iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: How do the 2024 iPhones compare?

On September 9, 2024, Apple pulled back the covers on its latest generation of iPhones, ushering in the age of the iPhone 16. As with the previous lineup, you get four models to choose from: the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Here, we’ll compare the standard iPhone 16 and its Pro counterpart to find out whether the extra money is worth spending. 

If it’s the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max you are deciding between, those handsets share the same features as their smaller counterpart–only the screen sizes are different–so the information below will apply to that decision as well.

To find out how the new iPhone 16 compares to the previous generation read our comparison of the iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16.

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Design & Build

Apple

Apple

Apple

While the two devices do look fairly similar, there are some notable differences. The most obvious being the more colorful options on the iPhone 16 compared to the more business-like metallic finishes of the iPhone 16 Pro range.

The iPhone 16 features a color-infused glass back design that comes in Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, Black and White.

Alternatively, it’s a microblasted textured finish on the Pro models, offering Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium and Desert Titanium (the latter being new for 2024, with 2023’s Blue Titanium option consigned to history).

The materials are also a key difference between the two handsets (and have always been a distinction). The iPhone 16 features an aerospace-grade aluminum frame, whereas the Pro models is encased in titanium, as was the case with the previous generation. 

The other key difference is the presence of three camera lenses on the back of the iPhone 16 Pro, compared to two on the iPhone 16, this has always been a key differentiator between the pro and standard iPhones (while the iPhone SE has just one lens on the back).

Macworld

Macworld

Macworld

All the above differences have been the case for many generations, but for 2024 there is a more significant distinction: The iPhone 16 Pro models now have larger displays than their non-pro counterparts. Apple has increased the screen size on both the Pro and Pro Max. The Pro screen is 6.3-inches, up from 6.1-inches, while the Pro Max screen is 6.9-inches, up from 6.7-inches. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus stick to the older screen sizes of 6.1-inched and 6.7-inches.

Apple has managed to achieve this new screen size in the pro models by reducing the bezels rather than increasing the size of the handset, however, the pro models are still bigger and heavier than the standard iPhone 16 (although the width is so minutely smaller on the Pros that is perfectly highlights the difference between measuring in millimeters compared to inches).

• iPhone 16: 147.6 mm (5.81 inches) x 71.6 mm (2.82 inches) x 7.80 mm (0.31 inches); 170 grams (6.00 ounces)
• iPhone 16 Pro: 149.6 mm (5.89 inches) x 71.5 mm (2.81 inches) x 8.25 mm(0.32 inches); 199 grams (7.03 ounces)

• iPhone 16 Plus: 160.9 mm (6.33 inches) x 77.8 (3.06 inches) x 7.80 mm (0.31 inches); 199 grams (7.03 ounces)
• iPhone 16 Pro Max: 163 mm (6.42 inches) x 77.6 (3.06 inches) x 8.25 mm (0.32 inches); 227 grams (7.99 ounces)

That extra heft doesn’t only come from the larger panel, the inclusion of an extra camera module, as well as the different materials makes a big difference. But 30g is quite a lot in terms of a phone, so if you were hoping for a lightweight device, then the Pro might already have ruled itself out of contention. 

The customizable Action button that debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro devices now makes an appearance on the iPhone 16. In addition to that, Apple has introduced a new Camera Control button on all four new phones, which we’ll cover in the camera section below. 

All four iPhones feature the same IP68 water and dustproofing ratings, and all come with the now standard USB-C charging port, although, as in 2023, the Pro model upgrades to USB 3 for faster transfer speeds.

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Display

As mentioned already, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max come with larger screens than the non-pro models, but there are some common factors. They’re all Super Retina XDR panels with OLED, HDR, True Tone, Wide color, 1,000 nits max brightness (typical), 1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR), and 2,000 nits peak brightness (outdoor), plus a new 1 nits minimum brightness.

Only the Pro models get an Always-On display so that the time and selected information is always shown, and ProMotion (120hz) refresh rate to make scrolling buttery smooth.

