At first glance, it may be hard to see any differences between the iPhone 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, and their predecessors. However, there are some significant changes that set these models apart. Let’s dive into them.
Camera Control Button
From the back, both iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max look very similar to last year’s iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. But as you turn them around, you’ll notice some key differences. On the right side, there’s a new button. Well, it’s not really a button — it’s a touch controller for the camera. This controller not only opens the camera and takes photos but can also be used to adjust zoom, switch cameras, change photo styles, and even tweak the aperture in portrait mode. Additionally, the new controller will feature Apple’s “Visual Intelligence,” which provides context for whatever the camera is pointing at. This feature feels quite similar to Google Lens.
iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max Full Specifications
| Specs | iPhone 16 Pro | `iPhone 16 Pro Max |
| Color | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium |
| Finishing | Titanium design Latest-generation Ceramic Shield front Textured matte glass back | Titanium design Latest-generation Ceramic Shield front Textured matte glass back |
| Capacity | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Size | Height: 5.89 inches (149.6 mm) Width: 2.81 inches (71.5 mm) Depth: 0.32 inch (8.25 mm) | Width: 3.06 inches (77.6 mm) Height: 6.42 inches (163 mm) Depth: 0.32 inch (8.25 mm) |
| Weight | 7.03 ounces (199 grams) | 7.99 ounces (227 grams) |
| Display | Super Retina XDR display 6.3‑inch (diagonal) all‑screen OLED display 2622‑by‑1206-pixel resolution at 460 ppi Dynamic Island Always-On display ProMotion technology with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz HDR display True Tone Wide color (P3) Haptic Touch | Super Retina XDR display 6.9‑inch (diagonal) all‑screen OLED display 2868‑by‑1320-pixel resolution at 460 ppi Dynamic Island Always-On display ProMotion technology with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz HDR display True Tone Wide color (P3) Haptic Touch |
| Rear Cameras | Triple 48MP (Wide, Ultra-Wide, Telephoto) | Triple 48MP (Wide, Ultra-Wide, Telephoto) |
| Telephoto Zoom | 5x Optical Zoom, 10x Digital Zoom | 6x Optical Zoom, 15x Digital Zoom |
| LiDAR Scanner | Yes | Yes |
| Front Camera | 12MP TrueDepth with autofocus | 12MP TrueDepth with autofocus |
| Battery Capacity | Video playback Up to 27 hours Video playback (streamed) Up to 22 hours Audio playback Up to 85 hours | Video playback Up to 33 hours Video playback (streamed) Up to 29 hours Audio playback Up to 105 hours |
| Video capture | 4K up to 120fps; spatial video at 1080p at 30fps | 4K up to 120fps; spatial video at 1080p at 30fps |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C |
| Price | From $999 | From $1199 |
iPhone 16 Pro Screen Size
The other big difference lies in the screen size. The iPhone 16 Pro now boasts a 6.3-inch screen, compared to the 6.1-inch screen of the iPhone 15 Pro, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch screen, up from last year’s 6.7-inch display. The iPhone 16 Pro Max now has the largest screen ever seen on an iPhone. (I know, I sound a bit like Apple, don’t I?)
iPhone 16 Pro Colors
As for colors, well, if you’re into titanium, you’ll be happy. The iPhone 16 Pro models come in natural titanium, white titanium, black titanium, and desert titanium, making it the most colorful lineup for Pro cameras yet.
iPhone 16 Pro Cameras
Now, let’s talk about cameras. This year, both the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max have the exact same camera systems, including the new 5x telephoto camera, replacing last year’s 3x telephoto on the iPhone 15 Pro. The primary 48-megapixel camera now has a faster sensor, while the ultra-wide camera gets a massive upgrade with a 48-megapixel sensor (compared to the 12-megapixel sensor on the iPhone 15 Pro). This higher resolution should improve image quality for macro photos. Additionally, these models can now capture spatial photos, spatial audio, and 4K 120 frames-per-second slow-motion video. Apple even showcased a new music video by The Weeknd filmed entirely on the iPhone 16 Pro, complete with lots of slow-motion footage.
Apple A18 Chip
Powering all of these features is a larger battery and Apple’s new A18 Pro chip, which includes a faster CPU and GPU. According to Apple, the A18 is capable of 2x faster ray tracing than last year’s A15 Pro. You can really notice the improvement in reflections and lighting effects in games. The chip also brings a larger neural engine, which enhances onboard Apple Intelligence, providing tools like AI-assisted writing suggestions in documents and emails, as well as photo cleanup features that can remove unwanted people or objects from images. Siri has also received several upgrades, including a new, more natural-sounding voice, and improved contextual conversations. There’s even a new interface for Siri, with a glowing border around the phone when it’s activated. Instead of only talking to Siri, you can double-tap the bottom of the screen to type commands, too.
Unfortunately, many of these advanced features, powered by Apple Intelligence, won’t be available out of the box. They are expected to arrive in a software update next month.
iPhone 15 Pro Max and the iPhone 16 Pro Max:
| Feature | iPhone 15 Pro Max | iPhone 16 Pro Max |
| Screen Size | 6.7 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Camera Control | Physical button | Touch controller with Visual Intelligence |
| Telephoto Camera | 3x optical zoom | 5x optical zoom |
| Ultra-Wide Camera | 12 MP | 48 MP |
| Main Camera | 48 MP with slower sensor | 48 MP with faster sensor |
| Video Capabilities | 4K 60 fps slow motion | 4K 120 fps slow motion |
| Spatial Photos/Audio | No | Yes |
| Chip | A17 Pro | A18 Pro |
| Neural Engine | Smaller | Larger |
| Ray Tracing | Single ray tracing | 2x faster ray tracing |
| Siri Interface | Standard voice, voice control | New natural voice, type control |
| Battery Life | Slightly smaller battery | Larger battery |
| Colors | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Blue Titanium | Natural Titanium, White Titanium, Black Titanium, Desert Titanium |
| Starting Price | $1,099 | $1,199 |
iPhone 16 Pro Models Price
The iPhone 16 Pro is priced at $999, while the 16 Pro Max will cost $1,199. Pre-orders begin on September 13th, and both models will be available in stores starting September 20th.
That’s all for now. I’d love to hear your thoughts! What feature of the new iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max stands out to you? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
