The iPhone 16 Plus is the most complicated phone I’ve reviewed in 2024

We questioned in ouriPhone 16 reviewwhether you really need one of the Pro poser this twelvemonth , so where does that leave the iPhone 16 Plus ? It ’s almost on the dot the same as the iPhone 16 apart from a few obvious differences , so does that make it even better , or unnecessary and ultimately undesirable ?

Or is it plainly the iPhone to buy this year if you desire a big screen ? I ’ve found out , and it work out the answer is much more complicated than I wait .

iPhone 16 Plus: specs

Front : 12MP

Front : Up to 4 thou at 60 Federal Protective Service

27W fast charging

DT Recommended Product

25W MagSafe charge up

15W Qi2 wireless charge

iPhone 16 Plus: design

When the iPhone 16 Plus come for me to review , I was already a week into using theiPhone 16 Pro Maxand had derive from aniPhone 15 Pro Max , so I was to the full used to handling Apple ’s biggest smartphones . It ’s big than the iPhone 16 by some distance due to the 6.7 - column inch blind , but the weightiness is still sensible at 199 grams , and the phone is only 6 millimetre wider , so it never really feels like too much of a smattering . However , it ’s still not a small sound , and anyone who more often than not dislike braggart speech sound wo n’t enjoy holding it .

But when you do hold the iPhone 16 Plus , you immediately observe where Apple has really made improvements in its ironware this year . The iPhone 15 Plus was a vainglorious step forrard over theiPhone 14 Plus , but the newfangled phone ’s case , build , and materials are even further ahead . It ’s beautifully finished with its rounded , curved corners , dead executed release feel , and simply magnificent glass back . The way the camera module — itself another monumental style betterment over the 15 Plus — blend into the case back makes it look as if it ’s float on liquid . It ’s sensational .

Then we ’ve develop the new coloration range . I ’ve been using the Teal variation , and I imagine it ’s beautiful , but there ’s a lot to be said about the Ultramarine colour , too . The matte refinement of the metal chassis complement the lustrous new colors perfectly .

A photo taken with the Apple iPhone 16 Plus’s main camera.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

last out with the metal for a moment , it does n’t feel spoiled than the iPhone 16 Pro Max ’s atomic number 22 chassis , just different . It ’s warmer to the spot , and there ’s more handgrip if you do n’t use a case . But the most detectable difference when you hold the two big iPhones together is the extra 28 grams you ’ve puzzle to wield every 24-hour interval if you choose the Pro Max . The 16 Plus feel like a flyweight in comparison until you hold the even light iPhone 16 .

I ’ve used the iPhone 16 Plus in and out of its official Apple silicone polymer typeface and do n’t encounter it burdensome in the pocket of my jeans . The case is very grippy and does draw in plenty of dust and lint , but I revalue the sapphire crystal cover over the Camera Control button — another design and functionality win this year — and the fun vitality for MagSafe receiving set charge when you put the typeface on the phone .

Make no misapprehension — the iPhone 16 Plus is a big telephone set , and if you do n’t like that , the small iPhone 16 is for you . If you do n’t mind , this is a beautiful , high-pitched - character , superbly made smartphone that , alongside theGoogle Pixel 9series , should be considered the benchmark other brands must aspire to if they want to truly contend over the upcoming yr .

A photo taken with the Apple iPhone 16 Plus’s main camera.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

iPhone 16 Plus: screen

There are two problems with the iPhone 16 Plus ’s screen , and they are the same ones that plague the iPhone 16 . This $ 900 earphone ’s 6.7 - column inch screenland has a 60Hz refresh rate , and if you ’re a spec fiend , then you probably think it ’s inexcusable . It ’s certainly pretty tight on Apple ’s part , as the party wedge you to fling on a Pro model to get a 120Hz ProMotion presentation , plus practically every Android earpiece fare with a high refresh rate screen these days , even if it costs less than $ 300 .

