Which one should you go for: the iPhone 16 Pro or the more affordable iPhone 16? We compare all the differences.
Intro
In September, just a few months from now, Apple is expected to unveil four new iPhone 16 models. Among them will be two larger devices, the iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Plus, and two smaller phones, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16.
If like me, you find the big ones too big, well, read on! In this article, we will focus only on the smaller models, exploring all the differences between the iPhone 16 Pro and the more affordable iPhone 16.
This is not an easy choice, but this year, the differences between these two models are bigger than usual: the iPhone 16 Pro is expected to be slightly larger and have a faster chipset, a dedicated telephoto camera and a buttery smooth ProMotion screen.
But these are far from the only differences, so let’s dive right in and see if you should save up with the iPhone 16 or go all out with the iPhone 16 Pro.
iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 16 expected differences:
iPhone 16 ProiPhone 16
Slightly larger, 6.3-inch size Smaller, 6.1-inch form factor
Made of titanium and matte glass Made of aluminum and matte glass
Slightly heavier at 194 grams Weight of around 170g
Action Button, Camera Button Same Action Button, Camera Button
120Hz ProMotion 60Hz refresh rate
A18 Pro chipset A18 chip
Same 8GB RAM 8GB RAM
128GB, 256GB, 512GB
AND 1TB storage options 128GB, 256GB, 512GB storage options
5X zoom telephoto camera No telephoto camera
Possibly a new 48MP ultra-wide camera 12MP ultra-wide camera
48MP main camera 48MP main camera with slightly different specs
Slightly smaller 3,355mAh battery Larger 3,561mAh battery
Possibly faster charging
40W wired, 20W wireless Possibly slower charging
20W wired, 15W wireless
Table of Contents:
Design and Display
Performance and Software
Camera
Audio Quality
Battery and Charging
Specs
Which one should you buy?
Design and Display QualityThe iPhone 16 Pro is now bigger, but not by much
For years, the regular iPhone and the Pro model were roughly the same nice and compact size, at about 6.1 inches. But this year, for the first time, we expect to see a bigger, 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro model, while the regular version will stick with the smaller, 6.1-inch size from the past.
Compact phone lovers might be troubled by this now bigger Pro model, but admittedly it’s not a huge difference. The Pro model also has very slim bezels, which help shrink the size a bit.
The rest is familiar stuff: a triple camera on the Pro, and a dual camera on the vanilla model (but now in a pill-shaped island).
There is also a divide in materials. The iPhone 16 Pro is expected to use a fancy titanium frame, while the iPhone 16 will likely use cheaper aluminum. Both devices are said to get a frosted glass back.
New on all iPhone 16 models are the number and arrangement of the physical buttons. You will see an Action Button above the volume keys on the left, and a new Camera Button below the power button on the right (the mmWave antenna on US models is moved to the bottom left, in case you are wondering). These two new keys are cool! You already know how the Action Button works, but the Camera Button is brand new.
