iPhone 16 Pro

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are Apple's current high-end flagship iPhones, sold alongside the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. As the iPhone 16 Pro models are brand new, now is a good time to buy.

The 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro and 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max will last for many years to come and will remain part of Apple's flagship lineup until September 2025. The iPhone 16 Pro is priced starting at $999, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is priced at $1,199 and up. The Pro Max is Apple's most expensive iPhone, but it comes with a bigger battery, a bigger display, and a larger 256GB starting storage capacity.

These are Apple's most advanced iPhone models, with all of the latest bells and whistles. Apple designs these for pros, and they have the fastest chips and the best camera technology.

If the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are too expensive, or if you don't need the pro feature set, Apple also sells the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. These devices have many of the same features, but lack the Telephoto camera, ProMotion display, and always-on display technology.

• iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared

Choosing an iPhone can be tough, so we have a series of buyer's guides that walk you through all of the features. You'll also want to check out our iPhone deals post to get the best prices.

Introduced in September 2024, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are Apple's new high-end flagship smartphones that are being sold alongside the more affordable iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. The iPhone 16 Pro models have a more extensive feature set not available in the standard iPhone 16 devices, including more advanced camera technology, a better display, a faster A18 Pro chip, and more.

For the first time in several years, Apple updated the size of the iPhone 16 Pro models. The iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch display, up from 6.1 inches, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch display, up from 6.7 inches. Due to the new display sizes, the iPhone 16 models are slightly taller, heavier, and wider than the iPhone 15 Pro models, but some of the change was implemented through a major reduction in bezels.

As with the iPhone 15 Pro models, the iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium alloy frame with better scratch and drop resistance than stainless steel. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max come in black titanium, natural titanium, white titanium, and desert titanium, which is a gold color.

Aside from the larger screen sizes, there are no design changes to the iPhone 16 Pro models. The devices have the same contoured edges, and the front of the display is protected by second-generation Ceramic Shield material that Apple says is 50 percent tougher than the prior Ceramic Shield.

Apple is using the same Super Retina XDR Display from last year with Always-On display technology and a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, but there's now support for 1 nit minimum brightness. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a resolution of 2868x1320, while the iPhone 16 Pro has a resolution of 2622x1206. Aside from the slimmed down bezels, and minimum brightness change, there are no display changes, and it also features the same Dynamic Island at the top.

The iPhone 16 Pro models each have a USB-C port that offers the same USB 3 transfer speeds up to 10Gb/s as in the iPhone 15 Pro models. With the USB-C port, an iPhone can be used to charge AirPods or an Apple Watch directly. Upgraded 25W MagSafe charging has been added with a new MagSafe Charger. 15W Qi2 charging is also supported.

The customizable Action button introduced in the iPhone 15 Pro is also available on the 16 Pro models, and it can be set to one of multiple functions, such as launching the camera, turning on Flashlight, recording a Voice Memo, or activating a Shortcut. The Action button ties in with the Dynamic Island for visual feedback that accompanies haptic feedback.

Apple added an all-new Camera Control button that's like an Action button for the Camera. It is touch and pressure sensitive and can be used to launch the camera and take a photo, capture a video, and adjust all kinds of camera settings. Apple modeled it after the shutter button of a DSLR camera, and it works in much the same way. Third-party apps can also take advantage of the Camera Control button.

As of iOS 18.2, Camera Control can be used for visual intelligence a new AI feature that can tell users about objects and places. Point the camera at an object and click and hold on Camera Control to get more info about it. For a restaurant, visual intelligence shows information like hours and menu.

The 48-megapixel Fusion camera has a faster quad-pixel sensor. Like the prior iPhone 15 Pro camera, there's a 24-megapixel default image resolution that offers high-quality images at a practical file size. The Fusion camera can be adjusted to different focal lengths, including 24mm, 28mm, and 35mm, and there's an option to capture 48-megapixel HEIF images that take up less space than RAW images.

There's a new 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera that lets in more light for crisper photos in macro mode. Both iPhone 16 Pro models have the upgraded 5x Telephoto lens that uses a tetraprism design this year.

