iPhone 16 Plus Review: A Game-Changing Device or Just Another Upgrade?

As an iPhone enthusiast for many years, the release of the iPhone 16 Plus had me excited from the moment it was announced. Apple is known for its consistent, premium hardware and software integration, and with each iteration, the bar is raised. After using the iPhone 16 Plus for a few weeks, I’ve formed a detailed impression of how this device stacks up. It’s certainly an impressive phone, but there are nuances to consider before jumping into a purchase.

Before we delve into the in-depth review, let’s check it out its specifications:

Design and Build Quality

The first thing that struck me when I unboxed the iPhone 16 Plus was how familiar, yet subtly refined, the design felt. Apple has stuck with its signature minimalist aesthetic—a sleek aluminum frame with curved edges, a glass back, and the now iconic notch. The iPhone 16 Plus feels substantial in the hand, thanks to its 6.69-inch size, but it maintains a balance between durability and comfort. The ceramic shield is still part of the design, adding a reassuring level of protection.

While the design hasn’t changed dramatically from previous models, it still exudes that unmistakable Apple premium feel. The brushed aluminum looks sophisticated, and the weight is just right, neither too heavy nor too light. However, the phone’s size does take some getting used to. If you’ve been using a smaller iPhone or even one of the older Plus models, the 6.9-inch display can feel massive at first. Typing or using it one-handed, especially while on the go, presents some challenges.

Still, there’s something about the way Apple combines hardware and software that makes even a large phone like this feel well-balanced in daily use. Even though the design hasn’t revolutionized, it doesn’t feel dated. The iPhone 16 Plus simply feels premium—whether you’re holding it or seeing it on a table.

Display

Apple has long been known for its top-tier displays, and the iPhone 16 Plus carries on that tradition. The smartphone features 60Hz refresh rate which means they lack the ProMotion technology, which allows for a variable refresh rate, which can range from 1Hz to 120Hz. Apple has kept ProMotion technology exclusive to its iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

I spend most of the year using phones with 120Hz displays, so when I switch to a 60Hz screen, it always feels a bit off at first. It doesn’t take long for me to adjust, though, and I really only notice the choppier scrolling if I focus on it. I understand why some people would find the absence of 120Hz frustrating—it’s a valid complaint. But at the same time, I also get why others are perfectly fine with a 60Hz screen. Both perspectives make sense to me.

Watching videos or browsing images is a pleasure, with deep blacks, vibrant colors, and fantastic contrast. HDR content looks stunning, and the peak brightness of 2000 nits ensures the display remains visible even in bright outdoor conditions. During one particularly sunny day, I was outside trying to navigate with the Maps app, and the screen’s clarity impressed me. There was no need to squint or shield the phone from the sun to see what I was doing.

However, despite the excellence of the display, Apple has retained a slightly thicker bezel around the edges. It’s thinner than before, but in a world where competitors are pushing closer to a truly bezel-less design, the iPhone 16 Plus doesn’t quite achieve that. I found myself wishing for a more immersive, edge-to-edge display, as seen in some rival smartphones.

Performance

Performance has never been an issue with iPhones, and the iPhone 16 Plus doesn’t break that trend. Powered by Apple’s latest A18 Bionic chip, this phone can handle just about anything you throw at it. Whether I was playing graphically intense games, using AR apps, or multitasking between multiple apps, the 16 Plus handled it all without a stutter.

One of the most impressive aspects of the A18 chip is its focus on AI processing. Apple has really leaned into machine learning with this model, and it shows. The phone is faster and smarter in how it handles tasks like voice recognition, photo processing, and real-time language translation. I travel frequently, and having accurate real-time translations built into the phone without needing third-party apps has been a game-changer.

Multitasking, too, is seamless. I often have several apps open at once—messages, social media, a web browser, and sometimes a game running in the background. The iPhone 16 Plus handled all this with ease, switching between apps instantly without any lag. The phone’s speed is undeniable.

One issue I did encounter was heat. During extended gaming sessions or while editing videos on the phone, it tends to get warm. It’s not enough to be uncomfortable, but it’s noticeable, especially after about 30 minutes of heavy use. This wasn’t a dealbreaker for me, but it’s something worth noting if you frequently push your phone to its limits.

Camera System

One of the most noticeable and talked-about changes in the iPhone 16 Plus is the camera module’s new design. Apple has opted to place the lenses vertically, as opposed to the diagonal layout seen in previous models like the iPhone 14 and 15 series. This is probably the most visible change on the phone’s back, and it’s hard to miss.

0.5X Photos:

To be fair, Apple has been known for its evolutionary, not revolutionary, approach to design, but I understand why some might feel that the vertical camera shift is more of a cosmetic tweak than a meaningful improvement. It’s a subtle change that makes the phone look new, but for those expecting a major leap forward in camera technology, this particular adjustment might feel underwhelming. Still, once you get past the design, the camera’s performance continues to impress in typical Apple fashion, even if the aesthetics have become a bit of a meme.

Good Lighting Photos:

In good lighting conditions, the photos are stunning. Apple’s computational photography really shines here, with features like Smart HDR 6 and Deep Fusion enhancing the clarity and richness of images. The dynamic range is impressive, capturing vivid colors without blowing out highlights. I especially loved taking portrait shots—Apple’s AI-driven bokeh effects have gotten even better, adding natural depth that makes the subject pop without feeling overly artificial.

