iPhone 16 Plus Review: The Big-Screen Powerhouse
Apple’s iPhone 16 Plus is one of the newest additions to the 2024 iPhone lineup. It brings significant improvements in display, performance, battery life, and overall user experience. With its expansive 6.7-inch display, powerful A18 chip, and refined camera system, the iPhone 16 Plus provides a premium experience without pushing into the “Pro” tier price range. This review will explore its design, performance, camera, battery life, and features, making it a compelling option for those who appreciate large-screen devices.
#### Design and Display
The iPhone 16 Plus retains the design principles of its predecessor while making key refinements. The phone features a robust build with a Ceramic Shield front that enhances durability. The 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display uses OLED technology, offering deep blacks, vibrant colors, and impressive brightness levels that make media consumption a joy. Whether you’re scrolling through social media, watching a video, or gaming, the display is crisp and clear. While the 60Hz refresh rate might feel a bit outdated compared to Pro models with higher refresh rates, it’s still a pleasure to use for most users.
The large screen size can be both a boon and a drawback depending on your preference. The iPhone 16 Plus is perfect for users who want a big canvas for media and multitasking, but it may feel too large for those with smaller hands. The weight of 7.03 ounces makes it comfortable to hold for extended periods, though one-handed use might be tricky for some.
#### Performance
The iPhone 16 Plus is powered by Apple’s new A18 Bionic chip, which includes a six-core CPU (two high-performance cores and four efficiency cores), a 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. This chip provides a noticeable performance boost over the A16 in earlier models. It breezes through everyday tasks like browsing, app switching, and video streaming, making the overall experience seamless and fast. In benchmarks, it scored highly, with a notable improvement in both single-core and multi-core performance, making it one of the most powerful devices in its category.
For gaming, the iPhone 16 Plus handles graphically demanding titles with ease. Mobile games run smoothly with minimal lag or overheating, even during extended sessions. The A18 chip also supports Apple’s new “Apple Intelligence” features, which promise to enhance the user experience through improved AI and machine learning capabilities. Although some of these features, such as “Visual Intelligence,” are still in development, the groundwork has been laid with the introduction of a dedicated Camera Control button, which may expand AI capabilities【6†source】【7†source】.
#### Camera
The iPhone 16 Plus comes with a dual-camera system that includes a 48MP primary sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. These cameras are great for both everyday photography and more creative shots. Thanks to improvements in software and processing, the iPhone 16 Plus excels in capturing detailed, well-lit images even in low-light conditions. The Smart HDR 6 and Deep Fusion technologies help to optimize shots by adjusting color balance and exposure dynamically.
A standout feature is the new “Camera Control” button, designed to streamline photography with AI-enhanced assistance. This button, when integrated with future updates, will allow for advanced functions like scanning and recognizing objects or adding items to your calendar based on photos taken【7†source】.
Video recording is another area where the iPhone 16 Plus shines. It supports 4K recording at 60fps with Dolby Vision, allowing for high-quality footage that is great for content creators. Additionally, the phone’s Audio Mix feature allows users to adjust sound levels in recorded videos, reducing background noise or enhancing the voices of subjects being recorded. This is particularly useful for those who frequently record videos on the go【6†source】.
#### Battery Life and Charging
Battery life is one of the iPhone 16 Plus’s strongest features. Apple claims that the device can last up to 27 hours on a single charge, which is quite impressive for a smartphone with such a large display. In real-world use, this means that you can comfortably go through a day of heavy use, including gaming, streaming, and social media, without worrying about running out of power.
The iPhone 16 Plus supports fast charging with a wired connection, achieving 50% charge in about 35 minutes when using a 45W charger. This is complemented by wireless charging options, including up to 25W with Apple’s MagSafe charger. While these charging speeds aren’t the fastest on the market, they are more than sufficient for everyday users【7†source】.
#### iOS 18 and New Features
The iPhone 16 Plus ships with iOS 18, which introduces several exciting features and improvements. One of the key additions is enhanced privacy-focused AI features, such as a revamped Siri interface and notification management through machine learning. However, some of the more advanced features, like Visual Intelligence, are still in beta testing and are expected to roll out in future updates.
Apple has taken a cautious approach to integrating AI into the iPhone experience, ensuring that privacy remains a priority. While features like Visual Intelligence promise to make everyday tasks more convenient, such as identifying objects in real-time or assisting with photography, users will need to wait for future updates to fully unlock these capabilities【7†source】.
#### Connectivity
The iPhone 16 Plus supports the latest connectivity standards, including 5G, dual-band Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.3. This ensures fast data transfer speeds and stable wireless connections. One noticeable change is the move to USB-C for charging and data transfer, following Apple’s shift away from the Lightning connector. This brings the iPhone more in line with other devices in the market and adds the benefit of faster data transfer speeds for those who frequently move large files between devices【6†source】.
#### Conclusion
The iPhone 16 Plus is a solid choice for anyone who values a large screen, great camera performance, and powerful hardware. With the A18 chip, excellent battery life, and upcoming AI features, it delivers a near-Pro experience without the Pro price. Its 6.7-inch display makes it ideal for media consumption and gaming, while the camera system ensures that your photos and videos look sharp and professional. Although some of its more exciting AI-based features are still on the horizon, the iPhone 16 Plus is already a versatile and capable device that can meet the needs of most users.
If you’re looking for a big-screen iPhone that performs exceptionally well without crossing into Pro territory, the iPhone 16 Plus is a great investment. Its combination of power, functionality, and future-proofing makes it a standout option in the 2024 smartphone market.