There are a range of next-generation Photographic Styles that let users adjust color, highlights, and shadows in real time. Adjustments can be applied to specific colors rather than the entire image, and Apple allows granular control over the intensity and tone of effects. Styles can be rendered during live preview or added after a photo is taken.

The quad-pixel sensor can read data 2x faster, enabling zero shutter lag for 48MP ProRAW or HEIF images. It also brings 4K 120 fps video recording in Dolby Vision, a first for a smartphone. 4K 120 fps video can be taken in video or Slo-mo mode, and playback speed can be adjusted after capture. Along with spatial videos, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max can also take spatial photos for the Vision Pro.

Videos are captured with Spatial Audio for more immersive sound with AirPods or Vision Pro, and there's a new Audio Mix feature for adjusting sound after capture to focus on the voice of the person on camera, make it sound like a video was recorded in a professional studio, or position vocal tracks in front and environmental noises in surround sound. A wind noise reduction tool cuts down on unwanted noise for improved audio quality, and the iPhone 16 Pro has studio quality microphones for more true-to-life audio.

The new A18 Pro chip is built on a second-generation 3-nanometer node with smaller transistors for better efficiency and performance. It has a 6-core CPU with two efficiency cores and four performance cores, along with an upgraded 6-core GPU. There's a 16-core Neural Engine optimized for machine learning tasks and Apple Intelligence features, and there's a 17 percent increase in total system memory bandwidth. Next-generation ML accelerators are optimized for Apple Intelligence and handle high-efficiency, high-throughput and low-latency computations on the CPU without engaging the Neural Engine.

The CPU is up to 15 percent faster than the A17 Pro CPU, and the GPU is up to 20 percent faster. The internal design was rearchitected with a new aluminum substructure and back glass optimization to improve heat dissipation and chip performance. With the new thermal design and the A18 Pro chip improvements, the A18 Pro supports up to 20 percent better sustained performance. Hardware-accelerated ray tracing is up to 2x faster.

As with the last several generations, the iPhone 16 models support 5G connectivity (both sub-6GHz and mmWave in the United States). In the United States, iPhone models again ship without a physical SIM card as carriers now use eSIM. Faster and more efficient Wi-Fi 7 connectivity is supported, as is Bluetooth 5.3.

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iPhone 16 Pro pricing starts at $999 for the base model with 128GB of storage, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a starting price of $1,199 for the 256GB storage option. If you need more storage space, there are options to upgrade to higher storage capacities at an additional cost.

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max can be ordered from the online Apple Store, Apple retail stores, carriers, and other authorized third-party retailers. The new iPhone 16 models launched on Friday, September 20.

iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max reviews have been mixed, with some reviewers describing the devices as iterative and others believing that features like larger displays and a Camera Control are solid upgrades.

Most reviews do agree that the iPhone 16 Pro models are still a work in progress, as the first Apple Intelligence features are not available to the public until iOS 18.1 in October, and additional Camera Control capabilities will be enabled in a software update coming later this year.

If you have an iPhone 13 or older, upgrading to an iPhone 16 Pro is very worthwhile, as you will also get past changes such as a USB-C port, the Dynamic Island, and the Action button. With the full set of Apple Intelligence features not expected to be released until mid-2025, however, waiting for the iPhone 17 series is also understandable.

Read our iPhone 16 Pro review roundup for more information.

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max feature an updated design with larger display sizes and a reduction in bezel size. Apple says the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max have the thinnest borders of any Apple product to date.

The iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch display, up from 6.1 inches in the prior-generation model. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a larger 6.9-inch display, up from 6.7 inches.

Both models are slightly taller, wider, and heavier. The iPhone 16 Pro is 5.89 inches (149.6 mm) tall and 2.81 inches (71.5 mm) wide, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is 6.42 inches (160.9 mm) tall and 3.06 inches (77.6 mm) wide. Both models are 0.32 inches (8.25 mm) thick, with the iPhone 16 Pro weighing 7.03 ounces (199 grams) and the iPhone 16 Pro Max weighing 7.81 ounces (221 grams).

Last year's iPhone 15 Pro was 5.77 inches (146.6 mm) tall, 2.78 inches (70.6 mm) wide, and 0.32 inches (8.25 mm) thick, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max was 6.29 inches (159.9 mm) tall, 3.02 inches (76.7 mm) wide, and 0.32 inches (8.25 mm) thick.

