Apple iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max review

Table of Contents

I now crown the iPhone 16 Pro Max as our new smartphone battery life king, kicking the Google Pixel 9 out of its short-lived throne.

You won’t believe how long the top-tier iPhone 16 lasted on a charge.

If you’re confused over whether you should snag the iPhone 16 Pro or the iPhone 16 Pro Max, you’ll find out in this in-depth review that the latter delivers more than just a 6.9-inch mega display.

Use the table of contents to skip down to the battery life section if you’re too impatient about the Pro Max’s runtime figure. But if you want to know the breadth of how well the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max performed during our testing, stick around from start to finish.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max price

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are the iPhones you tote around to impress the impressionable. These are the crème de la crème of the iPhone 16 lineup that show off the latest ready-for-market, cutting-edge technologies out of Cupertino.

There are a handful of features the iPhone 16 Pro models have that the entry-level iPhone 16 models don’t — like the ability to play 4K video at 120Hz — that the average Joe doesn’t use regularly. However, for some, being able to say “I’ve got the most premium phone from the iPhone 16 lineup” is enough of an incentive to get people to make the purchase plunge.

If you’re one of those folks, you may be wondering, “What’s the damage?” Let’s get to it.

The iPhone 16 Pro has a starting price of $999 and comes with the following:

• A18 Pro chip

• 8GB of RAM (required for Apple Intelligence)

• 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options

• 6.3-inch, 2,622 x 1,206-pixel resolution display

The iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the other hand, starts at $1,199:

• A18 Pro chip

• 8GB of RAM (required for Apple Intelligence)

• 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

• 6.9-inch, 2,868 x 1,320-pixel resolution display

I don’t love that the base model iPhone 16 Pro starts at 128GB. In my experience, this storage configuration lasts about a year, give or take some months, before it runs out.

I’d recommend upgrading to the 256GB for an extra $100. Alternatively, you can simply delete unwanted photos and videos periodically — or get an iCloud+ subscription for additional storage.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max design

When Apple said that the iPhone 16 Pro Max had a larger 6.9-inch display, up from the iPhone 15 Pro Max‘s 6.7-inch screen, I joked that it’s practically a “phablet.” (Hey, there are tablets with 7-inch displays on the market.)

Despite me “taking the piss,” as my British fiancé would say, I was pleasantly surprised that the iPhone 16 Pro Max wasn’t as unwieldy as I thought it’d be. I expected awkwardness while clutching the premium top model — but nope. I didn’t notice a big difference. (And this is coming from someone with small hands.)

To be fair, though, as a phone reviewer, I’ve been carrying around the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL; both have 6.8-inch displays. As such, the 6.9-inch display on the iPhone 16 Pro Max doesn’t faze me much.

However, if you’re coming from a phone that has a significantly smaller display, you’ll definitely notice the difference. For example, using the smaller iPhone 16 models, like the 6.1-inch iPhone 16 and 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro, it’s easy to navigate the screen one-handed with your thumb. (See below.)

However, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, I find myself having to balance it on my finger for one-handed navigation, making the iPhone 16 Pro more comfortable.

I grabbed my iPhone 15 Pro Max and held it in my left hand while holding the iPhone 16 Pro Max in the other; the latter is definitely heavier. (After all, it does have a bigger battery in it.) I checked the actual numbers and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is marginally more hefty by 0.81 ounces. Interestingly, though, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has the same thickness as the iPhone 15 Pro Max (i.e., 0.33 inches).

But when you look at the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro Max, the difference between the two sizes isn’t as large as I thought it’d be (which explains why I didn’t experience any unwieldiness while holding it during my hands-on).

The iPhone 16 Pro is now 6.3 inches, up from 6.1 inches. It’s still got a compact form factor (though not as portable as the $799 6.1-inch iPhone 16).

Other design changes? The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have a new button, found on the lower-right side of the chassis, called Camera Control. (More on that later.)

Both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, still wrapped in a titanium enclosure, have a water resistance rating of IP68, which means they can tolerate approximately 20 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.

My only disappointment is that Apple got rid of the Blue Titanium color featured on the iPhone 15 Pro models and replaced it with “Desert Titanium,” which looks mostly beige with a slight hint of pink and gold.

Other colors you can get include Natural Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max display

As mentioned, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models have bigger displays this time around.

