Apple iPhone 16 Pro
The New Kid On The Block
The iPhone 16 Pro features a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion technology. It boasts a powerful A18 Pro chip, a triple-camera system with 48MP main and ultrawide lenses, and a 12MP telephoto lens. The device supports 5G, offers USB-C connectivity, and runs on iOS 18.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro
The Reigning Champ
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro is a high-end smartphone featuring a 6.1-inch OLED display, A17 Pro chip, titanium frame, and USB-C port. It has a triple-lens camera system with a 48MP main sensor, 3x optical zoom, and advanced photography features.
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Welcome to the cutting edge of smartphone evolution, whereAppleever so bravely asks, “What if we made everythingslightlybigger?” They have bestowed upon us mere mortals the iPhone 16 Pro, a device so revolutionary it’ll make you wonder how you ever survived without a “Camera Control button” or the ability to take “Spatial video” for that VR headset you definitely own.
Obviously, I havewaytoo much time on my hands, so I decided to make a day out of pitting the newiPhoneagainst everything else, potential death battles and whatnot. So in the left corner, weighing 187 grams, we have the reigning champ - the iPhone 15 Pro. And in the right corner, tipping the scales at a whopping 199 grams, the newcomer iPhone 16 Pro! It’s the epic battle of the titans, where the winner is… Apple’s profit margins.
Build And Design
After sticking to a 6.1-inch screen for multiple device generations, Apple has finally decided to go just a teeny bit bigger with the 16 Pro,increasing the display to 6.3 inches.Now that may seem like a minor bump on paper, but for long-time iPhone users who’ve gotten very accustomed to the smaller form, it’s a pretty noticeable change.
This enlarged display doesn’t come without some tradeoffs, however. The body of the 16 Pro is slightly taller, wider, and heavier than last year’s 15 Pro. We’re talking just a few millimeters(149.6 mm vs. 146.6 mm) and grams (199g vs. 187g)here and there, but those increments can feel more impactful in hand, especially if you have smaller mitts or rely heavily on one-handed use.
Now, both devices feature that premium titanium frame first introduced on the 15 Pro, which offers improved durability and a more lux vibe compared to the stainless steel bodies we saw on the older models. But for the 16 Pro, Apple has gone with this cool blasted titanium finish that some folks might find more visually appealing and refined. But then again, all of this is business as usual. There’s nothing new to talk about here.Right?
Wrong! One of the coolest design tweaks on the latest iPhone Pro is the addition of this new Camera Control button. It’s both a capacitive and a physical button that’s positioned right under the power button, acting as quick access to launch the camera app. But it can also be used for manual exposure and zoom adjustments while shooting, kind of like a traditional point-and-shoot camera. I’ve been having an absolute blast with it, by the way. Really cool feature.
The color options also got a small refresh as well. The 16 Pro comes in Natural, Black, White, and Desert Titanium - so that’s replacing the 15 Pro’s Blue Titanium with a new golden, earthy tone that should stand out.
Display
Like we said, the most obvious difference in the display department is, of course, the size increase from 6.1 inches on the 15 Pro to 6.3 inches on the 16 Pro. But there’s more to it than just the dimensions.
Both phones utilizeOLED technology with ProMotion,offeringadaptive refresh rates up to 120Hzfor buttery-smooth scrolling and animations. They also share the same2,000-nit peak brightness for outdoor use, which is excellent for visibility in bright sunlight.
Some of you may remember that the 16 Pro was heavily rumored to feature a new display panel that uses blue phosphorescence technology instead of blue fluorescence. This was potentially going lead to improved power efficiency. Now, I did try scouring through most of Apple’s resources, but unfortunately, I could not find an official source confirming this. That being said, there has been a visible change in power consumption as far as the 16 Pro is concerned.
Another notable improvement is thereduction in bezel size on the 16 Pro.Apple has implemented a new Border Reduction Structure, which allows for even thinner bezels around the display. This not only contributes to a more immersive viewing experience but also helps maintain a relatively compact form factor despite the larger screen size.
The iPhone 16 Pro comes with an LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion technology, offering a variable refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz. Now, the 15 Pro can only slow down to 10Hz at the minimum, so the reduction to 1Hz is actually a big win on the power-saving front if you’re a fan of the Always On Display. Coming to the resolution, we’re working with2622 x 1206 pixels, which is a bit of an improvement compared to the2556 x 1179 pixels on the iPhone 15 Pro.The pixel density is still going strong at460 ppi on both models, though.
Performance
Let’s talk about what you’re really here for, though. The performance. The 16 Pro is now coming in hot with the new A18 Pro chip. It’s built on the same 3nm process as the 15 Pro, but there has been a massive improvement in terms of benchmarks, with the A18 Pro deliveringa 15 percent boost in CPU performance compared to the A17 Pro found in the iPhone 15 Pro.
The A18 Pro also comes with a really decent GPU that gives you about a 20 percent performance increase when compared to the 15 Pro. This comes out very visibly when you’re working with heavy games or even AR. Speaking of which, did you know that the 16 Pro can now record Spatial video that’s tailored for VR?
