iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: Buyer's Guide

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro are Apple's newest iPhones and follow last year's iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, but how different are the two latest models, and what exactly does a "Pro" device offer?

iPhone 16 vs 16 Pro Feature
Last year, the biggest new differences between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro were the titanium frame, A17 Pro chip, and Action button. With ‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌, both devices share new features like the A18 chip with support for Apple Intelligence, faster charging, stronger Ceramic Shield front glass, revamped Photographic Styles, the Camera Control, and Wi-Fi 7, but Apple's "Pro" and non-Pro iPhone models are still fairly different devices.

Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two ‌iPhone‌ models is best for you, and serves as a way to clearly see what additional features and upgrades the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ brings to the table.

‌iPhone 16‌ ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌
Anodized aluminum frame with color-infused glass Blasted titanium frame
iPhone 16: 6.1-inch display
iPhone 16 Plus: 6.7-inch display
iPhone 16 Pro: 6.3-inch display
iPhone 16 Pro Max: 6.9-inch display
Thinner borders around the display
ProMotion with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz
Always-on display
More power efficient display
Available in Black, White, Pink, Teal, and Ultramarine finishes Available in Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium finishes
A18 chip A18 Pro chip
"Advanced" dual-camera system "Pro" triple camera system
48-megapixel Fusion main camera with ƒ/1.6 aperture 48-megapixel Fusion main camera with ƒ/1.78 aperture and larger sensor
12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture
Macro photography 48-megapixel macro photography
Support for new JPEG-XL format
Depth mapping for AR and portrait photography, allowing for more accurate background and subject separation, more realistic bokeh, and better AR experiences.
4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps, with playback speed controls 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 or 60 fps 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 at 120 fps or 240 fps Slo-mo video support for 1080p up to 240 fps and 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps (Fusion)
Studio-quality four-mic array
12-megapixel Telephoto camera with ƒ/2.8 aperture
0.5x, 1x, and 2x optical zoom 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x optical zoom
Sensor-shift optical image stabilization Second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization
True Tone flash Adaptive True Tone flash
LiDAR scanner
Night mode portraits
Apple ProRAW
Shoot and instantly transfer 48-megapixel ProRAW images to Mac via USB 3
Record video directly to an external drive
ProRes video recording up to 4K at 30 fps (60 fps with external recording)
Log video recording
Academy Color Encoding System
USB 2 transfer speeds (up to 480Mb/s) USB 3 transfer speeds (up to 10Gb/s, 20x faster)
DisplayPort support for up to 4K HDR video output
iPhone 16: Up to 22 hours of battery life
iPhone 16 Plus: Up to 27 hours of battery life
iPhone 16 Pro: Up to 27 hours of battery life
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Up to 33 hours of battery life
128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options (no 128GB on Pro Max)
iPhone 16: Starts at $799
iPhone 16 Plus: Starts at $899
iPhone 16 Pro: Starts at $999
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Starts at $1,199

The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ offers a large number of upgrades over the standard ‌iPhone 16‌. With just $200 difference to obtain a display with ProMotion and always-on functionality, a telephoto camera, and longer battery life, many customers will be able to justify getting the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ over the ‌iPhone 16‌. Other differences, such as a titanium frame, slightly larger display sizes, the A18 Pro chip, and a 1TB storage option are notable, but most significant are perhaps the devices' fundamentally different rear camera setups. The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ unlocks many additional camera features, such as ProRAW and 48-megapixel macro photography, and benefits from an entire additional camera in the form of the 5x telephoto for a additional optical focal length option. Due to the scale and breadth of the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌'s improvements and features, many customers will be happy to opt for the high-end model.

The standard ‌iPhone 16‌ still offers many of the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌'s most compelling capabilities, such as ‌Apple Intelligence‌ support, the Camera Control, USB-C, Dynamic Island, and a 48-megapixel Fusion camera, at a lower price point. With a generous roster of advanced features, most customers will be happy with the ‌iPhone 16‌ or ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus, especially those who want a lighter device, do not care for the "Pro" rear camera setup or features like ProMotion and the always-on display, or cannot justify the $200 to upgrade to the high-end model. The ‌iPhone 16‌ is a very well designed and balanced device, especially for average customers and those coming from a much older model.