Other than the size, the design has not changed much, with the devices having the same general design as the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Apple is still using a titanium frame to enclose the glass front and back. Titanium is a lightweight material that's resistant to scratches and dings, with Apple bonding the bands to an internal aluminum frame for strength and durability.

A brushed, matte finish is obtained using precision machining, sanding, brushing, and blasting. The titanium iPhone models are available in four colors this year: white titanium, black titanium, natural titanium, and desert titanium, a shade of gold.

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max have an all-glass front protected by second-generation Ceramic Shield material, which is stronger than the prior-generation Ceramic Shield and 2x tougher than other smartphone glass. There continues to be a pill-shaped Dynamic Island at the top of the display that houses the TrueDepth camera equipment.

A set of antenna bands is located at the top and sides of the phone, and there is a power button on the right side and volume buttons and a customizable Action button on the left. Below the power button, there's a new Camera Control button used for capturing photos and videos. Apple removed the distinct 5G mmWave antenna, and it is now built into the frame of the iPhone 16 Pro. Note that 5G mmWave is limited to U.S. iPhone 16 models.

Speaker holes, a microphone, and a USB-C charging port are located at the bottom of the iPhone 16 Pro models. In some countries, there is a SIM slot, but the physical SIM has not been included in U.S. iPhones for several years now.

The camera bump at the back of the iPhone 16 Pro is largely unchanged, and it features a triple-lens setup for the Fusion, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto cameras along with a True Tone flash, LiDAR Scanner, and microphone.

USB-C Port

The iPhone 16 Pro models have a USB-C port, allowing them to be charged with a USB-C cable. They charge at speeds up to 30W, and can fast charge, which is equivalent to 50 percent battery in 30 minutes with a 20W or better power adapter.

USB-C allows an iPhone to directly charge AirPods or an Apple Watch using a USB-C cable, and the iPhone is able to provide up to 4.5W.

The USB-C port supports USB3 data transfer speeds of 10Gb/s, and there has been no upgrade since last year. To get the 10Gb/s transfer speeds, you'll need an appropriate USB-C cable, and the one Apple includes is limited to USB 2 speeds.

Water and Dust Resistance

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max have an IP68 rating for resistance to water and dust intrusion. The smartphones are able to withstand a depth of up to six meters (19.7 feet) for up to 30 minutes.

In the IP68 number, the 6 refers to dust resistance (and means the iPhone 16 can hold up to dirt, dust, and other particulates), while the 8 pertains to water resistance. IP6x is the highest dust resistance rating that exists. With the IP68 rating, the iPhone 16 can withstand splashes, rain, and accidental water exposure, but intentional water exposure should be avoided.

Water and dust resistance are not permanent conditions, according to Apple, and can deteriorate over time as a result of normal wear. Apple's standard warranty does not cover liquid damage, which means it's best to use caution when it comes to liquid exposure.

Action Button

The Action button on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max debuted in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max in 2023, and it replaces the Ring/Silent switch above the volume buttons on the left side. Apple designed the Action button to be customizable, and it can be set to perform one of several different actions in the Settings app.

• Focus: Activate or deactivate a Focus mode (Do Not Disturb is the default).
• Camera: Take a photo (the default), a selfie, video, portrait, or portrait selfie.
• Flashlight: Turn the flashlight on or off.
• Voice Memos: Start or stop recording a voice memo with the Voice Memos app.
• Magnifier: Activate the Magnifier app to use the iPhone's camera as a magnifying glass to zoom in on small text or objects.
• Control Center: Choose a Control Center control like turning on Dark Mode or opening the Remote app for the Apple TV.
• Shortcuts: Open your favorite app, or run a shortcut created in or downloaded from the Shortcuts app, such as sending a message, playing a playlist, or controlling smart home devices.
• Silent Mode: Like the Ring/Silent switch on existing iPhone models, toggle silent mode on or off, which mutes or unmutes the ringer and alerts.
• Translate: There is a Translate action that launches the Translate app and start a text or conversation translation.
• Accessibility: Access to various Vision settings (Classic Invert, Color Filters, Detection Mode, Increase Contrast, Reduce Motion, Reduce Transparency, Reduce White Point, Smart Invert, VoiceOver, Zoom) Motor settings (Switch Control, Voice Control, Full Keyboard Access, AssistiveTouch, Apple Watch Mirroring, Control Nearby Devices) Hearing settings (Background Sounds, Left/Right Balance, Live Captions) and General settings (Guided Access, Live Speech).
• No Action.

