Forget the Pro, the iPhone 16 has everything you need

In recent years, Apple has been making a distinction between its regular and Pro iPhone models. Beyond the superior telephoto camera system, Apple has regularly introduced interesting perks as iPhone Pro exclusives — the Dynamic Island, the 48MP main camera, the Action button, even Apple Intelligence — all of which remained exclusive to the Pro variants for a year. In some ways, this gives the Pro models an exclusivity and makes its non-Pro flagships feel like mid-range phones due to their more limited feature sets.

But this time around, things are different. With the iPhone 16 series, the regular models haven’t just adopted some of the previous perks of the Pro line. Instead, they’ve also introduced some significant changes that could have easily been exclusive to the Pro line. So, for the first time in ages, most customers won’t feel like they’re missing out on much if they opt for the regular iPhone 16.

Camera control is the new trend

The most radical change in the 2024 iPhone is the all-new camera control button. This addition is not just a shortcut to the Camera app. Thanks to its touch and pressure sensitivity, you can rely on it to zoom, take photos or videos, adjust exposure, switch between different photography styles, and much more. The button also offers a dedicated API, allowing third-party developers to integrate its functionality into their camera apps.

Apple

Apple

Apple

Apple could have reasonably gotten away with making the camera control button a Pro exclusive this year. The button is advanced enough to be a Pro item. By doing so, the iPhone maker could entice more undecided customers to buy the higher-end variants to use the shiny new button. But that’s not the case. All iPhone 16 models feature camera control, which, given the company’s recent history of making new features exclusive to the Pro models, seems a bit surprising to me.

The improvements to the standard iPhone 16’s camera aren’t just limited to the new button. Apple has also added support for Macro mode, allowing non-professional users to take photos and videos of subjects at very close range, as well as unlocking support for spatial photo and video shooting on the regular models by rearranging the rear lenses.

Other advanced camera features include the next-generation Photographic Styles, which allow iPhone 16 users to easily adjust the colors and tones of their photos. They also get access to the new Audio Mixing feature that changes the sounds of recorded videos. It’s a Pro camera system if you ask me, and it’s all offered by the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus.

Powered by the same chip (sort of)

Apple recently started shipping more advanced processors to its Pro iPhones, starting with the A16 in 2023 and continuing with the A17 Pro last year. While that’s still the case this year, the gap is now smaller. Instead of equipping the non-Pro iPhone 16 models with year-old chipsets like it did the last two generations, Apple has released a slightly more limited version of its latest A18 Pro chip. So the A18-powered iPhone 16 and 16 Plus get the same 8GB of RAM, the same 6-core CPU, and the same 16-core Neural Engine. Perhaps the only notable difference between the A18 and the A18 Pro is that the standard models have 5 GPU cores while the Pros have 6.

Apple

Apple

Apple

As a result, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models should perform similarly when performing everyday tasks. Both models also offer the full Apple Intelligence suite, including the new Visual Intelligence feature triggered via the Camera Control button. On the graphics side, you’ll get all the features exclusive to the A17 Pro last year, including hardware-accelerated ray tracing.

With mostly identical software features and processors, there’s little reason to think the Pro iPhones will outperform their standard counterparts this year.

As vibrant as an iPhone (without the plastic)

Beyond specs and capabilities, there are a few benefits to choosing the regular iPhone 16 over the Pro. In 2023, the iPhone 15’s colors were objectively washed out and lacked the vibrancy that non-Pro iPhones typically offer. Apple fixed that problem with the iPhone 16.

This year, non-Pro users can choose from a variety of vibrant colors: ultramarine, teal, and pink, as well as the usual white and black. Compared to the iPhone 16 Pro’s dull, muted color options, you’re getting a device with a prominent personality. Even the back is prettier this year, with a smaller iPhone X-style bezel to house the dual cameras. In short, the non-Pro iPhone 16 actually looks better than the Pro models this year.

Apple

Apple

Apple

Negligible disadvantages, for some

It goes without saying that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max continue to offer more advanced features. For example, the Always-On Display feature first introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro is still missing from the regular iPhone 16 variants. (Those who use an Apple Watch may not care as much, however, since the time, notifications, and other relevant information are displayed on their wrist.) Likewise, ProMotion technology is still exclusive to the higher-end models. While some users can tell the difference between 120Hz and 60Hz refresh rates, many others can’t or simply don’t care.

Finally, there’s the most notable perk: the Pro camera system. iPhone 16 users miss out on the telephoto lens that allows for a 5X longer optical zoom range, 4K video recording at 120 FPS, night portraits, RAW shooting, LOG video recording, and more. While all of these features are nice, most casual users will probably never miss them, with the possible exception of the telephoto lens.

As we’ve already shown, the standard iPhone 16’s cameras are very capable and will work exceptionally well for capturing everyday moments. Most of the iPhone’s exclusive Pro camera goodies are designed for serious content creators and professionals rather than Instagram Stories.

Apple

Apple

Apple

It’s the most Pro non-Pro iPhone yet

Comparing the gap between the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro to the gap between the 15 and 15 Pro, you can see just how much the regular iPhone 16 has evolved. The standard iPhone 16 models not only caught up with some of the features of last year’s iPhone 15 Pro, like the addition of the Action button and the graphics capabilities of the A17 Pro chip, they also gained several of the latest features for 2024, including the camera control button and, of course, Apple Intelligence.

Apple

Apple

Apple

They also showcased some of Apple’s latest tech, like the Camera Control button, 25W MagSafe charging, the latest iteration of Photographic Styles, Visual Intelligence, and more. Their displays even share the same pixel density and peak brightness as the 16 Pro models, despite being slightly smaller (6.3 and 6.9 inches versus 6.1 and 6.7 inches).

For the first time in years, I can wholeheartedly recommend the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus to friends and family without having to rattle off a laundry list of notable limitations. Choosing the right iPhone for you just got easier than ever. And for most people, it’s probably the least expensive model that’s ever felt more premium.