The iPhone 16 and 16 Pro are equipped with Apple’s most cutting-edge camera technology. While the iPhone 16 Pro inherently offers more extensive features and capabilities, the iPhone 16 has incorporated many professional features, making the models increasingly comparable. Continue reading to dive deeper into the differences between the cameras of the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, along with guidance on which model to choose.
If you want comprehensive comparisons of various iPhone models, feel free to explore our detailed guides. Otherwise, let’s delve into the specifics of the camera functionalities 😁:
Camera Comparison: iPhone 16 vs. 16 Pro
Rear Camera Systems
Both the iPhone 16 models are equipped with a 48MP primary rear camera, the innovative Camera Control button, and the latest Photographic Styles among other enhancements.
However, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max maintain their distinction by featuring superior camera systems.
Following the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which saw incremental camera enhancements over the basic iPhone 15 Pro, the 16 Pro and Pro Max have synchronized their camera functions and capabilities.
For standard photography, the 16 Pro/Max boast an impressive 48MP ultra-wide lens compared to the 12MP ultra-wide lens found on the 16/Plus models, along with a telephoto lens that can achieve 5x optical zoom exclusive to the pro versions.
Exclusive to the Pro models are advanced features such as Night mode portraits and ProRAW support.
| iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| Camera Control | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Main Lens | 48MP, ƒ/1.6 aperture | 48MP, ƒ/1.6 aperture | 48MP, ƒ/1.78 aperture | 48MP, ƒ/1.78 aperture |
| Main Lens Sensor | 2 µm quad pixel | 2 µm quad pixel | 2.44 µm quad pixel | 2.44 µm quad pixel |
| Main Lens Focal Length | 26 mm | 26 mm | 24 mm | 24 mm |
| Ultra Wide Lens | 12MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture | 12MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture | 48MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture | 48MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture |
| Telephoto Lens | ❌ (main lens provides 2x zoom) | ❌ (main lens provides 2x zoom) | 12MP, ƒ/2.8 aperture (up to 5x zoom) | 12MP, ƒ/2.8 aperture (up to 5x zoom) |
| Stabilization | Sensor-shift optical image stabilization | Sensor-shift optical image stabilization | Sensor-shift optical image stabilization | Sensor-shift optical image stabilization |
| Optical Zoom | 0.5x, 1x, and 2x | 0.5x, 1x, and 2x | 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x | 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x |
| Digital Zoom | Up to 10x | Up to 10x | Up to 25x | Up to 25x |
| Flash | True Tone flash | True Tone flash | Adaptive True Tone Flash | Adaptive True Tone Flash |
| Photonic Engine | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Deep Fusion | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Smart HDR 5 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Next-gen Portraits with Focus and Depth Control | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Portrait Lighting with Six Effects | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Night Mode | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Night Mode Portraits | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Latest-gen Photographic Styles | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Spatial Photos | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Macro Photography | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Apple ProRAW | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Video Recording Capabilities
The Pro models also have extra video features, including ProRes and log video recording, the ability to record to external storage, and four studio-quality microphones.
Here are the complete video specifications for all models:
| iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| 4K Dolby Vision/HDR Recording | ✅ – at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps | ✅ – at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps | ✅ – at 24, 25, 30, 60, 100, or 120 fps | ✅ – at 24, 25, 30, 60, 100, or 120 fps |
| 1080p Recording | ✅ – at 25, 30, or 60 fps | ✅ – at 25, 30, or 60 fps | ✅ – at 25, 30, or 60, or 120 fps | ✅ – at 25, 30, or 60, or 120 fps |
| Cinematic Mode | ✅ – up to 4K HDR at 30 fps | ✅ – up to 4K HDR at 30 fps | ✅ – up to 4K HDR at 30 fps | ✅ – up to 4K HDR at 30 fps |
| Action Mode | ✅ – up to 2.8K at 60 fps | ✅ – up to 2.8K at 60 fps | ✅ – up to 2.8K at 60 fps | ✅ – up to 2.8K at 60 fps |
| ProRes Recording | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ – up to 4K at 120 fps with external recording | ✅ – up to 4K at 120 fps with external recording |
| Log Video Recording | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Macro Video Recording | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Spatial Video Recording | ✅ – at 1080p at 30 fps | ✅ – at 1080p at 30 fps | ✅ – at 1080p at 30 fps | ✅ – at 1080p at 30 fps |
| Slo-mo Recording | ✅ – 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps | ✅ – 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps | ✅ – 1080p up to 240 fps and 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps | ✅ – 1080p up to 240 fps and 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps |
| Time-lapse with Stabilization | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Night mode Time-lapse | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Front Camera Features
The TrueDepth front camera integrated into iPhone 16 Pro models includes significant enhancements over the regular 16 and Plus models.