Activating the Action button is done with a long press, which limits it from being hit accidentally.

• Best Ways to Use the iPhone 16 Action Button

With the exception of display size, Apple didn't make notable changes to the display quality and feature set. The displays are larger, and the bezels are slimmer for more available screen space.

Both models still feature a Super Retina XDR OLED display with Dynamic Island. The iPhone 16 Pro has a resolution of 2868 by 1230 with 460 pixels per inch, while the iPhone 16 Plus has a resolution of 2622 by 1206 with 460 pixels per inch.

Typical maximum brightness is 1000 nits, while peak HDR brightness is 1600 nits. Apple also says that the iPhone 16 Pro models can reach 2000 nits peak brightness outdoors. New this year is a 1 nit minimum brightness, useful for the Always-On display.

There is a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and wide color support offers vivid, true-to-life colors, while True Tone matches the white balance of the display to the ambient lighting for a paper-like viewing experience that's easier on the eyes. There's also a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating and support for Haptic Touch, which provides haptic feedback when interacting with the display.

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max support a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate and have an Always-On display, features that are not available in the standard iPhone 16 models. 120Hz maximum refresh rates allow for smoother scrolling when viewing webpages and improvements for video, while the Always-On display leaves the time, notifications, and some widgets visible even when the iPhone is locked.

The display is protected by a next-generation Ceramic Shield material made by infusing nano-ceramic crystals into glass. The new Ceramic Shield is stronger than the prior version, and Apple says it is "2x tougher" than any other smartphone glass. Despite the new Ceramic Shield, the iPhone 16 models are still vulnerable to damage when dropped.

Dynamic Island

The Dynamic Island includes the TrueDepth camera sensor for Face ID and the front-facing camera. The display has a small circular cutout on the right side that's for the camera, and a pill-shaped cutout on the left side for the TrueDepth system for Face ID. Apple uses software to combine the two cutouts into one pill-shaped cutout that makes up the Dynamic Island.

Apple turned the Dynamic Island into part of the iPhone's interface, and it is used as a front-and-center information hub for notifications and other at-a-glance information from apps and services. When you make an Apple Pay payment, for example, Dynamic Island expands into a square shape to confirm your Face ID scan, and when on a phone call, it expands so you have phone controls at your fingertips.

The Dynamic Island can display everything from Maps directions to Apple Music, and it integrates with Live Activities. There are no changes to the Dynamic Island with the iPhone 16 Pro models.

TrueDepth Camera and Face ID

The iPhone 16 Pro models continue to use Face ID, Apple's facial recognition system. Face ID is baked into the Dynamic Island.

Face ID is used across iOS for unlocking the iPhone, allowing access to passcode-protected apps, confirming app purchases, authenticating Apple Pay payments, and more.

Face ID works through a set of sensors and cameras. A Dot Projector projects tens of thousands of invisible infrared dots onto the surface of the skin to create a 3D facial scan that maps the curves and planes of each face, with the scan read by an infrared camera.

The facial depth map is relayed to the A18 Pro chip where it is transformed into a mathematical model that the iPhone uses to authenticate identity. Face ID works in low light and in the dark, and with hats, beards, glasses, sunglasses, scarves, masks, and other accessories that partially obscure the face.

Front-Facing Camera

The Dynamic Island also houses the front-facing camera, and Apple is using the same 12-megapixel front-facing camera with an ƒ/1.9 aperture that's been in iPhones for the last several years.

The front-facing camera supports Night mode, Smart HDR 5 integration, Dolby Vision HDR recording, Deep Fusion to bring out fine details, a Photonic Engine that improves low-light performance, and a portrait feature that lets you take images and turn them into portrait shots later.

