IPhone 16
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are smartphones developed and marketed by Apple. They are the eighteenth-generation iPhones, succeeding the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. The devices were announced alongside the higher-priced iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max during the Apple Event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on September 9, 2024.
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 iPhone 16 in Ultramarine | |
| Developer | Apple |
|---|---|
| Type | Smartphone |
| Series | iPhone |
| First released | September 20, 2024 |
| Predecessor | iPhone 15 and 15 Plus |
| Successor | iPhone 17 |
| Related | iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max iPhone 16e |
| Compatible networks | 2G GSM/EDGE, 3G UMTS/HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G NR |
| Form factor | Slate |
| Colors |
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| Dimensions |
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| Weight |
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| Operating system | Original: iOS 18 Current: iOS 26.4.1, released April 8, 2026[1] |
| System-on-chip | Apple A18 |
| Modem | Qualcomm Snapdragon X71 5G |
| Memory | 8 GB LPDDR5X[2] |
| Storage | 128, 256 or 512 GB NVMe |
| SIM |
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| Battery | |
| Charging | |
| Rear camera |
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| Front camera | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23 mm (wide) |
| Display | Super Retina XDR OLED
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| Sound | Dolby Atmos-tuned Spatial Audio |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be) tri-band Bluetooth 5.3 (A2DP, LE) Ultra-wideband (UWB) Thread NFC (reader mode, Express Cards) USB-C: USB 2.0 480 Mbit/s GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou |
| Water resistance | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6 m for 30 min) |
| Hearing aid compatibility | M3, T4 |
| Other | Emergency SOS, Messages and Find My via satellite, FaceTime Audio or Video at 1080p over Wi-Fi and 5G, Voice over 5G Standalone (if supported by the carrier) |
| Website | apple.com/iphone-16 |
| This article is part of a series on the |
| iPhone |
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The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are smartphones developed and marketed by Apple. They are the eighteenth-generation iPhones, succeeding the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. The devices were announced alongside the higher-priced iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max during the Apple Event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on September 9, 2024.[4]
History
[edit]The devices were unveiled during an event on September 9, 2024, the first time an iPhone release had been announced on a Monday.[5] It is also the first iPhone not to include Apple stickers in the box, as Apple removed them for environmental reasons. Stickers can be included if a customer asks for them at an Apple Store.[6]
Design
[edit]The iPhone 16 is equipped with an aluminum design with a color infused glass back, except for white and black models. Like the iPhone 15, the device features rounded edges, a slightly curved display, and back glass. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have a vertical camera layout, similar to the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12, as opposed to the diagonal layout for iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and iPhone 15. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus come in five colors: Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, and Black.[7]
| Color | Name |
|---|---|
| Ultramarine | |
| Teal | |
| Pink | |
| White | |
| Black |
Hardware
[edit]The iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Plus use an Apple A18 system on a chip. The chip is optimized for running generative artificial intelligence and features a Neural Engine that is twice as fast as its predecessor.
The iPhone 16 includes an updated 48-megapixel Fusion camera, the same resolution as the iPhone 15, with 2 μm, quad pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). It has a new ultrawide camera with a wider aperture, automatic focus and 1.4 μm, 100% Focus Pixels.[8]
The iPhone 16 international model supports Nano-SIM and eSIM, while the US model is eSIM only and the China model does not have any eSIM support.[9][10]
All iPhone 16 models have an improved thermal design. The main logic board has been updated, centralizing chip placement and optimizing the surrounding architecture. Apple claims that the recycled aluminum substructure dissipates heat for up to 30 percent higher sustained performance for gaming.[11]
Every model in the iPhone 16 lineup has support for Wi-Fi 7.[12]
Display
[edit]The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus retain their screen sizes of 6.1 inches (150 mm) and 6.7 inches (170 mm), respectively. They use Super Retina XDR OLED display technology and feature a full-edge screen design with slim borders.[9][13] The iPhone 16 has a resolution of 2556×1179 pixels, while the iPhone 16 Plus has a resolution of 2796×1290 pixels. Both run on a 60 Hz refresh rate and neither are flicker free due to the use of pulse-width modulation for brightness control.[14][15]
Camera
[edit]
iPhone 16 features a more refined dual-lens array on the back, with a 48 MP Fusion wide-angle lens and 12 MP ultrawide lens.[9] The cameras are now aligned vertically for the first time since the iPhone 12, instead of diagonally like on the iPhone 15, enabling spatial video capture.
