With iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max on order for pickup or supply beginning Friday, early evaluations of the premium handsets are rolling in. Our iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max assessment roundup finds so much to love within the greatest upgrades — primarily elevated display dimension and the cameras’ beefed up performance.
However with Apple Intelligence nonetheless to return to check the superior new A18 Professional chip, upgrades appear largely iterative, leaving a lot of the eye targeted on the large jumps iPhone 16 and Plus took this yr.
iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max assessment roundup: Larger sizes, higher efficiency
Quickly after Apple rolled out iPhone 16 on September 13, it started to appear like the bottom fashions would possibly outshine the normally flashier Professional fashions is yr. And early gross sales figures might bear that out. The reason being bigger-than-average upgrades within the base mannequin in comparison with the iPhone Professional fashions for this yr. Early evaluations of iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are, certainly, very constructive. However in fact the Professional fashions noticed upgrades, too, and loads of reviewers nonetheless name it the very best iPhone due to its excellent characteristic set.
Design and show
The iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max characteristic barely bigger shows than their predecessors, with slimmer bezels permitting for six.3-inch and 6.9-inch screens respectively, evaluations in TechCrunch and elsewhere identified. Whereas the scale enhance is refined, Tom’s Information famous that the Professional Max particularly feels noticeably bigger, doubtlessly making one-handed use more difficult for some of us.
Gizmodo praised the brand new desert titanium coloration possibility as notably engaging, although Wired lamented the dearth of extra vibrant coloration selections for the Professional fashions in comparison with the usual iPhone 16. The telephones retain their sturdy titanium body and Ceramic Protect entrance, with Apple claiming 50% improved drop safety.
Efficiency and battery life
Powered by Apple’s new A18 Professional chip, the iPhone 16 Professional fashions ship distinctive efficiency. Tom’s Information cited benchmarks displaying CPU efficiency as much as 50% quicker than high Android rivals. Wired famous that whereas gaming efficiency is powerful, some high-end titles like Resident Evil Village skilled occasional crashes throughout testing.
Battery life sees enhancements, too, notably on the Professional Max. Tom’s Information recorded over 18 hours of steady net looking, a 4-hour enhance over the iPhone 15 Professional Max. The usual Professional mannequin provides extra modest beneficial properties however nonetheless gives all-day battery life for many customers. Gizmodo highlighted that charging speeds stay unchanged, with Apple nonetheless not supporting quicker 45W charging regardless of some rumors.
Cameras and pictures
Photograph: Apple
The digital camera system receives notable upgrades, with each Professional fashions now that includes an identical setups together with a 48MP predominant sensor, 48MP ultra-wide, and 5x telephoto zoom, reviewers famous.
Key enhancements embrace:
- A brand new 48MP “Fusion Camera” system promising “zero shutter lag” for quicker seize after you press the button, plus improved low-light efficiency. As a assessment Engadget identified, the pace is shocking. The reviewer saved taking the shot prematurely, anticipating at the least a little bit of lag.
- In AM, reviewer Austin Mann stated he was most excited in regards to the ultra-wide-angle functionality, which he demonstrated fairly effectively in Kenya, Africa (see his video under).
- Enhanced Photographic Types with extra granular coloration changes and pores and skin tone choices.
- 4K video recording at 120fps for smoother slow-motion footage.
- Improved “Audio Mix” options for isolating voices in noisy environments.
Whereas reviewers usually reward digital camera high quality, opinions are combined on whether or not it constantly outperforms high Android rivals just like the Google Pixel 9 Professional. Wired famous that in some eventualities, reminiscent of panoramas and ultra-wide photographs, it most popular the Pixel’s output.
New Digital camera Management button
A standout {hardware} addition is the brand new Digital camera Management performance and its button. The customizable, touch-sensitive button gives fast entry to the digital camera app and numerous taking pictures controls.
Reviewers had combined emotions about its utility:
- TechCrunch discovered it quicker than utilizing on-screen controls for capabilities like zooming.
- Gizmodo famous it may be awkward to make use of, particularly for left-handed customers.
- Wired in the end most popular it as a easy shutter button moderately than utilizing its extra superior gesture controls.
Apple Intelligence options
Photograph: Apple
A big focus of the iPhone 16 Professional is its Apple Intelligence AI capabilities. Nonetheless, most of those options weren’t out there throughout the assessment interval and can arrive by way of software program replace in October. Based mostly on beta testing, reviewers shared preliminary impressions:
- Tom’s Information: Improved Siri with a brand new visible design and skill to deal with follow-up questions.
- Gizmodo: “Clean Up” photograph modifying much like Google’s Magic Eraser.
- Wired: Writing instruments for summarizing textual content, adjusting tone and proofreading, plus real-time transcription in apps like Voice Memos and through telephone calls.
Wired famous that whereas some options like sensible replies really feel like catch-up to current Android capabilities, Apple’s implementation focuses on privateness and on-device processing. Gizmodo argued this cautious strategy might profit customers in the long term in comparison with extra aggressive AI rollouts from rivals.
Nice options in iOS 18
Reviewers additionally famous the brand new iPhones ship with iOS 18, bringing welcome new options like:
- Additional residence display customization choices
- Redesigned Images app
- RCS messaging help for improved texting with Android customers
- New password administration app
Conclusion: Significant upgrades, however actual check might include Apple Intelligence
Reviewers usually agreed that the iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max are wonderful gadgets that carry significant enhancements to digital camera capabilities, efficiency and battery life. Nonetheless, the dearth of speedy availability for closely marketed AI options leaves some uncertainty about their real-world affect.
Tom’s Information concluded that whereas it’s an iterative replace, the iPhone 16 Professional Max “retains its title as the best phone” on account of its mixture of efficiency, digital camera high quality and battery life. Wired emphasised that the variations between Professional and non-Professional fashions really feel much less vital this yr, doubtlessly making the usual iPhone 16 a compelling possibility for a lot of customers.
In the end, these due for an improve will seemingly be pleased with the iPhone 16 Professional’s refinements, however house owners of current fashions might need to wait to see how Apple Intelligence options materialize earlier than making the bounce.
Pricing and availability
The iPhone 16 Professional begins at $999, with the Professional Max starting at $1,199. Pre-orders can be found now, with gadgets transport and in shops Friday. If you happen to go for one, don’t overlook to get a protecting case for it from amongst our picks for the very best ones up to now.