UP
Our takeEditorialThe 16 Plus offers Max-sized battery and display in a form that now prices like a mid-range phone - the 60 Hz screen is the main trade-off against a strong overall package.
Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine
Apple
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
8.5/10 UpPhone score
A big-screen iPhone with A18 power and an outstanding battery - at a price that makes the Pro look optional.
Verified for iOS
Screen
6.7"
Chip
Apple A18 (3 nm)
Camera
48 MP
The verdict, & two little voices
Should you actually get the Apple iPhone 16 Plus?
The editor weighs in — flanked by the optimist on her shoulder and the cynic on the other.
“Outstanding battery and a huge screen at a price that makes the 16 Pro Max hard to justify.”
“Paying this much for 60 Hz in 2026 feels like Apple charging extra to not fix the display.”
Our take
A big-screen iPhone with A18 power and an outstanding battery - at a price that makes the Pro look optional.
The iPhone 16 Plus occupies a clear position: a 6.7-inch display and a 4674 mAh battery in a phone that now starts well under $400. Built on the Apple A18 chip - the same silicon powering Apple Intelligence across the lineup - it delivers serious processing headroom without the titanium-framed price tag of the Pro models. The screen is a 60 Hz Super Retina XDR OLED panel, and while that refresh rate is a real concession compared to the ProMotion 120 Hz displays on the Pro line, the color accuracy, brightness ceiling of 2000 nits, and sheer size make it a strong choice for media consumption. Camera-wise you get the dual 48 MP and 12 MP ultrawide setup from the standard iPhone 16, which captures excellent stills and Dolby Vision video, though the 2x optical zoom tops out where the Pro models begin. The aluminum-and-glass chassis carries an IP68 rating, and USB-C is the connector. eSIM-only, so no physical SIM slot. At the discounted prices now common across carriers, the 16 Plus is one of the stronger value propositions in the Apple lineup.
What we love
- Excellent battery life for a phone this size
- A18 chip handles everything iOS can throw at it
- 6.7-inch display at a fraction of Pro Max pricing
- 2000-nit peak brightness makes outdoor viewing easy
- IP68 water resistance
- Apple Intelligence features fully supported
- MagSafe and 25W wireless charging
What we don't
- 60 Hz refresh rate lags behind every Android rival in this price band
- No telephoto lens - 2x optical zoom only
- eSIM-only means no physical SIM for travel SIMs
- 20W wired charging is slow by 2025 standards
- Single ultrawide limits camera versatility vs. Pro
Full specifications
Display
Size6.7"
TypeSuper Retina XDR OLED
Resolution2796 x 1290 px
PPI460
Performance
ChipApple A18 (3 nm)
RAM8 GB
Storage128 GB
OSiOS 18
Camera
Rear camera48 MP
Rear camera 212 MP
Front camera12 MP
VideoYes
Battery
Wireless charging25 W wireless (MagSafe)
Design
Dimensions160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm
Weight199
ColorsBlack, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine
Form factorSlate
Connectivity
Wi-FiWi-Fi 7
BluetoothBluetooth 5.3
NFCYes
USBUSB 3.2
Networks5G: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A3290 | 4G: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 53, 66 - A3290 | 3G: HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | 2G: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
SIMeSIM only
Apple iPhone 16 Plus on individual carriers
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Frequently asked questions about the Apple iPhone 16 Plus
What kind of display does the Apple iPhone 16 Plus have?
The 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel runs at 2796 x 1290 pixels with a 460 ppi density and covers the P3 wide color gamut. Peak brightness reaches 2000 nits in HDR content and up to 1000 nits for typical outdoor use, which is genuinely daylight-readable. The biggest limitation is the 60 Hz fixed refresh rate - ProMotion 120 Hz is reserved for Pro models, and the difference is noticeable when scrolling or gaming. True Tone and always-on-friendly technologies are present, but there is no always-on display. Overall this is a large, high-quality screen that holds its own at this price point, even if the refresh rate is a sticking point.
What kind of camera does the Apple iPhone 16 Plus have?
