iPhone 16 Plus Review: An Underrated Smartphone That's Closer to the Pros

When Apple unveiled the iPhone 16 series back in September, many were left scratching their heads. This time, Apple has decided to bridge the gap between the regular iPhones (16 and 16 Plus) and the Pro models (16 Pro and 16 Pro Max). It’s simplifying its lineup and making it easier for consumers to decide, but it also cannibalises the sales of its more expensive Pro models.

The iPhone 16, and especially the iPhone 16 Plus are the standout iPhone models. There is just one thing hanging them back, which shouldn’t be the case for a high-end smartphone in 2024: a high refresh rate screen. While the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max get a ProMotion display with a 120Hz refresh rate, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are stuck at 60Hz, which makes them very dated. This feels like the death knell of the product, but it isn’t, and I’ll explain why later.

There are plenty of smartphones in the under Rs 20,000 price bracket - Samsung Galaxy M35, Realme p1, vivo T3x, CMF Phone 1, and others - that offer a display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and so it is really inexcusable for Apple. The iPhone 16 starts at Rs 79,900 while the iPhone 16 Plus comes in at Rs 89,900. In fact, there is a smartphone, priced at Rs 9,500 with a display with a 120Hz refresh rate and NFC. It’s none other than the Tecno Pop 9.

Just doomscroll through your Instagram feed (yes, I know you all do it daily), and you’ll feel the difference. It’s jarring. Having used plenty of smartphones with a 120Hz refresh rate, I’m very used to the smoothness. But having to switch back to a 60Hz display feels annoying. You’ll instantly notice the difference even if you quickly get used to it.

Also Read: Pixel Watch 3 review: Google’s Third-Generation Wear OS Smartwatch Is The One To Buy

The 16 and 16 Plus also lack an always-on display. Okay, enough of the rant. Let’s get back to me and explain how the gap has been bridged between the iPhone 16 series smartphones.

The Gap Has Been Bridged

When Apple launched the Dynamic Island, it was exclusive to the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max. A whole generation later, it came to the standard models. That’s just one example of the large gulf between the two sets of iPhone models over the past many years. But fret not—Apple is turning the page this year.

The standard models also had an older generation chipset, but this time, they’re all in the same A18 family (this means that they’ll be on the same software update cycle).

The Action Button, present on the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max models, now comes to the 16 and 16 Pro. But the kicker is, that the newly introduced Camera Control key, is present across all the four models! Hallelujah. The 16 and 16 Pro also get a new ultrawide camera.

The major differences between the standard models and the souped-up Pro models are the cameras. If you’re looking for better cameras, or the ability to zoom in closer to subjects, then the Pro models are for you.

We’re Here to Talk About the iPhone 16 Plus

But, let’s dial back. We’re here to talk about the iPhone 16 Plus, a smartphone I’ve been using for over a month now. If you’re okay with the size (6.7-inch display), the weight (199 grams) and being stuck with a 60Hz refresh rate, this is one of the most underrated smartphones in the iPhone 16 line-up. It’s also the battery champion.

The biggest win, in my opinion, is that the 16 and 16 Plus now have a chipset that lies within the same family as the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max. That means the A18 chip, in the 16 Plus, should suffice for the next four to five years. With a base of 8GB of RAM, and the new A18 chipset, the 16 Plus flies through daily tasks.

The 16 Plus looks eerily similar to last year’s model except for one major change. The cameras are now aligned vertically instead of diagonally. You get many colourful - pink, teal, ultramarine (blue), white or black - to choose from. The 16 Plus just looks better and cleaner than its predecessor. The entire iPhone 16 lineup features Apple’s new Ceramic Shield Glass (twice as strong as the previous generation according to the company). The frame of the iPhone 16 is approximately 63.7% less of a fingerprint magnet than the Pro models.

Overall, I’d give it a thumbs up. The display is bright and crisp, as it is a Super Retina XDR display (OLED) panel. The colour reproduction is fabulous and the text is crisp. The 16 Plus has a 6.7” display that is almost edge-to-edge, with good viewing angles. It’s the second largest display in the iPhone 16 range, and thanks to the small bezels, it looks larger than it is. The entire lineup now has Apple’s new Ceramic Shield glass (twice as strong as the previous generation). Don’t expect it to be the strongest display in the market though. A simple drop on the concrete floor, and the display might just crack. The frame is made out of aluminium (while the Pro models get a titanium frame).

