The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have been officially revealed with larger displays, a new "Camera Control" button, and a stronger emphasis on artificial intelligence.
According to Saed News, citing Zoomit, Apple believes that the combination of bigger screens, slimmer bezels, enhanced photography and video features, and AI-driven processing power will push the competition from Google and Samsung aside. This formula has been directly incorporated into the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple’s new devices set to reignite the company’s dominance in the mobile market.
The two flagship phones, unveiled moments ago at the "It's Glowtime" event, share many similarities with previous iPhone generations. However, Apple is continuing its incremental improvements and has no plans for a major overhaul of the iPhone — at least not for now. According to Apple’s press release, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max feature larger displays compared to their predecessors, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, and, thanks to the new flagship chipset, they offer enhanced AI capabilities.
Apple states that the iPhone 16 Pro comes with a 6.3-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch display (compared to the 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays in the previous generation).
Both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max now boast the thinnest bezels of any Apple device, and the Pro Max is the largest iPhone ever made. Both models are once again wrapped in a titanium body, though this year’s finish feels different. The new iPhones will be available in Titanium Black, Titanium White, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium colors.
The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are powered by the new A18 Pro chip, which includes a 16-core neural engine. According to Apple, this chip delivers "amazing performance" for its Apple Intelligence features and is 15% faster than the previous generation’s A17 Pro chip.
The A18 Pro also includes a 6-core GPU that offers up to 20% better graphics performance compared to the A17 Pro in previous flagship models. The GPU supports hardware ray tracing, providing a more realistic gaming experience. Apple states that the A18 Pro is faster and more energy-efficient than the A18 chip found in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, and it uses the second-generation 3-nanometer lithography. The CPU features two high-performance cores and four energy-efficient cores, offering 15% more power while consuming 20% less energy compared to the A17 Pro.
The A18 Pro also features a new machine learning accelerator and supports faster USB-C standards.
Apple also introduced a new 48MP "Fusion" camera on the iPhone 16 Pro, along with a 12MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. Both the Pro and Pro Max models now include a "quad-prism" telephoto camera, similar to periscope cameras. For the first time, both models feature a 48MP ultra-wide camera. The Photographic Styles feature has been redesigned, allowing users to adjust the details of colors and shadows in real-time, creating a unique mood for their photos. These styles can also be deeply personalized.
The new iPhones support 4K video recording at 120 frames per second, with the ability to adjust playback speed after recording.
A new "Camera Control" button is located on the side of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, enhancing the photography and videography experience. The button will receive new capabilities via a software update. The Camera Control button is based on haptic feedback and offers a variety of functions. Pressing it opens the camera app, and pressing it again captures a photo. Holding the button down starts video recording.
The Camera Control button also supports touch gestures, allowing for lighter taps and more functionality. A light tap brings up a preview of the image, giving access to options like zoom and camera switching. Double-tapping brings up additional options.
The Camera Control feature also includes a new Visual Intelligence feature, similar to Google Lens. This allows users to point their phone at subjects to access detailed information about them. Apple has also focused on enhancing the audio experience of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The new models feature four studio-quality microphones and can capture immersive sound while recording videos.
Battery life has been improved in the new iPhones, with Apple claiming the iPhone 16 Pro Max can last up to 33 hours. Apple also claims the iPhone 16 Pro Max offers the "best battery life in iPhone history."
The iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199, with storage options beginning at 128GB and 256GB, respectively. The new iPhones will be available starting September 20 (30th of Shahrivar).
