Apple Event
Faster, bigger, smarter: These are the new iPhone 16
The new iPhone 16 gets a changed design
© Apple / PR
At its September event, Apple presented the new iPhone 16. Unfortunately, the most important feature will be missing in Germany.
The time has come: With the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple has refreshed its most important product line with four new models. The biggest changes are, once again, only in the Pro iPhones. But all of them have the most important innovation – even if not in Germany.
The big focus of the evening was on a feature that Apple introduced in the summer: the AI offensive Apple Intelligence. While only the Pro models of the iPhone 15 can benefit from the new AI functions, the new models all support Apple AI. German users will be disappointed, however: Due to a dispute with the EU, Apple Intelligence is not coming to Europe for the time being. So the most exciting new feature is not one in this country for now.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus: What’s new
But that doesn’t mean that there are no other innovations. The two basic models, iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, have several features that put them on par with last year’s models in the Pro line. Firstly, there is of course the new chip: The A18 not only makes the iPhone 16 faster. It offers twice the performance in AI features and thus makes Apple Intelligence possible, according to the manufacturer. Insiders say that the 8GB of RAM now installed is needed for this.
More exciting is the new action button, which was previously reserved for the Pro models. The button can be assigned almost any function, for example opening the camera or WhatsApp if desired. You can find a more detailed explanation in our test of the iPhone 15 Pro from last year. There is also a new camera button.
This is particularly exciting in connection with Apple Intelligence. The button allows you to capture a subject such as a dog in the picture, click briefly – and get information about the breed. It works the same way with restaurants or products. But it also offers new functions for photos. Clicking once opens the camera. Clicking again then triggers it. There are also touch gestures: if you press lightly, new control elements are added. If you swipe lightly, you control the zoom, for example. Great: Apps can assign the gestures themselves.
The camera has also been redesigned. Firstly, the lenses are now arranged one above the other, as was the case with the iPhone X. This makes it possible to record 3D videos for the Vision Pro.
The main camera now offers 48 megapixels, and the ultra-wide angle has also been revised. They should be able to cope even better with poor lighting conditions. And: The new ultra-wide angle now also offers macro shots.
A new battery will please most customers. Apple only revealed that it is larger, however – only a test can show how long it actually lasts.
Apple has added black, white, teal, blue and pink as new colors. The iPhone 16 costs from 949 euros, while Apple charges 1099 euros for the iPhone 16 Plus. Both can be pre-ordered from September 13th and will go on sale on September 20th.
iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max: More of everything
As usual, Apple goes one step further with its Pro models. The larger display immediately catches the eye: the iPhone 16 Pro now has 6.3 inches, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max has 6.9 inches, which corresponds to an increase of 0.2 inches for both models. However, the casing does not grow to the same extent; Apple has also allowed the edges of the display to shrink even further.
The new A18 Pro chip is even faster, which benefits the AI functions in particular, but also video processing, for example.
The camera itself has also been revised. With a new 48-megapixel sensor, the ultra-wide-angle lens now takes photos as good as the main lens. In addition, you can now also record 4K videos at up to 120 frames per second, previously only 60 frames per second were possible. This enables even better time-lapse videos. And: The small Pro model now also has the 5x optical zoom that previously only the iPhone 15 Pro Max had.
When it comes to colors, Apple is staying true to last year’s – with one exception. Last year’s midnight blue is disappearing from the portfolio, and instead there is now a chic “Desert Titanium” that is reminiscent of rose gold.
The Pro models also get “more” battery power, but without any more concrete promises. Apple was very reserved about this during the presentation. One more reason to wait for the tests.
The iPhone 16 Pro costs from 1199 euros, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is available from 1449 euros. Both can be pre-ordered from September 13th and will go on sale on September 20th.