iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: Here are the biggest differences

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro just took center stage to fully introduce Apple Intelligence into our lives. 

During Apple’s September event, we got to see all the big upgrades these smartphone juggernauts deliver. This includes an Action button across all models, an all-new Camera Control button for easy-access camera features, an A18 chipset to power Apple’s generative AI, improved cameras and battery life, and plenty more. 

Quite the jump from the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models, but what are the key differences that separate the “regular” iPhone 16 from its beefier Pro sibling? That’s what this comparison aims to find out. 

iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: Price and specs

As with last year’s iPhones, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models won’t come with a price increase. That’s welcome news for anyone looking for an upgrade — and we hope this trend continues in future releases. 

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus start at $799 and $899, respectively, with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage sizes available. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are set at $999 and $1,199, coming in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage sizes. As is the norm now, the Pro Max model is $200 more than its smaller counterpart. All iPhone 16 models are available at the Apple Store. 

So, what sets them apart? Here’s a brief summary of the iPhone 16’s specs:

• A18 Bionic chip

• 6.1‑inch (2,556 x 1,179 resolution) OLED display

• Up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness

• 60Hz refresh rate

• 128G, 256GB, or 512GB storage

• Up to 22 hours (video playback) battery

• IP68 rating

And what the iPhone 16 Pro brings to the table:

• A18 Pro Bionic chip

• 6.3‑inch (2,622 x 1,206 resolution) OLED display

• Up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness

• 120Hz refresh rate, Always-On display

• 128G, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage

• Up to 27 hours (video playback) battery

• IP68 rating

As you might expect, the iPhone 16 Pro is an improved version of the iPhone 16, but this time with a bigger display. The 120Hz refresh rate and Always-On display always earn bonus points, but there isn’t a grand divide between processors this time.

iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: Screen size and display 

There’s always been a difference in display when it comes to the baseline iPhones and their Pro peers, but display sizes have matched. This time, the iPhone 16 Pro will have an edge over the iPhone 16. 

The iPhone 16 brings the same 6.1‑inch (2,556 x 1,179 resolution) OLED display from last year, but the iPhone 16 Pro sports a 6.3‑inch (2,622 x 1,206 resolution) OLED display — 0.2 inches more than the iPhone 15 Pro.

That’s not all, as both models will come with thinner borders around the display, offering more display real estate. Both models bring a more efficient OLED display, too, with brighter micro-lens technology.

You can also expect the iPhone 16 Pro to come equipped with a 120Hz refresh rate and Always-On display, which the iPhone 16 (once again) misses out on.

While both offer 2,000 nits of peak brightness, the iPhone 16 Pro offers 1,200 nits of typical SDR brightness, while the iPhone 16 sticks with its 1,000 nits. 

iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: Design 

Bar the increase in size, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro look more alike than ever before, until you turn them over to see their rear camera design. The Pro models have the extra telephoto lens as usual, placed in a diagonal design, but the iPhone 16 is now going back to its iPhone 12 roots with a vertical camera layout. 

Otherwise, these phones offer the same design traits. The iPhone 16 now comes equipped with an Action Button rather than the typical Ring/Silent switch, just like last year’s Pro model. And the iPhone 16 lineup has an all-new Camera Control button. Placed right below the Power button, it acts as a shutter button, can zoom in and out of photos or videos with swiping gestures, and lets you focus on specific subjects. 

Of course, the iPhone 16 Pro delivers its titanium finish while the iPhone 16 offers a lighter aerospace aluminum finish with a color-infused cover glass. The former is supposed to be more robust, but a drop test shows it isn’t quite as durable. 

In the color department, the iPhone 16 will come in Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, and Black. On the other hand, the iPhone 16 Pro will be available in darker Black Titanium, a lighter White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium color options. 

Mashable Light Speed

The iPhone 16 shows the base iPhone models are catching up to the Pro models fast, but the iPhone 16 Pro is now slightly bigger and still retains its usual camera layout. 

iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: Performance

Apple decided to bring the iPhone 16 up to speed by skipping a generation so it could match the iPhone 16 Pro’s power, as both will have an A18 Bionic chip under the hood.

