The iPhone 16 lineup is here, and naturally, most of the spotlight is going to the Pro models, but I wouldn’t click that buy button just yet. The base iPhone 16 and 16 Plus get many improvements that you wouldn’t miss out on much if you skip the Pro variant.
1 iPhone 16 Now Has an Action Button Like the Pro Models
Apple made heads turn in 2023 when it replaced the Ring/Silent switch with the Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro models. Unlike the power or volume buttons that are dedicated to a specific use, you can use the Action button for a variety of functions.
By default, it still works as a Ring/Silent switch, but you can customize the Action button to open an app, turn on the flashlight, record a memo, activate a Focus mode, launch the camera, and much more.
This versatility was exclusive to the Pro models until now, but with the iPhone 16 lineup, Apple has added it to the base iPhone 16 models as well.
2 Camera Control Isn’t Exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro
I was expecting Apple to keep the new Camera Control button exclusive to the Pro models, but surprisingly, the entire iPhone 16 lineup gets it. The Camera Control button assists you during photography by making it easier to use certain camera features like zooming in and out, adjusting focus, aperture, etc. It’s essentially trying to minimize the learning curve involved with photography.
Most people take photos by just pulling out their phone and hitting the shutter button without utilizing the vast array of powerful camera features iPhones include. They don’t tap to focus, adjust the zoom level, use grids, or switch between lenses.
But by spending just a couple of seconds adjusting your camera settings, you can take remarkably better photos with your phone—which is exactly what the Camera Control button is trying to deliver, but in a more natural way.
You can tap the button to launch the camera and tap again to take a photo or long-press to start a video recording. A light press reveals UI elements, after which, you can double-tap to see more options.
3 The Base iPhone 16 Models Support Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence is quite the treat for anyone who wants to get more out of their Apple devices. It’s similar to Gemini on Google Pixel phones, but I would argue Apple’s implementation is better. Apple Intelligence isn’t a chatbot but a system-wide collection of AI features spread across the operating system.
Besides the usual AI features we’ve come to expect, like proofreading and rewording emails or creating generative AI emojis and images, you can also use Apple Intelligence to search for a particular photo in your gallery or view a specific moment in a video you took via a text prompt.
The feature is also integrated into the camera app and can essentially work as a replacement for Google Lens, identifying places around you and surfacing relevant info.
Apple Intelligence makes Siri a lot smarter, and as a result, it has on-screen awareness. So, if you come across a cool album cover, you can just ask it to play the song on Spotify directly. For the non-tech-savvy, it can also give a step-by-step guide on performing a certain action on your phone, so you don’t need to look it up online or ask your children.
4 AAA Games Can Run on Base Models Too
Since the iPhone Pro models have faster chips, people usually assume that you can’t play graphically demanding games on the base models. That’s not true this time because the A18 chip on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus is powerful enough to handle AAA titles like Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Assassin’s Creed Mirage without breaking a sweat.
The only real noticeable difference is that the Pro models can sustain their performance for longer and are slightly more efficient. That means the iPhone 16 Pro can indeed game for longer on max settings, but not by that much.
The base iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are both excellent devices, boasting several upgrades over their predecessors. With all their improvements, getting the Pro variant doesn’t seem sensible unless you really need the 120Hz ProMotion display, dedicated telephoto lens, or titanium frame.
