UP
Our takeEditorialThe iPhone 16 brings Apple Intelligence to the standard lineup with Camera Control as a tangible new interaction - the A18 chip is the reason to choose it over older models.
Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine
Apple
Apple iPhone 16
8.0/10 UpPhone score
The iPhone 16 adds Camera Control, a 4x telephoto crop, and A18 chip support for Apple Intelligence - the 2024 standard iPhone.
Verified for iOS
Storage
Screen
6.1"
Chip
Apple A18 (3 nm)
Camera
48 MP
Battery
7h 30min
The verdict, & two little voices
Should you actually get the Apple iPhone 16?
The editor weighs in — flanked by the optimist on her shoulder and the cynic on the other.
“The A18 with full Apple Intelligence means the iPhone 16 catches the next several iOS AI cycles at standard pricing.”
“Apple added a camera button and charged $60 more than the 15 Pro - which has 120 Hz and real optical zoom.”
Our take
The iPhone 16 adds Camera Control, a 4x telephoto crop, and A18 chip support for Apple Intelligence - the 2024 standard iPhone.
The Apple iPhone 16 is available from Verizon at $558.99 outright in May 2026. It carries the A18 chip on a 3 nm process - the first standard iPhone with the A-series chip generation that also powers the Pro models. Apple Intelligence support requires 8 GB RAM and an A17 Pro or newer; the iPhone 16 with 8 GB RAM and A18 fully qualifies. Camera Control is a new hardware button on the right side of the phone that provides dedicated camera access, gesture-based zoom and exposure adjustment, and a visual intelligence shortcut for identifying objects in the camera frame. The rear camera gained a 4x digital crop mode from the 48 MP main sensor, and optical image stabilization improved. The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED at 2556 x 1179 and 2000 nits matches the iPhone 15 visually. Battery at 3561 mAh is a step up from the iPhone 15's 3349 mAh. The iPhone 16 is eSIM only. At $558.99 it competes with the iPhone 15 Pro (at $499.99) - $60 more for a newer chip with different feature trade-offs.
What we love
- A18 chip with 8 GB RAM fully enables Apple Intelligence
- Camera Control hardware button for dedicated camera interaction
- 4x digital telephoto crop from 48 MP main sensor
- Apple Intelligence features: writing tools, image generation, Siri improvements
- 3561 mAh battery - step up from iPhone 15
- 25W wireless MagSafe charging (up from 15W)
- Available across 9 carriers
What we don't
- No optical telephoto lens - still relies on digital crop
- 60 Hz display - same limitation as all non-Pro iPhones
- eSIM only
- At $558.99, $60 more than the iPhone 15 Pro which offers 120 Hz and 3x optical telephoto
- Still no ProMotion on a 2024 non-Pro iPhone
Full specifications
Display
Size6.1"
TypeSuper Retina XDR OLED
Resolution2556 x 1179 px
PPI460
Performance
ChipApple A18 (3 nm)
RAM8 GB
Storage128 GB
OSiOS (18.x)
Camera
Rear camera48 MP
Rear camera 212 MP
Front camera12 MP
VideoYes
Battery
Video playback7h 30min
Internet18 hours
Wireless charging25 W wireless
Design
Dimensions147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm
Weight170
ColorsBlack, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine
Form factorSlate
Connectivity
Wi-FiWi-Fi 7
BluetoothBluetooth 5.3
NFCYes
USBUSB 3.2
SIMeSIM only
Apple iPhone 16 on individual carriers
Showing 20 of 72 plans with Apple iPhone 16
Carrier: Any ▾Lines: 1 ▾Sort: Lowest ▾
CarrierPlanDataTermMonthly
30 GB
36-mo term
$7.99/mo
total $32.99 over term
Unlimited
36-mo term
$20.27/mo
total $50.27 over term
Unlimited
36-mo term
$20.27/mo
total $60.27 over term
Frequently asked questions about the Apple iPhone 16
What kind of display does the Apple iPhone 16 have?
The 6.1-inch OLED at 2556 x 1179 and 460 PPI is visually the same specification as the iPhone 15. Peak brightness at 2000 nits. Dynamic Island at the top. True Tone, P3 wide color, and Ceramic Shield front glass. The 60 Hz refresh rate continues on the standard model - ProMotion remains exclusive to Pro iPhones. The display hardware has not changed versus the iPhone 15; the upgrade over the 15 is in the processor, camera, and battery - not the panel.
What kind of camera does the Apple iPhone 16 have?
The rear system uses 48 MP main and 12 MP ultrawide, as on the iPhone 15. The 4x digital telephoto crop from the 48 MP sensor improves on the 15's 2x crop - more reach from the main sensor without an optical lens. Camera Control adds a physical interface: a capacitive button that accepts gestures for zoom and exposure, opens the camera from any screen, and can trigger Visual Intelligence to identify text, products, or objects in the frame. The A18 chip enables faster processing and improved Night Mode results. Photographic Styles and Cinematic Mode carry forward. Still no optical telephoto.
What is the battery life of the Apple iPhone 16?
At 3561 mAh the iPhone 16 carries 212 mAh more than the iPhone 15. Combined with the A18 chip's 3 nm efficiency, Apple quotes 22 hours video playback. Real-world performance puts moderate users comfortably through a full day with room to spare. Heavy users running Apple Intelligence tasks - which can be processor-intensive - may see faster drain. Wired charging at 20W is unchanged. MagSafe wireless upgraded to 25W (from 15W on the iPhone 15), which is a meaningful convenience improvement for desk charging.
What processor does the Apple iPhone 16 use?
The A18 chip is built on TSMC's 3 nm process with 8 GB RAM. This is the chip that fully enables Apple Intelligence features on the standard iPhone for the first time: Writing Tools, image generation via Image Playground, enhanced Siri, Clean Up in Photos, and Visual Intelligence through Camera Control. The A18 in the iPhone 16 is not the A18 Pro from the 16 Pro models but runs the same Apple Intelligence feature set. iOS updates should continue through approximately 2032-2033.
How much storage does the Apple iPhone 16 have?
128 GB at the base price. Apple Intelligence features themselves do not require significant local storage - the models are relatively compact. However, the 48 MP camera and 4K video continue to fill storage at the same rate as the iPhone 15. The USB-C connector allows fast external storage access.
What kind of speakers does the Apple iPhone 16 have?
Stereo speakers with earpiece and bottom-firing driver. Apple updated the speaker acoustics in the iPhone 16, tuning for improved bass and volume. The results are incrementally better than the iPhone 15. Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos are supported.
Does the Apple iPhone 16 support fingerprint or face unlock?
Face ID with TrueDepth camera in the Dynamic Island. No fingerprint sensor. Camera Control is a new hardware interaction point - a capacitive sensor on the right side of the phone that is not a biometric method but adds a physical camera interface layer.
Is the Apple iPhone 16 water-resistant?
IP68 rated to 6 meters for 30 minutes. The iPhone 16 shares the same water resistance specification as the iPhone 15. USB-C sealing meets the IP68 standard. Apple warranty does not cover water damage.