• iPhone 16 Pro – 6.3-inch, 2,622 x 1,206-pixel resolution, 1,000 nits of brightness (2,000 peak)

• iPhone 16 Pro Max – 6.9-inch, 2,868 x 1,320-pixel resolution, 1,000 nits of brightness (2,000 peak)

On top of that, both models have an ultra-slim frame that surround the display. They’re the slimmest bezels found on an Apple product. If Apple didn’t mention it, I wouldn’t have noticed. I was never bothered by the bezels on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but slimmer bezels never hurt, I guess.

Apple is still trying to make fetch happen with the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 16 Pro models. I do find myself getting hypnotized by some of the animations on the pill-shaped notch, like the funky waveform movements that dance along to my Apple Music playlist.

However, I have a feeling that the Dynamic Island’s days are numbered (I give it until iPhone 19).

On one hand, the Dynamic Island is an iPhone signature. When you see a pill-shaped notch on an phone, you know it’s an iPhone. Plus, Dynamic Island makes good use of the controversial notch that was a bit of an eyesore for some users. On the other, I won’t miss it much if Apple decides to shave it off (or remove it completely) — more screen real estate for me!

On the iPhone 16 Pro models, I watched some of my favorite shows, from The Boys on Amazon Prime Video to Selling Sunset on Netflix, and both displays delivered rich colors as I ogled vivid superhero costumes on The Boys and feasted my eyes on sweeping drone footage of Hollywood Hills.

Of course, don’t expect the screens to be as sharp as your TV set. (Perhaps, to the Selling Sunset cast’s delight, you won’t find many fine lines or subtle details on actresses’ faces, but the overall viewing experience is still top-notch.)

Finally, Apple placed the second-gen Ceramic Shield — Ceramic Shield 2, if you will — across the entire iPhone 16 lineup. (The first-gen Ceramic Shield, introduced with iPhone 12, was touted as its most durable display glass ever.) Now, Ceramic Shield 2 on iPhone 16 is reportedly “50% tougher” than the OG Ceramic Shield.

In other words, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max should be able to handle your clumsiness a lot more than their predecessors.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max Action Button

There’s nothing new to report regarding the Action Button on the iPhone 16 Pro models (though it’s a novel feature for the lower-tier iPhone 16 variants). Just like the iPhone 15 Pro models, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max continue to sport the Action Button on the upper-left side of the chassis.

For the uninitiated, the Action Button, first appearing on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, replaced the mute switch (though you can still use it to mute if you want). The Action Button was a hit among users. You can assign a number of different tasks and apps to it. You can get it to launch one of the following pre-configured things:

• Silent Mode

• Focus Mode

• Flashlight

• Shazam

• Translate

• Voice Memo

• Camera

• Magnifier

Or, you can get creative with the Shortcuts app and program the Action Button to do certain tasks depending on how you’re holding the iPhone — or even where you’re located. For example, you can configure the Action Button to open Apple Maps when you’re away from home, but once you’re at your residence, it can fire up Netflix.

My partner programmed his Action Button to be a Notes app launcher while he’s holding his iPhone upright, but while he’s holding it horizontally, the Action Button launches the Camera app. When he’s holding the device upside down, it opens Voice Memos.

My only wish is that Apple could introduce multi-tap gestures for user programming. (For example, one press opens my favorite Apple Music playlist, a double-press fires up Peacock, and a triple-press calls my fiancé.)

Currently, my usage of the iPhone 16 Pro Max Action Button is pretty simple; I use it to fire up Google Authenticator to validate 2FA requests.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max Camera Control button

The Camera Control button is, hands down, my favorite new feature that Apple has introduced in recent years (next to MagSafe.) With the Camera Control button, you can access the Camera app with a hard press. Next, you can take a picture by pressing the button again.

With a light double-tap press, you can access a menu that includes the following:

• Zoom

• Cameras (swap between wide, ultrawide, and 5X zoom)

• Photographic Styles (e.g., filters like “Black and White,” “Gold,” “Vibrant,” and more)

• Depth

• Tone

• Exposure

You can cycle through this menu by sliding your finger on the Camera Control button. However, it’s the sliding motion that gets tricky to employ while using the phone one-handed (and I found this to be true across the entire iPhone 16 lineup). To use the sliding gesture, it’d be easier to use two hands. If you’re a righty, like myself, your left hand will be holding the phone while your right pointer finger swipes up and down the button to pick the right selection.

You can still use the Camera Control with one hand, using your thumb to cycle through options, but I found that the Camera Control button registers my pointer finger a lot better.

