All the differences between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro and this is what we advise you to buy
Apple has introduced the four new models in the iPhone 16 lineup, if you're thinking of getting one of the models, we'll show you the differences between the Pro version and the base version.
Choosing between these two isn’t easy, but there are important details that make the choice. For example, the iPhone 16 Pro has a slightly larger screen, a 5X telephoto camera, and longer battery life. The iPhone 16… well, it has a fair number of improvements, but they’re much more fundamental. But those are by no means the only differences.
- Design, differences begin
For years, the base iPhone and Pro models have been roughly the same size at around 6.1 inches. But this year, for the first time, we have a larger iPhone 16 Pro model: it comes in at 6.3 inches, which isn’t exactly a huge increase. The Pro model also has thinner bezels, which helps to reduce the dimensions a bit.
There are also differences in materials. The Pro uses a sleek titanium frame, while the iPhone 16 uses aluminum. Both devices come with a matte glass back, but the regular iPhone 16 has more vibrant color options. The action button is located above the volume rockers on the left, and a new camera control now appears below the power button on the right.
Both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 models have a USB Type-C port on the bottom, but the former supports faster transfer speeds. IP68 protection against water and dust is the same on both.
- iPhone 16 screens
Unfortunately, the big update everyone was waiting for on the regular iPhone 16 model hasn’t happened yet. Yes, we’re talking about ProMotion, which is still only available on the iPhone 16 Pro . There are at least a few smaller screen upgrades that have made their way to both the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, the first being that it can dip down to just 1 nit, and it’s darker than before, making it more comfortable to use at night.
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Both also feature the new Ceramic Shield protection, which Apple says is stronger than the glass in any other smartphone.
- Performance
Both the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro arrive with new 3nm chips, but they are slightly different. The more powerful model packs the A18 Pro SoC, while the base model uses the A18… but what’s the difference? Well, most of it is actually the same, with both using the second-generation manufacturing technology, which is the most advanced of any phone at launch. The CPU also appears to be the same, with both having a performance core and 4 efficiency cores. There is a difference in graphics, however, with the Pro using a 6-core GPU while the base iPhone 16 has a 6-core GPU.
The base iPhone 16 also bridges the RAM gap, with both the 16 and 16 Pro now packing 8GB of RAM. This has a lot to do with AI features that require more. It’s now known for certain that all four new phones support AI. As for storage, you have the base model with 128GB of storage on both. However, the Pro is available with a 1TB option.
- Cameras, a completely different component.
The iPhone 16 Pro has a more capable 5x zoom camera this generation, while also using a 48MP ultrawide sensor with better low-light performance. ProRes video and some other features for advanced users are also still available on the Pro model only. As for the iPhone 16 (which has two vertical sensors), it gets support for spatial video, which was previously a feature of the Pro models.
In terms of video features, the big news is 4K120 ultra slow motion, which is only available on the iPhone 16 Pro, however, both models get a new Audio Mix feature, where you can highlight voices and isolate them from background noise in videos.
All iPhone 16 models get the same AI-powered photo and video editing features, so, for example, you can easily blur someone's face using this feature when you simply draw over it.
- Battery and charging
The iPhone 16 Pro offers longer battery life than the standard model. While we don't know the exact size of the batteries, Apple does provide official battery life estimates: The more powerful PRO model gets 27 hours of video playback compared to 22 hours for the base model.
While we expected faster charging on the iPhone 16 series, the improvement is limited to wireless charging. Wired charging remains at 20W, while MagSafe wireless charging has been bumped up to 25W. This means you can charge your device wirelessly faster than using a cable, though to achieve this, you’ll need the new MagSafe charger and at least a 30W power adapter to get the most out of this speed.
-Which one would you choose?
Choosing between the iPhone 16 and the Pro depends on your needs and budget. The standard model is less expensive, but the Pro offers a larger screen, longer battery life, a 5x optical zoom camera, a 120Hz refresh rate, and other advanced features like ProRes and ProRaw recording. If you're looking for the best of the best and are willing to invest more, the iPhone 16 Pro is the way to go.