UP
Our takeEditorialThe 16 Pro delivers a proper three-lens camera and 120 Hz OLED in a compact frame - the smaller battery is the main concession in the Pro tier.
Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium
Apple
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
8.5/10 UpPhone score
The iPhone 16 Pro brings 120 Hz ProMotion and a 5x periscope zoom into a 6.3-inch titanium frame.
Verified for iOS
Screen
6.3"
Chip
Apple A18 Pro
Camera
48 MP
Battery
8h 29min
The verdict, & two little voices
Should you actually get the Apple iPhone 16 Pro?
The editor weighs in — flanked by the optimist on her shoulder and the cynic on the other.
“A 5x periscope, ProMotion OLED, and A18 Pro in a compact titanium build is a genuinely strong package.”
“Apple charges Pro prices for a 128 GB base and a battery that the cheaper 16 Plus outclasses.”
Our take
The iPhone 16 Pro brings 120 Hz ProMotion and a 5x periscope zoom into a 6.3-inch titanium frame.
The iPhone 16 Pro is the entry point into Apple's professional camera tier, and it earns that label with a triple-lens system that includes a 5x periscope telephoto. At 6.3 inches it is compact by Pro standards - the same footprint as an iPhone 15 Pro but with a slightly larger display thanks to reduced bezels. The A18 Pro chip drives hardware-accelerated ray tracing, improved Neural Engine throughput, and all Apple Intelligence features. ProMotion OLED at 120 Hz adapts dynamically from 1 Hz to 120 Hz via LTPO, which the standard 16 Plus does not offer. The titanium chassis contributes to a 199g weight that is lighter than it looks. 25W wired and 25W MagSafe wireless charging are available, though neither leads the category. Camera controls have moved to a dedicated hardware button on the right edge. IP68 rated. eSIM-only.
What we love
- 5x periscope optical zoom is a genuine upgrade over the standard lineup
- 120 Hz ProMotion OLED with LTPO efficiency
- A18 Pro chip with hardware ray tracing
- 25W MagSafe and USB 3 speeds via USB-C
- Titanium frame is lighter than stainless steel
- Camera Control button for tactile photo/video control
- Apple Intelligence fully supported
What we don't
- Base 128 GB storage feels tight at this price point
- 25W charging speed lags Android rivals at this tier
- eSIM-only limits international SIM flexibility
- 3582 mAh battery is smaller than the Pro Max
- Premium pricing makes value scoring moderate
Full specifications
Display
Size6.3"
TypeOLED
Resolution2622 x 1206 px
PPI460
Performance
ChipApple A18 Pro
RAM8 GB
Storage128 GB
OSiOS 18
Camera
Rear camera48 MP
Rear camera 248 MP
Front camera12 MP
VideoYes
Battery
Video playback8h 29min
Wireless charging25 W wireless
Design
Dimensions149.6 x 71.5 x 8.25 mm
Weight199
ColorsBlack Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium
Form factorSlate
Connectivity
Wi-FiWi-Fi 7
BluetoothBluetooth 5.3
NFCYes
USBUSB 3.2
SIMeSIM only
Apple iPhone 16 Pro on individual carriers
Showing 20 of 32 plans with Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Carrier: Any ▾Lines: 1 ▾Sort: Lowest ▾
CarrierPlanDataTermMonthly
Unlimited
24-mo term
$37.46/mo
total $77.46 over term
Unlimited
24-mo term
$37.46/mo
total $97.46 over term
Frequently asked questions about the Apple iPhone 16 Pro
What kind of display does the Apple iPhone 16 Pro have?
The 6.3-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel uses ProMotion to adapt from 1 Hz to 120 Hz based on content. This delivers smooth scrolling, more responsive UI feedback, and battery savings when showing static content - a meaningful step up from the fixed 60 Hz on non-Pro iPhones. Peak brightness reaches 2000 nits for HDR highlights. The always-on display keeps the lock screen visible at 1 Hz without significant battery drain. Resolution is 2622 x 1206 px at 460 ppi. Color accuracy covers the P3 wide gamut and True Tone adjusts white balance to ambient lighting. The display hardware is among the strongest in any iPhone today.
What kind of camera does the Apple iPhone 16 Pro have?
Three cameras define the Pro's versatility. The 48 MP main sensor uses a faster f/1.78 aperture and sensor-shift OIS for clean low-light captures. The 48 MP ultrawide doubles as a macro camera capable of 0.5 cm focus distances. The 12 MP 5x periscope telephoto reaches much further than the 2x crop on the standard models. Video support includes 4K 120 fps in Dolby Vision Log on all three lenses simultaneously. The Camera Control button provides haptic feedback and allows direct camera launch, zoom, and mode selection from the hardware. For non-Pro Max buyers who want a full telephoto, the 16 Pro is the entry to that capability.
What is the battery life of the Apple iPhone 16 Pro?
The 3582 mAh cell is the smallest in the Pro lineup - the larger 16 Plus actually carries a bigger battery. Real-world endurance is adequate for a full workday with moderate to heavy use, but power users doing intensive GPU tasks or extended video recording may not reach end of day. Wired charging hits 25W and wireless MagSafe matches at 25W. The LTPO panel's efficiency at low refresh rates helps compensate. The battery is not a weakness but it is not a strength either; the Pro Max meaningfully outpaces it here.
What processor does the Apple iPhone 16 Pro use?
The A18 Pro is built on TSMC's 3 nm N3E process with a 6-core CPU (2 performance, 4 efficiency) and a 6-core GPU - one more GPU core than the standard A18. Hardware-accelerated ray tracing enables console-comparable lighting in supported games. The 16-core Neural Engine handles on-device Apple Intelligence tasks. 8 GB of RAM supports the full stack. In benchmarks the A18 Pro leads every Android chip available today and maintains a comfortable ceiling for at least the next four to five years of software. Thermal throttling under sustained load is present but well-managed in the titanium chassis.
How much storage does the Apple iPhone 16 Pro have?
The 128 GB base tier is tight for a phone at this price level, particularly given 4K 120 fps ProRes video generates roughly 3 GB per minute. The 16 Pro also comes in 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB configurations. Offloading to iCloud or an external USB-C SSD helps, but a phone this capable deserves at least 256 GB on the internal drive. No microSD expansion is available.
What kind of speakers does the Apple iPhone 16 Pro have?
Stereo speakers pair the earpiece driver with the bottom-firing unit. Apple tunes the Pro series for clear midrange and vocal intelligibility. Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos works across music, streaming video, and games. Volume output is competitive for the device class. Bass response is limited by the chassis depth but is reasonable. No 3.5 mm headphone jack is present; the USB-C port supports audio accessories.
Does the Apple iPhone 16 Pro support fingerprint or face unlock?
Face ID via the Dynamic Island TrueDepth camera is the sole authentication method. The 3D facial map is accurate across lighting conditions, with glasses, and at angles outside direct line of sight. Dynamic Island provides live activity notifications and interactive controls above the camera cutout. There is no fingerprint reader. Face ID authentication speed on A18 Pro is fast enough to be imperceptible in everyday unlocking.
Is the Apple iPhone 16 Pro water-resistant?
IP68 certification covers submersion in up to 6 meters of fresh water for 30 minutes - the same as the standard iPhone 16 series. The titanium chassis and tighter manufacturing tolerances compared to aluminum-frame iPhones contribute to long-term seal reliability. As with all IP ratings, this does not cover pressurized water, saunas, or salt water beyond brief splashing.