Overall, I absolutely adore using the Camera Control button. I have so many Camera app features at my finger tips. For example, the “Gold” Photographic Style is my favorite, so I can apply this filter in just seconds. Plus, while my iPhone is locked, I can hard press the Camera Control button — and the Camera app appears almost instantly.

It’s an intuitive button and I got accustomed to the experience quicker than expected.

My only critique is that, to record video capture, you need to press-and-hold the Camera Control. Once you let go, it stops recording. I wish it would continue to record. And once I’m ready to end the recording, I can press the button again.

The Camera Control button will double as a Visual Intelligence tool, which is basically similar to Google Lens or Meta AI (via the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses) in that you can point to a subject and Visual Intelligence will tell you all about it. You’ll be able to point the camera at a fluffy dog — and it will tell you it’s a miniature poodle, for example. This is coming later this year.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max cameras

Camera-wise, one of the eye-catching new features is the new 48MP ultrawide sensor, up from the 12MP ultrawide lens on the iPhone 15 Pro models.

Ultrawide

To see if there’s a difference between the ultrawide camera on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the iPhone 16 Pro Max, I shot a landscape photo with both. For reference, here’s the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s interpretation:

And here is the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s take:

As you can see, Apple’s claim that the 48MP ultrawide camera has improved is spot on. The tech giant boasted that the upgraded lens performs better in low light — and that’s accurate.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max’s interpretation of the Long Island park delivered improved exposure, increased brightness, more distinct reflections, less noise in the blue sky, richer colors, and more depth and clarity. The iPhone 16 Pro has the same ultrawide upgrade, so users should get similar results with that phone.

Wide

The iPhone 16 Pro models, like their predecessors, have a 48MP wide camera. Check out some of the shots I took on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

By default, the iPhone 16 cameras lean more toward a true-to-life, cooler vibe. If that’s not your preference, you can always use the Camera Control button and cycle through “Styles” for a warmer feel, like “Vibrant” and “Gold.”

Telephoto

The iPhone 16 Pro inherited the 5X optical zoom feature that was a Pro Max exclusive last year.

The above zoomed-in photos were taken at 5X, which is the max the telephoto sensor can handle before digital zoom kicks in (i.e., reliance on software other than hardware).

You can see the weathered deterioration on the Chrysler building, including rusting and peeling, on the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s telephoto shot. You can even see the small, hair-like structures poking out of the green leaf in the pink flower photo.

However, in my experience, nothing beats the Super Res Zoom on the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. When I blind-tested iPhone users with photos shot on an iPhone and a Pixel device, the iPhone participants preferred the iOS device for the wide and ultrawide photos, but preferred Pixel for telephoto-based (zoomed-in) pictures.

Selfie

No major changes to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max’s front-facing 12MP camera, which I’m OK with. After all, there is such a thing as a camera being too good.

I had a blast playing around with the new iPhone 16-exclusive Photographic Styles, including “Gold” and “Ethereal,” with the former being my favorite (I love a warm, sunset-esque vibe).

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max video

Good news for content creators. Apple says that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max can now record 4K video at 120Hz, which means that your videos will be zippier, sharper, and smoother than ever.

When I tested 4K120 for the first time, I was taken aback at how fast the viewfinder kept up with my quick motions. I took videos of flying birds, running cats, and speeding cars, and marveled at how buttery smooth the videos turned out when I launched playback. Even better, I was able to play around with slo-mo by tapping on the adjustment slider icon, which is between the “i” icon and the “trash” icon.

On the top-right corner, you’ll find a clock icon. Here, you can decrease the speed to 24 frames per second to add dramatic, suspenseful, cinematic vibes to your content.

Plus, the new Audio Mix feature is a game-changer. To be succinct, Audio Mix, another feature you can find by tapping on the adjustment slider icon, lets you play around with some mind-blowing, sound-editing capabilities. There are four options you can choose from:

• Standard

• In-Frame

• Studio

• Cinematic

Studio and Cinematic blew me away. After recording a speaking test subject for this review, Studio was able to place the person’s voice front-and-center, making noises like crickets and wind-swaying trees fade into the background, creating a clear, crisp, and focused audiovisual experience.

Cinematic transformed my ho-hum standard video into a movie-like sound format — and it’s what we’ve been missing from our videos all along. For social media personalities who make skits and other content of this ilk, this feature is going to elevate their work for sure.

It appears, though, that the video would have had to been recorded with Spatial Audio capture, which is a default on the iPhone 16 Pro models, before you can use Audio Mix. For example, I wasn’t able to use Audio Mix on older, non-Spatial Audio videos in my library.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max performance

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max come with the new A18 Pro processor.