4K video recording, QuickTake video, slo-mo video, Portrait mode, Portrait Lighting, and the Photographic Styles feature for selectively applying edits are also supported on the front-facing camera.

The A18 Pro chip is built using a second-generation 3-nanometer process, so it is more efficient and faster than the A17 Pro Bionic chip used in the iPhone 15 Pro models. The A18 Pro chip is capable of handling Apple Intelligence tasks, and it runs the Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.

There's a 6-core CPU with four performance cores and two efficiency cores, along with a 6-core GPU and an upgraded 16-core Neural Engine optimized for running large generative models. Apple has also upgraded the memory subsystem with 17 percent more memory bandwidth.

The A18 Pro's CPU is up to 15 percent faster than the A17 Pro CPU, and it is able to deliver the same performance using 20 percent less power. It is the fastest CPU in any smartphone to date, according to Apple, and it features next-generation ML accelerometers that are directly programmable for high-efficiency, high throughput and low latency computations.

The GPU is up to 20 percent faster than the GPU in the A17 Pro, and hardware accelerated ray tracing is 2x faster for gaming improvements. The Neural Engine is also faster and more efficient, and Apple says that Apple Intelligence features run 15 percent faster on the A18 Pro than the A17 Pro.

The A18 Pro also features a new advanced display engine for ProMotion, a new video encoder, and a new image signal processor. Combined, they process twice the amount of data for fast video encoding and improved efficiency.

New Thermal Design

Apple introduced a new thermal design for the iPhone 16 Pro models. Apple says that the iPhone 16 Pro maximizes thermal capacity with a machined chassis that uses 100 percent recycled aluminum.

The chassis is bonded to the titanium frame using solid state diffusion, and it is combined with a new graphite clad aluminum substructure. The new thermal architecture brings a 20 percent improvement in sustained gaming performance compared to the A17 Pro.

Memory

The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max have 8GB RAM, the minimum needed for Apple Intelligence.

Storage Space

The iPhone 16 Pro starts with 128GB of storage, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts with 256GB. Both can be upgraded to a maximum of 1TB of storage.

The iPhone 16 Pro models are equipped with a Camera Control button on the right side that's designed for capturing images and video, and it is modeled after the shutter button on DSLR cameras. The multi-function Camera Control button has a force sensor and a touch sensor for gesture support, and Apple designed it to work in either portrait or landscape mode.

A sapphire crystal with a smooth texture covers the Camera Control button, and it is surrounded by stainless steel trim. It is inset into the iPhone's frame just a bit, and the force sensor has haptic feedback to provide gesture feedback.

Camera Control can be used to take a photo with two quick clicks, but there are many more capabilities.

• Single click - Open up the Camera app (or a third-party app).
• Single click, Camera open - Take a photo.
• Click and hold - Open Camera app, start a video recording.
• Light press - Open up controls like zoom. This button also lock focus and exposure for reframing shots without losing focus.
• Double light press - Bring up the camera preview menu to choose different controls like exposure or depth of field.
• Swipe - Swap through available adjustment options, and also change parameters like zoom, exposure, or depth of field when a control is selected.

The button has deep software support, so you can also swap between Camera control functions without having to adjust settings in the Camera app.

• Adjust zoom
• Adjust exposure
• Adjust depth of field
• Swipe through different stylistic options

Third-party developers can take advantage of the Camera Control for their apps for adjusting settings, and it works in social media apps like Snapchat.

Visual Intelligence

As of iOS 18.2, Camera Control works with a new visual intelligence feature. Users can open the Camera app and point it at an object to get information about that object with a click and hold gesture. Pointing it at a restaurant, for example, brings up hours and ratings, while pointing it at a plant identifies the plant. Using visual intelligence with something that has a date, such as a flyer, adds the date to the Calendar app.

Camera Control works as a gateway to third-party tools, such as when users want to search Google for an item to buy or use ChatGPT to solve a problem.

The iPhone 16 Pro models have a 48-megapixel "Fusion" camera, a new name that Apple is using for the Main camera. There is no improvement to the ƒ/1.78 aperture or second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, but Apple says there is a new second-generation quad-pixel sensor.