To set itself apart, though, the iPhone 16 Pro will get the A18 Pro chip, which comes with a 16-core Neural Engine. This is 15% faster than on the A17 Pro chip. Plus, there’s a 6-core GPU, for even greater-looking games and graphics.

Based on TSMC’s enhanced 3nm process, the A18 comes with more Neural Engine core to support Apple Intelligence, meaning it has more processing power to handle new AI features coming to both models. Each year, Apple ups the ante with its A-series chips, so it’s clear that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro will outshine last-gen processors. 

Moreover, the iPhone 16 Pro comes Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, offering even faster internet speeds. The iPhone 16 will stick with Wi-Fi 6E.

Either way, despite an extra helping of GPU cores, the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro should offer the lightning-fast performance we’ve come to expect with each annual release, with the former getting an even bigger upgrade compared to last year. 

iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: Battery life

It’s upgrades all around in the battery department, as both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro come with increased battery capacities and charging speeds. While the Pro model offers slightly more space, it isn’t by much.

The iPhone 16 is set to offer up to 22 hours of battery life, while the iPhone 16 Pro offers up to 27 hours. Generally, they can both last a full day before needing a charge, but the Pro can last a little longer. 

For even more battery, however, you’ll have to look to the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max. 

iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: Cameras

This is where the iPhone 16 Pro comes into its own. Allow me to list the specs:

And here’s what the iPhone 16 has to offer:

While the iPhone 16 carries over the impressive 48MP wide camera and will feature a 12MP ultra-wide with autofocus to handle low-light photography better and offers macro photography, the iPhone 16 Pro steps up by bringing an improved 48MP ultra-wide for enhanced image quality. What’s more, you can also expect to use Spatial Capture in the iPhone 16, too.

Moreover, the iPhone 16 Pro will take the tetraprism telephoto that was exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, increasing optical zoom from 3x to 5x and up to 25x digital zoom. As for video, you can expect 4K at 120 frames per second, making Cinematic Mode even better in slow motion with greater details and colors.

All in all, you can expect ultra-wide shots to take in the scenery with finer detail, an increase in light capture for more natural-looking shots, and less lens flares and ghosting issues thanks to the added anti-reflective coating on the Pro model’s cameras. 

iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: Software and AI

The biggest feature that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro have in common is they are both backed by Apple Intelligence. It’s the tech giant’s own stamp on AI, and it brings new features that are exclusive to the latest lineup of iPhones.

We’ve had a sneak peek at what Apple’s AI can do at WWDC 2024, including prioritized notifications, which can put the most important notifications at the top of your iPhone’s feed and even offer brief summaries of stacked notifications. There’s a lot more on offer, such as the ability to rewrite, summarize, and proof blocks of selected text, automatic audio transcriptions, and AI image generation and easy image search by typing a description.

Plus, there’s Private Cloud Compute, protecting your personal information any time you access Apple Intelligence. Basically, your data is never stored.

All iPhone 16 models will harness the power of Apple Intelligence, including being able to create your own emojis with Genmoji.

iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro: Which is right for you? 

It’s hard to tell which iPhone 16 model offers more bang for your buck without real-world use, but it seems the base iPhone 16 has a lot going for it considering its price. It may lose out on the bigger display, A18 Pro chip, and upgraded ultra-wide lens that the iPhone 16 Pro boasts, but this year’s “regular” iPhone is more Pro than ever. 

With the same Action and Camera Control buttons, A18-type chip, upgraded battery life, and perks with Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 16 doesn’t look to miss out on much of what the iPhone 16 Pro has to offer. 

It’s still early days, so in the meantime, check out everything else announced at the Apple September event, including a new Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4, and more. 

Mashable’s currently on the ground in Cupertino for the Sept. 9 “Glowtime” Apple event. Check out our live blog to keep track of all things iPhone 16 before, during, and after the event.