The iPhone 16 isn’t defined by a single groundbreaking feature, but rather by how subtle enhancements—like the new Camera Control button and last year’s Dynamic Island—work together. While it may lack a standout innovation, Apple’s latest iPhones introduce thoughtful, incremental upgrades that make daily tasks feel faster and more seamless, as I discovered over a week of hands-on use.
From the quick-access Camera Control key for snapping photos and switching modes, to the customizable Action button, and the upcoming notification summary powered by Apple Intelligence, these additions collectively improve usability—not just through faster processors, but through smarter design.
Read more: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Review: Compelling Upgrade, and My Favorite Feature in Years
This reflects a broader trend in smartphones this year: major brands are weaving AI into their devices, not just to chase the latest tech craze, but to genuinely simplify everyday interactions.
Apple’s full vision is still coming into focus. While the company is promoting the iPhone 16 lineup as the first designed for Apple Intelligence—despite last year’s iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max also supporting it—its AI features won’t officially launch until next month. It’s still too early to tell whether Apple Intelligence will be a game-changer, but early previews offer some insight into the company’s direction.
For now, the most noticeable updates on the standard iPhone 16 are the new Camera Control and Action buttons. On their own, they don’t seem like compelling reasons to upgrade—unless you were already planning to. Still, with these additions, along with iOS 18 and the Dynamic Island, Apple appears to be steadily evolving the iPhone’s interface into something more personalized and efficient. Users upgrading from an iPhone that’s two to three years old will also see noticeable gains in camera performance and battery life.
Introducing the all-new buttons on the iPhone 16
For over a decade, smartphones have been our primary cameras. Now, with the release of its 16th-generation iPhone, Apple has introduced something new: a dedicated button for capturing photos and videos. At first glance, the Camera Control button might seem like just another physical shortcut — but it’s far more advanced than it appears.
Think of Camera Control as a hybrid between a physical button and a touchpad. A simple press launches the camera, pressing again takes a photo, and holding it starts recording a video. But here’s where it gets interesting: a gentle press reveals a carousel of camera settings and modes. You can then slide your finger across the button to navigate through options like exposure, depth control, zoom levels, lens switching, tone adjustments, and photographic styles. Once you select a setting, adjusting it is as simple as sliding your finger along the same control surface.
It might sound like a small addition, but this is essentially a compact, touch-sensitive interface built specifically for the iPhone’s camera. And honestly, it’s fun to use. With the Camera Control button and the Dynamic Island, Apple seems to be rethinking how we interact with the features we use most: taking pictures and multitasking.
That said, using Camera Control does come with a learning curve. Old habits die hard — I still instinctively go for the camera shortcut on the lock screen. Since launching the camera was already fast and seamless, one could argue this feature solves a problem that didn’t really exist. And while I appreciate the cleverness of this new tool, there’s a risk it could be overlooked — much like the Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro.
Of course, Apple isn’t the first to offer quick camera access through a button. Last year’s iPhone 15 Pro let you do this with the Action button, and Samsung’s Galaxy phones have long supported double-pressing the side button to open the camera. Some Sony Xperia models even come with a physical shutter button.
What truly sets Camera Control apart isn’t how quickly it launches the camera — it’s the way it lets you fluidly access and adjust shooting options without taking your eyes off the frame. You don’t have to tap the screen or reposition your hand, which makes the shooting experience smoother and more precise.
The most intriguing aspect of Camera Control, however, won’t debut until later this year — and that’s Visual Intelligence. Once it rolls out, you’ll be able to point your iPhone 16’s camera at an object or place to instantly learn more about it — like getting a restaurant’s opening hours just by aiming your camera at the building. The feature will also include on-screen shortcuts to Google and ChatGPT, making it easier to integrate visuals directly into prompts for those platforms.
Now, some might argue this isn’t a problem that urgently needs a solution. But it feels like a meaningful first step toward Apple introducing a more AI-driven interface — and that’s genuinely exciting, even if I’m holding off on a final opinion until I’ve had hands-on experience.
Camera Control isn’t the only new addition coming to the base iPhone. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will also feature the Action button, previously exclusive to the Pro models. This button offers a customizable shortcut that can do everything from turning on the flashlight or recording a voice memo, to launching a Shortcut or identifying a song.
While the Action button alone may not justify upgrading your iPhone, it adds a welcome layer of personalization — especially when used with Apple’s Shortcuts app. Personally, I’ve set mine up to reorder my last Dunkin’ coffee from the shop near my office, which makes my commute a little smoother (and more caffeinated).
