The iPhone 16 Plus comes with Apple’s latest iOS 18 pre-installed. While marketed as a major redesign, the changes feel more subtle in everyday use. However, the increased personalization options could make the user interface more unique than before.
I bought an anti reflective screen protector for my iPhone 16 Pro Max, similar to what Galaxy S24 Ultra and Tab S10 Ultra has, and WOW
Here’s it vs. iPhone 16 Plus. It doesn’t show super well on camera but insane difference to the eye. Brighter, sharper, easier to see. pic.twitter.com/RJBRU27h0B
— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) October 1, 2024
As usual, all iPhones will get at least five years of software updates.
iPhone 16 Pro battery life: Starting the day at 9 am with 90%, using socials, navigator, taking photos and so on – at 8 pm with 20% I put it on charge.
4 hours and 50 minutes of screen on time. pic.twitter.com/5ukJMy9tyI
— Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin) October 2, 2024
The iPhone 16 Plus supports dual-band Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 with LE, and NFC for Apple Pay and Name Drop contact sharing. The second-gen Apple Ultrawideband (UWB) chip improves features like precise Find My with directional arrows and has tripled its range.
The Type-C port is backed by USB 2.0, offering 480 Mbps max data transfer speed. Video output supports DisplayPort DP up to 4K via Type-C Alt mode.
I actively take photos with the new iPhone 16 Pro and compare it with my previous iPhone 15 Pro Max, and there is practically no difference at all, even the new 48 megapixel ultra wide is no different 😭
— Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin) October 1, 2024
The A18 chipset powers the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, a big upgrade from the A16 in the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus.
The second-gen 3nm chip promises better power and efficiency.
More so than ever before, the iPhone 16 is the perfect smartphone for most people. The lines between the “Pro” and the base-level iPhone are pretty much gone now (unless you care about 120Hz). Check out my @Pocketlint review of the iPhone 16. https://t.co/BEACxwZz6E
— Patrick O'Rourke (@Patrick_ORourke) October 2, 2024
Subtle changes, powerful hardware
It has a six-core processor (two performance cores at 4.04GHz, four efficiency cores at 2.2GHz) and a 5-core GPU with hardware ray tracing support.
Both phones now have 8GB of RAM. The A18 CPU is 30% faster than the iPhone 15’s CPU and 60% faster than the iPhone 12’s. The GPU is 40% faster than the iPhone 15 and twice as fast as the iPhone 12.
The 2024 models deliver the same CPU performance as their predecessors with 30% less power and the same GPU performance using 35% less power. Apple also increased system memory bandwidth by 17% for AI tasks and improved thermals for 30% higher sustained performance. Some previously incompatible games like “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” and “Assassin’s Creed: Mirage” now run well on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus.
Upcoming titles like “Honor of Kings: World” will have ultra graphics modes optimized for these devices. The GPU’s hardware-accelerated ray tracing enhances gaming experiences for titles like “War Thunder Mobile.”
Thermal stability tests show the iPhone 16 Plus maintains 80% CPU and 89% GPU stability under stress, much better than the iPhone 15. Overall, the iPhone 16 Plus delivers flagship-level performance, significant stability improvements, and efficient thermal management.
It’s a great choice for both everyday users and gamers who want reliable performance.
Cameron is a highly regarded contributor in the rapidly evolving fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. His articles delve into the theoretical underpinnings of AI, the practical applications of machine learning across industries, ethical considerations of autonomous systems, and the societal impacts of these disruptive technologies.
