The iPhone 16 Pro feels like one of Apple’s most incomplete launches, with many of its key features delayed until future software updates that could stretch well into next year. Major highlights, such as the much-anticipated Apple Intelligence AI, are rolling out gradually, while smaller features, like the full functionality of the new Camera Control button, are also still missing. In our in-depth Apple iPhone 16 Pro review, we see what impact the missing launch promises have on the overall experience.
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Even minor touches, like the updated Siri animation teased with the tagline “It’s Glowtime” at the launch event, weren’t ready at release. Instead, users are stuck with the old Siri bubble until Apple Intelligence fully arrives.
Despite these setbacks, the iPhone 16 Pro does pack the same powerful hardware as the Pro Max, including the A18 Pro chip, a 48MP ultra-wide camera, and advanced video features like 4K 120fps slow-motion and Audio Mix for reducing background noise. Apple Intelligence features, such as Writing Tools and the revamped Siri, have started trickling in, but the complete experience is still a work in progress, leaving users waiting for the full realization of Apple’s promises.
Design & Build
The iPhone 16 Pro is a masterclass in build quality. Featuring the same titanium frame with a matte finish as the iPhone 15 Pro, it feels both durable and premium. The shift from stainless steel remains a welcome improvement, offering a lightweight and sturdy design. The flat edges are easy to grip, the rounded corners fit comfortably in hand, and the overall craftsmanship is flawless. While the hardware experience is nearly identical to last year’s model, it’s still among the best in the market.
The Action button returns, providing a convenient way to trigger functions like the flashlight, voice recording, or other shortcuts. While more customization options would be appreciated, its versatility is a strong point. Joining it this year is the new Camera Control button, a standout feature that redefines the iPhone’s photography experience.
Located on the right side, Camera Control lets users launch the camera app with a press, take a photo with another press, or record video by pressing and holding. The real innovation lies in its advanced functionality: a light press combined with a swipe enables adjustments to zoom, depth of field, and aperture. Though it takes some getting used to, the feature quickly becomes indispensable. It’s customizable too—allowing users to set it to open apps like Instagram. A slightly lower placement would improve ergonomics, but overall, it’s excellent.
Objectively, the iPhone 16 Pro’s hardware remains top-tier. However, its design feels overly familiar, resembling the iPhone 15 Pro, which itself echoed earlier models. This lack of visual evolution is disappointing, especially as the standard iPhone 16 introduces a refreshed camera design and vibrant new colors. While the Pro’s build quality is unmatched, its aesthetics could benefit from a more distinctive update.
Display
The iPhone 16 Pro’s display doesn’t bring many changes beyond its increased size, now measuring 6.3 inches. The main upgrade? A new dimmer minimum brightness of just 1 nit, down from 2 nits on the iPhone 15 Pro. When comparing the two side by side in a dark room, the difference is immediately noticeable.
Why does this matter? The lower brightness is ideal for nighttime use, making the display less disruptive when checking your phone in bed. It’s also beneficial in StandBy mode, where the screen doubles as an alarm clock, ensuring it doesn’t light up your room overnight.
Aside from this tweak, the display retains familiar features. It’s still a ProMotion OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and the same maximum brightness levels. Apple rates the iPhone 16 Pro at a peak outdoor brightness of 2,000 nits and 1,600 nits for HDR content.
In testing, under outdoor conditions, the display reached 1,500 nits. While this outperforms the Galaxy S24 Ultra, it lags behind the Google Pixel 9 Pro.
Overall, the iPhone 16 Pro’s screen delivers the same excellent experience as its predecessor, with the added benefit of being easier on the eyes in low light. It’s not a revolutionary upgrade, but it remains a solid and polished feature of the device.
Camera(s)
The iPhone 16 Pro boasts several notable camera upgrades that impressed me during testing: a sharper 48MP ultra-wide camera, a faster 48MP main Fusion Camera with “zero shutter lag,” and the addition of the 5x tetraprism zoom, previously exclusive to the Pro Max series.
Photographic Styles now integrate directly into the Camera and Photos apps, allowing real-time adjustments to Skin Undertones and the Mood effect of your photos. These settings can also be modified after the fact, providing more flexibility in editing.
To test its faster performance, I had my son capture a photo of me shooting a jump shot. The iPhone 16 Pro delivered a brighter and more detailed image compared to its predecessor, highlighting its enhanced capabilities.
The ultra-wide camera performed exceptionally in a shot of a beach, capturing more natural colors without the distortion that can sometimes occur in wide-angle shots. A close-up of a Halloween sign showcased vivid, rich colours, especially in the foreground, while maintaining excellent sharpness.
In a macro shot of a pink zinnia flower, the iPhone 16 Pro stood out with its sharp, detailed focus on the petals, demonstrating its strength in close-up photography. A portrait shot revealed bright and accurate skin tones, though slightly on the lighter side.
