The Apple iPhone 16 Plus continues to hold a unique spot in the iPhone lineup, offering a balance of premium features at a relatively lower cost compared to the Pro models. With an updated design, enhanced hardware, and more advanced cameras, the iPhone 16 Plus has a lot to offer, including one of the best battery performances among iPhones. Despite its near proximity in price to the Pro models, the iPhone 16 Plus still stands out for those who prioritize screen size and battery life over advanced photography features.
Let’s take a closer look at what the iPhone 16 Plus offers, from design to performance, and see how it stacks up against its competition.
Design and Display
The iPhone 16 Plus carries forward Apple’s tradition of sleek design with some thoughtful refinements. It features slimmer bezels and a reworked camera bump that gives it a more modern aesthetic. This new iteration maintains the 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display found on the previous iPhone 15 Plus, offering Dynamic Island technology, high resolution, HDR capabilities, and peak brightness of up to 2000 nits. However, the display still operates at a 60Hz refresh rate, which may feel outdated compared to competitors offering faster refresh rates.
The front of the phone is covered by Ceramic Shield glass, the same as the iPhone 15 Pro, making it highly durable. The back is also made of Corning glass, housed within an aluminum frame. The overall build quality is solid, and the phone feels premium with its matte finish that resists fingerprints and smudges.
Available in a range of colors, including Black, White, Pink, Teal, and Ultramarine, the iPhone 16 Plus offers a variety of stylish options.
Key Display Features:
- 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display
- Resolution: 1290 x 2796 pixels
- Brightness: Up to 2000 nits (HDR)
- HDR10 and Dolby Vision support
- Dynamic Island: A pill-shaped cutout housing the selfie camera and sensors for Face ID
While the screen excels in resolution and brightness, the lack of a high refresh rate makes it feel a bit behind in today’s fast-moving tech landscape, especially when competitors are offering smoother scrolling and animations.
Performance and Hardware
At the heart of the iPhone 16 Plus is the Apple A18 chipset, Apple’s latest and most powerful processor yet. Built on a 3nm process, the A18 offers significant improvements in both performance and power efficiency over its predecessors. This includes a 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU, making it highly capable for everything from daily tasks to demanding gaming sessions.
With 8GB of RAM and options for 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB of storage, the iPhone 16 Plus delivers on both speed and capacity. The iOS 18 operating system further enhances the experience, with Apple introducing several personalization features and improvements in AI-driven functions.
Hardware Specs:
- Apple A18 (3nm) chipset with 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU
- Memory: 8GB RAM with storage options up to 512GB
- Operating System: iOS 18
- Battery: Estimated 4,674mAh, with 50% charge in 30 minutes using a 20W charger
The iPhone 16 Plus delivers strong performance across the board, outpacing older models in benchmarks. The new thermal management system ensures the phone doesn’t overheat, even under prolonged usage, while sustaining peak performance levels for a longer time.
Camera System
While the iPhone 16 Plus may not carry the advanced camera setup of the Pro models, it still offers significant upgrades in the photography department. The 48MP primary camera features sensor-shift stabilization and Fusion capabilities, which improve optical zoom performance and enhance image quality. This allows for 2x optical zoom, which is noticeably better than its predecessor, the iPhone 15 Plus.
The 12MP ultrawide camera comes with an improved aperture, making it more adept at low-light photography. It also supports autofocus, enabling the ultrawide camera to double as a macro lens, adding versatility to the camera system.
Camera Features:
- Primary Camera: 48MP with f/1.6 aperture and sensor-shift OIS
- Ultrawide Camera: 12MP with f/2.2 aperture and autofocus for macro shots
- Front Camera: 12MP with f/1.9 aperture, supporting 4K video at up to 60fps
- Video Recording: 4K recording at 60fps with Dolby Vision HDR support
While the camera setup may not rival the Pro models for professional-grade photography, it is more than adequate for most users, offering a balanced mix of features and ease of use.
Battery and Charging
The iPhone 16 Plus is praised for its battery life, boasting the longest endurance of any iPhone to date. With a 4,674mAh battery, the iPhone 16 Plus can last for almost 19 hours of web browsing and 23 hours of video playback. Thanks to the hardware optimizations and improvements in iOS 18, the battery offers great longevity for daily use.
In terms of charging, the iPhone 16 Plus supports 25W wireless charging via MagSafe and 15W with any Qi2 charging pad. The wired charging speeds reach up to 30W, allowing for a 50% charge in just 30 minutes with a compatible charger. However, rumors of 45W wired charging turned out to be false.
Battery Performance:
- Battery capacity: 4,674mAh
- Wired charging: 50% charge in 30 minutes with 20W charger
- Wireless charging: 25W with MagSafe, 15W with Qi2
- Reverse wired charging: 4.5W
This makes the iPhone 16 Plus a solid choice for those looking for a phone that can last an entire day without needing to constantly recharge.
Connectivity and Additional Features
The iPhone 16 Plus comes equipped with a wide array of connectivity options, including 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC. The new Ultra Wideband (UWB) Gen 2 chip improves accuracy for location-based services like Find My, allowing for enhanced precision when locating friends or devices.
For the first time, Apple has introduced emergency satellite connectivity, allowing users to send SOS messages or request roadside assistance in areas without cellular coverage.
Connectivity:
- 5G, Dual SIM support, eSIM
- Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3
- Ultra Wideband (UWB) Gen 2 chip for precise location tracking
- Emergency SOS via satellite
Apple has also switched to a USB-C port for charging and data transfer, but the iPhone 16 Plus supports USB 2.0 speeds, while the Pro models offer faster USB 3.0.
Conclusion
The Apple iPhone 16 Plus strikes a fine balance between performance, design, and practicality. While it doesn’t offer all the high-end features of the Pro models, it still delivers an excellent experience for users who prioritize screen size, battery life, and a solid camera system without the need for cutting-edge photography features. With the A18 chipset powering the device, users can expect flagship-level performance, making the iPhone 16 Plus a great option for everyday use, gaming, and media consumption.
For those looking for a more affordable alternative to the iPhone Pro Max while still enjoying premium features, the iPhone 16 Plus is an excellent choice.
Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
