iPhone 16 Plus : Apple has shown the world its vision of the iPhone 16 Plus – and while it’s seen as less revolutionary than its brothers and sisters in Apple’s range, its mute power makes it shine.
This model continues to cater to the expanding audience that embraces large displays but doesn’t necessarily require the bells and whistles found in a Pro model. It’s simple but elegant, and it brings some much-needed, yet slight, improvements over the previous model.
Design: Slick, Slick and more Slick
Apple has not made any changes to its iconic design with the iPhone 16 Plus. You’ll find that same flat-edged aluminum frame and glass back, but the finish feels a tad more refined this time around.
It’s still a fingerprint magnet, but feels premium nonetheless.
This year, the phone arrives in a tasteful selection of muted, soft colors such as Sky Blue, Mint and Light Pink. The overall design doesn’t exactly scream “new,” but the more polished aesthetic ensures that the lack of tweaks to the iPhone’s appearance are not a negative.
The phone is large to be sure, but Apple’s delicate balancing act never lets it get too unwieldy in your hand.
Display: A Feast for the Eyes
What really makes the iPhone 16 Plus shine — quite literally — is that beautiful 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display. Colors really pop, contrast is stellar, and viewing angles are fantastic.
But the true victory this time is 120Hz refresh rate — a feature that was previously exclusive to Pro models. This finally makes animations and scrolling actually feel smoother and more responsive.
Whether you’re bingeing Netflix, gaming or furiously swiping through Instagram, the screen is a pleasure.
Performance: Smooth as Ever
Inside, Apple has packed its all-new A18 Bionic chip, and it’s impressive. Everything feels instant here — from opening apps to gaming or video editing. You can multitask with no latency. Here it is, Apple’s hardware-software synergy, pop, pop, pop, as bright as ever.
That gets even better in iOS 18. The phone also now uses on-device AI for live translation of languages, more cuing of Siri suggestions and smarter photo organization. It’s a minor touch, yet it adds a bit of convenience in everyday use.
Camera System, Don’t -Forget-About-the-Main-Camera-Rolle –We Didn’t Forget it!
The iPhone 16 Plus features a 48MP main camera and 12MP ultra-wide lens. It might not be three lenses on the spec sheet like on the Pro models, but in reality there’s some serious excellent results here.
Daytime shots are crisp and colorful and images still appear surprisingly clear in low light.
The new AI enhancements take over in challenging lighting situations, adding finesse to ensure that fine detail — and gradients of tone — are preserved. A 2x digital zoom is fine for everyday snapshooting, but you’ll wish you had a true telephoto lens if you’re into more serious photography.
Selfie fans won’t be disappointed either – the 12MP front camera is very sharp and now offers better low-light processing for cleaner, more natural selfies.
Battery Performance: Reliable and Rugged
Battery life is another plus. Heavy users can easily make do with the iPhone 16 Plus through a full day. You name it, it holds up like a champ: streaming, gaming, video calls.
It offers 20W wired charging, 15W MagSafe and up to Qi2 wireless charging standard. But there’s still no charging brick in the box, so settle in to be annoyed about that.
Pros:
Big, beautiful OLED display with 120Hz
A18 Bionic chip provides powerful performance
All-day battery life
Smart features — without bloat! — added in iOS 18
New design with a sleek look and modern color options
Great main snapper coverage
Cons:
No USB-C port yet — Lighting for now
No telephoto or macro lens
No always-on display
Charging brick not included
Expensive for a non-Pro model
iPhone 16 Plus Final Verdict
The iPhone 16 Plus won’t be ground breaking, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s an iPhone on which you can get the latest and greatest experiences at their best — provided all the developers get around to updating their apps. Apple worked on making meaningful upgrades — the 120Hz display and A18 chip, for instance — but it didn’t rock the boat.
For those of you looking for a powerful phone, but aren’t going Pro, this iPhone 16 Plus ticks all the right boxes. It’s not flashy, but it’s rock solid where it counts.