Apple may be known for its slick design and marketing, but the company’s engineering prowess is what powers the iPhone 16 Pro to new heights.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max and 16 Pro in the Steve Jobs Theater on the Apple Park campus.
I spent several hours with Apple’s new flagship iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max earlier this week in the Steve Jobs Theater and quickly formed some first impressions. As I do in my iPhone reviews, I always try to keep in mind that most iPhone upgraders are coming from a phone that’s at least three years old.
And while the first thing lots of buyers may notice is the year’s new phone color — it’s Desert Titanium this year, which is actually just a shade of gold — the thing that most of us barely pay attention to is the latest advances in the brain that powers the iPhone. It’s always the case that it unlocks new capabilities, but this year, that feels truer than ever with the new A18 Pro. Or at least it powers my favorite new feature — and a bunch of others that prove how ridiculously powerful this device is.
And yes, I’ll quit talking about chips and get to my three favorite features.
The new Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 Pro.
The new Camera Control allows users to do more with the iPhone camera and do it quickly. This new key sits on the right side of the phone underneath the power button, but it is made of darker metal and sits more flush to the side of the phone.
It’s also touch-sensitive, which is a feat of engineering. One press opens the camera app. A second press takes a photo. Press and hold and it starts recording video. A light press and a swipe to one side or the other lets you zoom in and out.