Night Photography:

Night photography has also seen an upgrade. The improved night mode captures clear, detailed shots even in low-light conditions. I tested this out on mountains, where the lighting was dim, and the photos still turned out sharp with little noise.

That said, the ultra-wide camera, while solid in daylight, isn’t as impressive in low-light situations. The images tend to lose some sharpness and detail in darker environments, and there’s a noticeable difference when switching between the primary and ultra-wide sensors in these conditions.

Zoom Photography:

The front-facing camera remains at 12MP, which is great for selfies but not significantly different from previous models. It performs well, but it’s clear that Apple has put most of its focus on the rear camera system this time around.

Battery Life

One area that pleasantly surprised me was the battery life. Given the size of the iPhone 16 Plus and the power of the A18 Bionic chip, I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of battery performance. Thankfully, it exceeded my expectations.

Apple claims up to 27 hours of video playback, and while I didn’t measure this precisely, I can confirm that the battery easily lasted a full day of moderate to heavy use. Even with activities like gaming, video streaming, and using the camera, I rarely found myself scrambling for a charger by the evening. On days where I used it more conservatively—browsing the web, messaging, and checking emails—it comfortably lasted into the second day.

Charging, however, is an area where the iPhone 16 Plus could see some improvement. While it supports 7.5W charging on Qi wireless charging  and up to 15W on Qi2 wireless charging, it’s noticeably slower than some of the competition, especially Android phones that offer 65W or even 100W fast charging. Wireless charging via MagSafe is capped at 25W with 30W adapter or higher, which is convenient but also not as fast as what’s available on some other devices.

Software and User Experience

The iPhone 16 Plus comes with iOS 18, and Apple continues to refine its software to complement its hardware. One of the biggest updates that I appreciated was the home screen customization. Widgets are now more interactive, and the enhanced Focus Modes make it easier to filter out distractions based on what you’re doing, whether it’s work, sleep, or personal time. I particularly loved how you can now automate different settings based on time, location, or activity.

Another area where iOS 18 shines is the integration of more AI-driven features. One standout for me was the live transcription of phone calls, which worked incredibly well, even with accents and background noise. This feature, combined with the real-time translation tools, made the iPhone 16 Plus feel smarter and more capable of adapting to my needs.

That said, iOS is still somewhat restrictive. File management on an iPhone remains more cumbersome than on Android, especially when dealing with large files or trying to share media between different apps. I’ve also found Apple’s reluctance to allow users to set default apps a bit frustrating. Despite these restrictions, the overall smoothness and reliability of iOS 18 make it a joy to use.

Apple Intelligence:

When I first got my hands on the iPhone 16 Plus, I was particularly excited to try out the much-talked-about “Apple Intelligence.” As someone who’s always been interested in AI advancements, I was eager to see how this personal intelligence system would enhance my daily life. Apple Intelligence is designed to make tasks easier and more intuitive, but it’s clear that the full potential of the system won’t be unlocked until early next year, especially for non-U.S. English speakers like myself.

At its core, Apple Intelligence blends the power of AI with Apple’s usual focus on privacy and personalization. The system can rewrite and proofread text, prioritize important notifications, and even summarize emails for you. When you ask Siri something, she’s smarter and more flexible than ever. For example, you can tell her to adjust tasks mid-sentence, and she’ll keep up. The seamlessness of this feature impressed me, but there’s a catch—right now, it only fully supports U.S. English.

For anyone like me, who lives outside the U.S. and uses other forms of English (in my case, Indian English), we’ll have to wait until early 2025 for full language support. Apple has announced that while U.S. English is rolling out now with iOS 18.1, additional English variants, including Indian English, will come later. This was a bit of a letdown because while the features work in English generally, they’re just not as fine-tuned for my accent or regional context yet.

One thing I did appreciate, however, was how Apple Intelligence handles tasks on the device itself. Privacy is clearly a priority- everything stays securely processed on the phone or through their private cloud system. For someone who values privacy, this is a huge plus compared to other AI assistants that rely on cloud processing. But again, a lot of the rich, personal context features of Apple Intelligence will really shine when it understands more localized language.

Overall, my experience with Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 16 Plus has been promising, but it’s definitely a work in progress. I’m eager to see how it evolves once it fully supports Indian English next year. Right now, it feels like the groundwork is there, but I can’t wait for the system to be even more responsive and intuitive to my specific needs and language

Verdict

After spending considerable time with the iPhone 16 Plus, I can confidently say it’s a powerhouse of a device. Its performance, especially with the A18 Bionic chip, is blazing fast, and the improvements in the camera system make it one of the best options for mobile photography. The display is gorgeous, the battery life holds up well, and iOS 18 brings useful new features that enhance the user experience.

However, it’s not without its shortcomings. The phone’s size can make one-handed use challenging, the bezels feel a bit outdated, and charging speeds don’t quite match up to some of its competitors. Still, these issues are minor in the grand scheme of things.

If you’re already embedded in the Apple ecosystem or are looking for a top-tier smartphone that offers a seamless blend of hardware and software, the iPhone 16 Plus is an excellent choice. However, if you’re coming from an iPhone 15 or are more concerned about faster charging or truly bezel-less designs, you might want to wait for the next iteration. For most users, though, the iPhone 16 Plus delivers an exceptional experience that feels worth the upgrade