Early reviews of the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have arrived ahead of their official release on September 20, 2024.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will be available in ultramarine, teal, pink, white, and black in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage capacities. iPhone 16 starts at $799 (U.S.) or $33.29 (U.S.) per month, and iPhone 16 Plus starts at $899 (U.S.) or $37.45 (U.S.) per month.
You can learn more about the iPhone 16 here:
● Apple Introduces New iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus
Check out our review roundup below!
The Verge
It's a good year for the basic iPhones, and that hasn't been the case over the past few generations. To be sure, there's nothing groundbreaking here, and certainly nothing you should trade in your iPhone 15 for. But if you've been on the fence for a while about upgrading from an 11 or 12, then I think this is the year to go for it. You'll get a couple of new buttons to play with, and who knows, maybe you'll get along better with the Camera Control than I did. And If Apple Intelligence arrives and proves to be the time-saving, stress-easing set of features Apple insists it will be, then this phone will be ready for it. But even if they never arrive, you're still getting some upgrades that matter in the long run. It's a catch-up year for the regular iPhone, and that's a good year to upgrade indeed.
CNET
I wouldn't recommend buying the iPhone 16 just for the Camera Control button or the better ultrawide camera. But when you think about how the Camera Control key, the Action button and the Dynamic Island come together, along with the camera and battery improvements Apple has made over the last several years, you have a compelling upgrade for someone coming from an older phone. But the next few months will be as important as ever, considering Apple Intelligence hasn't started rolling out officially yet. While some of the early features show promise, we still have yet to see how big of a leap forward the iPhone 16 truly is.
Techradar
I've been impressed with performance day in and day out for over a week on the iPhone 16 – it feels efficient, smooth, and has the proper amount of speed for the cost. From a quantitative perspective, the iPhone 16 scored a 3,301 on Geekbench 6 single-core and 8,033 on multicore, which beats the current Android champs, like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Safe to say, the A18 is plenty powerful, and I suspect it will offer plenty of headroom for years. It also puts the standard iPhones closer to the Pros than ever – and that's before you throw in Camera Control, great colors, and Apple Intelligence.
Tom's Guide
At the end of the day, the only big criticism I have about the iPhone 16 is its 60Hz display. It's dated and lacks the fluidness I see in other phones with better refresh rates. Then again, you're saving a good $200 by choosing the iPhone 16 over Apple's Pro phone and the areas it inherently falls short against its siblings (think battery life and processing performance). Really, the iPhone 16 has pro features at a mainstream price.
Andru Edwards
The iPhone 16 has finally arrived, and Apple has made some bold moves this year by packing pro-level features into the standard models. From the powerful A18 chip to the new 48MP Fusion camera, the iPhone 16 could be the most significant upgrade for non-pro iPhones in years. In this video, we break down all the key updates and dive into whether Apple's latest smartphone truly lives up to the hype. If you're wondering about performance, battery life, or that sleek new design, you've come to the right place.
GQ
With or even without Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 16 is a clear upgrade from last year's predecessor. That contrast will be even more stark for anyone who has been holding onto their smartphone for a good while longer. From its delightful new colour options to a set of finely-tuned internals that bring notable boosts to battery, performance and camera functionality, there's a good deal more to this iPhone than meets the eye. It's the closest the entry-level iPhone has come to going Pro in a while.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will be available in ultramarine, teal, pink, white, and black in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage capacities. iPhone 16 starts at $799 (U.S.) or $33.29 (U.S.) per month, and iPhone 16 Plus starts at $899 (U.S.) or $37.45 (U.S.) per month.
You can learn more about the iPhone 16 here:
● Apple Introduces New iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus
Check out our review roundup below!
The Verge
It's a good year for the basic iPhones, and that hasn't been the case over the past few generations. To be sure, there's nothing groundbreaking here, and certainly nothing you should trade in your iPhone 15 for. But if you've been on the fence for a while about upgrading from an 11 or 12, then I think this is the year to go for it. You'll get a couple of new buttons to play with, and who knows, maybe you'll get along better with the Camera Control than I did. And If Apple Intelligence arrives and proves to be the time-saving, stress-easing set of features Apple insists it will be, then this phone will be ready for it. But even if they never arrive, you're still getting some upgrades that matter in the long run. It's a catch-up year for the regular iPhone, and that's a good year to upgrade indeed.
CNET
I wouldn't recommend buying the iPhone 16 just for the Camera Control button or the better ultrawide camera. But when you think about how the Camera Control key, the Action button and the Dynamic Island come together, along with the camera and battery improvements Apple has made over the last several years, you have a compelling upgrade for someone coming from an older phone. But the next few months will be as important as ever, considering Apple Intelligence hasn't started rolling out officially yet. While some of the early features show promise, we still have yet to see how big of a leap forward the iPhone 16 truly is.
Techradar
I've been impressed with performance day in and day out for over a week on the iPhone 16 – it feels efficient, smooth, and has the proper amount of speed for the cost. From a quantitative perspective, the iPhone 16 scored a 3,301 on Geekbench 6 single-core and 8,033 on multicore, which beats the current Android champs, like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Safe to say, the A18 is plenty powerful, and I suspect it will offer plenty of headroom for years. It also puts the standard iPhones closer to the Pros than ever – and that's before you throw in Camera Control, great colors, and Apple Intelligence.
Tom's Guide
At the end of the day, the only big criticism I have about the iPhone 16 is its 60Hz display. It's dated and lacks the fluidness I see in other phones with better refresh rates. Then again, you're saving a good $200 by choosing the iPhone 16 over Apple's Pro phone and the areas it inherently falls short against its siblings (think battery life and processing performance). Really, the iPhone 16 has pro features at a mainstream price.
Andru Edwards
The iPhone 16 has finally arrived, and Apple has made some bold moves this year by packing pro-level features into the standard models. From the powerful A18 chip to the new 48MP Fusion camera, the iPhone 16 could be the most significant upgrade for non-pro iPhones in years. In this video, we break down all the key updates and dive into whether Apple's latest smartphone truly lives up to the hype. If you're wondering about performance, battery life, or that sleek new design, you've come to the right place.
GQ
With or even without Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 16 is a clear upgrade from last year's predecessor. That contrast will be even more stark for anyone who has been holding onto their smartphone for a good while longer. From its delightful new colour options to a set of finely-tuned internals that bring notable boosts to battery, performance and camera functionality, there's a good deal more to this iPhone than meets the eye. It's the closest the entry-level iPhone has come to going Pro in a while.