Thinking About the iPhone 16? What to Know Before You Hit ‘Buy’

Explore what sets Apple’s newest iPhone 16 lineup apart from its predecessors. From the advanced Apple Intelligence system to the boundary-pushing battery life, the iPhone 16 brings a host of exciting new features. See what’s changed.

About Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence is a new personal intelligence system introduced by Apple, starting with the iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1. 

This system integrates generative models with personal context to offer useful and convenient features, including Writing Tools (rewriting, proofreading, summarizing), Photos (create movies, search for photos, clean up images), Notes and Phone (record, transcribe and summarize audio), Notifications (Reduce Interruptions and Priority Messages), and Siri redesigned for a more streamlined and natural experience, such as working across all apps. 

One of the biggest selling points about Apple Intelligence is that it picks up information but doesn’t ever store it. Ensuring maximum privacy, most of the processing is done on-device and secure cloud-based processing when needed. 

Apple Intelligence can now also access ChatGPT.

Bigger and Stronger Build

The iPhone 16 Pro features a larger 6.3-inch OLED display next to the 6.1-inch screen on the iPhone 16, with both models benefitting from thinner borders. The iPhone 16 Pro Max further extends this with a 6.9-inch display, making it the largest in the series (and in all of iPhone history). 

Both iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have a lightweight and durable aerospace-grade aluminum body with smooth finishes that resist smudges. The Pro models, on the other hand, maintain their Grade 5 titanium with a new micro-blasted treatment. All versions of the new iPhone feature the latest generation of the Ceramic Shield screen — a glass and ceramic hybrid — that’s 50% tougher than the previous. 

New Buttons and Camera Layout

Among some of its most anticipated features, the iPhone 16 has introduced an action button on the left, and a multifunctional camera ‘capture’ button on the right. This indented camera button integrates various technologies to enable users to launch, adjust and switch cameras with simple gestures. Third-party apps like Snapchat will be able to tap on the newly added button. Pro users can look forward to more features packed within future updates, such as a nostalgic half-press for camera focusing. 

The iPhone 16 models feature a vertical camera setup, facilitating the capture of spatial photos and videos for 3D viewing on an Apple Vision Pro or similar headsets. Other previous models retained their diagonal camera lens arrangement, which made the feature only exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.

Advanced Camera System

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max feature upgraded camera systems, narrowing the gap between the two models. Both now have 48MP ultra-wide cameras, 5x optical zoom in, and enhanced video capabilities, including 4K at 120 fps for smooth transitions between regular and slow-motion footage. This comes hand-in-hand with other professional features such as real-time color grading, multiple studio-quality microphones and advanced image stabilization.

Battery Capacity

Tired of your iPhone’s battery draining? You’re in luck — the iPhone 16 sees major battery improvements, particularly in battery life and charging speed. The Pro models now last much longer, with the iPhone 16 Pro offering up to 27 hours of video and 85 hours of audio, while the Pro Max stretches that to 33 and 105 hours respectively. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Plus gives you 27 hours of video and 100 hours of audio. 

These boosts come from larger batteries, the power-efficient A18 chips, and overall better heat management, including the aforementioned aluminum frame. Plus, wireless charging now hits 25W with MagSafe, letting you charge up to 50% in just half an hour for a record-breaking power-up.

Trading In

Seasoned Apple users know that Apple Trade In is a smart way to score a great deal on your current device and apply its value toward a shiny upgrade. You can get up to $650 depending on the model and condition of your iPhone, but it’s generally wiser to trade in ASAP since values do decline over time.

If your device doesn’t qualify for credit, Apple will recycle it for free. However, it’s worth checking with your local mobile network operators for other trade-in programs — who knows, you might find a better deal.

Models and Pricing

Here are the prices for all iPhone 16 models, including the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, across all storage capacities. 

Model	Storage	Price (USD)
iPhone 16	128GB	$799
	256GB	$899
	512GB	$1,099
iPhone 16 Plus	128GB	$899
	256GB	$999
	512GB	$1,199
iPhone 16 Pro	128GB	$999
	256GB	$1,099
	512GB	$1,299
	1TB	$1,499
iPhone 16 Pro Max	256GB	$1,199
	512GB	$1,399
	1TB	$1,599

Should You Upgrade?

Tinkering with the idea of upgrading? If you’re psyched about having AI at your fingertips, longer battery life, and some cool new buttons to play with, the iPhone 16 could be your next move. It brings impressive upgrades, especially in the Pro models — but if your current iPhone is still serving you well and you’re not in a rush for the latest tech, there’s no harm in holding off. It’s all about whether the new features, be it hardware or software, feel worth it to you.

Final Thoughts 

Getting your hands on the latest Apple innovations is always a thrill, and the iPhone 16 is no exception! But let’s be real: no matter how sleek and sturdy that new phone is, it’s not meant to go naked. Whether it’s a baseline model or a high-end Pro package, we at UNIQ have got your back with cases that are as practical as they are stylish — some might even say they’re multifunctional. 

Check out our latest collection and discover what that means with our grip-stand and MagClick equipped cases. And, round out your order with a premium screen protector. Shop now and make sure your iPhone 16 stays as fresh as the day you unboxed it with UNIQ!