Apple iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max hands-on: More Pro than ever

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

September is here and that means new iPhones. Contrary to rumours, the updates to the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max this year are fairly significant.

On the hardware side, this year’s iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max have slightly larger displays, slimmer bezels, faster processors, an improved camera system, the Camera Control button, larger batteries, and new finishes. 

Display sizes are up, the iPhone 16 Pro now has a 6.3-inch screen, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch screen – up from 6.1 and 6.7 inches respectively. The larger displays are not immediately obvious unless you put it next to an iPhone from last year. Still, I don’t think anyone will complain about having a larger display. 

In terms of physical dimensions, this year’s iPhones are oh-so-slightly bigger. They are taller and wider, but their thicknesses are unchanged. Weight has gone up slightly, too. But the changes are modest, and I doubt most people will notice – I certainly couldn’t tell until I asked about them.

There’s a new desert titanium finish, which, to my eyes, looks like a pale shade of rose gold. It’s easily my favourite finish this year. The black and white are darker and brighter, respectively. Black, in particular, is very dark, which should please readers who love black devices.

This year’s phones have a new Camera Control button, which gives users quick access to the camera and its various functions. The first time you tap on it, it opens the camera app. Thereafter, you can control it using a variety of presses to either quickly take photos, record videos, or dive into the camera’s various features and settings like exposure, aperture, Photographic Styles, and more. I had a short play with it and I think it could really change the way users will use the camera. Here’s a quick video of it in action.

Speaking of cameras, the main camera has a faster sensor, which Apple claims reduces shutter lag. I had a quick play at the event and it is noticeably quicker when taking 48MP RAW photos. The faster sensor also enables the iPhone 16 Pro to record ProRes footage in 4K 120fps. 

The other noteworthy improvement to the camera system is the new 48MP ultra-wide camera. This is a much-welcomed update because the ultra-wide camera has been unchanged for the past few generations and is starting to look dated. The iPhone 16 Pro also has the 5x telephoto camera that was previously only available on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Inside these phones is the new A18 Pro chip, which Apple claims is faster and more power efficient. In my short time with the phones, the phones felt snappy, but this could be said for just about any recent iPhone. I’ll need time to run benchmarks to know just how much more powerful the new A18 Pro chip is.

My initial reaction to the new Pro iPhones is that they are even more of a professional tool. Sure, the larger displays, faster processors, and Camera Capture button will be beneficial to almost all users, but I think it’s the creative professionals who are really going to enjoy the faster camera, improved camera features, and the ability to record even more types of videos.

Pricing and availability 

Prices of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max start at S$1,599 and S$1,899, 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 hands-on: Ready for AI in brighter colours
• 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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