Related Roundups: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro

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Top Rated Comments

Spock Avatar
9 months ago
Like others have said before, a $900+ phone should have a higher refresh rate than 60 Hz. High refresh rate displays are not just a pro feature.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nono_thank you Avatar
9 months ago
Appreciate the side-by-side comparison.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chuckeee Avatar
9 months ago

Lots of people say you don't notice the difference between 60Hz and 120hz on an iPhone. I don't think that's true. It's very noticeable when scrolling. What I do think is true is that as long as you've never gotten used to using a smartphone with a 120Hz display, it won't bother you, because you just wouldn't have tasted 120Hz displays.
You are wrong. I absolutely cannot tell the difference between 60, 90, 120, 144 or 240 Hz frames rates. I can tell the difference between 30 and 60 Hz. But any thing above 60 Hz I’m completely oblivious to. I’ve tried it and for me higher frame rate is a complete waste. And I’m not alone and before you ask, “I get my eye examine regularly by an ophthalmologist”. And while some people can see a difference at 120Hz, I have tested many of my co-workers and it is just FOMO for many ardent supporters.

Although I do like promotion and the ability to reduce the frame rate, for static displays to save power
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ericg301 Avatar
9 months ago

I've been to the Apple shop and compared the different models. The 16 feels better in the hand; it's lighter and just feels nicer. However, the screen refresh lets it down slightly, and the cameras are obviously far better on the pro, so that will probably be the model I go for.
I think I'm about to go from the 14 Pro to the regular 16. My wife and daughter got theirs over the weekend (coming from regular 13), and as you said, it just feels so much better in the hand. I could pick it up off the table without feeling gravity's pull. This Pro is such a brick and I've never felt entirely comfortable holding it or carrying it over the last 2 years. Sure, I'd give up the extra camera, but I really only take pictures of kids, dogs, and things to show associates at Home Depot...so I don't think that would be a loss there. I do use the AOD but I think tap and raise to wake are a decent replacement. And yes the downgrade to 60z is a thing but I think I would get over it in a few days. I don't have ProMotion on my ipads or Macbooks either.

Someone tell me I'm not making a mistake.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iamthedudeman Avatar
9 months ago

The sole reason the 16 doesn't have a 120Hz display is to push people to the Pro model. I personally don't care much of the camera quality differences between the regular 16 and Pro models, but I do care about having a 120Hz display which my 15 Pro has. I couldn't go back to a 60Hz display. And because I like color and not having to cary a brick around, I'd like to return back to the regular iPhone in the future. I'm hoping the iPhone 18 will have 120Hz, if not, I won't upgrade.

Lots of people say you don't notice the difference between 60Hz and 120hz on an iPhone. I don't think that's true. It's very noticeable when scrolling. What I do think is true is that as long as you've never gotten used to using a smartphone with a 120Hz display, it won't bother you, because you just wouldn't have tasted 120Hz displays.

Anyway, the regular iPhones are expensive enough for this to be included, which is why I think it should be. If the iPhone 16 was selling for 700€ instead of +969, I would accept it having a 60Hz display.
How can you tell people who cant tell the difference that they are wrong? i have a 16 pro and cannot tell the difference. Zero. I turn it off to preserve battery life. Keep my phone on low power mode to keep my battery health.
120hz is useless to me.
My eyes refractory rate is slower than most. Or my fine motor function of my eyes are slower. My eyes cannot adjust fast enough to notice a difference. And i am not the only one.
i could care less about 120hz.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BornAgainMac Avatar
9 months ago

You are wrong. I absolutely cannot tell the difference between 60, 90, 120, 144 or 240 Hz frames rates. I can tell the difference between 30 and 60 Hz. But any thing above 60 Hz I’m completely oblivious to. I’ve tried it and for me higher frame rate is a complete waste. And I’m not alone and before you ask, “I get my eye examine regularly by an ophthalmologist”. And while some people can see a difference at 120Hz, I have tested many of my co-workers and it is just FOMO for many ardent supporters.

Although I do like promotion and the ability to reduce the frame rate, for static displays to save power
Yeah, I must be blind because I can't tell either. I have watched videos demonstrating it and they are scrolling the video like a mad man and I still can't notice any problem. I have 120hz devices but my eyes are still using Apple II technology.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)