First iPhone 16 / 16 Pro reviews: reliable cameras, (un)needed new button, and modest 60Hz in standard models. Nothing special, right?

Before the new iPhone 16 gets into the hands of our reviewers, we’d like to offer you the first reviews from foreign websites and bloggers.

In particular, The Verge got its hands on the following four new models: full reviews iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, as well as Pro-models can be viewed here, and we will duplicate the main results.

iPhone 16 ($799)

Advantages:

• A reliable camera with a variety of styles
• New convenient action button
• More RAM and a current-generation chip

Disadvantages:

• Screen with standard refresh rate
• Camera controls are a bit confusing

iPhone 16 Plus ($899)

Advantages:

• A reliable camera with a variety of styles
• New convenient action button
• More RAM and a current-generation chip
• Large screen for fans of this form factor

Disadvantages:

• Screen with standard refresh rate
• Camera controls are a bit confusing

Characteristics of the models iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus

	iPhone 16	iPhone 16 Plus
Starting price	$799	$899
Screen size	6.1 in	6.7 in
Update frequency	60 Hz	60 Hz
Processor	A18	A18
RAM	8 GB	8 GB
Storage	128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB	128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
Rear cameras	48 MP main (f/1.6) with 2x optical zoom, 12 MP ultra-wide-angle (f/2.2)	48 MP main (f/1.6) with 2x optical zoom, 12 MP ultra-wide-angle (f/2.2)
Front camera	12 MP (f/1.9)	12 MP (f/1.9)
Charge validity period	22 hours of video playback; 80 hours in standard mode	27 hours of video playback; 100 hours in standard mode
Colors	Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine	Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine

The reviewer notes that this year can be considered a successful one for basic iPhones. It’s nothing revolutionary, of course, and you probably don’t need to upgrade your current iPhone 15. But to move from 11 or 12 — iPhone 16 is a good option.

 iPhone 16 Pro ($999)

Advantages:

• Ability to adjust the intensity of HDR processing
• Video 4K120

Disadvantages:

• The camera control button is a bit difficult to use
• Photo processing by default is more aggressive than ever
• The most gradual of the updates compared to the iPhone 15 Pro

iPhone 16 Pro Max ($1199)

Advantages:

• Ability to adjust the intensity of HDR processing
• Video 4K120

Disadvantages:

• Close to being called too big
• The camera control button is a bit difficult to use
• Photo processing by default is more aggressive than ever
• The most gradual of the updates compared to the iPhone 15 Pro

Characteristics of the models iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max

	iPhone 16 Pro	iPhone 16 Pro Max
Starting price	$999	$1199
Display	6.3 inches (2622 x 1206)	6.9 inches (2868 x 1320)
Processor	A18 Pro	A18 Pro
Rear cameras	48 MP main (f/1.78), 48 MP ultra-wide (f/2.2), 12 MP telephoto (5x, f/2.8)	48 MP main (f/1.78), 48 MP ultra-wide (f/2.2), 12 MP telephoto (5x, f/2.8)
Front camera	12 MP (f/1.9)	12 MP (f/1.9)
Video	4K Dolby Vision up to 120 frames per second	4K Dolby Vision up to 120 frames per second
Charge validity period	Up to 22 hours of video streaming	Up to 29 hours of video streaming
Colors	Black, White, Desert and Natural Titanium	Black, White, Desert and Natural Titanium

The iPhone 16 Pro is called «one of the most unfinished products Apple has ever delivered». Almost all major features (especially for Apple Intelligence) will appear only in future software updates, which will stretch over the next year.

In general, all new Apple iPhone 15 smartphones received 8 points from The Verge reviewers. Among the main advantages, they mentioned new cameras with a variety of styles, while the «is not so clear» — it seems to be not very convenient to operate, but perhaps you just need to get used to the update. Standard models also received 8 GB of RAM (Glory to AI!), so the difference with the Pro versions is in size and cameras (and also the price and screen refresh rate, which in cheaper models remains at a modest 60 Hz)