Design and performance
iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max stick closely to Apple’s signature design language but feature subtle improvements. The devices retain the overall form factor and the same titanium alloy frame of their predecessors. Despite the increased display size and titanium body, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are lighter in weight. The matte finish of the rear panel feels premium and offers better resistance to fingerprints.
The right side of the smartphone has the power button and the new camera control button that allows users to quickly access the camera and take photos or start video recording. On the left side are the volume buttons and the same action button that the company introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro model last year. The USB Type-C charging port is placed at the bottom.
Talking about the display, Apple has increased the display size on both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Both models are equipped with Super Retina XDR displays, with the iPhone 16 Pro having a 6.1-inch screen and the iPhone 16 Pro Max having a 6.7-inch screen. Apple has also increased the brightness to 2,500 nits, making it one of the brightest displays in the market. The always-on display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and ProMotion technology offers ultra-smooth scrolling and fluid animations.
The bezels have been reduced even further, essentially maximising the screen real estate for an ‘immersive’ viewing experience. The panel on both Pro models is protected by a layer of the latest generation Ceramic Shield, which Apple claims is 2x stronger than the glass on any other smartphone.
Hardware and Camera
Under the hood, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are powered by Apple’s new A18 Pro chipset, which is built on a 3nm process. The company claims that this chipset offers impressive speed improvements, especially for AI tasks and gaming, while also being more power-efficient. iPhones have consistently gained performance leads, and the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are no exception. Apps open instantly, and multitasking feels seamless. You’ll have to wait for our full review to read about the gaming capabilities of the A18 Pro chipset.
Both models come with iOS 18, which introduces new features like customisable home screen layouts, advanced widgets, and Apple Intelligence – a personalised AI that learns a user’s preferences to make smart suggestions. Apple Intelligence It will be available as a free software update. The first set of Apple Intelligence features will be available in beta as part of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 next month, with more features to follow in the coming months.
The all-new iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max 48MP Fusion (f/1.78) camera, second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization for video, ƒ/1.6 aperture, 48MP 120° ultra wide (f/2.2) secondary camera, 12MP telephoto (ƒ/2.8) camera, optical image stabilization, 5x optical zoom in. There is also a 12MP TrueDepth front camera with f/1.9 aperture. The new 48MP Fusion camera with a fast quad-pixel sensor enables 4K120 fps video recording in Dolby Vision. Also, the 48MP ultra-wide angle lens is designed for high-resolution photography.
Apple has also improved video recording with 8K resolution and better stabilization, making these devices a powerhouse for content creators. The new AI-powered Photonic Engine enhances image processing, delivering great results in both photography and videography. All the photos we clicked using the iPhone 16 Pro models came out well. The level of detail and colour reproduction is superb, leaving a lasting impression. The portraits we captured were impressive and exceeded expectations.
Don’t forget that the camera control button further enhances the camera experience on smartphones. The tactile switch enables you to quickly access the camera and the light press gesture allows touch interaction. A new camera preview helps you frame the shot and adjust other control options – such as zoom, exposure, or depth of field – to create a great photo or video by sliding your finger on the camera control.
However, we still need to test the iPhone 16 Pro’s cameras in-depth to deliver a verdict.
what we think
Overall, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max offer great upgrades in every department. Be it the sleek design, powerful hardware or the cutting-edge camera system. The iPhone 16 Pro starts at Rs 1,19,900 while the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at Rs 1,44,900. It seems Apple has achieved the goal with the iPhone 15 Pro series. But are the new iPhones worth the upgrade? Stay tuned for our detailed review.
