Apple iPhone 16 review roundup

It may be just me, but it seems like Apple’s base iPhones in the last couple of years have had more interesting additions compared to the Pro models. This holds true for the new iPhone 16 too, which comes with features like the Action Button – a Pro-exclusive feature on the 15 series, as well as the new Camera Control switch, which is a staple across the 16 series.  

But is that reason enough for you to upgrade to the new iPhone 16? Here’s what early reviews of the device have to say.  

Apple iPhone 16 design review

The iPhone 16, as well as the 16 Plus both come with some new, brighter and bolder colours this year. Gone are the muted pastel colours of the 15 series, and in are the vibrant hues of the new Ultramarine, Teal and Pink colours. Yes, there’s also the Black and White variant for those who like a stealthy phone.  

“I’ve been using the pink iPhone 16 Plus and ultramarine iPhone 16, and I’ve avoided putting a case on them for as long as possible because I’ve wanted to show off their vibrant shades,” says the CNET review.  

The new Camera Control button also lets users get to the camera quicker, but it seems it isn’t all that useful just yet. “I appreciate that it isn’t a Pro-exclusive feature, and boy, do I love a button. But in practice, I find it hard to use and have largely been ignoring it,” the review adds. It’s also worth noting that Camera Control may not be particularly useful for left-handed people.  

ALSO READ: iPhone 16 series Camera Control feature explained 

“It’s pressing the actual button and firing the shutter I’m struggling with. The mechanism feels too stiff to me, and no matter how hard I try to support the phone, I end up shaking the whole device every time I take a picture. And if I linger on that light press too long, I end up changing the exposure compensation or some other setting inadvertently,” The Verge review mentions. 

Apple iPhone 16 display review

The display on iPhones has been great for years, and the iPhone 16 is no different. It now features an OLED panel that can drop down to 1 nit brightness levels, which is useful at night when you’re scrolling and don’t want a bright screen waking those around you.  

However, there is still a 60Hz display panel in use here, even in 2024. 

“Plenty of other manufacturers have put displays with faster or dynamic refresh rates into more affordable phones, but Apple keeps its best displays, using something it calls ProMotion, exclusively for the Pro series. One day, perhaps,” Forbes review says. 

This means you still don’t get access to features like 120Hz ProMotion and its derivatives, including Always-On Display and even and a Standby Mode that stays on during charging. 

Apple iPhone 16 performance review

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus come with the new A16 chipset and that means better performance than any previous generation of iPhone.  

“Even if you never use the AI features Apple is promising for this phone, getting the newer chipset is a win for the regular iPhones this year and should keep this phone running smoothly well into the next four or five years,” The Verge added.  

“The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus run on Apple’s A18 processor, which performed smoothly and swiftly whether I was playing games, launching apps or scrolling through settings menus and photos,” CNET adds.  

ALSO READ: What is Apple Intelligence, Apple’s very own take on AI? 

Apple also banked heavily on Apple Intelligence for the new iPhones, but as you’ve probably already heard, that isn’t here yet either, so it’s difficult to say how useful and intuitive it actually is to use the AI suite. 

Apple iPhone 16 cameras review

The iPhone 16 comes with a lot of new styles under Apple’s Photographic Styles feature, which enables the phone to take more pleasing photos for everyone.  

“This level of flexibility makes it kind of hard to evaluate the camera itself. I’ve been shooting with a contrastier photographic style, which dials up shadows in a way I like,” The Verge explains.  

“Along with the brighter highlights preserved by HDR tone mapping, you get an image with actual highlights and shadows — not a bunch of gray mush scrunched into a standard dynamic range space. The camera will still go a little intense with blue skies in certain circumstances, but you could play around with the photographic style settings to dial that down. I like my version of the camera app, which may be different from your version.” 

Apple iPhone 16 battery review

The iPhone 16 has better battery life than the base iPhone 15, and that is apparently evident for most.  

“Even on the smaller model, the battery keeps up all day. On a day of heavier use that included streaming KEXP with Strava using GPS in the background, I still had around 30 percent by bedtime,” The Verge adds. 

“We nearly all charge our phones overnight, so the minimum requirement is a full day’s usage. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus deliver this and more,” Forbes says. 

Apple iPhone 16 review verdict roundup

The iPhone 16 series takes the best of the iPhone 15 series and adds more value in areas like the camera and the design. Whether you want a more colourful iPhone or one that you can create complex shortcuts with at the press of the Action Button, the iPhone 16 should keep most buyers happy.