iPhone 16 Brings More Features to All Price Points, Including New Camera Control

Apple has announced the iPhone 16 series, which — compared to previous years' models — does not restrict as many key features to the Pro models, or to the most-expensive Pro Max model. For example, the all-new Camera Control on the side comes on all four models. All four models can also run Apple Intelligence thanks to the new A18 series of chips with 16-core Neural Engine, although Apple has delayed Apple Intelligence until iOS 18.1 (and some features of it until a later update). The smaller iPhone 16 Pro also has the 5x telephoto camera that was previously exclusive to the Pro Max. The new Camera Control detects light and firm touches, as well as swipe gestures. This provides a faster way to launch the camera and snap photos and videos, as well as adjust settings. A new Visual Intelligence feature lets you use the camera to summon business info from Maps, or add an event to your calendar by pointing at a poster. For other visual searches, it seems to rely on Google Image Search or ChatGPT to identify what you're looking at. The ultra-wide camera has been upgraded with auto-focus, and it captures more light, and doubles as a macro camera.

The standard models also gain larger batteries. The Pro models have new, larger displays (6.3- and 6.9-inch) with thinner bezels. They retain titanium bodies and advanced triple cameras. The ultra-wide cameras have been upgraded to 48 megapixels and auto-focus. A new A18 Pro chip has several upgrades over the standard A18 chip in the non-Pro models, including a 6-core GPU (instead of 5-core) and larger CPU caches. This enables it to be 15% faster than last year's A17 Pro. A new thermal system enables up to 20% better sustained performance for gaming, and hardware-accelerated ray-tracing is now up to 2x faster. Upgraded ISP and media functions on the Pro chip enable pro-quality 4K video at 120 fps for new Cinematic Slow Motion features, including real-time color grading and Dolby Vision. The Pro models can also capture Spatial Audio with video, thanks in part to four new "studio-quality" microphones. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus start at $799 and $899, respectively (both with 128 GB storage, also avail. with 256 or 512 GB). The iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999, with 128 GB storage (also avail. with 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB). The iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1199, with 256 GB storage (also avail. with 512 GB or 1 TB). Pre-orders begin Friday, with the phones in stores Sept. 20.