Introduction
On the September 9 Apple event, the most awaited iPhone 16 models were released. However, the release has now put a potential dilemma in front of consumers: should they opt for the standard iPhone 16 or get the slightly more advanced and pricy iPhone 16 Pro? So, if you are one of those who are deciding between the iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro, check out this article to find out the major differences between the two models.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Buyer’s guide
The iPhone 16 is different from other standard iPhone releases in that it has some of the features that are usually exclusive to Pro-series iPhones. For instance, it supports Apple Intelligence or a customizable Action Button. Importantly, the iPhone 16 has the new and powerful A18 processor. For context, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus had the A16 Bionic chips, whereas their Pro models used the more advanced A17 Pro chipset. But for the iPhone 16 series, both the standard and Pro models are equipped with the A18 processor, with the Pro models using the A18 Pro chipset.
Below we will see the specification comparison between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro Specification Comparison
| iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Pro | |
| Display | 6.1-inch display Super Retina XDR display 1179×2556 pixels 460 ppi | 6.3-inch display Super Retina XDR display ProMotion technology with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz Always-On display Thinner borders around the display 1206×2622 pixels 460 ppi |
| Action Button | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Intelligence | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | A18 6-core CPU 5-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine | A18 Pro 6-core CPU 6-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine |
| Storage Options | 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options (no 128GB on Pro Max) |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Rear cameras | Advanced dual-camera system 48MP main (f/1.6) with 2x opitcal quality zoom, 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2) | Pro triple camera system 48MP main (f/1.78), 48MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 12MP telephoto (5x, f/2.8) |
| Front camera | 12MP (f/1.9) | 12MP (f/1.9) |
| Video Recording | 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps, with playback speed controls 1080p Dolby Vision video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps Slo-mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps | 4K Dolby Vision video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps, 100 fps (Fusion) or 120 fps (Fusion) 1080p Dolby Vision video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps, or 120 fps (Fusion) ProRes video recording up to 4K at up to 120 fps with external recording Slo-mo video support for 1080p up to 240 fps and 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps (Fusion) |
| Optical Zoom | 0.5x, 1x, and 2x | 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x |
| Battery Size & Life | 3,561 mAh & Up to 22 hours of video playback | 3,582 mAh & Up to 27 hours video playback |
| Weight & Size | 6 ounces (170 grams) & 5.8 x 2.8 x 0.31 inches (147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm) | 7.03 ounces (199 grams) & 5.89 x 2.81 x 0.32 inches |
| Colors | Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine | Black, White, Desert and Natural Titanium |
| Starting Price | $799 | $999 |
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Summary
As the table above shows, the camera is the main difference between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. The standard iPhone 16 comes with two rear cameras with 48 MP & 12 MP. Whereas the iPhone 16 Pro comes with three rear cameras with two 48 MP & 12 MP. Other than this, the iPhone 16 Pro is obviously slightly bigger in size, display, and battery life. Moreover, the starting price difference is $200. So, you need to decide whether the improved camera quality and larger size of the iPhone 16 Pro are worth the extra cost for you. Because other than this, both phones are basically the same. Both phones support Apple Intelligence and basically the same features and functionalities.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: My Verdict
If I had to choose between the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Pro, I would go for the latter. As I said, both are almost the same in terms of functionalities, and they both support the main Apple gimmicky feature, the Apple Intelligence. So, I would rather pay the extra $200 and get the iPhone 16 Pro model with a bigger and better camera.
The vastly improved camera and bigger display size are more attractive for me. In fact, this decision to make both the standard iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Pro have nearly similar functionalities might affect the sales of the standard iPhone 16 models. This is because people might pay the extra difference for the Pro model for the better camera quality. Ultimately, Apple may see an increase in sales of the iPhone 16 Pro compared to the standard model due to these differences in camera quality.
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