Resolutions are relatively the same, when you factor in the size difference, with the two sporting the following specs:

• iPhone 16: 6.1-inch, 2,556 x 1,179-pixel resolution at 460 ppi
• iPhone 16 Pro: 6.3-inch, 2,622 x 1,206-pixel resolution at 460 ppi

• iPhone 16 Plus: 6.7-inch, 2,796 x 1,290-pixel resolution at 460 ppi
• iPhone 16 Pro Max: 6.9-inch, 2,868 x 1,320-pixel resolution at 460 ppi

All the 2024 iPhones feature the same updated Ceramic Shield technology to protect the screen from scratches or breakages. 

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Tech specs

The differences between the pro and standard iPhones for 2024 are perhaps less pronounced than in previous years. The larger screens on the pro models are probably the biggest point in favor of the pro models.

As you can see from the table below, most of the changes relate to the cameras, which we will discuss in the next section.

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Cameras

It’s in the camera department where the most obvious differences appear. The iPhone 16 has a dual-lens rear camera system (48Mp f/1.6 Fusion and 12Mp f/2.2 Ultra wide) but Apple has added some software trickery so that the Fusion camera shoots at 24Mp and 48Mp, giving you a cropped image that retains high levels of details and creates essentially two focal lengths. The upgraded Ultra Wide lens also comes with autofocus now and can shoot macro images. These two lenses combine to offer 0.5x, 1x and 2x optical zoom options. 

The arrangement of the cameras has also changed, with the lenses now positioned vertically rather than diagonally. This is to allow for the taking of stereoscopic images needed for the new Spatial Capture feature, which will create images that can be used with Apple Vision Pro. 

As you can see from the above table, the Pro camera is superior. As is traditional, the Pro model has a three lens array on the rear module. This is made up of a 48Mp f/1.78 Fusion, 48Mp f/2.2 Ultra Wide, and 12Mp f/2.8 Telephoto. The latter has 5x optical zoom capabilities that we first saw on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but which now appears on the smaller Pro model in the new generation. Overall the iPhone 16 Pro offers 0.5x, 1x, 2x and 5x optical zoom options. 

For this generation it gains a second 48MP camera for Ultra Wide and the ability to take 48MP macro photos. Macro photography had previously only been available on the pro iPhones, but in 2024 it arrived on the iPhone 16 too (though not at 48MP). The aperture settings are also better on the Pro. Note that where in the past the Pro Max would have a superior camera, this is no longer the case: the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max have identical cameras.

There’s also the new second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilisation on the Pro, while the standard iPhone gets the (still impressive) first-generation version. 

All the 2024 iPhones come with Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 5 for photos, Photonic Engine, Night Mode (although only the Pro has Night Mode Portraits), Portrait Lighting, True Tone Flash (where the Pro is adaptive whereas the standard iPhone 16 is not), the latest generation of Photographic styles, Spatial photos, and Anti-reflective lens coating to reduce glare (the iPhone 16 is only on the Fusion camera). 

So, from a photographic point of view, the iPhone 16 has some brilliant features and will capture fantastic images, but the iPhone 16 Pro has more firepower at its disposal. 

Macworld

Macworld

Macworld

Video marks the biggest departure. The iPhone 16 can shoot 4K/60fps, which is more than enough for most people. There’s also the Action Mode to keep jittery footage smooth, Spatial Video, Macro, Slo-Mo at 1080p/240fps, Time-Lapse, and plenty of other cool features, the majority of which will never be used, as the video will be for shooting footage of the kids at birthday parties or quick holiday panoramas to show the folks back home. And there’s nothing wrong with that, as this is how normal people use video recording on their phones. So, the iPhone 16 is a perfect option. 

