The iPhone 16 Pro And Pro Max, Reviewed

The next generation of Apple technology, reviewed

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max were already Apple’s most innovative iPhones to date, now they’re adding artificial intelligence to their repertoire

AS SOMEONE WHO, until recently, was making good use of a retro iPhone 8 that by now can probably be classed as vintage, you might not think that I’m the best person to review Apple’s latest innovations. To the contrary, the unorthodox perspective of someone who was pressing a home button just a few short weeks ago is precisely what is needed for you to grasp the tremendous leaps Apple’s technology has taken.

With every new Apple release, the first question on everyone’s lips is ‘how is this any better than the previous generation of the model?’ Admittedly, there is quite a significant difference between the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max that I’ve been testing over the last few weeks, so perhaps the changes are more pronounced in my case. But there’s plenty of new features that even a person that upgrades their iPhone on a yearly basis will notice.

Of course, this is only the start. Just this week, Apple Intelligence – Apple’s own artificial intelligence software – became available, and while I was already impressed with the range beforehand, the upgrades are staggering. These are my honest thoughts on the next generation of Apple tech.

iPhone

Display

For starters, the display of the 16 Pro has been expanded to – fittingly – 16 centimetres. This is despite the fact that the phone itself is no bigger than the 15 Pro. It achieves this increased display size through improved mechanical architecture and thinner borders, and the result begs the question of whether the iPhone will ever reach a peak, or if Apple will simply continue to find new ways to improve it. We’d bank on the latter.

The 16 Pro Max adopts the same design philosophy, except it’s even bigger at 17.5 centimetres. Both models have titanium frames that are stronger and lighter than ever, along with ceramic shield glass that Apple claims is twice as tough as traditional smartphone glass. All of this helps showcase the most immersive screens on any iPhone to date. The Super Retina XDR display supports ProMotion technology, bringing a seamless visual experience with always-on capabilities – and yes, that mean the screen never actually turns off, it just dims when you’re not using it.

iPhone 16 Pro Max

Battery

The battery life of the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max is another standout. Jumping from a rapidly aging iPhone 8 to the 16’s long-lasting performance almost felt like whiplash, with the ability to outlast more than an entire day’s use on a full charge – some reports put the battery life at an astounding 18 hours, compared to 14 hours for the 15 Pro.

According to Apple, the 16 Pro and Pro Max have the longest battery lives of any iPhone, and I was the beneficiary of this advancement on more than one occasion. One day I simply left my charger at work. Rather than panic or borrow someone else’s charger, I figured the situation could be a testing opportunity. With my phone on just over 50% charge at 6pm, I spent the evening and following morning proceeding as usual: browsing social media, making a few calls and streaming some shows. The next day I returned to work and the comfort of my charger, and the 16 Pro had only dropped to 30% charge by 9am. Impressive.

Camera, Siri and processor

As for the camera, the iPhone 16 Pro lineup’s new 48MP Fusion camera and 5x telephoto lens work wonders for both amateur and seasoned photographers. Featuring a faster quad-pixel sensor, the 16 Pro is capable of capturing video in 4K at 120 fps with Dolby Vision support, a first not only for iPhones, but for all smartphones.

Siri has also levelled up, with better language understanding and a new on-screen interface. The voice assistant is now capable of handling in-app requests across different apps, with context retention and improved flexibility, which make it easier than ever to get Siri’s help.

Apple’s A18 Pro chip, built on 3-nanometer technology, is the heart of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. Its upgraded 6-core GPU, with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, brings console-level visuals to mobile gaming and other apps. Gaming enthusiasts will especially appreciate Game Mode, which smooths out frame rates and reduces latency for AirPods and controllers, perfect for immersive, high-intensity gameplay.

Apple Intelligence

Now we arrive at the highlight. Central to the new iPhone 16 Pro models is Apple Intelligence, a suite of generative AI tools designed to simplify and enhance everyday tasks. Powered by the A18 Pro chip’s neural engine, Apple Intelligence uses both on-device processing and private Cloud information to deliver faster contextual assistance without compromising user privacy.

In practice, this means the iPhone can understand, summarise and help manage notifications, emails and other communications based on context. In-app, AI-powered writing tools can also help users write emails, check grammar and even summarise content in a desired tone, like friendly or professional. Apple Intelligence’s integration with the iPhone’s camera lets users access information instantly by simply holding the camera over objects. For instance, snapping a photo of a flyer enables you to add the event to your calendar. Lastly, if you’ve ever spent an unreasonable amount of time searching for a specific photo in your camera roll, the solution has arrived. Now you can simply describe the photo you’re looking for, like ‘me at the gym in a red shirt’, and Apple Intelligence will find it. The emphasis here is on practical uses, rather than needless features.

The verdict

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max redefine what smartphones can do, pushing boundaries in design, performance and user experience. With a stunning camera system, sophisticated AI capabilities and professional-grade performance in a sleek yet durable frame, these models represent the pinnacle of Apple’s engineering prowess. It goes without saying that it’s worthwhile upgrading from the iPhone 8, if there is anyone else that still has one, but the 16 Pro and Pro Max far surpass even the more recent models. This is the biggest leap the iPhone has taken in years.

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By Cayle Reid

Cayle Reid is a fan of everything sports and fitness. He spends his free time at the gym, on his surfboard or staying up late watching sports in incompatible time zones.

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