iPhone 16 Review
A18 · 6.1″ OLED · Camera Control
Specdex verdict Apple's iPhone 16 is a solid premium pick — strongly recommended, even if it doesn't unseat the category leaders.
The iPhone 16 brings the A18 chip, a new Camera Control and Apple Intelligence into the non-Pro line. Best mainstream iPhone under $800.
Specdex doesn't run benchmarks in-house. The verdict is an editorial assessment based on manufacturer specs and public reviewer consensus. See methodology.
iPhone 16 versus its closest rivals
- +Great value flagship
- +Apple Intelligence ready
- +Best small-phone experience
- −60Hz display still
- −8 GB RAM minimum for AI
- −No ProMotion
Who's the iPhone 16 for?
Quick verdicts for the most common buyer profiles, derived from the sub-scores above.
With CPU/GPU sub-scores at 94/90, this delivers headroom for sustained creative workloads — video editing, AI inference, or 3D rendering.
Battery sub-score of 84 is solid but not class-leading — fine for typical days, charging top-up likely on heavy days.
Camera scores 88 — competent across most scenarios but watch our spec deltas vs the camera-flagships above.
Mid-tier pricing at $799 — review whether the score-per-dollar lines up against the cheaper alternatives we recommend.
Configurations
Available options for the iPhone 16.
In the box
What you get when you unbox the iPhone 16.
- Device
- USB-C cable
- SIM ejector tool
- Quick-start guide
- Brand sticker
Standard contents — region/SKU may vary; confirm at retailer.
Sources & benchmarks
Cited, not generatedSpecdex does not run benchmarks in-house. We're rolling out cited public benchmark data category by category — PassMark for CPUs and GPUs is wired today; DXOMark, RTINGS, Geekbench, and NotebookCheck will follow.
Sources we use when available: PassMark for CPU/GPU, Geekbench Browser for synthetic, DXOMark for camera scores, RTINGS for TVs, monitors, and headphones. See methodology.
Specifications
Editorial · awaiting verification| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.1″ OLED 60Hz |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A18 |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Battery | 3561 mAh |
| Charging | 20W + MagSafe |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Storage | 128/256/512 GB |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 170 g |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| OS | iOS 18 |
iPhone 16 generations
Side-by-side with the products it replaced and what comes next — the comparisons people actually search for.
Cheaper alternatives to the iPhone 16
Same category, at least 20% cheaper, best-scoring picks from our catalog.
Step up from the iPhone 16
Higher-scoring smartphones if you've got more to spend.
More from Apple
Also consider
Where the iPhone 16 appears on Specdex
Curated lists, spec rankings, and buying guides where this product is mentioned or ranked.