Apple unveiled its highly anticipated iPhone 16 series today, and while the Pro models stole the show, the standard iPhone 16 isn’t without its own set of impressive upgrades. Say goodbye to last year’s design, because the iPhone 16 introduces a fresh new look, a handy Camera Control button, and a host of other enhancements.
Let’s look at the new iPhone 16 features that make it a worthy upgrade, even for those not opting for the Pro line.
Table of Contents
1. New Design: Vertical Camera, Vibrant Colors
The iPhone 16 departs from the diagonally arranged dual camera module seen in the past three iterations (iPhone 13, 14, and 15). Instead, it adopts a vertical camera layout reminiscent of the iPhone 12, or perhaps even more closely resembling the iPhone X launched seven years ago.
Let’s not forget the new vibrant color options available for the iPhone 16. You can buy it in – Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, Black and White colors in aluminum finish. So when you’re holding an iPhone 16, there’s no mistaking it for anything else!
And for those who are careless with their phones, it now gets the latest-generation Ceramic Shield, which is 50% tougher than the first generation and 2x tougher than the glass on any other smartphone.
2. Action Button Comes to Regular Models
Apple introduced the Action button with its iPhone 15 Pro models last year. And that has now made its way to the regular iPhone 16. You can set this Action button to launch apps, toggle the flashlight, trigger Siri Shortcuts, open the Camera app, and more.
However, this also means there’s no mute switch this time around. Finally, say goodbye to the infamous ringer slider.
3. New ‘Camera Control’ Button
Alongside the Action button, a new Camera Control button debuts in the bottom right corner. While the Action button focuses on launching apps or shortcuts, the Camera button serves as a dedicated shutter button for the camera. Tap it to capture photos or tap and hold it a bit longer to capture video.
It also features a capacitive trackpad, enabling swipe gestures to zoom in and out within the camera app. You can zoom in/out, change focus level, and more. Third-party apps like Snapchat are readily leveraging it for additional in-app controls.
4. The Apple A18 Chip
The iPhone 16 debuts the Apple A18 chip, a straight upgrade from the A16 Bionic on the iPhone 15. This new chipset is built on a 3rd-generation 3nm process. It is 30% faster than the A16 Bionic on the iPhone 15 and 50% faster than the A15 Bionic on the iPhone 13.
In fact, it can deliver the same performance using 30% less power than the A16 Bionic processor. There’s a 5-core GPU on board which, again, is 40% faster than the iPhone 15’s. The chip also gets a twice-as-fast 16-core neural engine to power Apple’s AI features onboard.
5. AAA Gaming Comes to the Standard iPhone
Thanks to the A18 chip, the iPhone 16 now supports AAA games that were previously only available on iPhone 15 Pro. That includes Resident Evil 4, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Death Stranding, Sniper Elite 4, Honor Of Kings: World by Tencent, and more. Yes, you can now finally enjoy desktop-class games on the regular iPhone.
6. It’s the Cheapest iPhone to Have Apple AI
The iPhone 16 ships with Apple AI out of the box, although some features like image generation will be rolled out to all supported iPhones next year. The regular iPhone 15 will not receive these Apple Intelligence capabilities.
So, if you’re eager to experience Apple AI, you’ll need to upgrade to the latest iPhone. These features include writing tools, creating Genmojis using AI, generating images using the AI playground, summaries in Mail, enhanced Siri, and the CleanUp tool in Photos.
To reiterate, the iPhone 16 is the most affordable way to enjoy Apple’s Artificial Intelligence features.
Something for Everyone
The iPhone 16 may not be a groundbreaking release, but it’s a well-rounded upgrade that brings several exciting new features to the standard iPhone lineup. Whether you’re drawn to the fresh design, the powerful A18 chip, the Apple AI capabilities, or the ability to play AAA games, the iPhone 16 offers something for everyone. Unfortunately, the base iPhone 16 model still supports USB 2 transfer speeds (the Pros get USB 3 support) and has 60Hz screen.
Which of these new features are you most excited about? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
