iPhone 16 Review: A Promising Base Model Amidst an Underwhelming Pro Line

Is Apple Moving Forward or Just Playing It Safe? My One-Week Verdict on the Latest Flagship Series

Apple’s September 9th event was hyped as the grand unveiling of the iPhone 16 series, set to change the game and redefine the smartphone as we know it. Well, it didn’t quite do that. Instead, it felt more like a showcase of half-measures and modest tweaks—basically, an “S” cycle year with a new name. As a longtime Apple enthusiast with an eye for detail, I was ready for a leap forward, especially with all their talk of "building the iPhone from the ground up." Yet, my week with the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro left me scratching my head. There are some worthwhile improvements here, but they’re overshadowed by missed opportunities and features that feel, frankly, half-baked.

Let’s start with the event itself. Apple hyped this up as if they were about to unveil the next big thing. Instead, it fizzled out, and by the time they moved on to the AirPods 4, I was already raising an eyebrow. Sure, we got active noise cancellation—great—but then they had to go and muddy the waters with a second, nearly identical model lacking that feature for a measly $50 less. Why complicate things, Apple? And don’t even get me started on the AirPods Max. Four years in, and all we get is a new color and a USB-C port, not because Apple wanted to innovate, but because the EU mandated it. Despite this, they had the audacity to keep that $549 price tag for what, exactly? With changes so minor, it’s hard not to feel like Apple’s coasting on reputation here.

The Base Models: A Glimpse of Hope

Now, when they finally showcased the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, I felt a flicker of excitement. The new colorways—particularly that teal on the Plus—are a breath of fresh air after last year’s uninspired palette. Vertical camera alignment? Not new, but somehow it just works with this year’s smoother edges. And hey, the Action Button (previously a Pro-exclusive) is finally on the regular line, although Apple stubbornly refuses to actually call it a "button." Come on, Apple—it’s a button, and we all know it.

Inside, the 16 and 16 Plus pack the new A18 chipset, bringing them closer to the Pro models in terms of performance, albeit a slightly toned-down version. Even so, it’s impressive enough to handle Apple’s touted AAA games and the camera’s new control features. Battery life on these models is solid—especially the Plus, which is a godsend for those of us who don't want to live life tethered to a charger. And yes, it still has a 60Hz display, but here’s the thing: nobody outside of the hardcore tech crowd really cares. Apple’s implementation of 60Hz is so smooth that the average person won’t even notice.

The iPhone 16 Plus, despite a few limitations, feels complete. It’s lightweight, fits comfortably in your hand, and has enough power to satisfy most users. The camera quality has also stepped up its game, with an improved point-and-shoot experience that delivers fantastic photos without the need for Pro-level tweaking. At $800, it’s a compelling package, and honestly, I’d recommend it to some Pro users who aren’t pushing their phone’s capabilities to the max. You’ll just need to get used to the slightly shorter battery life and that 60Hz display, which, trust me, is not the end of the world.

The Pros: A Lackluster Leap

Now, onto the iPhone 16 Pro line. After a year filled with rumors of dazzling new features, you’d think Apple would knock it out of the park. Nope. Instead, we got what feels like a meek redesign. A shiny new tint for a color palette that no one asked for and a slightly upgraded camera system. Yes, the Camera Control feature is cool and all, but it doesn't distract from the glaring omission of 8K video at 120fps—something Apple is more than capable of, at least on the Pro Max. And don’t even get me started on the refresh rate. Imagine how groundbreaking it could’ve been if they’d bumped it up to 240Hz. Missed. Opportunity.

The new A18 Pro chip promises better cooling for gaming and daily use, which is nice, and the screens have grown slightly—6.3 inches for the Pro, 6.9 inches for the Pro Max. Pair that with thinner bezels, and on paper, it sounds like a win. In reality, though the changes feel underwhelming. Yes, the improved battery life (up 9.4% on the Pro, 6% on the Pro Max) makes the Pro Max the new battery king, but that’s hardly enough to overlook the lack of real innovation. And what about "Apple Intelligence"? Apple hyped it as their big foray into AI, but let’s be honest—it feels like a half-hearted attempt that’s neither here nor there. Even worse, Apple has announced that the full Apple Intelligence rollout will drip-feed over the next several months and into 2025. So, not only are we missing it at launch, but we’re also now stuck waiting to see if the promise ever really materializes. It’s like they started baking a cake, realized they forgot the frosting, and said, “Eh, we’ll add it sometime next year.”

Holding the 16 Pro for the first time was yet another moment of letdown. The new screen size felt a bit off. Maybe I’m just too accustomed to the Pro Max’s heft, or perhaps the balance of this new model isn’t quite right. When I powered it on, I hoped for some hidden magic—maybe a surprise Apple Intelligence feature? But no. It was the same old iPhone experience, with the familiar iOS interface. Sure, the Camera Control was there, but it was sluggish, forcing me to revert to the more reliable on-screen controls.

Over the course of the week, I really wanted to love the 16 Pro. I gave it a fair shot, but the awkward handling and minor upgrades made it hard to ignore its flaws. Surprisingly, the battery life felt like a step back from my 15 Pro Max. Downsizing the screen was meant to free me from the brick-like proportions of the Pro Max, but instead, I found myself missing that extra screen real estate for media consumption. Personally, a 6.5-inch screen would’ve been the sweet spot—big enough to be functional, small enough to avoid feeling like you’re carrying a tablet in your pocket.

Conclusion: The Good, the Bad, and the Underwhelming

After a week of using both models, I can say the iPhone 16 series leaves me conflicted. The iPhone 16 Plus is the real star here: it's a well-balanced, beautifully designed phone with solid performance and battery life. It’s the one I’d recommend to most people—it has enough of Apple’s latest innovations to keep it relevant without feeling incomplete. On the other hand, the 16 Pro series, with its lackluster redesign and minor improvements, really makes you question whether Apple’s lost its innovative spirit. "Apple Intelligence," the big-ticket feature they hyped so much, feels like an afterthought—a promise that remains frustratingly unfulfilled, especially with its staggered rollout bleeding into 2025.

In short, the iPhone 16 lineup feels more like Apple’s way of playing it safe rather than pushing the envelope. For all their talk about building the future, this year’s phones are incremental at best, lacking the wow factor we’ve come to expect from a flagship release. The 16 Plus delivers where it matters, but the Pro line leaves me asking, "Is this really the best they can do?" This launch is a strange mix of excitement, disappointment, and the lingering hope that maybe—just maybe—next year’s iPhone will finally live up to the hype. Until then, we’re left wondering if Apple is moving forward or simply marking time while they slowly drip out their so-called "intelligence."