That said, I was hoping Apple would take the Action button even further this time. iOS 18 does bring some welcome improvements—like letting you access device controls and adding more flexibility through the Shortcuts app, where the button’s function can change based on factors such as time of day.
Still, I’d love the option to assign multiple actions using different gestures—say, a single press for one task and a double press for another. This feels especially relevant now that watchOS 11 allows Apple Watch Ultra users to switch actions by simply pressing and holding the Action button.
The iPhone 16 debuts with vibrant new colors, but lacks a key Pro feature
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus closely resemble last year’s models, but they come with a few subtle tweaks. One noticeable change is the camera layout—now positioned vertically rather than diagonally. This adjustment isn’t just cosmetic; it allows the phones to capture spatial photos and videos designed for immersive viewing on Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
Another standout difference lies in the color options. Unlike the more subdued tones of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are offered in a lively selection of pink, teal, ultramarine (blue), white, and black. I’ve been testing both the pink iPhone 16 Plus and the ultramarine iPhone 16, and I’ve avoided using cases simply to show off their bold, vibrant finishes. Like their predecessors, these models feature a color-infused frosted glass back, adding to their visual appeal.
In terms of display size, the iPhone 16 sports a 6.1-inch screen, while the iPhone 16 Plus comes with a 6.7-inch display—identical to the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. Apple has continued narrowing the gap between its standard and Pro models by bringing features like the Dynamic Island and Action button to the more affordable lineup. However, one Pro-exclusive feature still missing is the always-on display.
This is the one upgrade I consistently miss when switching from the iPhone 15 Pro to the iPhone 16. Just like the Action button, the always-on display—which lets you view the time and notifications at a glance—should be a standard feature by now. Especially since it’s been common on Android devices for years.
My favorite iPhone 16 camera upgrade is the new Photographic Styles feature.
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus bring expected camera enhancements for a new generation device—support for macro mode, a more capable ultrawide lens with improved low-light performance, and what Apple describes as a 2x optical-quality zoom enabled by the 48-megapixel Fusion camera.
However, what truly impressed me wasn’t the hardware—it was the updated Photographic Styles feature. Introduced with the iPhone 13, Photographic Styles allow users to apply distinct visual tones to their images. In the iPhone 16, Apple has refined this feature significantly. It now does a much better job recognizing skin undertones, adjusting color balance, and enhancing highlights and shadows. The difference is immediately noticeable.
You can preview various Photographic Styles in real time before capturing a shot—made even easier thanks to the new Camera Control button—or apply them afterward. Compared to previous versions, the earlier styles now feel quite basic and restrictive.
As someone without professional photography or editing experience, I found this update incredibly empowering. With just a tap, I was able to capture bold, eye-catching photos. My personal favorites? The vivid “Vibrant” look and a crisp black-and-white style that adds instant drama.
Scroll down to see some of the standout shots I captured using the iPhone 16’s upgraded Photographic Styles.
I was also impressed by the upgrades to the ultrawide camera, which now performs much better in low-light settings. For example, check out the photo below taken during an outdoor dinner party at night using the ultrawide lens. The iPhone 16 captured a noticeably brighter image compared to the iPhone 15. That said, I found the Google Pixel 9’s shot slightly better overall — it was a bit brighter and did a great job keeping the moving subjects in sharp focus
Apple iPhone 16 – Ultrawide Lens Edition
Apple iPhone 15 – Ultrawide Camera Edition
Google Pixel 9 – Ultrawide Lens
The iPhone 16 now lets you capture stunning macro photos, delivering sharper detail in close-up shots. Compare these images of a rose taken with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 to see the improvement for yourself.
iPhone 16 – Macro Mode
Apple iPhone 15
iPhone 16: Battery Life, Performance, and Apple Intelligence Explained
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are powered by Apple’s new A18 chip, which delivered smooth and responsive performance in my testing—whether I was gaming, opening apps, or scrolling through settings and photo galleries. However, the most exciting aspect of the A18 isn’t just speed—it’s how it enables Apple Intelligence.
I’ve only been able to preview Apple Intelligence through the iOS 18.1 developer beta, and many features still aren’t live. So it’s too early to judge how transformative Apple Intelligence will be or whether it alone justifies upgrading your phone.
That said, one feature has already caught my attention: summarized text messages and notifications. Apple Intelligence can generate quick summaries of message threads and stacked notifications from the same app—a refreshingly practical use of AI.
