iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max review

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Would I recommend the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max?

Yes, absolutely. It'll be a treat if you're upgrading from an iPhone 12 or older and your top priorities are great cameras, durability, performance, and battery life.

This isn't a review for the tech snobs or those grumbling about year-on-year upgrades not being groundbreaking enough.

We all know the big focus of the iPhone 16 range has been Apple Intelligence, which only officially landed for Australian users in December 2024, months after launch. Even now, the AI features are a work in progress - nice to have, but hardly essential.

Unless you're debating an upgrade from the iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max, in which case, it's probably not worth it.

Before diving into what I loved (and didn't) about the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, here's a quick disclaimer. Unlike their predecessors, the two models are practically identical this time around, with just two key differences: battery life and display size. So, those are the only distinctions I'll be covering in this review.

Oh, and here's a sneak peek of my image gallery. I've definitely done some fun nature photography using Apple's latest devices.

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Design and display continue to razzle-dazzle

Apple's upped the display sizes on both Pro models by 0.2 inches. Now, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a whopping 6.9 inches, while the iPhone 16 Pro comes in at 6.3 inches. They also boast thinner bezels that wrap around the screen.

I've usually gone for the Pro because, honestly, the Pro Max just feels like way too much screen to juggle. But since I watch loads of videos on my phone, I've started to appreciate the extra space on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. It's definitely nice to have, though it's an adjustment - especially if your hands are on the smaller side like mine.

And forget about one-handed texting unless you care for muscle cramps. Or trying to fit it into the pockets of women's jeans.

Both models still have a sleek aesthetic, boasting a beautiful titanium frame and softer edges that make it easy to grip the phone.

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

The new signature colour introduced is Desert Titanium, which I've been reviewing. Depending on the lighting, it can look beige-gold or dusty pink. (I personally wish we had the more fun, bold colours you see on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus models).

The OLED screen is stunning. The colours and contrast are vibrant and the display gets very bright, which makes up for the iPhones lagging behind premium Android devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, which has an anti-reflective screen.

The Camera Control button is a bit awkward though

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

While we're on the subject of design, let's talk about the Camera Control button.

Now the Action button I get. It's neat to be able to use it for a bunch of shortcuts although I'm a simple girl and use it to put my phone on and off silent mode.

It's a nice touch for those moments when you remember Camera Control is there and want to capture landscape shots with a professional camera feel.

But did we need a sixth way to launch the camera?

I've now been using the iPhone 16 Pro Max for a few months and rarely does it occur to me to use the Camera Control button. It's a bit awkwardly placed so you need to adjust your hold on the phone and then it takes a hot second to press down on the button itself. It is easier to use it on the iPhone 16 Pro though.

I suppose it's nice for times when you do remember Camera Control's there and want to take landscape shots while feeling as if you're using a professional camera.

Maybe now, with Visual Intelligence in action, it's actually more useful. You can use Camera Control to point your camera at something - an object, a sign, or whatever catches your eye - and search for it on Google. It's basically Google Search but through your iPhone lens.

Performance and battery life knock it out of the park

The A18 Pro chip is the best in business, so it's no surprise that both pro models deliver excellent performance, being smooth, fast, and all-around brilliant.

The battery life on both phones is noticeably better compared to the older models. Whether I was out with the iPhone 16 Pro or 16 Pro Max, I didn't need to worry about running out of juice the whole day and beyond.

In fact, with medium use which includes a bit of streaming, social media doomscrolling, browsing and WhatsApp, I could extend the use of either of the phones to over 18 hours.

With low use? You'd probably need to charge every third day.

The cameras are great, but photographic styles take the cake

This time around, there's no difference in the camera setup for both the pro models.

You once again get the triple camera setup on the back, which includes a refined 48-megapixel fusion main camera for zero shutter lag and faster focus. Plus, a 5x optical zoom camera and a new 48-megapixel ultrawide camera.

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

You also get improved audio and my favourite feature, photographic styles. You can adjust the undertones and set moods before you start shooting. You can even set up a custom style as a default if you have a favourite aesthetic.

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Last but not least, I'm actually pretty happy with the front camera this time around. The true-to-life isn't always my cup of tea when I want to look polished but I'd rather that than have an airbrushed look all the time.

Apple Intelligence - Worth it?

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

With the iOS 18.2 update, we all get access to Apple Intelligence, now with localised language support.

It's great to see Apple experimenting with new AI features and we know it'll keep learning and improving. But based on the features I've tested, Apple Intelligence still feels like it's on the sidelines. Honestly, I don't see myself using most of them regularly.

That said, here are my initial thoughts.

• I've already mentioned Visual Intelligence (AKA Google Search) so I'll skip right past it but a quick recap, it's a handy feature if you want to point, capture and Google for translations, figure out what an object is and more.
• I appreciate the Siri glow-up especially because I tend to stumble over my words or pause mid-conversation and it seems to get past that just fine. The jury's still out on the ChatGPT integration, though. When Siri can't answer something, it'll ask if you want to switch to ChatGPT instead. Although Apple's quashed privacy concerns, I'm still iffy.
• It was handy being able to create a memory video and photo gallery by giving a few prompts. Travel bloggers will likely have a lovely time with this!
• Its Writing Tool is pretty nifty. No sense of humour? It'll add some flair. English isn't your first language? It'll refine your communication skills.
• Need a summary of an email thread or a long message from a friend? It can do that too. It's not by any means perfect but if you're in a hurry, it might help you out.
• Genmoji has been one of the most entertaining AI tools I've tried. As someone who chats in emojis with friends, it's exciting to have the freedom to create even more unique options. It definitely beats Image Playground, which has its limitations and gets boring quite quickly.
• I suppose apart from Genmoji, the record and transcribe feature is the most handy as well as photo cleanup, where you can remove an object or person from the background of an image.

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 Pro and 16 Pro Max specs and colours

How to buy the iPhone 16 Pro or 16 Pro Max 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 Pro or 16 Pro Max outright

Price

RRP: $1,799.00

Where to buy

Check availability at eBay

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