These upgrades comprise features like ProRAW, ProRes, log recording capabilities, and support for external storage.
| iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| TrueDepth Front Camera | 12MP, ƒ/1.9 aperture | 12MP, ƒ/1.9 aperture | 12MP, ƒ/1.9 aperture | 12MP, ƒ/1.9 aperture |
| Autofocus with Focus Pixels | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Retina Flash | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Photonic Engine | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Deep Fusion | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Smart HDR 5 for Photos | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Next-gen Portraits with Focus and Depth Control | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Portrait Lighting with Six Effects | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Animoji and Memoji | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Night Mode | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Night Mode Time-lapse | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| 4K Dolby Vision/HDR Recording | ✅ – at 24, 25, 30 fps | ✅ – at 24, 25, 30 fps | ✅ – at 24, 25, 30 fps | ✅ – at 24, 25, 30 fps |
| 1080p Dolby Vision Recording | ✅ – at 25, 30 fps | ✅ – at 25, 30 fps | ✅ – at 25, 30 fps | ✅ – at 25, 30 fps |
| Slo-mo Recording | ✅ – 1080p at 120 fps | ✅ – 1080p at 120 fps | ✅ – 1080p at 120 fps | ✅ – 1080p at 120 fps |
iPhone 16 vs. 16 Pro: Input/Output Features
With the transition to USB-C in iPhone 15, the iPhone 16 series introduces fewer I/O changes.
The most notable upgrade might be the new Camera Control, but it also brings along enhancements like WiFi 7 compatibility, MagSafe that allows up to 25W charging, and more.
The iPhone 16 supports USB 2 speeds, while the Pro models leverage the more advanced USB 3 technology, allowing them to shoot to external storage seamlessly.
| iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
| USB-C | ✅ – USB 2 up to 480Mbps | ✅ – USB 2 up to 480Mbps | ✅ – USB 3 up to 10Gbps | ✅ – USB 3 up to 10Gbps |
| WiFi | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| UWB Gen 2 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| NFC with Reader Mode | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cellular | GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA+, DC-HSDPA | GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA+, DC-HSDPA | GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA+, DC-HSDPA | GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA+, DC-HSDPA |
| 5G | Sub-6 GHz and mmWave with 4×4 MIMO | Sub-6 GHz and mmWave with 4×4 MIMO | Sub‑6 GHz and mmWave with 4×4 MIMO | Sub‑6 GHz and mmWave with 4×4 MIMO |
| Audio Playback | Spatial audio/Dolby Atmos | Spatial audio/Dolby Atmos | Spatial audio/Dolby Atmos | Spatial audio/Dolby Atmos |
| Video Playback | HDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG | HDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG | HDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG | HDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG |
| MagSafe | ✅ with 25W charging | ✅ with 25W charging | ✅ with 25W charging | ✅ with 25W charging |
Final Thoughts: Which Should You Buy?
If you’re weighing the decision to upgrade, here’s a concise summary comparing the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro.
It’s essential to recognize that both models feature the innovative Camera Control button and sensor alongside support for Apple Intelligence technology.
Reasons to Choose iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max:
- Superior camera capabilities with advanced lenses.
- Access to unique features like Night mode portraits and ProRAW.
- Enhanced video recording options including ProRes.
Reasons to Go for iPhone 16 or 16 Plus, or Stick With Your Current Device:
- Comparable photography features for casual users.
- Cost-effective option without compromising essential camera functions.
You can purchase the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro through various channels, including Apple’s website and other retailers.
What are your plans? Are you thinking about an upgrade or sticking with your current device? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!
Thank you for exploring our comparison of the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro cameras!