Should you want to start a film career though, then the expanded features on the iPhone 16 Pro will be of great interest. ProRes goes from 4K/60fps on the iPhone 15 Pro to 4K/120fps, bringing Cinematic Slo-mo to the iPhone. You still get the Log video recording and the Academy color Encoding system, so you can work on colorization, plus there’s now what Apple calls a studio-quality four-mic array for capturing audio. Not only that, you can also remix the audio to remove or change the prominence of audio elements like off-screen talking thanks to the Audio Mix feature (which also works on the iPhone 16). 

If cameras are your thing, and video in particular, then the iPhone 16 Pro is the one you want. 

Camera Control button

One new feature the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro both share is the Camera Control button. This is similar to the later iterations of the Home button, in that it uses a Taptic Engine to simulate the feeling that it is being pressed. Tapping the Camera Control button instantly launches the camera, so you can quickly capture images. The surface is also touch sensitive so it can be used to adjust settings by sliding your finger along it.

All of this makes the experience feel much more akin to a classic camera with all the dials for exposure, aperture or ISO under your fingers. Apple also announced that focus tracking for images would be made available in a software update in the coming months. With this, you’d soft-press the button to select the subject in focus, then be able to reframe the shot with the subject still tracked until you press the button again to capture the photo. 

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Processor and performance

Macworld

Macworld

Macworld

Apple bestows new processors on the iPhone 16 range, as you’d expect, with an A18 in the standard models and the A18 Pro in, well, you’ve guessed it. 

Both chipsets feature a new 16-core neural engine, 6-core CPU (2 performance and 4 efficiency cores), 6-core GPU, all built on a 3nm process. While these chips improve performance and efficiency over their forebears, it’s unclear how they compare to each other, as Apple hasn’t announced any direct comparative figures. 

We do know that the A18 Pro has additional features, such as dedicated sections for ProMotion Display support, Always-On display support, faster USB 3 speeds, and ProRes video recording, but whether that will be useful to most people is unclear. 

They’re both the fastest chips you can get on iPhones, and are purpose built to support Apple Intelligence, which runs on all the iPhone 16 lineup. You can read more about the Apple Intelligence features to see what the fuss is all about, but briefly it’s something of a big deal, as the AI capabilities are baked-in to iOS 18, making it possible to improve your writing, find photos just by describing what’s happening in them, interact with Siri is a far more productive way, plus various photo editing and clever additional video features. 

Thanks to the more efficient silicon in both devices, they score impressive battery life improvements over the models they replace. Using video playback as the metric, the iPhone 16 boasts up to 22 hours, which is two more than the iPhone 15, but the iPhone 16 Pro takes the lead with a whopping 27-hour maximum, which is a four-hour improvement over the iPhone 15 Pro. Impressive indeed. 

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Price

Apple announced that both devices would open for pre-order on 13 September 2024, with the full launch on 20 September 2024. 

Here’s how they line up price-wise:

iPhone 16

• iPhone 16 (128GB) – $799/£799
• iPhone 16 (256GB) – $899/£899
• iPhone 16 (512GB) – $1,099/£1,099

iPhone 16 Pro

• iPhone 16 Pro (128GB) – $999/£999
• iPhone 16 Pro (256GB) – $1,099/£1,099
• iPhone 16 Pro (512GB) – $1,299/£1,299
• iPhone 16 Pro (1TB) – $1,499/£1,499

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Is the iPhone 16 Pro better than the iPhone 16?

2024’s iPhones make some compelling arguments for upgrading. The improved cameras, battery life, and performance are all strong reasons, but it’s Apple Intelligence that is the most intriguing. If Apple can deliver on the promise, then this might be a turning point towards how iPhones will look and behave for the next decade. 

Between the two devices themselves, there are differences, but as with the standard iPhone vs Pro debate, it really comes down to what you want to do with your iPhone. If it’s a light and compact design with great cameras, plenty of power, and which will last you for a good few years, then the iPhone 16 is the obvious choice. 

Those who are happy to spend more and really want to get serious with video content should look towards the iPhone 16 Pro. We’re not convinced that the additional features will be much use to your everyday user, but that’s why there’s a Pro in the name.