Still, the summaries aren’t flawless. They sometimes lack important context. In one case, a group chat about dinner plans was summarized as: “Open to Thai Diner; Katz’s will be had later.” I got the gist—that my friends were deciding between Thai Diner and Katz’s Delicatessen—but the phrasing was confusing. After opening the full thread, I realized one friend mentioned he’d visit Katz’s later during his short trip to town.
Even so, it’s worth noting that this is an early beta preview. In many other instances, the summaries were spot on and saved me from opening the Messages or Slack apps just to catch up.
Siri is also getting a significant upgrade with Apple Intelligence. Beyond a refreshed visual design featuring a glowing border, Siri now better understands commands—even when you stumble over your words—much like Google’s Gemini Live. It can also offer helpful guidance when you’re trying to use specific phone settings or features.
In my experience, Siri generally handled misstatements well. For instance, when I mistakenly referred to the TV series The Bear as The Chef, Siri still provided accurate info about Jeremy Allen White, who plays the lead character, Carmy Berzatto. But on another attempt, Siri returned results about Paul “Bear” Bryant—the late Alabama football coach featured in a biopic also called The Bear. Even adding the word “show” to my query didn’t steer Siri in the right direction.
Technically, Siri wasn’t wrong—the biopic exists—but the confusion highlights that improvements are still needed in parsing intent.
Apple Intelligence has more to offer beyond Siri and message summaries. It includes tools for generating photo Memories from prompts, summarizing emails, and refining written text through rewriting or proofreading features.
I’ll share more impressions once I’ve had extended time with the platform—and when the full set of features becomes available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s new in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus compared to the iPhone 15 series?
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus introduce the new A18 chip, improved battery efficiency, refined camera software, and early access to Apple Intelligence features powered by on-device AI.
What is Apple Intelligence, and how does it work on the iPhone 16?
Apple Intelligence is Apple’s new AI system designed to summarize messages, rewrite texts, suggest actions, and enhance Siri. It runs locally on the A18 chip, ensuring both speed and privacy.
Is the design of the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus different from previous models?
Not significantly. The design is mostly unchanged, maintaining the same sleek look as the iPhone 15 series, with minor adjustments for thermals and microphone placement.
How does the A18 chip improve performance?
The A18 chip ensures smoother multitasking, faster app launches, and enables advanced machine learning features, including Apple Intelligence and real-time processing enhancements.
Are there any noticeable improvements in camera quality?
While the hardware remains similar, software enhancements and AI-powered processing improve photo clarity, portrait mode edge detection, and low-light performance.
Does Apple Intelligence work perfectly out of the box?
Not quite. Since it’s still in beta (via iOS 18.1 developer preview), some features may feel incomplete or slightly inaccurate, such as contextual summaries that occasionally miss the nuance.
Can Siri handle natural language better on the iPhone 16?
Yes. Siri is now more responsive and can better interpret stutters or corrections mid-sentence, though it can still get confused by ambiguous phrasing.
Is it worth upgrading to iPhone 16 just for Apple Intelligence?
Not yet. While promising, many Apple Intelligence features are still rolling out. The upgrade makes more sense if you’re coming from older models or want future-ready hardware.
How does the iPhone 16 handle battery life?
Thanks to the A18’s efficiency improvements and software optimizations, both the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus offer slightly longer battery life than their predecessors.
Do the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus support all Apple Intelligence features?
Only partially. Some advanced AI features may require the Pro models due to extra RAM or hardware capabilities. The iPhone 16 series gets the core experiences, like text summarization and smarter Siri.
What storage options are available for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus?
Both models come in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB variants, giving users flexibility based on their storage needs.
Should I wait for more Apple Intelligence features before buying?
If AI is your main reason to upgrade, it might be worth waiting until iOS 18 matures. However, for performance, battery life, and smoother everyday use, the iPhone 16 is a solid choice now.
Conclusion
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus may not look dramatically different on the surface, but the small refinements they bring—especially under the hood—make a noticeable impact. With the powerful A18 chip, better battery efficiency, and the early integration of Apple Intelligence, these devices feel like a subtle yet meaningful step forward.
While many of the AI-driven features are still in beta and evolving, what’s already available shows promise, especially in how Siri responds and how intelligently the phone handles messages and notifications. It’s not a revolutionary upgrade, but it’s a smart, stable evolution—especially if you’re coming from an older model.
