2024 is the year when I can finally say that the iPhone 16 is the perfect choice in the latest iPhone line-up. Of course, it misses out on many Pro features like a ProMotion display, a telephoto camera, and better camera sensors, which are limited to expensive Pro models. But still, the iPhone 16s (iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus) are far bigger upgrades in terms of features set and overall capability this year.
Starting with the A18 chip under the hood, which is a two-generation jump this time around. And, not to forget, there is 8GB of RAM, the same as the Pro models. The dual cameras have also been realigned, and I will talk in detail about why Apple returned to the iPhone 11 setup in a bit. Of course, there are some misses, too.
This year, Apple sent us the iPhone 16 Plus, so I will add references that should make it easier for you to understand which one suits you better: the vanilla 
iPhone 16 Plus Primary Sensor Daylight Shots
Compared to the 16 Pro Max, the 16 Plus is easier to handle with Camera Control thanks to the 6.7-inch screen size, which is convenient – if you have big hands. For people who prefer a smaller form factor, there’s the iPhone 16 with a 6.1-inch screen.
Portrait mode in action
Jumping back to the cameras, the iPhone 16 Plus can capture some fantastic daylight shots with fine details in the scene. Images are sharp and offer excellent dynamic range. The colours are pleasant and remain as natural as possible. Portraits come out well with accurate depth estimation. Apple has also introduced new Photographic Styles, which offer more custom options to let you personalise how you or your subject appears in photos. The new control pad provides more flexibility when clicking photos. The optical zoom also works flawlessly and offers a solid option for shutterbugs. The zooming capability is limited because of the lack of a telephoto camera.
Ultrawide samples from the iPhone 16 Plus
The ultrawide sensor is liked because of its versatility in capturing more of the scene, and this time, Apple has made it more capable. It is claimed to capture up to 2.6 times more light. The good news is that the ultrawide camera allows macro photography this time around.
Ultrawide shots come out really well with more details and solid colours. Autofocus is a big addition that makes your life easier by automatically autofocusing. Macro shots made possible with the new ultrawide setup also come out well.
Low-light samples from the iPhone 16 Plus
Even low-light photos come out well with the iPhone 16 Plus. The primary sensor is solid for night shots, and the details are intact. Ultrawide shots at night are decent, though not as great as daytime shots. Selfies come out well, and there is no complaint in this regard, including the skin tones, which are as natural as they can be.
Video upgrades are fantastic and one of the reasons that makes the iPhones the go-to devices for video needs. Overall, the iPhone 16 Plus packs capable cameras that can shoot wonderful shots in day and night.
iPhone 16 Plus gets the latest-generation Photographic Styles
iPhone 16 Plus Battery: Will blow you away
- Video Playback – Up to 27 hours (Claimed)
- Charging – Up to 50% in 35 minutes
- Supports USB 2
iPhone 16 Plus is a dark horse when it comes to battery performance. In my tests, the iPhone 16 Plus beat the 16 Pro Max multiple times in terms of screen time.
iPhone 16 Plus offers better battery performance compared to 15 Plus and 14 Plus
Compared to the 16 Pro Max’s best battery performance (8 hours and 30 minutes), the 16 Plus offered me 9 hours and 37 minutes of screen time with heavy usage that included a couple of hours of gaming as well as streaming a two-hour movie on Netflix apart from apps like Outlook, Gmail, WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, clicking photos and videos using the Camera app and also including regular calls of about 50 minutes in a full day. Technically, the iPhone 16 Plus lasted 1.5 days easily with heavy usage which is way more than what Android flagships guarantee. In our HD video loop test, the iPhone 16 Plus managed 27 hours and 20 minutes of playback time.
SCREENSHOT
Charging remains the biggest Achilles heel of the new iPhone 16 Plus. It can charge up to 50 percent in 35 minutes, but a full charge takes around 120 minutes, which isn’t ideal compared to the competition. The 16 Plus packs USB 2, which is slightly disappointing.
The iPhone 16 Plus weighs under 200 grams
iPhone 16 Plus Verdict
The iPhone 16 raises the bar for what vanilla iPhone models could do. The iPhone 16 (and 16 Plus) gets an A18 chip, which promises superior performance compared to Android flagships in the market. The cameras are solid, and you get two new buttons – Action and Camera Control. The battery backup is impressive, and the build quality is top-notch. It also gets an IP68 rating for peace of mind and is a fantastic device for high-graphics gaming in its latest avatar. The display quality is superb. Of course, a few things could be improved, like slow charging and 60Hz refresh rate at this price point, making this look slightly out of place compared to Android flagships.
The iPhone 16 series is available in 5 attractive colours
So, who should buy it? If you purchased an iPhone 15 (Review) or 15 Plus last year, you can give this a miss. However, for people still using the iPhone 14 or older models, the iPhone 16 promises much bigger upgrades. Thanks to festive sales, the iPhone 15 is selling at lower price points, making it a viable competitor to the iPhone 16.
If you want the absolute best performance and do not want to compromise on any aspect, then the iPhone 16 Pro Max sits at the top, and you can read our review here.
