I’ve tried the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro and know exactly which one I’d buy.

Once again a question when buying an iPhone Is it worth betting on the Pro model?. There are some differences this year that we didn’t find in previous generations, starting with the size of the devices themselves. Despite this, we are looking at two high-end devices with a good list of similarities.

At Xataka, we were able to test both the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16, and based on our experience, we will tell you which model is the most recommended depending on the type of user. Spoiler: the answer is the same as last year.

Technical data sheet for iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16

Similarities: Same feeling as last year

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro share screen technologies. Both come with Super Retina XDR panels, a maximum brightness of 2000 nits (1600 in HDR) and the same calibration. I’ll look at the differences in the user experience of the panels later, but I’m confident that most users will be more than satisfied with the screen of the standard models.

They also share RAMthis year there will be 8 GB for all models. Apple’s goal is for all four iPhone 16s to be able to run Apple Intelligence, and that was one of the minimum requirements. At the connection level they are also identical, and the maximum memory configuration for all is 1 TB.

Two great new features they shared this year are an action button for non-pro models. A fully programmable button that replaces the classic volume switch. This is no longer a feature of the Pro models and is now something that the whole family can relate to.

Camera Control is the second big news. With it we can open the camera or other camera applications, starting with iOS 18.1, control zoom and various photographic functions such as aperture, photographic styles, etc.

Design and user experience

The main difference between these iPhones and 2024 is in size. This year we found a slight change in the final dimensions due to the panels increasing by 0.2 inches. The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max have a few millimeters more height. For the first time since the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, Apple is changing the size of the panels on the Pro models.

In our experience, this is almost insignificant figure compared to the previous generation. In fact, since the Pro models have much smaller bezels, it feels like they have a larger screen of essentially the same size.

In terms of in-hand feel, the Pro is again the most premium model, with the standard ones being the most attractive in my opinion. The iPhone 16’s color palette is much more vibrant, and the fewer grams are valued. These are lighter phones, to the point that the iPhone 16 Pro weighs the same as the iPhone 16 Plus. If weight is an issue for you, the Pro models are not the best option.

Once again, I give the design win to the basic iPhone. They are somewhat more compact, lighter, have more dynamic colors and even, although this is somewhat subjective, I think they have a much more attractive design.

Screen and performance: two peas in a pod, ProMotion savings

The panels of these devices are almost identical.excluding iPhone 16 and 16 Plus with 60Hz refresh rate. This is a figure without much justification for terminals that cost around 1000 euros, but ProMotion is still reserved for the Pro variants.

My experience with most people around me? Some people don’t even notice 120Hz -Yes, I know that this will seem somewhat implausible to the Xataka reader, but there is a whole world of users who do not pay attention to Hz-. Considering that the rest of the specs, aside from the Pro’s extra 0.2 inches, are identical, the panel isn’t an issue on these phones.

If we upgrade to Pro, we will have everything. Adaptive refresh rate from 120Hz to 1Hz, largest size and slightly more efficient use of those frames. Of course, if you use the cover, it absorbs some of the new improvement and there is practically no difference in the bezel compared to its younger brothers.

At the performance level, iPhone 16 Pro has a more powerful variant from A18 – A18 Pro. It has one more core in the GPU and is slightly more powerful. Again, in the world of ordinary users the difference does not exist. These iPhones are faster, run a little cooler, and have more consistent performance than last year.

The win, based purely on technical data, goes to the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max in terms of screen and performance. But in terms of everyday use, I can assure you that there are practically no differences between the models.

Autonomy: a good year to bet on small models

Regarding autonomy, There is progress, but not too noticeable. In my particular case, I noticed that the iPhone 16 Pro lasted a little longer than the 15 Pro. My colleague Ivan did not notice much greater autonomy in the model with the largest screen – the iPhone 16 Plus.

Here is the total for all years: If autonomy is important to us, the Plus and Max models. If we need decent autonomy, but we prioritize size, standard models are the solution. Despite this, thanks to a slight improvement, the autonomy of the smaller models seems sufficient to get through a busy day.

Camera: difference between zoom and Pro modes

On a photographic level, The main difference between these models is the zoom.. The iPhone 16 has a 2x telephoto lens thanks to a cutout in the 48-megapixel sensor. In other words, they can scale an image with little loss of quality, although they don’t have a dedicated telephoto lens for this purpose.

Although the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 have a 48-megapixel main sensor, they are not exactly the same. Despite this, The final quality of the photos is almost identical.with some differences in dynamic range. In fact, oddly enough, as happened last year, it’s not strange that the iPhone 16 takes slightly brighter photos because its sensor captures more dynamic range.

If we want absolute control over our photos, the Pro models are the best alternative. We have the ability to shoot in ProRAW as well as record in LOG format. These are professional formats that force us to process on our own. Advantage? It is likely that we will be able to process the files better than the phone interprets them initially.

Which iPhone 16 should I buy?

The answer to this question is the same as I gave last year: The iPhone 16 is still the model worth buying. In terms of price-quality ratio, the presence of one of the best processors on the market, a screen with a brightness of 2000 nits – despite 60 Hz -, a very high level camera with 2x zoom without loss of quality and a guarantee that it will be updated. for many years they have been life insurance.

In case we need a phone with more battery life, the Plus variant is the most suitable purchase. The victim is a huge phone, but it weighs less than 200 grams, making it quite pleasant to hold in your hand.

Just because the standard models are the most recommended doesn’t mean the Pro is a bad alternative. These models, in my opinion, are especially aimed at photography and video enthusiasts. 5x telephoto, ProRAW, LOG recording… iPhone 16 Pro is a beast for creating content, whether it’s casual online or professional.

In short, betting on Pro means winning:

• Something with more screen and size.
• ProMotion with adaptive frequency 120 Hz.
• 5x telephoto lens.
• Titanium coating Grade 5.
• Slightly faster processor.
• LOG and ProRAW modes.
• USB-C 3.2 vs 2.0.

If these points are key for us, the Pro models are the model worth buying. Otherwise, as is likely, the base models win.

Image | Hataka

In Hatak | I traded in my iPhone Pro for a new regular iPhone 16. I regret very few things