The lens supports 24-megapixel and 48-megapixel high-resolution images that can be saved in RAW format or HEIF. Like last year, the Fusion camera can be set to 24mm, 28mm, and 35mm focal lengths, mirroring some of what's possible with a DSLR.

These different focal lengths can be tapped when taking a photo and are reflected as different zoom levels, with Apple using the Fusion camera for 2x zoom. Apple says that the triple-lens camera and the different Fusion camera options are the equivalent of having seven lenses in your pocket.

There's a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera, up from 12 megapixels, and it has with an ƒ/2.2 aperture. Like the Fusion camera, Apple uses pixel binning to combine the data from four pixels into one pixel, allowing for images with more detail and a lens that performs better in low light. The Ultra Wide camera is also used for macro shots, so the improvement means you can get more detailed macro photos.

Both the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max have a Telephoto lens that supports 5x zoom. Apple says the 5x zoom lens uses tetraprism technology that reflects the light four times over, allowing for a longer focal length. Apple is using 3D sensor-shift optical image stabilization for the Telephoto lens, and because it is able to move in three directions, it delivers twice as many microadjustments as before for crisp photos even when zoomed all the way in.

New Photographic Styles

Photographic Styles have been an option for some time, but Apple overhauled the feature this year. There are new, more subtle styles to choose from, and Apple is enabling far more control over the way the style is applied.

Photographic Styles can be previewed live before you make a change. You can shift the way a style looks with the control pad that lets you adjust tone and color. The intensity of specific colors and the tone can be changed, so you can make adjustments that don't affect the entire color scheme of an image.

• Customizing Your iPhone 16 Images With Photographic Styles

Apple says that skin tone rendering is more advanced than before, so you can also create a style for dialing in your favorite look and then add it across all of the images that you take. You can also change the Photographic Style after an image is captured, which wasn't an option with prior models.

Video Capabilities

The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max offer up to 4K video recording at 24, 25, 30, 120 frames per second. HDR recording, ProRes video, Cinematic mode, Action mode, slo-mo video, and time-lapse are all supported.

The option for 120 fps 4K Dolby Vision video recording is a new feature, and it is available in video mode or slo-mo. Playback speed can be adjusted after capture in iOS 18, so you can film in 120 fps and then drop it down to 24 fps for a more cinematic effect. There are several speed options to choose from.

Apple included four studio-quality microphones for higher-quality recording. Apple says there's a lower noise floor for more true-to-life sounds. Spatial Audio capture also makes videos sound more immersive when listening with AirPods.

Apple also added a new wind noise reduction feature to cut down on wind sounds when recording video.

Audio Mix

Audio Mix is a video feature that takes advantage of Spatial Audio capture. You can use it to adjust the way that voices sound in videos, and there are three different options.

• In-frame - Only captures the voices of people on camera, even if people off camera are talking.
• Studio - Makes voices sound like the recording was done in a professional studio with sound-dampening walls. A recording sounds like the mic was close to the subject's mouth.
• Cinematic - Captures all voices and consolidates them to the front of the screen, which is how sound is formatted for movies.

Other Camera Features

There are several other camera bells and whistles that Apple has been adding to the iPhones over the years.

• Portrait Features - You don't need to choose Portrait mode before capturing an image to get a portrait shot. You can just snap a photo, and if there's a person or a pet, depth information is collected and Portrait mode is enabled automatically with a blurred background. This year, the feature works for Night mode shots and it supports Portrait Lighting.
• Smart HDR 5 - Recognizes one or more people in a scene and optimizes contrast, lighting, and even skin tones for each person so everyone looks their best.
• Photonic Engine - The Photonic Engine combines the best pixels from a high-resolution image and an image optimized for light capture, leading to a 24-megapixel image with detail drawn from an image twice the resolution.
• Night mode - Takes a series of images over a few seconds and aggregates them to allow for photography in extreme low lighting situations.
• Spatial Video and Photos - Videos and photos captured in spatial mode can be viewed in 3D on the Vision Pro.
• Deep Fusion - Works in mid to low lighting conditions and brings out the texture and detail in the image.
• Portrait Lighting - Changes the lighting of Portrait mode photos with effects that include Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, and High-Key Mono.
• True Tone flash - True Tone flash is the built-in flash, and it is designed to match the ambient lighting so it doesn't throw off the white balance of the photo when used.
• Cinematic mode - A video mode that keeps the focus on the main subject that you're filming even as you move.
• Action mode - Enhances image stabilization to improve shaky handheld video.
• Panorama - Captures panoramic shots up to 63 megapixels.
• Burst mode - Allows a series of images to be captured all at once, which is good for high-action shots.