But that’s not even the half of it. The most important thing here, is that the 16 Pro has been tailor-made to work in tandem with Apple Intelligence. The better Neural Engine in the 16 Pro means that the way your on-board AI processing is going to be significantly smoother in this lineup than it will be in its predecessors. This also meansbetter image recognition, more accurate and context-aware natural language processing, and improved predictive text input.
Coming to the memory part of it,both models still utilize 8GB RAM, which to be honest, was a bit of a letdown. With all these features coming in, you’d expect a better on-board processing, eh? That being said,the way that the memory is being utilizedjust got a massive upgrade, thanks to the A18 Pro chip. Apple has also very generously decided to throw in a 1TB storage variant for those who want more from their phone.
Sure, the 15 Pro is still a force to reckon with, butwith everything that’s been going on with Apple and AI-integration, the 16 Pro is hands down going to give you a much better performance on multiple fronts.
Camera
The cameras on the new iPhone 16 Pro are looking pretty sweet, with some solid upgrades that photographers and video folk will definitely appreciate. The main shooter is still a 48MP camera, just like the last model, so you can expect the same top-notch detail and low-light capabilities that made the iPhone a go-to for mobile creators. Apple’s added some new “Fusion Camera” branding though, so it seems they’ve likely cooked up some enhanced computational wizardry to eke even more performance out of that sensor.
The 16 Pro now packs aperiscope-style 5x telephoto lens, bringing way more zoom range than the old 15 Pro. It’s the same tech they used to only include on the max models! Say goodbye to distant subjects. That said, we are losing the very handy 3x zoom from the previous generation. A worthwhile trade-off? I don’t know, you be the judge.
Possibly the most exciting upgrade, though, the new ultra-wide camera jumps all the way from 12MP to a whopping 48MP! That’s a huge four-fold increase in resolution, which translates to way more detailed landscape and architecture shots, with better low light to boot.
Last but not least, video shooters will love that you can now film silky-smooth 4K footage at a very respectable 120fpswithDolby Vision on the 16 Pro. The old model topped out at 60fps for 4k. So, if buttery slow motion footage is your thing, you’ve got a lot more creative options with the new iPhone. Storage is going to be a sucker, though. Sort of makes sense now why they added the 1TB variant.
Pricing And Value
Interestingly enough, Apple’s sticking with the $999 baseline price for their spanking new iPhone 16 Pro is definitely worth noting, especially considering the upgrades and larger screen you get. This sort of pricing suggests a few different things, in my opinion. For one, Apple’s trying to keep the Pro model reasonably accessible to more everyday folks, not just hardcore techies willing to drop a grand. Makes sense, obviously, because a bigger potential customer base equals more sales.
Two, my guess is Apple’s swallowing some of those production cost increases to maintain their precious market share. Manufacturing a sleek new phone can’t be cheap, but with competitors nipping at their heels, they likely want to avoid any sticker shock. And three, this keeps a clear separation between the standard iPhone and the pro-level one, price-wise. Keeps that “good, better, best” iPhone tier system Apple’s got going intact.
But it’s key to call out that while the $999 US number remains steady, prices overseas might bounce around depending on stuff like currency swings and local taxes. For instance, even though it’s slightly less expensive than last year’s model, the iPhone 16 Pro’s still a premium splurge for many Indian customers compared to what US folks pay. But then again, that’s always been the case with Apple.
Conclusion
So, which is better: the iPhone 16 Pro or the iPhone 15 Pro? I hate that this answer is becoming a staple for me, but it honestly just depends on your specific needs and preferences. But I’ll give you my take anyway. If you are currently using a 15 Pro (or even a 14 Pro for that matter), you don’t need to go for an upgrade right away. There’s only a few minor changes here and there, but trust me, you’re not missing out on anything massive here.
Sure, the whole “tailor-made for AI” shtick is great and everything, but think about it, how much of a difference does it actually make to you? Not to mention the fact that Apple Intelligence is going to roll out for older models anyway. The only things that the 16 Pro is going to give you are the improved cameras, a very slightly larger display, and a camera control button on the side. And maybe faster processing. Outside of that, nothing to hold your breath for over here.
As always, it’s worth considering your current device and whether the improvements offered by either of these Pro models represent a significant upgrade for you. And remember, with Apple’s excellent software support, even older iPhones continue to receive new features and improvements for years after their release.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 16 Pro tougher than the 15 Pro?
Apple didn’t make any big upgrades from last year’s model in terms of material used. The titanium frame on the iPhone 16 Pro is still solid and will handle drops better than stainless steel, but it’s notsignificantlytougher than what the 15 Pro had. So if you’ve already got an iPhone 15 Pro, you aren’t missing out on any big durability improvements with this year’s 16 Pro.
Is the 16 Pro waterproof?
No doubt the new iPhone 16 Pro can handle a splash or even a dunk, but let’s be real - it’s water-resistant, not completelywaterproof. Apple says it has an IP68 rating, meaning you could swim down up to six meters deep with it for half an hour, and it should shrug it off, no problem. Apple’s still not going to cover any water damage, AppleCare+ or no AppleCare+.
What’s the battery on the 16 Pro like?
Apple’s staying tight-lipped as always about theexactbattery size in the new iPhone 16 Pro. But even without the exact specs, you can expect some nice in how long a charge lasts compared to the previous iPhone generation.