I ’m not going to defend Apple here , but I will say that the iPhone 16 Plus does a adequate business of smooth out out the 60Hz screen , and it ’s a way better experience than it was on the iPhone 14 . That said , it ’s nowhere near the experience you get with the 120Hz ProMotion screen or any forward-looking Android phone ’s gamy refresh rate . It ’s a cruel selection on Apple ’s part , and for me , it is a reason not to buy a non - Pro iPhone — but it may not be a deal breakers for everyone . I note the blur when scroll in apps like Threads and Reddit , and it ’s as unsightly as it is uncomfortable .

The other issue is the deficiency of an always - on exhibit , which results in a shameful screen when the headphone is locked unless you ’re interact with it . Again , always - on displays are institute on practically every other smartphone useable today , and even holdout Motorola is expected to end itsaversion to the featuresoon . Apple ’s always - on projection screen is extremely customizable , helpful , and soundly - looking at , but you ’ll have to buy a Pro phone to see and expend it .

A photo taken with the Apple iPhone 16 Plus’s wide-angle camera.

Wide-angleAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

Apple ’s determination not to let in these features makes you feel shortchanged and does take away from an otherwise very attractive screen . Despite being larger in size , it has the same pixel tightness as the iPhone 16 , and it ’s needlelike , colorful , and really bright . What ’s interesting is howthe iPhone 16 Plus is somewhat pocket-sized than the iPhone 16 Pro Max , even though that speech sound has an even big 6.9 - in screen . The difference is in the bezels , which are larger and more noticeable on the 16 Plus . It ’s not a big deal , but there ’s no uncertainty the 16 Pro Max looks more futuristic with its minuscule screen bezel .

iPhone 16 Plus: camera

The iPhone 16 Plus has the same television camera as the iPhone 16 , so do n’t have a bun in the oven any differences between specifications or functioning . There ’s a 48 - megapixel main camera , a 12MP ultrawide photographic camera , a 2x ocular quality zoom mood , and a 12MP selfie camera . It ’s great to see autofocus on the wide - angle camera , but otherwise , it ’s very similar to the iPhone 15 Plus tv camera organisation .

novel for iOS 18 and the iPhone 16 areupdated Photographic Styles , which are filter you’re able to enforce and spay in real meter and after you ’ve taken a photo . There are 15 in total , and unless stated , all the example image here were take with the standard Photographic Style . They ’re a lot of fun to play with , though , specially when you use the Camera Control computer hardware clitoris on the side of the headphone , and they can both subtly and dramatically interpolate the look of your images .

On the positive side , the television camera strike astute , elaborate photos that are well balanced than those take with some previous iPhone television camera , with less contrast and problematic pic issues . you could get a lovely profundity of field when confining to a topic , and although the encompassing - angle camera lack the same level of detail as the primary camera , it ’s consistent with its handling of a scene . The photographic camera app is fast and logical , there ’s a decent editing cortege ( which is n’t very visceral at first , but gets easier with enjoyment ) , and theCamera Controlbutton does total a fun factor to taking photos .

A photo taken with the Apple iPhone 16 Plus’s main camera.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Less impressive is its lowlight performance , as even in dim indoor lighting , shots are grainy — an affliction that also affects macro mode , which hates anything but perfect lighting . The on - the - go editing of the Photographic Styles is beautifully plan — you interchange the look using a combination of swipe and luger — but fiddly . control this feature does help compensate for the time when the iPhone ’s camera can oversaturate shots . The optic quality 2x picture are all right , but lack particular when you cultivate them down further .

I ’m being quite abrasive on the iPhone 16 Plus ’ tv camera because itneedsto be really good . Not because of the price , but because it would be heavy if it were a reason to opt the Plus over the normal iPhone 16 . It ’s not , as the camera is exactly the same .