There is also improved Photographic Styles feature for real-time lighting and color adjustments, allowing specific tones and colors to be manipulated.[16]
Action button
[edit]The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus come with the Action button, which was first featured on the iPhone 15 Pro lineup. By default, the Action button toggles silent mode. However, users can change the button's feature to do different things other than silent mode, like open the camera app or toggle a focus mode.[17]
Camera Control button
[edit]All iPhone 16 models now come with a new button called Camera Control. This button is on the right side of the device and allows the user to open the camera app, switch between different camera controls and features, and take photos and videos. The button can distinguish between light and hard presses. By pressing the button once, it opens the camera app. By lightly pressing it twice, it opens a small menu with different camera controls, such as zoom or tone. Pressing the button hard once takes a photo, while holding for a few seconds starts a video. The button can also be customized to open other apps that use the iPhone’s cameras, such as Magnifier, Code Scanner, or third party camera apps.[16]
Battery and charging
[edit]The iPhone 16 has been upgraded in terms of battery capacity.[11]
The base iPhone 16 has a video playback duration of up to 22 hours, while the iPhone 16 Plus has a video playback of up to 27 hours. The iPhone 16 has a duration of audio playback of up to 80 hours, 20% less than the iPhone 16 Plus with 100 hours of audio playback. The MagSafe wireless charging standard has been refreshed with a longer cable as an option, allowing the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus to charge at a faster speed of 25 W with a 30 W power adapter.
Software
[edit]The iPhone 16 launched with iOS 18. While the device was announced alongside Apple Intelligence, these features were delayed until after release.[18]
iOS 18 includes recovery tools that allow users to recover and restore firmware wirelessly onto iPhone 16 series phones using another iPhone.[6]
Prior to the launch of iOS 18.4, Apple added the ability to open Visual Intelligence by customizing the Action button or Lock Screen, or opening Control Center on the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Plus, in addition to the ability to press and hold the Camera Control button to open the Visual Intelligence.
All iPhone 16 models support iOS 26, which was released in September 2025.
Release and pricing
[edit]The iPhone 16 has a starting price of US$799 (equivalent to $820.02 in 2025), while the iPhone 16 Plus starts at US$899 (equivalent to $922.65 in 2025). Pre-orders began on September 13, 2024, and sales started September 20.[19] With the release of the successor, the iPhone 17, the price of the iPhone 16 models were reduced to US$699 and US$799, respectively.[20]
Availability by region
[edit]- September 20, 2024
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Brazil
- Belgium
- Canada
- China
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- India
- Italy
- Ireland
- Japan
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Oman
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- September 26, 2024
- September 27, 2024
- October 18, 2024
- April 11, 2025
Indonesian sales ban
[edit]On October 20, 2024, the Indonesian Ministry of Industry announced a formal ban on the sale and use of iPhone 16 models in Indonesia, citing that Apple has not fulfilled their promised investments in the country, and failing to meet the 40% local content requirement threshold for certification.[21] Apple subsequently offered a $100 million investment in exchange for lifting of the ban, but the Ministry of Industry rejected this offer, stating that it "has not met principles of fairness"[22] and demanded a larger amount,[23] which later said to be at least $1 billion.[24]
After further negotiations, which included the plan to build manufacturing, research and development facilities, the Ministry of Industry lifted the ban on February 26, 2025, with Apple subsequently entered the process of obtaining a local content certificate for selling the iPhone 16 models in Indonesia, starting from April 11.[25][26]
Reception
[edit]The iPhone 16 has received positive feedback for several aspects but also shows a few limitations. The upgraded design is a favorite, bringing a refreshed aesthetic with the available vibrant color options, which feel more dynamic than past models. The display maintains Apple's Super Retina HDR quality but is limited to a 60 Hz refresh rate, which some users find outdated compared to faster displays on cheaper competitor phones.[27][28] The iPhone 16 Plus has been praised, weighing 30 grams less and having longer battery life than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, while having a similar screen size to the Pro Max.[29] The "base model iPhone has often felt like a notable downgrade from its Pro counterparts, but that’s not the case this year", with the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus having enough features to make the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max somewhat redundant.[27][28] The phone's performance was well received by critics, with the A18 chip being around 30% faster in processing speed and 40% in graphics calculations compared to the A16 used in its predecessor.[30]
Julian Chokkattu of Wired rated the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus 8 out of 10 points in his review, praising the phone's camera, performance, and battery life, but criticizing its 60Hz display and slow USB 2 data speeds.[31]
References
[edit]- ^ "About iOS 26 updates". Apple Support.
