Apple has officially launched the iPhone 16 series globally, which includes the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
As with previous years, the iPhone 16 Plus seems to be the right choice for buyers who may not have the budget for the Pro models but still desire a bigger iPhone with extended battery life.
So, here are the iPhone 16 Plus specs and new features to help you determine whether an upgrade to this model is right for you.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus Specs
| Specs | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.7 inch, 2796×1290, OLED, 60Hz, Super Retina XDR, 1000 Nits (Max), 1600-2000 Nits (Peak), 460 ppi, Dynamic Island, 2M:1 Contrast Ratio |
| Processor | Apple A18 chip with 16‑Core Neural Engine |
| Cores | 6 Core (2 Performance, 4 Efficiency) |
| GPU | 5‑core GPU |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Internal Storage | 128/256/512GB |
| Operating System | iOS 18 with Apple Intelligence |
| OS Updates | Over 5 Years |
| Rear Camera | 48MP, 26 mm, f/1.6 Aperture, OIS (Main) + 12MP, 13 mm, f/2.2 Aperture, 120° |
| Camera Features | Photonic Engine, Up to 10x Digital Zoom, Sapphire Crystal Lens Cover, True Tone Flash, Macro Photography |
| Video | 4K Dolby Vision at 60 fps, 1080p Dolby Vision at 60 fps, 720p Dolby Vision at 30 fps, Cinematic Mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps, Slow-Mo 1080p 240 fps, Spatial video at 1080p at 30 fps |
| Front Camera | 12MP, f/1.9 Aperture, Autofocus, 4K at 60 fps |
| Battery | Not Disclosed |
| Wireless Charging | Yes (Up to 25W with 30W MagSafe Adapter or Higher), Qi2 up to 15W, Qi up to 7.5W |
| Estimated Usage | Up to 27 hours of Video Playback, Up to 100 hours of Audio playback |
| Dimensions & Weight | 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm, 199 Grams |
| Connectivity | Dual SIM (One Nano, One eSim), 5G (sub‑6 GHz) with 4×4 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 7, NFC |
| Sensors | Face ID, Barometer, High dynamic range gyro, High-g accelerometer, Proximity sensor, Dual ambient light sensors |
| Others | USB 2.0 Type-C Port, IP68 Rating, Emergency SOS, Crash Detection, Camera Control, Action Button, Stereo Speakers |
| Colors | Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine |
| Box Content | iPhone 16 with iOS 18, USB-C Charge Cable (1 m), Documentation |
You can also check the best features of iOS 18.
iPhone 16 Plus Pricing and Availability
The price of the iPhone 16 Plus starts at:
- US: USD 899
- UK: GBP 899
- Canada: $1,279
- UAE: AED 3,799
- India: INR 89,900
- China: CNY 6,999
- Japan: JPY 139,800
Please note that the base model of the iPhone 16 Plus comes with 128GB of storage. The price mentioned above reflects this starting variant. If you choose the 256GB or 512GB storage options, the price will increase accordingly.
Talking about the availability, the pre-orders begin on September 13, with the product becoming available from September 20.
iPhone 16 Plus New Features
- A18 Chip:
As we discussed when covering the standard iPhone 16 specs, the A18 chip offers only a slight improvement over the previous generation A17 Pro, which powered the iPhone 15 Pro series.
This is likely why Apple strategically compared the A18 to the A16 Bionic chip, which was used in the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, the true predecessors of standard iPhone 16.
Much like other manufacturers, Apple has followed the trend of differentiating its standard and Pro models with distinct chipsets, which can cause some confusion among consumers.
On paper, the A16 and A18 chips seem quite similar; however, Apple claims the A18 delivers a 30% performance boost over the A16 Bionic.
While brands often make bold performance claims, you can reasonably expect a 20–25% increase in speed with the iPhone 16 Plus.
Overall, the A18 remains a powerful processor, offering a notable upgrade over the A16 and ensuring smooth performance for a wide range of tasks.
- Action Button and Camera Control:
The iPhone 16 Plus now features an Action Button along with a new Camera Control button.
The Action Button allows users to quickly access key functions, such as launching apps, turning on the flashlight, opening the camera, toggling focus modes, starting voice memo recordings, enabling accessibility features, and initiating Emergency SOS.
A new addition is the Camera Control, which is a capacitive touch button with pressure sensitivity. This button lets you open the camera, take photos, zoom in and out, adjust exposure by pressing and holding, and more. It’s designed to make photography more intuitive and precise. However, in real-life, it’s not that effective.
