The iPhone 16 Pro gets a new camera button, integrated Apple Intelligence, and a slightly bigger screen than its predecessor.
The iPhone 16 series is a minor upgrade in the big scheme of things. However, AI and Apple Intelligence (available soon) are part of a bigger story that changes how we use and interact with our smartphones, laptops, and even appliances.
Is the 16 Pro worth the upgrade? Let’s dig in.
What’s New?
The iPhone 16 Pro has a larger display than its predecessor, the iPhone 15 Pro (6.3 vs. 6.1 inches). In addition, the 16 Pro is slightly taller and wider but the same width as the 15 Pro, so it doesn’t feel that different in hand.
Lifewire / Molly McLaughlin
Camera Control
While the 15 Pro series introduced the Action Button, the 16 series brings us the Camera Control button.
Rather than swiping to find the camera app on one of your home screens, you can press the Camera Control button (located on the bottom right of the phone) to open the camera and access photo and video settings.
The most noticeable physical difference in the iPhone 16 Pro is the new Camera Control button. A firm press opens the camera app. Press it lightly to access camera settings like exposure and zoom, which you can adjust by sliding your finger across the button.
Apple
Apple Intelligence
The other notable upgrade is Apple Intelligence, which will be available sometime this fall. ((We’ll update this review as soon as we’ve had a chance to interact with Apple Intelligence.)
It can help you write emails, summarize meetings, generate images, and enhance notifications.
Apple
You can also use Apple Intelligence with the camera to learn about your surroundings.
For example, if you’re traveling and want to know about an interesting-looking building, point the camera at it, press and hold the Camera Control button, and the camera will take a photo and pull up available information.
Performance and Software
The A18 Pro chip that powers the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max is supposed to be 30 percent faster than the iPhone 15 Pro series. Apple says it can also handle machine learning tasks at twice the speed. It supports better graphics and improves gaming performance as well.
With iOS 18, you can send messages via satellite and even share live videos with Emergency SOS to give first responders more vital information.
Siri gets hundreds of new actions that will be enhanced by Apple Intelligence when it’s available.
Who Should Buy This?
With its most notable enhancement, Apple Intelligence, not yet available, the iPhone 16 Pro is a hard sell.
It’s an excellent Apple smartphone, but it’s not a must-upgrade if you have an iPhone 15 or 14 series. If you have an older iPhone than that, it might be time to trade up to at least an iPhone 15.
