Apple iPhone 16 and 16 Plus hands-on: Ready for AI in brighter colours

Note: This feature was first published on 10 September 2024 and is republished now because the phones go on sale today.

At WWDC 2024, many iPhone 15 users were disappointed to find that their barely-a-year-old devices would not be able to run Apple Intelligence.

That’s because Apple Intelligence requires the power of the A17 Pro chip to run at a decent clip. And this meant that the iPhone 15, which is powered by the A16 Bionic, could not support Apple Intelligence.

Happily, this won’t be a problem for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus because they are getting Apple’s new A18 Bionic chip. Apart from offering support for Apple Intelligence, the A18 Bionic offers up to 30% faster CPU and up to 40% faster GPU performance than the A16 Bionic chip in the iPhone 15.

Faster chip aside, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are getting a whole bunch of other noteworthy updates. The Action button that debuted on last year’s iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max is coming to the iPhone 16 this year. And like the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are also getting the Camera Control button, which lets you quickly access camera functions and features. As I’ve said in my hands-on of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, I could see the Camera Control button changing the way we use and interact with the Camera app.

Since we are on the topic of cameras, the rear cameras are now stacked vertically on a small pill-shaped camera bump. This is to enable it to take spatial photos and videos. The main camera still takes 48MP photos and can crop to simulate 2x “optical” zoom photos. The ultra-wide camera has been improved and uses a new sensor that Apple says captures 2.6 times more light. Crucially, it’s now capable of macro photography. 

The iPhone 16 series will be available in five finishes: black, white, pink, teal, and ultramarine. The latter three are new, and they look great. Happily, Apple is bringing the colour back, and this year's finishes are considerably richer and more saturated than the iPhone 15. My favourite is ultramarine, though teal and pink are mighty tempting, too.

My initial reaction to the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus is mostly positive. The new finishes are fantastic, and the updates are meaningful. Having the new A18 chip and support for Apple Intelligence can only be a good thing. Having the extra Action and Camera Control buttons opens up new ways to interact with your iPhone.

Pricing and availability

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus prices start at S$1,299 and S$1,399, respectively. Pre-orders start this Friday, 13 September, and the phones will be available in retail next Friday, 20 September.

Read more:

• Apple iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max hands-on: More Pro than ever
• Apple iPhone 16 Singapore launch pricing and availability details
• Apple’s iPhone 16 and 16 Plus get the expected AI boost along with a new A18 processor
• The AirPods 4 gets a revamped charging case with USB-C and supports anti-noise cancelling
• No Apple Watch Ultra 3 this year but there's a new and very sleek colour for the Ultra 2
• The Apple Watch Series 10 has a thinner design and an OLED display that's larger than the Ultra

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