- Apple Intelligence:
Both the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus now come equipped with Apple Intelligence, a feature previously limited to the Pro models. Key features include:
- Siri voice assistant with enhanced capabilities
- Personalized recommendations based on usage
- On-device machine learning for faster processing
- Seamless smart home integration
- Privacy-focused data processing to safeguard your information
- Advanced image recognition for improved photography
- Contextual suggestions tailored to user behavior
- Camera Module:
The iPhone 16 Plus introduces a vertical camera module design, reminiscent of the iPhone X. This design choice is intentional, as it supports Spatial Video recording.
For those unfamiliar, Spatial Video captures immersive footage with 3D audio and enhanced depth perception. This creates a more lifelike experience where audio appears to come from specific directions, and visuals feel more three-dimensional, making it ideal for future AR/VR content.
- Battery and Charging:
The iPhone 16 Plus offers up to 27 hours of video playback, a slight improvement over the iPhone 15’s 26-hour battery life. Depending on usage, this can translate to an additional 15–30 minutes of screen-on time. However, due to the efficiency of the A18 chip, you may see even more than 30 minutes of extra screen time in real-world use.
Charging has also been improved with an upgrade to MagSafe wireless charging, which now supports 25W, up from 15W in the iPhone 15. Meanwhile, the Qi wireless charging speed remains the same as last year.
Also Read: How to enable and use eye tracking on iOS 18?
iPhone 16 Plus: What’s Not Changed
There haven’t been many significant changes in the iPhone 16 Plus compared to last year’s iPhone 15 Plus.
The design and dimensions remain identical, the cameras have only seen a few minor enhancements, and the battery life has received a marginal improvement. The base storage still starts at 128GB, just like its predecessor.
Aside from the new features we’ve highlighted, there isn’t much that sets the iPhone 16 Plus apart from the iPhone 15 Plus.
One positive aspect that hasn’t changed is the pricing. It’s good to see that Apple has maintained the same price point, especially considering that the upgrades in the iPhone 16 Plus aren’t substantial enough to justify a price increase.
Also, check out the issues with Google Pixel 9.
Is the iPhone 16 Plus Worth Upgrading?
Honestly, if you currently own the iPhone 15 or 15 Plus, there is absolutely no need to upgrade to the iPhone 16 Plus. Even for those with the iPhone 14 Plus, we don’t believe an upgrade is necessary.
However, if you’re using an iPhone 13 series or older, you might consider upgrading to the iPhone 16 Plus, though it’s likely that even those older models are still performing well today.
Overall, the iPhone 16 Plus is not a groundbreaking device—it’s more of an incremental upgrade over its predecessor.
Ultimately, the decision to upgrade is yours. If you genuinely feel the need to do so, then go ahead. We’re just sharing our honest opinion.
Also Read: There is no need to upgrade your phone every year.
FAQs
1. How much faster is the A18 chip compared to the A16 chip?
Apple claims that the A18 chip is up to 30% faster than the A16 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. In real-world usage, you can expect a 20-25% increase in performance, leading to smoother multitasking, faster app launches, and improved efficiency in handling intensive tasks like gaming or video editing.
2. Does the iPhone 16 Plus support faster charging?
Yes, the iPhone 16 Plus supports faster MagSafe wireless charging, with speeds increased to 25W compared to 15W in the iPhone 15 Plus. However, standard Qi wireless charging speeds remain unchanged.
3. Is the camera on the iPhone 16 Plus better than the iPhone 15 Plus?
While the camera setup on the iPhone 16 Plus is similar to the iPhone 15 Plus, there are some enhancements, such as improved Camera Control features and the ability to shoot spatial videos. The camera quality is slightly improved but not drastically different from the previous model.
4. Has the price of the iPhone 16 Plus increased compared to the iPhone 15 Plus?
No, the price of the iPhone 16 Plus remains the same as the iPhone 15 Plus, despite the new features and improvements. This is a welcome move for consumers, as Apple has not increased the price for this incremental upgrade.
5. Does the iPhone 16 Plus have a better display than the iPhone 15 Plus?
The iPhone 16 Plus retains the same display size and resolution as the iPhone 15 Plus. Both models feature a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, which delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and high brightness. While there aren’t any major changes in display technology, the screen on the iPhone 16 Plus continues to offer an excellent viewing experience, just like the iPhone 15 Plus.
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That wraps up our overview of the iPhone 16 Plus specifications and new features, which should help you understand the scope of this upgrade. If you still have any questions, feel free to reach out to us.
Do you think the iPhone 16 Plus brings significant upgrades? Will you be purchasing it? We’d love to hear your thoughts.
