Apple iPhone 16 review: Makes you not want to go Pro

Apple iPhone 16

Imagine Don Draper, the ad agency maverick from Mad Men, pitching the iPhone 16. A half-lit cigarette dangling from his mouth, he would probably pour a whiskey, gaze thoughtfully into the distance, and perhaps say something like, “It’s not just a phone; it’s an experience.” And that’s what Apple is aiming for — selling the familiar, with just enough hooks to make you feel like you’re holding the phone you always aspired for.

The iPhone 16 brings home a lot of familiar things and some new. Apple — for the first time — in many years has made the non-Pro variant closer to the Pro ones. The vanilla iPhone has always been topping the sales charts across the world. The iPhone 16 has enough chops to honour and carry forward that legacy with aplomb. Read on to find out more:

Apple iPhone 16 review: Design, display

If you’ve laid eyes on the iPhone 15 or the iPhone 14, then you you’ve basically met the iPhone 16. The design? On the face it of you can see why people say “Same old, same old.” But there are a few notable changes.

First up, let’s talk buttons. The iPhone 16 gets the all-new action button on the left side of the phone. This customisable button, which made its debut on the iPhone 15 Pro, can now be found across all four iPhone 16 models. It’s versatile, it’s modern, and surely, one the biggest changes to have come to the iPhone. You can do a lot with the Action button. It’s one of those features that you didn’t know you needed, till you actually started using and now can’t do without it.

The iPhone 16 has also introduced a new camera control button on the right side. Yes, Apple doesn’t call it a button but it is a button. The difference is that it’s touch-sensitive. You can now manage various camera settings at your fingertips. Does it actually make taking photos easier? Eh, that’s debatable. But I can say this confidently — the camera control is far easier to use on the iPhone 16 than it is on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The placement is just right on the iPhone 16.

Apple has also tweaked the camera module. Apple has gone from diagonal lenses to vertical ones. Yes, the change is subtle, but social media had a field day with it. “Oh look, they moved the lenses and called it innovation!” There’s a reason why Apple made the change. When you flip the phone to landscape mode, the lenses line up parallel. Why? So the iPhone 16 can capture spatial photos and videos.

Beyond these three tweaks, the iPhone 16 is essentially the same comfortable device you’ve now known for years. The familiar aluminum frame,

along with that silky matte ceramic shield on the back — it looks great. And it is rather comfortable to use and hold. Apple has also reduced the bezels but only if you look closely, you will be able to differentiate it with the iPhone 15. Up front, Apple has upgraded the ceramic shield too, claiming it’s now “2X stronger” than the last one.

In terms of design, this is the quintessential iPhone — looks classy and comfortable to use. Apple’s design game is strong as is evident with the iPhone 16’s appealing looks.

The display is bright, it’s vivid, and it’s impressively colour-accurate. But, alas, the iPhone 16 is still cruising along with a 60Hz refresh rate. If you haven’t tasted the smoothness of 90Hz or 120Hz, you might not even notice. But if you’ve dabbled in higher refresh rates, the occasional jitter on this screen might look dated.

Having said that, most iPhone 16 buyers are unlikely to care too much about it. As we have seen with the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15, a 60Hz refresh rate hasn’t been a deal breaker. iOS overall helps a lot in making the display look a lot smoother than it is. However. Apple, it’s time—next year, let’s see ProMotion across the board, shall we?

Then there’s the absence of an always-on display. If you’ve never used one, again, it won’t matter. But if you have, then it will certainly feel like a big miss. Once you have used the always-on display, it is hard to use an iPhone without one.

Beyond these two quibbles, though, the iPhone 16 nails it. Its vibrant display stands out, easily besting Android counterparts in the same league. Apple may have played it safe again this year, but it still knows how to deliver a top-tier experience.

Apple iPhone 16 review: Performance

Let’s begin with iOS 18. It's sleek, it’s polished, and it’s full of customisations. But it’s lacking the headline act. At least for now. Apple’s shiny new iOS is missing one big thing right out of the box: Apple Intelligence, a.k.a. the much-hyped generative AI features. These goodies won’t land until iOS 18.1, so for now, you have to wait. But hold tight—once those updates drop, iPhone 16 users will be able to zap unwanted photo-bombers with AI, chat up a much more conversational Siri, and let AI handle all their writing and transcribing needs. I have been beta testing iOS 18 for four months now, and I can safely say that some features will be worth the wait. Apple’s Writing Tools will definitely be a feature that many would like.

Apple, in my opinion, got it wrong last year when it gave the iPhone 15 Pro better processors than the regular iPhone 15. This time too Apple has given different processors but the difference is marginal. iPhone 16 is powered by the A18 processor, which is blazing fast. This is a phone that doesn’t miss a beat. Be it gaming, your routine usage, or whatever you might throw at iPhone 16, it will handle with consummate ease. This is easily the second-best smartphone when it comes to performance, bested only by its expensive and more powerful siblings. When it comes to speed, iOS, and the whole user experience, this phone is a powerhouse. Throw in Apple’s staple and reliable features like Face ID, powerful speakers, and that ever-smooth iOS advantage, and you’re looking at a phone that will easily last you for years.