With efficiency improvements brought by the A18 Pro chip, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have notably longer battery life than the prior-generation models, with gains of several hours.

• iPhone 16 Pro - Up to 27 hours video playback, 22 hours streaming video, 85 hours audio.
• iPhone 16 Pro Max - Up to 33 hours video playback, 29 hours streaming video, 105 hours audio.
• iPhone 15 Pro - 23 hours video playback, 20 hours streaming video, 75 hours audio.
• iPhone 15 Pro Max - 29 hours video playback, 25 hours streaming video, 95 hours audio.

The iPhone 16 Pro has a 3,582 mAh battery, a 9.4 percent increase over the iPhone 15 Pro, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 4,685 mAh battery, up 6 percent compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

MagSafe Charging

The iPhone 16 Pro models support faster 25W MagSafe charging with one of Apple's new MagSafe chargers and a 30W power adapter or higher. It is the first time that fast charging has been available when charging wirelessly, and iPhone 16 Pro users can expect to see a 50 percent charge in 30 minutes.

• Here's What You Need for iPhone 16 Fast Charging via MagSafe or USB-C

Qi2 charging is also supported, but that is limited to 15W, the same as the prior-generation MagSafe charging.

The iPhone 16 Pro models are equipped with Qualcomm's SDX71M modem, which is a custom version of the SDX70M that Apple used last year. Tests suggest that the iPhone 16 Pro models have up to 26 percent faster 5G speeds than the iPhone 15 Pro models.

In addition to speed improvements enabled by 5G carrier aggregation, Qualcomm's Snapdragon X75 chip supports 5G Advanced technology, plus it cuts down on power consumption.

In the United States, iPhone owners can connect to both mmWave and sub-6GHz networks, while other countries are limited to sub-6GHz. mmWave 5G networks are the fastest 5G networks, but mmWave is short-range and can be obscured by buildings, trees, and other obstacles, so its use is limited to major cities and urban areas along with venues like stadiums, airports, and other places where a lot of people congregate.

Sub-6GHz 5G is more widespread and available in urban, suburban, and rural areas across the United States and other countries. For the most part, when you use a 5G network, you'll be using sub-6GHz 5G. Sub-6GHz 5G is typically faster than LTE, especially when mid-band spectrum is used, but it isn't always the blazing fast 5G that you expect.

5G Bands

The iPhone 16 Pro models in the United States support more than 20 5G bands. The following bands are supported:

• Sub-6GHz 5G - High band FDD-5G NR (n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n66, n70, n71, n75, n76) and low band TDD-5G NR (n38, n40, n41, n48, n53, n77, n78, n79)
• mmWave 5G - n258, n260, n261

LTE Bands

The iPhone 16 models continue to offer Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO for connecting to LTE networks when 5G is unavailable. The following bands are supported.

• FDD-LTE - (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 66, 71)
• TDD-LTE - (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 53)

All iPhone 16 models can connect to satellites in emergency situations when cellular and Wi-Fi connections are not available. Apple has designed the new Emergency SOS via satellite feature to allow the iPhone's antennas to connect to satellites operated by Globalstar.

Satellite communications are available in emergency situations where you can't connect to Wi-Fi or a cellular tower, and the feature is designed to be used in open spaces with few trees so the iPhone can connect to a satellite that's in the sky.

Apple has a walkthrough interface that instructs you how to hold the iPhone to connect to a satellite, and the company has developed a compressed messaging protocol because sending data via satellite can take minutes. In an area with no trees, a short message to emergency services can send in as little as 15 seconds.

Emergency SOS via satellite provides a series of important questions that you answer when it is activated, with these questions aimed at getting necessary details to emergency personnel as quickly as possible. The answers that you provide are sent directly to emergency services if text communication is supported in your area, or sent to relay centers staffed by Apple-trained specialists who can call emergency services on the user's behalf.