- ^ "iPhone 16 Chip ID". iFixit. September 29, 2024. Archived from the original on May 31, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
- ^ Miller, Chance (September 19, 2024). "Here's exactly how much bigger the iPhone 16 batteries are than iPhone 15". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ Haslam, Karen; Macworld (September 9, 2024). "iPhone 16 (2024) complete guide: Launch date, features, specs and more". Macworld. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
- ^ Phelan, David. "iPhone 16 Release: Apple Confirms Special Event, On A Surprise New Date". Forbes. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ a b Espósito, Filipe (September 17, 2024). "iPhone 16 firmware can be restored wirelessly from another iPhone". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on May 4, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ^ Cooper, Gael (September 9, 2024). "iPhone 16 Brightens Up With New Ultramarine, Teal and Pink Color Choices". CNET. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
- ^ Field, Hayden; Capoot, Ashley; Leswing, Kif; Haselton, Todd (September 9, 2024). "Here's everything Apple just announced: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4 and more". CNBC. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Apple iPhone 16 - Full phone specifications". www.gsmarena.com. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ "iPhone 16 eSIM Capabilities". Roamless.
- ^ a b "iPhone 16 is powered by A18 chip up to 30% faster than iPhone 15". 9to5Mac. September 9, 2024. Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
- ^ Espósito, Filipe (September 9, 2024). "iPhone 16 lineup adds support for faster Wi-Fi 7". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
- ^ "Apple iPhone 16 Plus - Full phone specifications". www.gsmarena.com. Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ "Apple iPhone 16 smartphone review - More innovations than one would think". www.notebookcheck.net. October 28, 2024. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
- ^ "Apple iPhone 16 Plus smartphone review – The big one with a new design and lots of buttons". www.notebookcheck.net. October 2024. Archived from the original on March 30, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
- ^ a b "iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus". September 9, 2024. Archived from the original on October 27, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ "Use and customize the Action button on iPhone". Apple Inc. Archived from the original on June 9, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ^ "Apple's artificial intelligence features to be delayed, Bloomberg News reports". Reuters. July 28, 2024.
- ^ "Apple iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max launched, Price and Specifications". September 9, 2024. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
- ^ "iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus - Technical Specifications". Archived from the original on February 19, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
- ^ "Apple iPhone 16: Why is it off-limits in Indonesia? Here's what you need to know about the new ban". The Economic Times. October 26, 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Archived from the original on October 29, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ "Indonesia says Apple's $100 mln investment proposal inadequate". Reuters. November 25, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
- ^ "Apple expected to invest over US$100 mln, says ministry". AntaraNews.com. November 22, 2024. Archived from the original on December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
- ^ "Indonesia expects $1 billion investment commitment from Apple in a week". Reuters. December 3, 2024. Archived from the original on April 13, 2025. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
- ^ "Indonesia says Apple should soon be cleared to sell iPhone 16s". Reuters. February 26, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
- ^ Park, Kate (February 26, 2025). "Indonesia, Apple reach agreement to end iPhone 16 sales ban". TechCrunch.
- ^ a b Zeman, Eric (September 25, 2024). "Apple iPhone 16 - Review 2024". PCMag UK. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Maring, Joe (October 5, 2024). "iPhone 16 review: Who needs the Pro?". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on January 26, 2025. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ Viticci, Federico (October 2, 2024). "After Five Years of Pro iPhones, I'm Going iPhone 16 Plus This Year". MacStories. Archived from the original on January 12, 2025. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
- ^ Gibbs, Samuel (October 17, 2024). "iPhone 16 review: more buttons and speed for Apple's standard phone". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
- ^ Chokkattu, Julian (September 23, 2024). "Apple's iPhone 16 Is Cuter and More Practical Than the iPhone 16 Pro". WIRED. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
External links
[edit]- iPhone 16 – official website
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