Skip to content
Apple Apple iPhone 16

Apple · Phones

Apple iPhone 16

Apple iPhone 16 is strongest when you care about mainstream iOS buyers and family upgrades. At about $699, judge it by whether those strengths fix a real daily problem rather than by the longest spec sheet.

Buying verdict

Choose Apple iPhone 16 if mainstream iOS buyers matters more than chasing the absolute top-tier option. Skip it if no 120hz display.

Best for mainstream iOS buyersBest for family upgradesBest for long-term value

Score

8.7 / 10

Reference price

$699

Released

Sep 20, 2024

Reference price, not a live offer. Editorial data date Jul 29, 2026. Specs and availability can vary by configuration, region, and retailer. Status: available.

Source coverage: 1 cited reference covers 5 listed specifications. “Source cited” labels identify those fields; unbadged specifications remain editorial reference data pending field-level review. 1 additional product reference is listed without field-level coverage.

Should you buy it?

A practical ownership call

  • Buy it if you want mainstream iOS buyers and family upgrades.
  • Skip it if peak camera or battery performance still trails the category leaders.
  • Check current US street pricing before paying launch-level money.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Strong everyday fit for mainstream iOS buyers
  • Keeps camera quality usable in mixed lighting
  • Reference US pricing around $699 makes the trade-offs easier to evaluate

Cons

  • Peak camera or battery performance still trails the category leaders
  • Higher-end rivals can still justify the jump if you need peak performance
  • Carrier promos can erase the unlocked value story overnight

Key specs

Display
6.1-inch OLED, 60Hz Source cited
Panel Type
OLED Needs confirmation
Refresh Rate
60Hz Needs confirmation
Resolution
FHD+ class Needs confirmation
Chipset
A18 Source cited
Memory
8GB Needs confirmation
Storage
128GB / 256GB / 512GB Source cited
Expandable Storage
No microSD Needs confirmation

Buying scores

Camera

8.6

Battery

8.4

Display

8

Performance

9

Software Support

9.8

Value

8.5

Compare

Compare with similar products

Choose any phones alternative. Curated pairs open an editorial decision; every other pair opens a specs-only comparison.

Alternatives

Featured in rankings

Popular comparisons

Related guides

Availability, sources, and full notes

US availability

iPhone 16 is tracked as a US-market option through official brand channels and mainstream electronics retailers.

Common retailers

Apple, Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target

Sources and verification

Editorial specification note

Selected fields are matched to the cited Apple technical specifications page as of 2026-07-29; unbadged fields remain editorial reference data pending field-level review.

Editorial price note

Apple US launch and street-price patterns are tracked as editorial USD references, not live retailer checkout prices.

Specifications

24 tracked specs across 10 groups · 5 specifications have a field-level source citation.

Display

Display
6.1-inch OLED, 60Hz Source cited
Panel Type
OLED Needs confirmation
Refresh Rate
60Hz Needs confirmation
Resolution
FHD+ class Needs confirmation

Performance

Chipset
A18 Source cited
Memory
8GB Needs confirmation

Storage

Storage
128GB / 256GB / 512GB Source cited
Expandable Storage
No microSD Needs confirmation

Camera

Main Camera
48MP wide + 12MP ultra wide Source cited
Ultra Wide
Ultra wide supported Needs confirmation
Telephoto / Zoom
No dedicated telephoto Needs confirmation
Front Camera
12MP front Needs confirmation
Video Capture
4K video capture Needs confirmation

Battery

Battery
All-day video playback class Needs confirmation
Wired Charging
USB-C fast charging, MagSafe wireless charging Needs confirmation
Wireless Charging
MagSafe / Qi wireless Needs confirmation

Design

Weight
170g Source cited
Dimensions
Modern slab smartphone dimensions Needs confirmation
Build
Aluminum or titanium with glass Needs confirmation

Durability

Water Resistance
IP67/IP68 on many models Needs confirmation

Software

Operating System
iOS Needs confirmation
Update Policy
Long multi-year iOS support Needs confirmation

Connectivity

Connectivity
5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, UWB on Pro models Needs confirmation

Security

Biometrics
Face ID Needs confirmation