What ’s more , considering the via media you ’re already making with the screen , if the photographic camera is really of import to you , it ’s probably worth thinking about a Pro example at this degree . If you desire to take fun shots on holiday to partake in with friends , then you ’ll be more than slaked . Just verify you learn to utilize the Photographic Styles , as they ’re key to have the most from the iPhone 16 Plus ’ camera .

A photo taken with the Apple iPhone 16 Plus’s main camera.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

iPhone 16 Plus: software

What can I say aboutiOS 18 , which comes preinstalled on the iPhone 16 series ? I reckon it ’s first-class , and while it ’s not impeccable , it extend many feature article that are broadly speaking extremely easygoing to utilise and savor , with very few unnecessary interruptions or gimmicks that disrupt the use and flow of the operating organization on a daily footing . Apple ’s A18 processor ( not the A18 Pro obtain in the Pro model ) ensures it ’s always fast and responsive in good order from the outset , and while the benchmark outcome do show a small variation between it and the small iPhone 16 , there ’s no obvious computer hardware reason why this should be the case .

The look of iOS 18 is more customizable than before , with the ability to deepen the office andcolor of app icons , have few on the screen if you want , and use a wider variety of widgets , too . It ’s moderately successful , but I ’m happy with the same old layout I ’ve used for days on the iPhone . The color options range from the satisfactory dark way icons to the extremely colour - sensitive tint choice . It ’s very gentle to get this legal injury and destroy the look of the home screens .

This is fluff in comparison to all the things iOS does well . Apple Payworks every time without fail and is simple to congeal up . Apple Maps has ameliorate a not bad pot and is now as as good as Google Maps for driving road where I exist . The built - in Podcasts app is packed and simple to use andiMessage now has a ton of featuresand is fun if you have the chance to apply it ( I have justonecontact who prefers to practice it over WhatsApp ) . I discover the full user experience for apps to be so effortless and reassuring that I utilise my iPhone for almost every app that makes on - the - go payments ( such as my parking app and the Shell app for pay - at - the - heart military service when I refuel my car ) .

A photo taken with the Apple iPhone 16 Plus’s wide-angle camera.

Wide-angleAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

That ’s all before the world of pay services Apple offer , fromApple Musicand iCloud to Apple Fitness+ if you also have an Apple Watch . Apple brings all its armed service and hardware together in a way that ’s more coherent than other stigma , further you to consider bring them in , but neverreallypushing you to do so . On the downside , iOS is steadily becoming so feature - packed that it ’s knockout to keep track , and the many customization features — from the picture colour to edit out and rearranging the Control Center layout — are clunky and often pointless , while the ever - growing menus and pull - down screen peril overwhelming the O .

Apple ’s iOS software is a boastful merchandising point of the iPhone . It ’s wanton to take and use , is still simple enough for just about everyone , has a range of well - craft received apps and many optional services , can be customized if that ’s your thing , and will be supported for many years to come . Only Android on the Pixel 9 series comes tightlipped , and even it ’s still behind the superb , well - rounded software package Apple place on the iPhone .

iPhone 16 Plus: About Apple Intelligence

When you grease one’s palms the Apple iPhone 16 Plus , it will not come withApple Intelligenceinstalled unless you usethe public beta version of iOS 18.1 . I do n’t commend doing so if it ’ll be your only phone , as I ’ve been using it and it is n’t 100 % dependable . Besides that , it ’s not deserving it yet , either . The computer software has told me Apple Intelligence is working , but it has n’t done anything that I ’ve felt has changed or improved my workflow yet .

Apple Intelligence will found with iOS 18.1 in October in the U.S. and as a beta interlingual rendition in the U.K. in December . Based on my experience withGoogle GeminiandSamsung ’s Galaxy AIservices , which do many like things , Apple Intelligence is unconvincing to be a cause to buy the iPhone 16 , so do n’t hold out for it to make your decision . If it turns out to be great and good than the competition , consider it a fillip .

iPhone 16 Plus: battery life and charging

Apple does not cater the iPhone 16 Plus battery capacitance ; instead , it cite metric like video playback times to assess and compare stamp battery life . It say that the iPhone 16 Plus will toy picture for 27 hours on a individual charge , compared to 22 hours from the iPhone 16 , confirming it has a larger capacity cellular telephone than its small sibling phone .

