iPhone 16 and 16 Plus review – Closing the gap

Where to buy

Would I recommend the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus?

The colour options for both phones are so fun, they're almost worth recommending just for that. But hopefully, you're not here to splurge $1,400+ on colour alone.

I've been more impressed by the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus than I'd anticipated since Apple seems to have narrowed the gap between its two starting models and the Pros.

It's not that there's a specific feature to shout about but an amalgamation of a few different elements such as beefier batteries, Camera Control, the Action Button, a new chip for better performance and some incremental camera upgrades.

If you've been holding on to a much older iPhone model and don't care for Pro performance, either of the base models would tickle your fancy.

Design - Colour me impressed

No matter how much time goes by, I still feel genuinely happy holding the ultramarine or pink iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. They're vivid, fun, and make me desperately wish the Pro models receive a similar makeover in the future.

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

The design is similar to the iPhone 15s albeit we're back to a vertical camera integration as opposed to diagonal.

The colour-infused glass with a matte finish and aluminium frame feels familiar but still looks great.

We now have the Action Button that you can use to access shortcuts to things like your notes app, turn on do not disturb or other focus modes, record a memo or access the flashlight. This is all quite handy but I'll be honest, I still use it to turn the ringer on and off.

That's probably why I'm so iffy about the Camera Control button. I barely remember it's there and don't really need a sixth way to access the camera. The placement feels a bit awkward too.

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

That said, it's been handy a few times, like snapping landscape shots while zooming or using Visual Intelligence. You can point your camera at an object, sign, or anything that catches your eye and search for it on Google. Basically, it's Google Search through your iPhone lens.

Display - A couple of hiccups but not a deal-breaker

Both phones have a vivid display and a great size, depending on your preference. The iPhone 16 Plus might have a big 6.7-inch screen, but it's surprisingly light to hold.

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

That said, my dainty hands still need both to manage it, and there's no way I'd risk any one-handed moves - ceramic shield or not.

My biggest gripe with Apple is the refresh rate on both phones is still 60Hz. A refresh rate measures how many times a display updates its image every second.

With a 60Hz refresh rate, the iPhone 16s can feel frustratingly laggy, especially compared to the Pros, which have a smooth 120Hz. Honestly, at these price points, 120Hz should really be standard across the lineup.

Even Samsung's Galaxy A35, which costs under $600, manages to include it.

It's not a deal-breaker, but if you're coming from a phone with 120Hz, it might take some getting used to.

On a similar note, there's no always-on display. Personally, I've never been too fussed about it, but it might land in the 'cons' column for you.

Battery and performance - Strong and reliable

The iPhone 16 Plus battery life hits a high note, with the base model just slightly behind.

The Plus keeps up for a full day and even stretches into a second day, which is impressive and super convenient.

There's not much to say about their performance. They're smooth operators and do a good job all around. You can definitely see a meaningful upgrade from last year, thanks to the A18 chipset and extra RAM that helps handle Apple Intelligence.

Speaking of which, I've done a deeper dive on Apple Intelligence in my iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max review, but long story short, I wouldn't upgrade to iPhone 16 or 16 Plus just for it.

There are some nice-to-have features like Visual Intelligence, the Writing Tool, and an improved Siri. But, much like our own journey with AI, they're still a work in progress and aren't quite enough to be the main reason to upgrade your phone.

Cameras - Not Pro, but they're pretty good

The iPhone 16s come with an improved 48MP main camera and a 12MP wide ultrawide camera, making a noticeable difference, especially in low-light settings and when capturing motion.

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

The little upgrade to the ultrawide camera makes macrophotography a lot of fun! If you've been following my reviews, you'll know I'm all about those macro shots in nature.

One of my favourite features has to be the photographic styles. You can tweak the undertones and set the vibe before you even start shooting. You can even set up a custom style as a default if you have a favourite aesthetic.

But the letdown is not having a telephoto lens for an extended zoom shot, which is where the Pros win. Here's a look with 2x optical zoom.

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

However, if you're okay with that, the iPhone 16 or 16 Plus won't disappoint. Overall, the photos come out vibrant and sharp, and if you're a point-and-shoot kind of person, you'll definitely be happy with the results.

All opinions expressed in this review are based on the author's own experience with the phone. Use this review for informational purposes only.

iPhone 16 and 16 Plus specs and colours

How to buy the iPhone 16 or 16 Plus on a plan

You can sign up for a 12-, 24-, or 36-month phone repayment plan with Optus, Telstra, or Vodafone.

How to buy the iPhone 16 or 16 Plus outright

Price

RRP: $1,399.00

Where to buy

Check availability at eBay

Check availability at Amazon