On September 9, 2024, Apple pulled again the covers on its newest technology of iPhones, ushering within the age of the iPhone 16. As with the earlier lineup, you get 4 fashions to select from: the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Professional and iPhone 16 Professional Max. Right here, we’ll evaluate the usual iPhone 16 and its Professional counterpart to search out out whether or not the additional cash is value spending.
If it’s the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Professional Max you’re deciding between, these handsets share the identical options as their smaller counterpart–solely the display sizes are totally different–so the knowledge under will apply to that call as effectively.
To learn how the brand new iPhone 16 compares to the earlier technology learn our comparability of the iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Professional: Design & Construct
Apple
Whereas the 2 units do look pretty related, there are some notable variations. The obvious being the extra colourful choices on the iPhone 16 in comparison with the extra business-like metallic finishes of the iPhone 16 Professional vary.
The iPhone 16 contains a color-infused glass again design that is available in Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, Black and White.
Alternatively, it’s a microblasted textured end on the Professional fashions, providing Black Titanium, White Titanium, Pure Titanium and Desert Titanium (the latter being new for 2024, with 2023’s Blue Titanium choice consigned to historical past).
The supplies are additionally a key distinction between the 2 handsets (and have at all times been a distinction). The iPhone 16 options an aerospace-grade aluminum body, whereas the Professional fashions is encased in titanium, as was the case with the earlier technology.
The opposite key distinction is the presence of three digicam lenses on the again of the iPhone 16 Professional, in comparison with two on the iPhone 16, this has at all times been a key differentiator between the professional and commonplace iPhones (whereas the iPhone SE has only one lens on the again).
Macworld
All of the above variations have been the case for a lot of generations, however for 2024 there’s a extra vital distinction: The iPhone 16 Professional fashions now have bigger shows than their non-pro counterparts. Apple has elevated the display dimension on each the Professional and Professional Max. The Professional display is 6.3-inches, up from 6.1-inches, whereas the Professional Max display is 6.9-inches, up from 6.7-inches. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus keep on with the older display sizes of 6.1-inched and 6.7-inches.
Apple has managed to realize this new display dimension within the professional fashions by decreasing the bezels reasonably than rising the scale of the handset, nonetheless, the professional fashions are nonetheless greater and heavier than the usual iPhone 16 (though the width is so minutely smaller on the Professionals that’s completely highlights the distinction between measuring in millimeters in comparison with 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 Professional: 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 Professional 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 further heft doesn’t solely come from the bigger panel, the inclusion of an additional digicam module, in addition to the totally different supplies makes a giant distinction. However 30g is rather a lot when it comes to a telephone, so in the event you had been hoping for a light-weight gadget, then the Professional would possibly have already got dominated itself out of rivalry.
The customizable Motion button that debuted on the iPhone 15 Professional units now makes an look on the iPhone 16. Along with that, Apple has launched a brand new Digital camera Management button on all 4 new telephones, which we’ll cowl within the digicam part under.
All 4 iPhones function the identical IP68 water and dustproofing scores, and all include the now commonplace USB-C charging port, though, as in 2023, the Professional mannequin upgrades to USB 3 for sooner switch speeds.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Professional: Show
As talked about already, the iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max include bigger screens than the non-pro fashions, however there are some widespread components. They’re all Tremendous Retina XDR panels with OLED, HDR, True Tone, Large colour, 1,000 nits max brightness (typical), 1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR), and a couple of,000 nits peak brightness (outside), plus a brand new 1 nits minimal brightness.
Solely the Professional fashions get an All the time-On show in order that the time and chosen info is at all times proven, and ProMotion (120hz) refresh price to make scrolling buttery clean.
Resolutions are comparatively the identical, if you issue within the dimension distinction, with the 2 sporting the next specs:
- iPhone 16: 6.1-inch, 2,556 x 1,179-pixel decision at 460 ppi
- iPhone 16 Professional: 6.3-inch, 2,622 x 1,206-pixel decision at 460 ppi
- iPhone 16 Plus: 6.7-inch, 2,796 x 1,290-pixel decision at 460 ppi
- iPhone 16 Professional Max: 6.9-inch, 2,868 x 1,320-pixel decision at 460 ppi
All of the 2024 iPhones function the identical up to date Ceramic Protect expertise to guard the display from scratches or breakages.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Professional: Tech specs
The variations between the professional and commonplace iPhones for 2024 are maybe much less pronounced than in earlier years. The bigger screens on the professional fashions are in all probability the largest level in favor of the professional fashions.
