Have you been attracted by the newly released iPhone 16 series? The iPhone 16 series has a new camera layout and Camera Control button which are perfect for those who love iPhone photography.
However, compared to the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max have larger screens, faster charging speeds, and more advanced photography.
What are the differences between the iPhone 16 vs 16 Pro vs 16 Pro Max? This post will introduce the complete points.
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iPhone 16 vs 16 Pro vs 16 Pro Max: Specs
Except for the same iOS 18 features, some main specs of the iPhone 16, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max are different.
| iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Price Range | $799 – $1099 (128GB-512GB) | $999 – $1499 (128GB-1TB) | $1199 – &1599 (256GB-1TB) |
| Phone Size | 5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 (inch), 170 grams | 5.89 x 2.81 x 0.32 (inch), 199 grams | 6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 (inch), 277 grams |
| Screen size | 6.1-inch size | 6.3-inch size | 6.9-inch size |
| Colors | Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine | Black, White, Desert, Natural Titanium | Black, White, Desert, Natural Titanium |
| Promotion | 60 Hz | 1 – 120 Hz | 1 – 120 Hz |
| Built-in Chip | A18 | A18 Pro | A18 Pro |
| Rear cameras | 48MP main(f/1.6), 12MP ultrawide(f/2.2) | 48MP main(f/1.78), 48MP ultrawide(f/2.2), 12MP Telephoto(f/2.8) | 48MP main(f/1.78), 48MP ultrawide(f/2.2), 12MP Telephoto(f/2.8) |
| Front Camera | 12MP (f/1.9) | 12MP (f/1.9) | 12MP (f/1.9) |
| Charging speed | 50% charge in 30 minutes (USB 2 wired) | 50% charge in 30 minutes (USB 3 wired) | 50% charge in 35 minutes (USB 3 wired) |
| Battery life | 18 hours of streaming video | 22 hours of streaming video | 29 hours of streaming video |
Related: Common iPhone 16 (Pro/Pro Max) Problems and How to Fix Them
Differences Between Three Models
Although the iPhone 16, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max have the same iOS 18 features, they are still different in many details. Before deciding to buy the new models in this release, it’s helpful to learn about their differences.
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iPhone 16 vs 16 Pro vs 16 Pro Max: Size and Colors
The iPhone 16 weighs the same as almost three large eggs, the Pro four eggs, and the Pro Max five eggs. However, they are all very thin and silky to use. Here are the height, width, and depth of the three models.
| iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Height | 5.81 inches | 5.89 inches | 6.42 inches |
| Width | 2.82 inches | 2.81 inches | 3.06 inches |
| Depth | 0.31 inches | 0.32 inches | 0.32 inches |
As for the back material and colors, the Pro and Pro Max models use the Titanium with textured matte glass back in the Desert, Natural, White, and Black colors. The basic model uses a color-infused glass back in Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, and Black.
The colors of the iPhone 16 are more intense compared to the iPhone 15, and those who prefer fresher colors may not like the look of this new model very much.
iPhone 16 vs 16 Pro vs 16 Pro Max: Screen Display
The basic model’s screen size is still 6.1-inch, the same size as the previous normal iPhones. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max’s screen sizes are a little bit larger than the earlier Pros. The Pro model is 6.3-inch while the Pro Max is 6.9-inch. However, the Pro model gets thinner bezels which help make the phone not so large.
As for the refresh rate of the screen, the basic model still adopts 60 Hz Promotion while 120 Hz Promotion is only available on the Pro and Pro Max models. Also, only the Pro and Pro Max models use an Always-On display.
All three models have a 1 minimum nit brightness which could protect your eyesight when streaming in a dark environment. The peak brightness of the three models reaches 2,000 nits so you can watch the phone clearly in the outdoors.
iPhone 16 vs 16 Pro vs 16 Pro Max: Performance and Storage
The iPhone 16 gets an A18 chip with a 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU while the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max models come with an A18 pro chip with a 6-core CPU and 6-core GPU. The GPU is mainly used for processing graphics, effects, and videos which means the 16 Pro and Pro Max can give you more exquisite pictures than the iPhone 16.
As for the storage, the iPhone 16 Pro has four choices while the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro Max have three. However, some people love iPhone photography which might run out of memory very quickly. They can increase the physical memory or use a cloud drive to store photos and videos.
Now the iPhone 16, 15 Pro, and 16 Pro Max all have 8 GB of RAM on board, which means their gaming, AI, and streaming performance are almost the same. This can be a good point for saving your money.
iPhone 16 vs 16 Pro vs 16 Pro Max: Camera
The main camera of the iPhone 16, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max are the same, which is 48MP.
However, the apertures of the iPhone 16, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max are respective f/1.6, f/1.78, and f/1.78. A larger aperture can allow more light through the camera and make the picture clear even in the dark. So, in the dark, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max can photograph more clearer pictures than the iPhone 16.
As for the optical zoom options, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max have 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x while the normal model only has 0.5x, 1x, and 2x.
As for the video recording, all three models use the 4K and 1080p Dolby Vision. However, only the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max support recording 4K videos at 120 fps with external recording and Academy Color Encoding System which will make the pictures more vivid and colorful.
Fortunately, all three models feature wind noise reduction and Audio Mix, ensuring that your voice remains clear in videos recorded in noisy or windy environments.
iPhone 16 vs 16 Pro vs 16 Pro Max: Battery Life and Charging
Compared to the iPhone 15, the battery life is longer in the iPhone 16, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max. However, since the dimensions of all three models haven’t changed much, the battery capacity won’t change much either.
The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max last for respective 27 and 33 hours of video playback. The iPhone 16 only lasts for 22 hours. What’s more, if you want to stream videos, the phone’s lasting time will be shorter. The iPhone 16 lasts for 18 hours of streaming videos, the 16 Pro 22 hours, and the Pro Max 29 hours.
As for the Audio Playback, the iPhone 16 can last for 80 hours, the 16 Pro 85 hours, and the 16 Pro Max 105 hours.
As for wired charging speed, three models charge at up to 20W via a wire which is the same as the earlier models. However, the wireless charging speed is faster than before. You can pair your 25W MagSafe with at least a 30W charging adapter to get the best charging speed which is up to 50% at 30 minutes.
Final Consideration
Although the iPhone 16 Pro Max is much larger than the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, all three models are very fluent and smooth to use.
What’s more, all three models have the Apple Intelligence and Camera Control buttons which are the biggest selling point of the iPhone 16 series.
If you have enough budget and want a bigger screen, a higher refresh rate, and a lowkey color, go get an iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max. If you just want to experience the newly introduced AI features and Camera Control button, then the basic model will suffice.