The iPhone 16 Pro excels in low light, as seen in a photo of a building at night where both the foreground and structure were well exposed. In a challenging shot of a string of lights, the iPhone 16 Pro captured impressive detail, particularly when zoomed in, showcasing its versatility.
With the same advanced camera system as the pricier iPhone 16 Pro Max, the iPhone 16 Pro proves to be a formidable contender in the flagship smartphone market, standing out for its balanced performance across a variety of photography scenarios.
Software
Apple’s highly anticipated Apple Intelligence is finally making its way to the iPhone 16 series. While the official rollout starting in October and rolling out in drips and drabs, I had the opportunity to preview some of its exciting features through the iOS 18.1 developer beta.
One of the standout features is Writing Tools. This powerful tool can summarize lengthy texts, rewrite content in different tones, and provide step-by-step instructions. For instance, I was able to effortlessly summarize notes and even rephrase a poorly worded email.
Apple Intelligence also enhances the Photos app with innovative features like Memory Movies. By simply providing a prompt, such as “Beach memories through the years with an upbeat soundtrack,” the AI sifts through your photo library to create captivating video memories.
The Clean Up button, inspired by Google’s Magic Eraser, is another welcome addition. While it effectively removes unwanted objects from photos, it may sometimes struggle with complex scenarios.
Siri, the voice assistant, has undergone a significant transformation with Apple Intelligence. It’s now more conversational, understands context better, and can handle follow-up questions with ease. You can even interact with Siri through text input, making it accessible in various situations.
While Apple Intelligence is still in its early stages, it holds immense potential to revolutionize the iPhone experience. As it continues to evolve, we can expect even more impressive capabilities in the future.
Performance
The iPhone 16 Pro delivers the performance you’d expect from a top-tier smartphone. Whether you’re multitasking across apps, diving into the latest games, or exploring the new Photographic Styles in the camera app, the iPhone 16 Pro handles everything effortlessly.
This seamless performance is powered by Apple’s A18 Pro chip, one of the most advanced smartphone processors available. No matter how demanding the task, the iPhone 16 Pro proves itself capable and reliable.
However, there is one performance hiccup worth noting. During one intensive session, where I switched frequently between Microsoft Teams, Asana, and the Arc web browser on a 5G connection, the phone became noticeably hot—uncomfortably so. This issue hasn’t occurred again, and it was admittedly a heavy-use scenario, but it’s something to keep in mind.
Despite this isolated instance, the iPhone 16 Pro has consistently demonstrated excellent performance, maintaining its status as a powerful and efficient device for virtually any use case.
Battery
Battery life on the iPhone 16 Pro has been underwhelming, especially compared to previous models. Starting my day at 6:30 or 7 a.m. with a full charge, I often find myself at 20% or less by 5 p.m.
This performance pales in comparison to the regular iPhone 16, which my wife uses. Her phone typically lasts until 11 p.m. with over 30% battery remaining under similar usage patterns. While I’m hopeful that the battery life might improve over time, after a couple of weeks with the device, it remains a phone I need to recharge by the early evening. It’s frustrating because I love using the iPhone 16 Pro but wish I could enjoy it longer before reaching for the charger.
When it comes to charging, wired speeds remain the same as previous models—up to 50% in 30 minutes. However, MagSafe charging has received a boost, now supporting up to 25W with a 30W or faster charging block. The faster MagSafe charging is a welcome improvement, but Apple’s wired charging still feels outdated. In a market where phones like the OnePlus 12 can go from 0 to 100% in just 30 minutes, the iPhone 16 Pro’s over-an-hour charging time feels sluggish by comparison.
While the charging improvements are appreciated, there’s room for Apple to step up in both battery life and charging speeds to better compete with industry leaders.
Conclusion
The iPhone 16 Pro stands out as one of the best flagship smartphones in its price range. It offers the same impressive cameras as the pricier iPhone 16 Pro Max while maintaining a more manageable size and a 6.3-inch display that’s easy to use one-handed.
There are some drawbacks, though. Battery life leaves much to be desired, and while the new Camera Control feature is innovative, it may not see widespread use. On the bright side, features like the Audio Mix for videos add real value, and Apple Intelligence introduces exciting tools like Writing Tools, the revamped Siri, and Cleanup. However, more ambitious features such as ChatGPT integration, Image Playground, and the Google Lens-like Visual Intelligence are rolling out gradually, which dampens the initial excitement.
When compared to its competition, the Galaxy S24 Plus currently offers more mature AI capabilities. That said, the iPhone 16 Pro excels in its camera system and benefits from the exceptional performance of its A18 Pro chip, giving it an edge for those who prioritize photography and speed.
Should you upgrade? If you’re coming from an iPhone 13 Pro or an older device, the iPhone 16 Pro is a worthwhile upgrade. However, if you have an iPhone 14 Pro, it might be better to hold off and see how fully developed Apple Intelligence features become in the coming months.