As you may see from the desk under, many of the adjustments relate to the cameras, which we are going to focus on within the subsequent part.
iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Professional | |
Show | 6.1-inch 2,556 × 1,179/6.7-inch, 2,796 x 1,290, 460ppi Tremendous Retina XDR OLED show; 1000/1,600/2,000 nits peak brightness (TypicalHDR/Outside); 1nit minimal brightness; Dynamic Island | 6.3-inch 2,622 × 1,206/6.9-inch 2,868 x 1,320, 460ppi Tremendous Retina XDR OLED show; 1000/1,600/2,000 nits peak brightness (TypicalHDR/Outside); 1nit minimal brightness; Dynamic Island |
Processor | A18 | A18 Professional |
Storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB | 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB |
Rear Digital camera | 48MP f/1.6 Fusion, 12MP f/2.6 Extremely Large; 0.5X, 1X, and 2X zoom; Sensible HDR 5, Macro, Spatial Seize | 48MP f/1.78 Fusion, 48MP f/2.2 Extremely Large, and f/2.8 12MP Telephoto; 0.5X, 1X, 2X and 5X zoom; Sensible HDR 5, Macro. Spatial Seize |
Entrance Digital camera | 12MP TrueDepth, f/1.9 | 12MP TrueDepth, f/1.9 |
Video Recording | 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, Cinematic mode, Motion Mode, Spatial video, Wind noise discount, Audio combine | 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, 100fps, 120fps, Cinematic mode, Motion Mode, Spatial video, Wind noise discount, Audio combine, ProRes video 4K/120fps |
Biometric Safety | Face ID | Face ID |
Management choices | Motion button, Digital camera Management button | Motion button, Digital camera Management button |
Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
LTE | 5G | 5G |
Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
Wi-fi Charging | Sure, with MagSafe | Sure, with MagSafe |
Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
Apple Pay | Sure | Sure |
Waterproofing | IP68 | IP68 |
SIM | Twin (nano and eSim or 2x eSIM in US) | Twin (nano and eSim or 2x eSIM in US) |
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Professional: Cameras
It’s within the digicam division the place the obvious variations seem. The iPhone 16 has a dual-lens rear digicam system (48Mp f/1.6 Fusion and 12Mp f/2.2 Extremely vast) however Apple has added some software program trickery in order that the Fusion digicam shoots at 24Mp and 48Mp, supplying you with a cropped picture that retains excessive ranges of particulars and creates basically two focal lengths. The upgraded Extremely Large lens additionally comes with autofocus now and might shoot macro photographs. These two lenses mix to supply 0.5x, 1x and 2x optical zoom choices.
The association of the cameras has additionally modified, with the lenses now positioned vertically reasonably than diagonally. That is to permit for the taking of stereoscopic photographs wanted for the brand new Spatial Seize function, which is able to create photographs that can be utilized with Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional.
As you may see from the above desk, the Professional digicam is superior. As is conventional, the Professional mannequin has a 3 lens array on the rear module. That is made up of a 48Mp f/1.78 Fusion, 48Mp f/2.2 Extremely Large, and 12Mp f/2.8 Telephoto. The latter has 5x optical zoom capabilities that we first noticed on the iPhone 15 Professional Max, however which now seems on the smaller Professional mannequin within the new technology. Total the iPhone 16 Professional affords 0.5x, 1x, 2x and 5x optical zoom choices.
For this technology it beneficial properties a second 48MP digicam for Extremely Large and the flexibility to take 48MP macro pictures. Macro images had beforehand solely been obtainable on the professional iPhones, however in 2024 it arrived on the iPhone 16 too (although not at 48MP). The aperture settings are additionally higher on the Professional. Word that the place prior to now the Professional Max would have a superior digicam, that is not the case: the iPhone 16 Professional and 16 Professional Max have similar cameras.
There’s additionally the brand new second-generation sensor-shift optical picture stabilisation on the Professional, whereas the usual iPhone will get the (nonetheless spectacular) first-generation model.
All of the 2024 iPhones include Deep Fusion, Sensible HDR 5 for pictures, Photonic Engine, Night time Mode (though solely the Professional has Night time Mode Portraits), Portrait Lighting, True Tone Flash (the place the Professional is adaptive whereas the usual iPhone 16 shouldn’t be), the most recent technology of Photographic kinds, Spatial pictures, and Anti-reflective lens coating to scale back glare (the iPhone 16 is just on the Fusion digicam).
So, from a photographic perspective, the iPhone 16 has some good options and can seize incredible photographs, however the iPhone 16 Professional has extra firepower at its disposal.
Macworld
Video marks the largest departure. The iPhone 16 can shoot 4K/60fps, which is greater than sufficient for most individuals. There’s additionally the Motion Mode to maintain jittery footage clean, Spatial Video, Macro, Slo-Mo at 1080p/240fps, Time-Lapse, and loads of different cool options, nearly all of which is able to by no means be used, because the video will likely be for taking pictures footage of the youngsters at birthday events or fast vacation panoramas to indicate the oldsters again house. And there’s nothing unsuitable with that, as that is how regular individuals use video recording on their telephones. So, the iPhone 16 is an ideal choice.