You’ve got to decide, for yourself, whether a 6.7” device would be easy to hold in your hands daily. It’s definitely not meant for one-hand usage. But you do get the extra screen real estate, especially useful when binge-watching your favourite shows or watching the Men in Blue (India) get hammered by the Kiwis (New Zealand’s cricket team).

For everything else (we’ll get to the cameras in a minute), this iPhone is definitely the one I’d purchase. It’s speedy, responsive, and has Apple’s simplified OS that everyone loves. It’s also got a display plus speakers combination that’d shame a lot of smartphones out there with their loudness, clarity and sharpness. And yes, the iPhone 16 Plus is the battery king among the four models.

Thanks to the brand-new and power-efficient A18 chip, the 16 Plus comes with stupendous battery life. If you don’t push the smartphone to the limit, then you can eke out almost three days (72 hours) of battery life. This is the reason to get the 16 Plus over any of the other 16 Series models. With 5G/Wi-Fi, moderate media consumption, little to no gaming, a lot of doomscrolling, texting, and calling and even some mapping with Google Maps, you’d only need to charge it late on the second night or early third morning. With a heavier usage pattern, you can get up to two days of battery life, which is still pretty great.

Overall, I’m a happy camper as the 16 Plus is snappier than its predecessor and the OS is fluid no matter what you throw at it.

Let’s Get to the Cameras

Here’s where I feel a tad bit let down. I mean, I understand the reasoning, but still. The main reason to get one of the Pro models is the camera. And yes, it makes a lot of difference to consumers, these days. The 16 Plus lacks a lot of camera features of the 16 Pro Max (the best camera of the four models) and the 16 Pro.

The main hardware change concerning the camera on the 16 Plus comes in the form of the new ultrawide camera that lets in more light than before. It’s also got a new macro mode, something which I really enjoyed testing and using. The two rear cameras are now stacked vertically and that means you can now shoot spatial photos and videos from an iPhone 16 Plus (something that was previously limited to the Pro models).

The 16 Plus also missed out on the video recording boost that the Pro models get. The Pro models can capture 4K video at 120 fps. The iPhone 16 Plus is limited to 4K video at 60 fps. There are four microphones present (for isolating sounds during audio recording) but the 16 Plus misses out on the studio-quality mics.

The biggest omission of the 16 Plus is the telephoto lens. Yes, there isn’t one present and its sorely being missed. You can shoot 2x optical quality zoom (thanks to the 48MP Fusion camera) but the Pro models can shoot 5x optical zoom. The lack of a telephoto lens, at this price, is quite infuriating.

Nonetheless, the 16 Plus does take high-quality photos, with the macro mode being a great addition. The 16 Pro produces brighter and slightly sharper images, but the 16 Plus does hold its own. In good daylight photos, the 16 Plus takes clean photos with vibrant colours and little-to-no-noise. The dynamic range is brilliant.

Low-light shots, with the night mode, are brighter and have great dynamic range. Sometimes, the images do come out a little bit softer, which is a letdown. The ultra-wide camera also supports night mode (hallelujah!). Selfies are great also, and I’ve got no complaints here.

One last thing to note. The iPhone 16 Plus does a fantastic job of capturing accurate skin tones. It’s something Apple has been working on for a while and it's finally come to fruition. Videos are good, but not Pro-level good.

What’s a standout feature here is Apple’s new Photographic Styles (different visual effects). I’ll have more to say on this during my 16 Pro review, so stay tuned for that.

The iPhone 16 Plus is the one to buy

Yes, I stand by what I said at the top. Thanks to Apple bridging the gap between the Standard and Pro models, the 16 Plus is the best price-to-value of the four.

The 16 Plus has put a lot of the little pieces together to make a phone that is faster, more intuitive, and better value. It’s got the Camera Control, Action Button, Dynamic Island, a faster chip, the best battery life of the four models, and more. It lacks a display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a telephoto lens on the rear, but some people might be able to excuse Apple for that (not me though).

Apple Intelligence will launch across all four models, but without having had enough time to test it, I’m not even going to try to articulate further.

If you’re coming from an iPhone 13 or 14 series (the standard phone) then this may be a good upgrade. There is absolutely no need to upgrade if you already own an iPhone 15 Series smartphone.

There are a number of options, on the Android side, that handily beat the iPhone in the still photography department. But for videos, iPhone is the king. And yes, the iPhone is one of the simplest and easiest smartphones to conquer.