The dual-camera system pairs a 48 MP f/1.6 main sensor with a 12 MP f/2.2 ultrawide. The main sensor uses sensor-shift OIS and captures detailed, well-exposed photos in a range of light conditions. Ultrawide shots are sharp at the edges and usable in lower light, a step up from older iPhone ultrawides. The ceiling is 2x optical zoom from the 48 MP sensor crop - there is no dedicated telephoto. Video tops out at 4K 120 fps in Dolby Vision Log, and Cinematic Mode reaches 4K 30 fps. The 12 MP front camera handles Face ID and selfies well. For a dual-camera iPhone without a periscope, the results are strong, but anyone needing 5x or longer zoom will need to look at the Pro.
What is the battery life of the Apple iPhone 16 Plus?
The 4674 mAh battery is one of the largest in the iPhone lineup outside the Pro Max, and it shows in real-world use - a full day of mixed use is reliably achievable, often stretching into a second day for lighter users. Wired charging maxes at 20W, which is modest; a full charge from near-empty takes about 90 minutes. MagSafe wireless charging hits 25W, and standard Qi2 pads work at 15W. Reverse wireless charging at 4W can top off AirPods. Battery health management and Low Power Mode carry forward from iOS 18. The overall battery experience is a genuine strength of the Plus form factor.
What processor does the Apple iPhone 16 Plus use?
Apple's A18 chip is built on TSMC's 3 nm process and packs a 6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores alongside a 5-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine. It handles every current iOS workload without compromise - demanding games, ProRes video playback, real-time photo processing, and Apple Intelligence tasks all run fluidly. The A18 is not the A18 Pro found in the 16 Pro series (that chip has an extra GPU core and slightly enhanced neural engine throughput), but for everyday and even heavy productivity use, the difference is academic. 8 GB of RAM supports the on-device Apple Intelligence features including image generation. Thermal management is solid for a non-Pro chassis.
How much storage does the Apple iPhone 16 Plus have?
The 128 GB base configuration is the only option covered here. Apple's storage tiers for the 16 Plus also include 256 GB and 512 GB variants. There is no microSD slot - Apple has never offered one - so the chosen tier is the permanent ceiling. 128 GB works for those who lean on iCloud Photo Library and streaming, but anyone shooting ProRes video or keeping large local libraries will want to look at 256 GB or higher. iCloud+ plans start at $0.99/month for 50 GB if local storage runs short.
What kind of speakers does the Apple iPhone 16 Plus have?
The iPhone 16 Plus carries a stereo speaker system with an earpiece and bottom-firing speaker working together. In Apple's lineup, Plus and Max models tend to produce more volume and slightly richer low-end response than the standard model due to the larger chassis. Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos is supported for music and video. The speakers are not audiophile-grade - they are tuned for clarity in calls and media consumption rather than bass depth - but they perform clearly above the midrange of the category. There is no 3.5 mm headphone jack; USB-C audio and Bluetooth are the primary audio paths.
Does the Apple iPhone 16 Plus support fingerprint or face unlock?
Face ID is the sole biometric authentication method on the iPhone 16 Plus. The TrueDepth camera system uses a dot projector and infrared camera to build a 3D face map, which Apple says is accurate to 1 in 1,000,000 false-positive probability. It works in the dark, at angles, and with glasses or hats. The Dynamic Island houses the TrueDepth module and also serves as an interactive notification surface. There is no fingerprint sensor - neither an in-display type nor a side-mounted sensor - which can be inconvenient when the phone is lying flat or if you prefer touch-based unlocking.
Is the Apple iPhone 16 Plus water-resistant?
The iPhone 16 Plus is rated IP68, certified to withstand submersion in up to 6 meters of fresh water for 30 minutes. This covers rain, poolside splashes, and accidental drops in sinks or toilets. Apple's IP68 rating is slightly higher than the 1.5 m / 30 min baseline, which is meaningful for everyday accidents. Salt water and chlorinated water can still degrade internal seals over time, so Apple recommends rinsing with fresh water after exposure to either. The IP rating does not cover every liquid exposure scenario, but for normal use it provides solid confidence.