Must you wish to begin a movie profession although, then the expanded options on the iPhone 16 Professional will likely be of nice curiosity. ProRes goes from 4K/60fps on the iPhone 15 Professional to 4K/120fps, bringing Cinematic Slo-mo to the iPhone. You continue to get the Log video recording and the Academy colour Encoding system, so you may work on colorization, plus there’s now what Apple calls a studio-quality four-mic array for capturing audio. Not solely that, you can too remix the audio to take away or change the prominence of audio parts like off-screen speaking due to the Audio Combine function (which additionally works on the iPhone 16).
If cameras are your factor, and video specifically, then the iPhone 16 Professional is the one you need.
Digital camera Management button
One new function the iPhone 16 and 16 Professional each share is the Digital camera Management button. That is just like the later iterations of the Dwelling button, in that it makes use of a Taptic Engine to simulate the sensation that it’s being pressed. Tapping the Digital camera Management button immediately launches the digicam, so you may shortly seize photographs. The floor can also be contact delicate so it may be used to regulate settings by sliding your finger alongside it.
All of this makes the expertise really feel rather more akin to a basic digicam with all of the dials for publicity, aperture or ISO beneath your fingers. Apple additionally introduced that focus monitoring for photographs could be made obtainable in a software program replace within the coming months. With this, you’d soft-press the button to pick the topic in focus, then have the ability to reframe the shot with the topic nonetheless tracked till you press the button once more to seize the photograph.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Professional: Processor and efficiency
Macworld
Apple bestows new processors on the iPhone 16 vary, as you’d count on, with an A18 in the usual fashions and the A18 Professional in, effectively, you’ve guessed it.
Each chipsets function a brand new 16-core neural engine, 6-core CPU (2 efficiency and 4 effectivity cores), 6-core GPU, all constructed on a 3nm course of. Whereas these chips enhance efficiency and effectivity over their forebears, it’s unclear how they evaluate to one another, as Apple hasn’t introduced any direct comparative figures.
We do know that the A18 Professional has extra options, comparable to devoted sections for ProMotion Show assist, All the time-On show assist, sooner USB 3 speeds, and ProRes video recording, however whether or not that will likely be helpful to most individuals is unclear.
They’re each the quickest chips you will get on iPhones, and are function constructed to assist Apple Intelligence, which runs on all of the iPhone 16 lineup. You may learn extra concerning the Apple Intelligence options to see what the fuss is all about, however briefly it’s one thing of a giant deal, because the AI capabilities are baked-in to iOS 18, making it doable to enhance your writing, discover pictures simply by describing what’s occurring in them, work together with Siri is a much more productive manner, plus numerous photograph modifying and intelligent extra video options.
Due to the extra environment friendly silicon in each units, they rating spectacular battery life enhancements over the fashions they substitute. Utilizing video playback because the metric, the iPhone 16 boasts as much as 22 hours, which is 2 greater than the iPhone 15, however the iPhone 16 Professional takes the lead with a whopping 27-hour most, which is a four-hour enchancment over the iPhone 15 Professional. Spectacular certainly.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Professional: Worth
Apple introduced that each units would open for pre-order on 13 September 2024, with the total launch on 20 September 2024.
Right 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 Plus
- iPhone 16 Plus (128GB) – $899/£899
- iPhone 16 Plus (256GB) – $999/£999
- iPhone 16 Plus (512GB) – $1,199/£1,199
iPhone 16 Professional
- iPhone 16 Professional (128GB) – $999/£999
- iPhone 16 Professional (256GB) – $1,099/£1,099
- iPhone 16 Professional (512GB) – $1,299/£1,299
- iPhone 16 Professional (1TB) – $1,499/£1,499
iPhone 16 Professional Max
- iPhone 16 Professional Max (256GB) – $1,199/£1,199
- iPhone 16 Professional Max (512GB) – $1,399/£1,399
- iPhone 16 Professional Max (1TB) – $1,599/£1,599
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Professional: Is the iPhone 16 Professional higher than the iPhone 16?
2024’s iPhones make some compelling arguments for upgrading. The improved cameras, battery life, and efficiency are all robust causes, but it surely’s Apple Intelligence that’s the most intriguing. If Apple can ship on the promise, then this is likely to be a turning level in the direction of how iPhones will look and behave for the following decade.
Between the 2 units themselves, there are variations, however as with the usual iPhone vs Professional debate, it actually comes all the way down to what you wish to do together with your iPhone. If it’s a light-weight and compact design with nice cameras, loads of energy, and which is able to final you for a superb few years, then the iPhone 16 is the plain alternative.
Those that are comfortable to spend extra and actually wish to get critical with video content material ought to look in the direction of the iPhone 16 Professional. We’re not satisfied that the extra options will likely be a lot use to your on a regular basis person, however that’s why there’s a Professional within the identify.