We ran Geekbench 6, a benchmark that tests CPU prowess, on both models and we’re blown away by the multi-core scores:

iPhone 16 Pro – 8,268

iPhone 16 Pro Max – 8,064

Year after year, we get the same story with Apple: it’s got competition-beating performance compared to other smartphone rivals:

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – 7,078

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL – 4,569

The iPhone 16 Pro models’ performance figures are close to the likes of the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i and the HP Envy Move.

However, I tend not to give too much weight to these numbers because, truthfully, iPhone has been overflowing with ultra-high performance for years now. It’s really not necessary to have laptop-level performance on a phone, but I suppose it’s a nice-to-have for power users and future-proofing.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max battery life

Apple said that the iPhone 16 Pro Max has the “best-ever battery life on iPhone” — and it wasn’t kidding.

The tech giant placed bigger batteries in both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max — and it shows.

Let’s start with the iPhone 16 Pro. On our TikTok rundown with the display emanating brightness at 50 percent, the iPhone 16 Pro lasted 18 hours and 17 minutes on a single charge. This is phenomenal considering that last year’s iPhone 15 Pro Max lasted 14 hours and 53 minutes on the same test. However, keep in mind that the iPhone 16 Plus, which is $100 less than the iPhone 16 Pro, lasted 36 minutes longer than the iPhone 16 Pro.

However, as Apple boasted, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the real-life Energizer Bunny. It just kept going, and going, and going, and going.

On the same TikTok rundown test, the iPhone 16 Pro Max lasted a whopping 25 hours and 17 minutes.

Check out our battery life numbers of the entire iPhone 16 lineup, as well as some rivals, in order of shortest to longest runtimes:

• Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – 13 hours and 1 minute

• iPhone 16 – 16 hours and 20 minutes

• iPhone 16 Pro – 18 hours and 17 minutes

• Google Pixel 9 Pro XL – 18 hours and 50 minutes

• iPhone 16 Plus – 18 hours and 53 minutes

• Google Pixel 9 – 19 hours and 20 minutes

• iPhone 16 Pro Max – 25 hours and 17 minutes

As you can see, the A18 Pro’s power-efficient chip and the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s large battery had all the other smartphone competitors eating its dust.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max Apple Intelligence

Apple has taken a more cautious approach with AI. At first glance, it may seem like Apple is lagging behind, but it’s just moving at a more conservative pace.

It has likely observed the reactions and criticism that Meta AI and Gemini have faced, so it wants to avoid repeating their errors. (For example, Google faced backlash when Gemini generated historically inaccurate images and Meta was in hot water for how it labeled AI images.)

This year, during WWDC 2024, Apple introduced Apple Intelligence, highlighting several new features coming to iOS 18. Initially, Apple stated these features would only be available on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, Apple Intelligence is now rolling out to the entire iPhone 16 lineup.

Some of the key features of Apple Intelligence include the Clean Up tool (for removing unwanted objects from photos), a revamped Siri, Writing Tools (tone adjustments for emails and texts), and call recording.

You can try these unreleased AI-powered utilities in the beta version of iOS 18.1 (but make sure you back up your iPhone just to be safe). Personally, I’ve found that the aforementioned Apple Intelligence features worked like a charm, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t tough competition. (See my Clean Up Tool vs. Google Magic Eraser vs. Samsung Galaxy AI piece.)

There are some features, however, that haven’t even reached beta yet, including Image Playground (AI-generated images tool) and Genmoji (create new custom-made emojis with text prompts.) I’m really excited to test those new features out.

The official iOS 18 release launched on Sept. 16, but Apple Intelligence will be available sometime in October when iOS 18.1 launches.

Are the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max worth it?

If you have money to blow, I highly recommend the iPhone 16 Pro Max. I mean, we’re talking about 25 hours of battery life here. As someone who is big on power efficiency, that alone is worth the price.

Some are excited about 4K video capture at 120Hz, but the real star feature here is Audio Mix, which gives your videos a noticeable, studio-esque improvement in sound quality. So if you’re a content creator who wants an edge over your competitors, this is the phone for you.

If your day-to-day tasks don’t include content creating nor pro-level, on-the-go video capture, don’t downgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro. Instead, I recommend the iPhone 16 Plus. It lasts longer on a charge — and still comes with some hero features like Camera Control and a tougher Ceramic Shield display.

UPDATE: Sep. 18, 2024, 10:43 p.m. EDT This review was updated to add the Google Pixel 9’s battery runtime.