Apple iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max release date, specs, prices, and more
The Apple iPhone 16 family launched this evening at the company's fall event in Cupertino, California. The smartphones bring a wave of new changes, such as Apple Intelligence, a new Camera Control button, better gaming capabilities, a new chip for all four devices, and, most importantly, a new design. They are accompanied by revised AirPods Pro 2 and Max, a new Watch Series 10, and a revamped Watch Ultra 2.
The devices have been thoroughly revised for the new generation. The display now goes from 1 nit to 2000 nits with LTPO technology. The capacitive button introduced with the iPhone 15 remains intact but supports more features like identifying songs, recording voice memos, and live translations.
Let's review everything new with the latest iPhones.
Apple iPhone 16 release date
The iPhone 16 series launches on September 20, 2024, with the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max already available for pre-order on Apple's official website and selected retailers.
What are the specs and features of the new iPhone 16 and 16 Plus?
The sizes of the phones remain the same: 6.1 inches for the iPhone 16 and 6.7 inches for the 16 Plus. The biggest update is an innovative Camera Control that provides instant easy access to the camera with a click. It brings various camera features with a finger slide.
AI now powers the camera as well. Visual intelligence features have been added that leverage the added processing power of the latest chip, a 3nm A18 Bionic with a 16-core Neural Engine. This allows the device to add extra ML processing power, providing fast access to generative models.
The chip features a 6-core CPU with two performance and four efficient cores. Apple claims it is "faster than the competition."
Another highlight feature of the chip is a desktop-class five-core GPU architecture. Apple claims it is 40% faster than the A16 Bionic and is capable enough of playing AAA-quality games like Assassins' Creed Mirage.
Here are the highlighted specs of the new iPhone 16s in a glimpse:
What are the specs and features of the new iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max?
The faster A18 Pro powers the Pro and the Pro Max. It is 20% faster than the A17 Pro, allowing it to perform even faster in demanding games like Death Stranding. Apple claims ray tracing performance has gone up by 2x as compared to the last gen.
Like last year, you have two size options to choose from — 6.3 inches for the basic Pro and 6.9 inches for the Pro Max. The cameras are receiving a mild upgrade on the hardware side with major changes in the underlying software.
You also get a bigger battery. The USB-C connectivity is being improved with a Gen 3 connection. Moreover, the devices now pack an even more capable camera setup. Cinematic slow-motion is being introduced with 4K 120 FPS recording capabilities.
Here are the highlighted specs of the iPhone 16 Pros in a glimpse:
What are the new Apple Intelligence features?
Apple Intelligence features are expanding with the new iPhone 16 family. You can now get notifications and email summaries on the fly while using the device.
Generative AI is at the forefront of the new feature suite, with custom emojis and image processing built into everyday workloads.
Users can also use Camera Control to interact with generative AI. You can take a photo to live translate, pull up information about the subject, or just ask ChatGPT to ask a question about any concept you're stuck with.
In the most classic Apple way possible, security is at the core of the new AI features. The company is employing private cloud servers with limited data sharing with third-party AI providers like OpenAI for added security. Unlike AI features introduced by other smartphone makers, Apple claims their approach will be the most privacy-focused.
Cameras
The cameras on the new iPhones are also getting a significant bump. The main camera features a 48 MP sensor with a secondary Ultrawide sensor. With the added AI features and the Camera Control button, the phones offer a new way to take photos.
The photo processing pipeline has also been updated with added creative styles, better low-light handling, and other fine tunes.
What are the prices of the new iPhone 16 and 16 Pro?
The base model of the iPhone 16 with 128 GB of storage starts at $799, with the 16 Plus costing $899. Pre-orders have begun, and availability starts on September 20. Apple is discontinuing the iPhone 13 from its lineup. The 14 lingers on with the base model of the iPhone 15. Besides, you can still buy the iPhone SE 3.
- iPhone 16: $799
- iPhone 16 Plus: $899
For the Pro and the Pro Max, pre-orders begin this Friday. You can go to the Apple website or any authorized third-party retailer like Amazon, Best Buy, or Target to reserve your unit. Orders of all devices launched today start shipping on September 20.
- iPhone 16 Pro: $999
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: $1,199
Overall, the latest iPhone 16 series has shaped up to be one of the best smartphones to buy in 2024. They have AI at their core, with added innovations such as Camera Control and customization capabilities of iOS 18. They could be a fine device to upgrade to, especially if you're rocking a slightly older smartphone.