, offer extensive customization within the Camera or Photos apps. Users can swipe between different styles to see real-time previews and make adjustments to suit their preferences.

Additionally, Camera Control enables adjustments to skin tones to ensure accurate capture. This feature offers five options for skin tone adjustments that can be fine-tuned and combined with standard photographic styles.

Photo effects are rendered instantly, likely due to the combined processing power of the GPU, Neural Engine, and increased RAM in the iPhone 16 Plus. Camera Control also allows users to adjust zoom, exposure, and depth of field in real-time before capturing an image. Although the ability to focus and shoot with two presses on the camera control is not available at launch, it is a highly anticipated feature.

The ultrawide 12-megapixel camera is no longer limited to capturing wide-angle shots; it now supports macro photography, bringing this capability to more affordable iPhone models. This feature allows for close-up exploration of objects, providing a fresh perspective. I also appreciated the improved low-light performance during an outdoor concert at night, where the iPhone 16 Plus managed fluctuating light conditions effortlessly.

From a video standpoint, the iPhone 16 Plus can record in 4K at 60 frames per second with Dolby Vision support, making it a valuable tool for content creators. An exciting addition is the ability to slow down recorded video to 30 frames per second, creating dramatic slow-motion effects. This feature processes quickly and is accessible within the Photos app under the edits section.

The new Audio Mix feature utilizes the built-in microphones of the iPhone 16 Plus to allow users to remix captured audio. Several presets are available, including Standard, In-Frame, Studio, and Cinematic, each of which can be further customized to reduce or enhance background noise. This functionality is surprisingly effective and could potentially eliminate the need for additional audio equipment for some creators, or at least provide a backup option if external microphones are forgotten.

• Cameras score: 4.5 / 5

Sample Photos from the iPhone 16 Plus Camera

Performance Insights on the Apple iPhone 16 Plus

• The A18 chip provides ample processing power
• It’s challenging to push the iPhone 16 Plus to its limits

The iPhone 16 Plus is equipped with the new A18 chipset, which includes a 6-core CPU, a 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine, complemented by 8GB of RAM. This powerful combination ensures that iOS 18—and my early access to iOS 18.1—runs exceptionally smoothly, without any noticeable slowdowns.

Regular tasks such as web browsing, app usage, video streaming, and email management are executed swiftly. Extended camera use can drain the battery somewhat, but it does not cause the iPhone 16 Plus to slow down or overheat.

Gaming performance is also robust, with high-end games and mobile titles running smoothly, even when sharing my screen through SharePlay. The device does warm up slightly under these conditions, but not excessively.

Overall, the A18 chip seems to provide more than enough processing headroom. Apple has designed the iPhone 16 Plus with future-proofing in mind, particularly to accommodate the upcoming Apple Intelligence features. This foresight suggests that the iPhone 16 Plus will continue to perform well for several years.

The performance of the iPhone 16 Plus has led me to question the need for the Pro models—if the iPhone 16 Plus handles all tasks with ease, how much faster could the iPhone 16 Pro possibly be?

In extensive benchmark tests conducted by Future Labs, the iPhone 16 Plus achieved scores of 3,302 in single-core and 8,042 in multi-core tests using GeekB