Satellite connectivity is mainly designed to allow users to contact emergency services in dire situations, but it can also be used to update your Find My location if you're camping or hiking off the grid, giving your family and friends peace of mind about where you are.

Emergency SOS via satellite is free for all iPhone 16 users for two years, and Apple has not yet provided details on what it will cost in the future.

The iPhone 16 Pro models also support Messages via satellite with iOS 18, and Roadside Assistance via satellite, which allows iPhone users to contact local service providers for help if they have car trouble in an area without cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity. There is no charge for the satellite usage with Roadside Assistance, there is a fee charged by the roadside service provider.

There's a high dynamic range gyroscope and a dual-core accelerometer capable of detecting G-force measurements of up to 256Gs in the iPhone 16 Pro models, and paired with other iPhone sensors like a barometer that can detect cabin pressure changes caused by deployed airbags, this hardware enables a Crash Detection feature.

The iPhone 16 Pro models can detect a severe car crash and automatically dial emergency services when the car's occupants are seriously injured or unable to reach their phones. The GPS in the iPhone is able to detect speed changes, and the microphone is able to recognize loud sounds associated with severe car crashes. Crash Detection is also available on the Apple Watch, and the iPhone and Apple Watch work together to contact emergency services when an accident occurs.

The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max support Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO, and Bluetooth 5.3. Wi-Fi 7 adds support for 6GHz bands on supported Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 routers. Compared to prior Wi-Fi standards, Wi-Fi 7 is faster and supports more connections.

There's an NFC chip with reader mode, and a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip. The Ultra Wideband chip provides improved spatial awareness, allowing iPhone 16 Pro models to more precisely locate other Apple devices with an Ultra Wideband chip. The chip allows two iPhones to connect to each other at three times the range as before.

The Ultra Wideband chip can be used for precision tracking, such as when locating AirTags. It is also used for directional AirDrop and for interactions with the HomePod mini, plus Apple has added a Precision Finding feature for locating friends with an iPhone 16 Pro in a crowded area.

As for GPS, the iPhone 16 Pro models support GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou location services.

ProMotion technology that adds up to 120Hz refresh rates to the iPhone's display is expected to come to standard iPhone models starting in 2025. Up until 2025, ProMotion will be limited to the higher-end "Pro" iPhones.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max that's coming in 2025 could feature a 48-megapixel Telephoto lens that is optimized for the Vision Pro headset. The rumor comes from analyst Jeff Pu, who did not provide details on how it might interface with the Vision Pro. Pu also believes the iPhone 17 Pro will include an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip.

There were rumors that the iPhone 16 Pro models could adopt under-display Face ID technology, but updated information indicated it won't be coming until 2025 or later. Under-display Face ID will allow for more usable display space as there will be no need for the full Dynamic Island, but there will still be a camera cutout.

The 2025 iPhone 17 is expected to include an upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing camera that will significantly improve image quality and low-light performance.

Rumors suggest that the iPhone 17 models will include an anti-reflective display that is more scratch resistant than the Ceramic Shield. It is said to have a "super hard" layer that can hold up to more abuse.

With the 2026 iPhone 18, Apple will reportedly have both under-display Face ID and under-display front-facing camera technology, potentially allowing for a design that has no cutouts for the camera hardware. This would mark the first all-display design.

Apple is selling the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max alongside the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, which are more affordable and lack some of the "Pro" features.

Compared to the iPhone 16 models, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max feature a lighter, more durable titanium frame, larger display sizes, a faster A18 Pro chip, ProMotion display technology, an Always-On display, a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide lens, and 5x Telephoto camera lens.

More information about the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus can be found in our roundup.

• November 14 - Updated to add info on Visual Intelligence for Camera Control in iOS 18.2.
• September 30 - Removed info about 45W max charging over USB-C, which is inaccurate.
• September 27 - Added new details on modem, camera video, and drop tests.
• September 23 - Updated with new buyer's guide info.
• September 20 - Added new video and updated with release info.
• September 19 - Updated with battery details and reviews.
• September 13 - Updated with launch info.