iPhone 16 Pro: Price and Release Details
The starting price for the iPhone 16 Pro is set at $999 for the model with 128GB of storage. Options for 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB are also available. In the U.S., the iPhone 16 Pro Max begins at $1,199, with storage options starting at 256GB and extending to 1TB.
Preorders for the iPhone 16 Pro lineup open on September 13, with sales starting on September 20. The new Qi2 MagSafe charger boasts an output of 25W and is priced at $39 in the U.S.
iPhone 16 Pro: Specifications
| iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Dimensions | 149.6 x 71.5 x 8.25 mm (5.89 x 2.81 x 0.32 inches) | 163 x 77.6 x 8.25 mm (6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches) |
| Weight | 7.03 ounces (199 grams) | 7.99 ounces (227 grams) |
| Display | 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED 2622 x 1206 pixels 460 ppi pixel density 120Hz refresh rate 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio 1000 nits max brightness (typical); 1600 nits peak brightness (HDR); 2000 nits (outdoor) Ceramic Shield front |
6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED 2868 x 1320 pixels 460 ppi pixel density 120Hz refresh rate 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio 1000 nits max brightness (typical); 1600 nits peak brightness (HDR); 2000 nits (outdoor) Ceramic Shield front |
| Durability | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes) |
IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes) |
| Colors | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium |
| Processor | A18 Pro 2 performance + 4 efficiency cores 6-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine |
A18 Pro 2 performance + 4 efficiency cores 6-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Software | iOS 18 | iOS 18 |
| Updates | Seven years of promised upgrades | Seven years of promised upgrades |
| Rear Cameras | Fusion: 48MP, f/1.78 aperture Ultra Wide: 48MP, f/2.2 aperture Telephoto: 12MP, f/2.8 aperture 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x optical zoom options |
Fusion: 48MP, f/1.78 aperture Ultra Wide: 48MP, f/2.2 aperture Telephoto: 12MP, f/2.8 aperture 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x optical zoom options |
| Front Camera | 12MP, f/1.9 aperture | 12MP, f/1.9 aperture |
| New Camera Features | Anti-reflective lens coating 4K Dolby Vision video recording at various frame rates 1080p Dolby Vision recording at multiple frame rates Wind noise reduction |
Anti-reflective lens coating 4K Dolby Vision video recording at various frame rates 1080p Dolby Vision recording at multiple frame rates Wind noise reduction |
| Battery | Up to 27 hours of video playback | Up to 33 hours of video playback |
| Charging | Up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter 30W with MagSafe Charger |
Up to 50% charge in 35 minutes with a 20W adapter 30W with MagSafe Charger |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, VoLTE, NFC | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, VoLTE, NFC |
| Price | $999 | $1,199 |
iPhone 16 Pro: Hands-On Experience
While it’s easy to talk about specifications and features of new devices, experiencing the iPhone 16 Pro firsthand offers a completely different perspective. We briefly engaged with the device, testing out the innovative Camera Control button, examining its upgraded display, and checking out the striking Desert Titanium color variant.
iPhone 16 Pro: Design and Display
The iPhone 16 Pro features Grade 5 Titanium with a sandblasted finish, signaling a significant upgrade in durability. Apple has also claimed that their latest screen protection surpasses the original Ceramic Shield technology.
The standout feature of this model is undoubtedly the new Camera Control button. This innovative addition allows users to customize their camera settings for quicker access, supporting both tap and slide inputs through a capacitive surface complemented by a taptic engine that provides feedback.
Besides simply capturing photos, the button enables quick adjustments directly in the camera viewfinder for parameters such as exposure, zoom, and depth of field. Apple plans to roll out two-stage shutter functionality in an upcoming update, which will assist with locking focus and exposure.
Apple has also slightly increased the screen sizes with the iPhone 16 Pro sporting a 6.3-inch display and the Pro Max featuring a 6.9-inch one. The pixel density of 460ppi remains unchanged compared to previous models, while the resolution has seen a modest enhancement.
Both models come equipped with a Super Retina XDR OLED display that supports a peak refresh rate of 120Hz and a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits. Interestingly, the iPhone 16 Pro’s display can go as dim as one nit when needed. The device maintains an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, allowing for immersion for up to 30 minutes at a depth of six meters.
iPhone 16 Pro: Internal Hardware and Software
Apple claims the new iPhones have been engineered to maximize the benefits of Apple Intelligence, a suite of generative AI functionalities that enhance various features, including more intuitive interactions with Siri.
At the heart of the iPhone 16 Pro is the new A18 Pro processor, utilizing an advanced 3-nanometer process technology. This innovation incorporates advancements from Apple’s silicon used in their Mac range to dramatically enhance graphics performance, delivering significant boosts in both speed and efficiency.
This chip offers a 20% increase in system memory bandwidth, doubles the performance of hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and improves sustained performance by up to 20%. The architecture includes two high-performance cores and four energy-efficient cores, providing a 15% advantage over the A17 Pro in terms of CPU performance, and a 20% improvement in graphics capabilities.
A standout upgrade is the Visual Intelligence features that complement the Camera Control button. This enhancement operates similarly to Google Lens but is supported by Siri’s AI capabilities and can integrate with ChatGPT for complex queries. Visual Intelligence provides rich, context-based information, enhancing user experience in conjunction with standard apps like the calendar.
Apple has also ramped up charging speeds to 25W with a MagSafe wireless adapter, and claims these new Pro models offer the best battery life in iPhone history. The devices launch with iOS 18, showcasing the capabilities of Apple Intelligence at its core.
iPhone 16 Pro: Cameras and Features
The iPhone 16 Pro retains its impressive 48-megapixel main camera but upgrades the ultrawide lens to a 48MP sensor, while still featuring a 12MP telephoto camera. The introduction of 5x optical zoom through a tetra prism lens elevates the photography experience on both the iPhone 16 Pro and Max models.
Among its many capabilities, the device excels in recording 4K Dolby Vision videos at 120fps, supporting ProRes and LOG capture directly onto external drives. This functionality allows users to dive into professional-level color grading for individual frames recorded at high frame rates, providing a unique cinematic experience.
The ultrawide camera is also capable of capturing 48MP ProRAW images, while Siri’s integration with Apple Intelligence will assist in editing and enhancing both images and videos. The device presents various new Photographic Styles and introduces a control pad for precise adjustments to tone and color intensity for customized photo moods.
Apple is leveraging its high-quality microphones to support vloggers and content creators. A new feature called Audio Mix enables users to modify audio tracks during post-production, mimicking the capabilities of Cinematic Mode but focusing on sound adjustments. This feature can isolate and enhance vocals or merge ambient sound for richer audio experiences, incorporating wind noise reduction for outdoor recording.