Apple has taken a significant leap when it comes to gaming on iPhones. In another way, the iPhone 16 is closer to the Pro models is that it now supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing. You can play AAA titles on the iPhone 16 — something that you could only do with iPhone 15 Pro models.

When it comes to battery, I comfortably got a full day’s use on a single charge. Is it better than the iPhone 15? Definitely. Though some things don’t change with Apple and the iPhone. For instance, fast charging is still MIA, and with a top charging speed of around 25W, expect to wait about 100 minutes to get back to full power. The lack of 90Hz refresh rate or always-on display doesn’t rankle too much. But the lack of fast charging in today’s day and age is ridiculous. Apple needs to rectify that with the next iteration. Though I won’t be holding my breath for it.

Apple iPhone 16 review: Camera

Cameras are the name of the game when it comes to premium smartphone. The iPhone 16 holds its own with just enough new features to make it a solid contender. While it is not entirely a new camera setup there’s plenty here to keep your Instagram feed looking sharp.

The primary camera is a 48-megapixel sensor, a bit smaller than the one on the iPhone 16 Pro. Apple calls it the “Fusion camera” as it also enables a 2x optical-quality Telephoto option. It’s like having two cameras in one. In addition to wider-angle shots, the new 12MP Ultra Wide camera with autofocus enables macro photography. The Ultra Wide camera also gathers up to 2.6x more light for higher image quality.

The ultra-wide sticks to the trusty 12MP from yesteryear, instead of the fancy new 48MP found on pricier models. And, no telephoto lens here—but Apple does throw in a 2X mode. Outdoors in bright light, the 2X mode performs admirably; dim the lights, and it’s a whole different story.

In good lighting, the iPhone 16’s camera really shines, capturing vibrant colours and impressive detail. Take a look at some of the photos below and you’ll see just how much punch this camera can pack. Dynamic range is solid, though it can’t quite match the sparkle of the iPhone 16 Pro. The ultra-wide lens is no slouch either —it gets up close and personal with tiny subjects, nailing macro shots on most occasions. There’s a lot of detail and clarity in images clicked indoor and outdoors.

Apple has also made a lot of changes to the Photographic Styles. They aren’t really filters but allow users to play around with different colour tones and hues. Till last year, I never used Photographic Styles too much but with the iPhone 16 I had a lot of fun playing around with it.

Since this is the iPhone 16, Apple’s best camera capabilities aren’t there. And that’s evident in low-light photography. The iPhone 16 does a fine job, though it smooths out some details, especially with the ultra-wide lens. It’s great but not wow, and you might find yourself wishing for just a little more clarity in the shadows.

When it comes to video, you won’t find pro-level extras like 4K Dolby Vision at 120 fps. But not many end up using that mode in real life. For routine video shoots, the iPhone 16 is more than up to the task. It captures nearly the same quality as the iPhone 16 Pro, though you do miss out on some of the versatility that the higher-end model offers.

No, I didn’t forget about the camera control. Did I use it every time I had to click a photo? Not really. But you can blame that on muscle memory as well. Like most new things, it takes time to get adjusted to the camera control. I was a bit flustered about not getting the hang of touch-sensitive gestures on it. But once I got used to it, it was a pleasure to use. You can do a lot with camera control but I used it mostly for zoom in and zoom out. It is that one feature that will see Android phone makers making a beeline for.

Apple iPhone 16 review: Verdict

The iPhone 16 isn’t a radical reinvention but rather a finely tailored device t that looks and feels almost identical to last season’s ensemble. Yet somehow, it still leaves you wanting more. Like any good Don Draper pitch, the iPhone 16 knows how to play it cool, making just enough changes to keep you intrigued without tipping the balance too far.

A lot of people end up asking me whether it is worth upgrading from the iPhone 15. At the moment, I can’t say that. But wait for Apple Intelligence. Not all the features will have people swooning immediately. Wait again for a month or two. Once the buzz of Apple Intelligence starts, there will be FOMO among all those who don’t have iPhone 15 Pro models or iPhone 16 models. Then perhaps it will be the right time to ask whether you should upgrade or not. And then the answer will be: yes, you should because Apple’s AI features will expectedly get better and then you wouldn’t want to miss out on those.

With a really good camera system, blazing fast performance and a sprinkling of iOS customisations, the iPhone 16 has just enough pizzazz to make you feel like you’ve a Pro iPhone without spending Pro level of moolah.  It is not a Pro but it’s an iPhone, and it knows it’s good.