Battery life has been strong , and I ’ve easily seen about six hours of blind - on utilisation from a individual charge . What ’s very interesting is that this is fundamentally the same role prison term as we got from the iPhone 16 . So far , the battery biography has been reliable , too , unlike my experience with the iPhone 15 Pro Maxover my twelvemonth of ownership , hint iOS 18 has been well optimize .

Recharging the battery can be done with a USB - C cable or a MagSafe wireless courser . Apple says to carry a 50 % care in 30 moment with a 20 - watt charger , which seems accurate , but it takes at least 90 arcminute to amply appoint the battery using a cable . It ’s not the quickest charging sound , but I make good employment of a brilliantiOS feature call StandByand place the 16 Plus on a MagSafe courser overnight , where it work as a handy bright showing and bedside clock while it charges up . Even with three hours of screen - on time , the barrage still consistently had about 50 % remaining at the end of the daylight , resulting in no concern over battery spirit when used and charged in this way .

A photo taken with the Apple iPhone 16 Plus main camera.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

iPhone 16 Plus: price and availability

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is available now and be $ 899 for the basic 128 GB version of the phone , but you may pay an surplus $ 100 to get 256 GB of entrepot distance or another $ 200 on top of that to get 512 GB of storage space . Only offering 128 GB of computer memory space on the base modelling may throttle you over time and is also fairly stingy on Apple ’s part , so do think seriously about getting more computer storage place if you design to keep the sound for some time . instead , require to pay for additional iCloud storage space over the years to come .

You ’ll pay $ 100 more for the larger screen than you would for the little iPhone 16 . Whether it ’s worth it will depend on whether you feel comfortable using and carry a big - silver screen telephone every day . If you do n’t , you ’re not miss out by going for the iPhone 16 in any other appreciable way .

A more difficult condition is whether to spend more and get the iPhone 16 Pro Max , which has an even bragging , always - on silver screen and a 120Hz refresh rate , along with all the other camera and performance benefits . Looked at like this , the shell for the iPhone 16 Plus , in general , is a tough one , as I ’m not sure who it ’s for . It ’s not the cheapest iPhone and far from being the best . It ’s just the most affordable big iPhone that ’s operose than the cheapest small iPhone , and that limits its appealingness .

A photo taken with the Apple iPhone 16 Plus’s 2x camera.

2x zoomAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

Is this the iPhone 16 to buy?

The iPhone 16 Plus is splendid , and I have no problem recommend it , except I ’m not solely surewhoI’m recommend it to . The problem is that the compromise you ’re going to make , ranging from the overall size and weighting to the low refresh rate screen , may mean it ’s either overbold to spend less and get the also first-class iPhone 16or spend more and get the bigger , better iPhone 16 Pro Max .

It ’s thwarting that I do n’t seem to be become longer battery life sentence than I would on the iPhone 16 . The camera and central processing unit are the same , and the projection screen is bigger , but still miss what I ’d look at almost essential features in 2024 . I want to repeat the fact that the iPhone 16 Plus has been brilliant , but unless you ’re absolutely dire for a bigger screen , the iPhone 16 is tinny and otherwise identical .

But if that despair for a big - CRT screen phone come with the power to spend more money , the iPhone 16 Pro Max has anevenbigger screen without feature compromise and with various other feature benefits . I ’m looking forward to set my SIM back in it and leave the iPhone 16 Plus out on its own , like the last to be picked for the team . It ’s not because it ’s bad ; it just lack mien because it does n’t do enough to make itself democratic .

A photo taken with the Apple iPhone 16 Plus’s main camera.