Apple iPhone 16 Plus Smartphone Review

Apple iPhone 16 Plus Smartphone Review: Apple introduced its new iPhone 16 lineup with a big event. As in the past, it is nice to see a company continuing the tooling of iPhone Plus phones. This year, the focus will be on the integration of Apple Intelligence, which was announced during the event. The new phone will offer a wide range of AI features, just like the Google Pixel phones. Apart from this, the main events were the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max.

The iPhone 16 Plus has been confirmed to have a larger display, but the battery capacity remains a mystery. During our review, we found some surprising data regarding the battery life. Still, there are many other things we want to find out about this new iPhone. In this review, we will cover every detail so that you can find flaws and positive points that fit your needs. With that said, let’s dive into the highlights.

Apple iPhone 16 Plus Smartphone Review

Highlights

1. The phone features a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel with FHD+ resolution and 2000 nits HBM.
2. As for the software layers, you will get the new custom iOS 18 skin with additional AI features.
3. The A18 Bionic chipset hardware configuration with Apple 5-core GPU delivers flagship-level performance.
4. This device features a decent 48MP primary camera setup with a 12MP ultra-wide-angle shooter, along with a 12MP selfie lens.
5. The iPhone 16 Plus comes with a massive lithium-ion battery that can be recharged via conventional wired and wireless charger.

Design and exhibition

The aerospace-grade aluminum frame is made from 85% recyclable material, and users can choose the Apple iPhone 16 Plus in over five paint jobs. White, Black, Ultramarine, Teal, and Pink options are available. They all look beautiful with solid colors and a glass back. It’s great that the company has invested in both the front and back panels and is offering glass made by Corning. The overall look is virtually identical to the previous-generation phone, except for the new color options.

Apart from this, the build quality is not too bad either as this is a phone with a curved and slim body. It weighs approximately 199 grams which is considerably low. Also, there are no bezels either at the top or the bottom. The side panel is easy to grip and slim while the utility buttons are present on both sides. The best part is that the phone even offers IP68 certification which ensures decent dust and water resistance.

The 6.7-inch flat Super Retina XDR OLED display offers FHD+ resolution with a customizable dynamic island. As for security measures, there is a biometric scanner near the selfie camera. As usual, colors pop on the display, while touch response is quite fluid with support for a higher refresh rate. Along with this, the highest brightness level the display reaches is 2000 nits. Lastly, the phone is equipped with the new Ceramic Shield glass on the front display.

Memory and internal

Inside, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus will be equipped with the Apple A18 chipset, which is based on the 3nm architecture. At the same time, it also offers full support for generative AI. All those generative AI activities will appear on the 16-core Neural Engine. Moreover, it also improves mobile gaming performance compared to the previous model. Similarly, the power consumption is lower, so users can expect better screen-on time.

The CPU processing speed has been further improved compared to the predecessor A17 Pro. It also enhances the gaming experience. With the increased battery size, the phone will support extensive gaming sessions. In addition to this, the iOS 18 will be pre-installed on this phone. Moreover, creative writing, photo editing, and advanced media search tools will also be introduced. Moreover, you can summarize your notifications and emails, and even create a smart reply.

It gives you flexibility with Siri to automate some of your work while there are endless possibilities to generate unique images and emojis. As far as the overall UI experience is concerned, it is virtually identical to the previous version. As far as storage configuration is concerned, the device can be purchased in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB NVMe space which is accompanied by 8GB RAM capacity. Even after the years, the company did not increase the RAM limit for the standard iPhone.

Camera

Finding flaws in the iPhone’s camera setup is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Even after mastering image processing and photo quality for a decade, the company is still going strong. With the Apple iPhone 16 Plus, users can expect fabulous results regardless of lighting conditions. The beautiful image quality is noticeable in almost every click, while the advanced HDR colors are remarkable.

In real-time use, the phone produces impressive results thanks to the 48MP OIS main sensor with sensor shift. The main lens can adjust the focus of objects while managing optical image stabilization. In addition, the 12MP ultra-wide lens. Finally, the dynamic island offers a 12MP biometric and selfie sensor on the front screen. In camera control, visual intelligence is also integrated, helping users create art with AI.

Zoom controls then allow you to adjust depth of field, fill in exposure and deliver mesmerising colours. As for video recording, the device can record up to 4K with Dolby Vision HDR support. Additionally, wind noise detection has gradually decreased, while the ultra-wide lens can capture low-light images in up to twice the quality.

Battery and others

The battery configuration of the Apple iPhone 16 Plus is expected to provide more screen-on time compared to the iPhone 16. During our usage, we found that the phone runs smoothly for over 6 hours when fully charged. During our usage, we ran several games, streamed videos, and performed CPU throttling tests. Moreover, the phone includes a USB Type-C charging port with 25W wireless charging via MagSafe. As for the wired charger, the phone can be recharged in an hour and a few minutes using a standard charger. Don’t forget that the charger is not available in the box, you need to buy it separately.

Satellite connectivity not only works as an SOS feature but also allows users to chat with friends and send audio messages in case of emergency. While the features are currently limited to the US and Canada, it is expected to be rolled out for other countries soon. Last but not the least, the starting price of the iPhone 16 Plus would be $1070 (Rs 89,900 in India) approximately in the US. However, the price will vary from country to country.

Pros and cons of the Apple iPhone 16 Plus

Detailed specifications of Apple iPhone 16 Plus

Below you can see the Full specifications of Apple iPhone 16 Plus smartphone.

Conclusion

The iPhone 16 Plus is a great device. Compared to its predecessor, it has received some fantastic improvements, such as a new design, a faster chipset, Apple Intelligence, a camera button, and more. These changes are designed to further improve the user experience. However, these new features are also on the base model of the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Plus did not receive anything beyond that, which is a disappointment. Its display still runs at a 60Hz refresh rate, which is not acceptable for a device that is set to be released in 2024 in this price range.

Considering all these aspects of this smartphone, we cannot recommend the iPhone 16 Plus. We would recommend you to look at an iPhone 16 Pro, which actually has a better refresh rate display, a faster chipset, a better camera experience, and more. However, the final decision is up to you, so it is better to choose a smartphone based on your needs and requirements.