In late days , Apple has actively distinguished between its unconstipated and Pro iPhone models . Beyond the higher-ranking camera system with a telephoto lens , Apple has routinely inaugurate exciting perks as Pro iPhone exclusives — the Dynamic Island , 48MP main camera , Action release , even Apple Intelligence — all of which remain exclusive to the Pro variants for a year . In a way of life , this both gives the Pro models exclusivity and makes its non - Pro flagship smell like mid - range earphone due to their more modified feature lot .
Things are different this time around , however . With theiPhone 16 series , the unconstipated models have n’t only adopted some previous Pro perks . Instead , they also introduced meaning change that could ’ve easy been exclusive to the Pro blood . So , for the first time in ages , most customer wo n’t palpate like they ’re miss out on much if they opt for the regular iPhone 16 .
Also read : iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 professional .
The Camera Control button could easily be a Pro feature—but it’s not.
Camera Control is the raw sang-froid
The most extremist change in the 2024 iPhone is the all - new Camera Control clitoris . This addition is n’t a mere shortcut to the Camera app . Thanks to its touch- and press - predisposition , you could swear on it to soar , take photos or video recording , adjust the exposure , switch between unlike Photographic Styles , and much more . The button also extend a dedicated API , allowing third - party developers to desegregate its functionality into their camera apps .
The Camera Control clitoris could well be a Pro characteristic — but it ’s not .
The Camera Control button could easily be a Pro feature—but it’s not.
Apple
Apple could ’ve realistically stupefy away with making the Camera Control button a Pro exclusive this year . The button is in advance enough to fall within the Pro category . By doing so , the iPhone shaper could lure more undecided customers to buy the higher - end variants to utilize the shiny new push . It did n’t , though . All iPhone 16 models offer up Camera Control , which , given the company ’s recent history of making new features undivided to the Pro model , I find a bit surprising .
The regular iPhone 16 ’s camera upgrade do n’t strictly revolve around the young clit . Apple has also added support for Macro mode , allowing non - Pro users to shoot pic and videos of very closemouthed subjects , as well as unlocking spatial photo and video shooting support on the regular model by rearranging the rearward lens .
Apple iPhone 16
Other advance television camera features include the late - generation Photographic Styles , which enable iPhone 16 users to easy adjust the coloration and tones of their photos . They additionally get memory access to the newfangled sound recording mixing feature that alters recorded videos ’ sound . That ’s one Pro camera system if you inquire me , and it ’s all offer by the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus .
Powered by the same chip ( kinda )
Apple recently started cater more forward-looking processors on its Pro iPhones begin with the A16 in 2023 and continuing with the A17 Pro last year . While that ’s still the casing this twelvemonth , the crack is now smaller . or else of equip non - Pro iPhone 16 models with class - old chipsets as it has done the past two generations , Apple liberate a slightly more restricted version of its latest A18 Pro crisp . So , the A18 - powered iPhone 16 and 16 Plus get the same 8 GB of RAM , 6 - core CPU , and 16 - gist Neural Engine . Perhaps the only noted difference between the A18 and A18 Pro is the standard model getting 5 GPU CORE while the Pros get 6 .
The A18 and A18 Pro chip are fundamentally the same except for one GPU core .
As a result , both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models should perform similarly when executing workaday tasks . The two also offer the full Apple Intelligence entourage , including the young Visual Intelligence feature of speech triggered via the Camera Control push . On the graphics side , you ’ll get all of the features single to the A17 Pro last twelvemonth , include hardware - accelerated beam tracing .
With mostly identical software feature article set and processors , there ’s little ground to think the Pro iPhones will execute any just than their standard counterparts this class .
The A18 and A18 Pro chips are basically the same except for one GPU core.
As vibrant as a ( non - fictile ) iPhone gets
Beyond the technical specifications and capabilities , there are some perks for choosing the regular iPhone 16 over the Pro one . In 2023 , the iPhone 15 ’s colors were objectively launder out , and they miss out on the liveliness non - Pro iPhones loosely proffer . Apple has addressed this with the iPhone 16 .
This twelvemonth , non - Pro users can clean between a variety of brilliant colors : ultramarine , teal , and pink , as well as the usual lily-white and black . liken to the iPhone 16 Pro ’s dull , muted color options , you get a gimmick with a prominent personality . Even the BACK is nice this year , with a smaller iPhone cristal - style regalia to domiciliate the two camera . In light , the non - Pro iPhone 16 actually search better than the Pro models this year .
The iPhone 16 has a distinctive camera array and color scheme.
The iPhone 16 has a distinctive camera regalia and color dodge .
Negligible drawbacks , for some
It goes without say that the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max carry on to unambiguously support more advance features . For lesson , the always - on display feature of speech first introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro remains missing on the regular iPhone 16 variants . ( Though , those using an Apple Watch may not care about it as much , as the metre , apprisal , and other relevant information populate on their radiocarpal joint . ) likewise , the ProMotion engineering is still exclusive to the highest - end models . While some users can tell the divergence between 120Hz and 60Hz refresh rates , many others either ca n’t or just are n’t implicated about it .
The iPhone 16 Pro has a better camera system with a telephoto lens, but few iPhone 16 users will notice.
in conclusion , there ’s the most protruding perk : the Pro television camera organisation . iPhone 16 users miss out on the telephotograph electron lens that unlocks a longer 5X ocular zoom range , 120FPS 4 K telecasting transcription , nighttime portrayal , shooting in RAW , LOG video recording transcription , etc . While all of these are nice - to - have feature , most insouciant users will likely never leave out them — apart from maybe the telephotograph lens .
As demonstrated before , the regular iPhone 16 ’s cameras are highly capable and will perform exceptionally well for immortalizing daily life moments . Most exclusive Pro iPhone camera bonuses are designed for serious content creators and professionals rather than Instagram Stories .
The iPhone 16 Pro has a better tv camera organisation with a telephotograph lens , but few iPhone 16 users will notice .
The iPhone 16 gets the full Apple Intelligence suite.
It ’s the most Pro non - Pro iPhone yet
Comparing the break between the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro to that separating the 15 and 15 Pro unwrap how far the regular iPhone 16 has do . The standard iPhone 16 models did n’t just catch up with some of last yr ’s iPhone 15 Pro features , such as adding the Action button and the A17 Pro cow chip ’s graphics have , it gain several of the Modern 2024 feature , including the Camera Control button and , of course , Apple Intelligence .
The iPhone 16 gets the full Apple Intelligence suite .
They also introduced some of Apple ’s late technologies , such as the Camera Control button , 25W MagSafe charge , the late iteration of Photographic Styles , Visual Intelligence , and more . Their showing even share the same pixel density and maximum smartness as the 16 Pro manakin , though they ’re ever - so - slightly smaller ( 6.3 and 6.9 in versus 6.1 and 6.7 column inch ) .
For the first time in years , I can wholeheartedly recommend the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus to friends and family without demand to split down a long list of noteworthy limitation . pick the right iPhone for you has become simpler than ever . And , for most mass , it ’s belike the gimcrack one — which has never felt so insurance premium .
