iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 16: All expected differences

Soon, on September 10th, 2024, Apple is expected to unveil four new iPhone 16 models. Among them will be two larger devices, the iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Plus, and two smaller phones, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16.

If like me, you find the big ones too big, well, read on. In this article, we focus only on the smaller models, exploring all the differences between the premium iPhone 16 Pro and the more affordable iPhone 16.

Picking between these two is not easy, but this year, the differences are bigger than usual – the iPhone 16 Pro is expected to be slightly larger and have a faster chipset, a dedicated 5X telephoto camera and a buttery smooth ProMotion screen.

But these are far from the only differences, so let's dive right in and see if you should get the iPhone 16 or go all out with the iPhone 16 Pro.

For years, the regular iPhone and the Pro model were roughly the same nice and compact size, at about 6.1 inches. But this year, for the first time, we expect to see a bigger, 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro model, while the regular version will stick with the smaller, 6.1-inch size from the past.

Compact phone lovers might be troubled by this now bigger Pro model, but it's not a huge increase in size. The Pro model now gets thinner bezels too, which help shrink the dimensions a bit.

The rest is familiar stuff: a triple camera on the Pro, and a dual camera on the vanilla model (but now in a pill-shaped island).

There is also a divide in materials. The iPhone 16 Pro is expected to use a fancy titanium frame, while the iPhone 16 will likely use cheaper aluminum. Both devices are said to get a frosted glass back, but expect the more vibrant color options on the vanilla iPhone 16 model.

All four iPhone 16 models get a couple of new buttons. The Action Button is above the volume keys on the left, and a new Camera Button now appears below the power button on the right (the mmWave antenna on US models is moved to the bottom left, in case you are wondering). Having more physical keys is great! You already know how the Action Button works from the 15 Pro series, but the Camera Button is brand new. It is said to act like a camera shutter key: press it lightly to focus, press it all the way to take a picture. And since it's a capacitive button, you can also use it as a kind of a trackpad. Apple is expected to allow you to use it this way to zoom in and out in the camera app, and there are other possible uses.

The rest is all familiar stuff: a USB-C port on the bottom and IP68 water and dust protection.

Next up, screens. A slightly bigger, 6.3-inch display on the iPhone 16 Pro will give you more space to work with, while the iPhone 16 has a 6.1-inch screen.

Apple is also rumored to use new micro-lens technology to make the screens brighter and to lower their power consumption. And that's all good, but especially for the regular model,  it's not what users asked for. What users asked for was 120Hz ProMotion support, and unfortunately the regular iPhone 16 is still stuck with a 60Hz refresh rate!

Rumors say Apple will finally change that next year with the iPhone 17 series, but even that is questionable and way out in the future.

Also read: iPhone 16 colors: all the rumored shades

When it comes to storage, expect a base model with 128GB storage on both. The Pro, however, will also be available in an insane 1TB option, while the vanilla iPhone 16 could max out at a 512GB storage.

Some rumors say Apple will support 40W fast wired charge and faster, 20W MagSafe wireless charging on the iPhone 16 series. Will this happen? We are not sure and knowing Apple's conservative approach to charging, we have some doubts, but it's a possibility.

So... which one should you go for?

Let's start with price. We don't know the exact numbers yet, but it's possible Apple will stick with $800 price for the iPhone 16 and $1,000 for the iPhone 16 Pro, so a price difference of $200. Another possibility is Apple raises prices slightly for all models, but let's wait and see about that.

As for features, the two factors that drive users to upgrade to the Pro are not likely to change: the iPhone 16 Pro will have 120Hz ProMotion and a zoom camera, the iPhone 16 will not.

The rest are far less influential changes, but camera enthusiasts might appreciate the improved ultra-wide camera on the Pro, while those looking to save a buck will like having the new Action Button and Camera Button on the regular model.

If you have the money, our advice would be to go with the Pro this year, but you can be certain that either one will not disappoint.