Apple iPhone 16 smartphone review - More innovations than one would think
New edition.
A bigger battery, more RAM, a new camera button, more vivid colors, and even more power: By Apple's standards, the iPhone 16 packs an above-average number of new features, making it one of the best compact smartphones on the market. Our review reveals whether it's worth purchasing or upgrading.Manuel Masiero, 👁 Daniel Schmidt (translated by Andrew Dickson) Published 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 ...
Verdict - Still strict separation between the Pro and non-Pro models
With the iPhone 16, Apple might not be reinventing the wheel. Still, it has crammed the newest edition of its smartphone with a comparably large number of updates compared to the previous generation. What remains are plus points such as very premium build quality, powerful cameras, a bright OLED panel, and a long update period.
The Apple A18 makes the iPhone 16 significantly more powerful than the iPhone 15, and users will benefit from the RAM upgrade to 8 GB even though it has nothing to do with the much-heralded AI features. WiFi 7 has now also made its way onto the "base" iPhone, although, like the Pro models, it is limited to a 160 MHz bandwidth. In everyday situations, the 6 percent larger battery ensures slightly better battery life.
With the Action button, the iPhone 16 has not only inherited a feature that used to be reserved for the Pro models but one that also replaces the classic rocker. Another innovation is the haptic camera button that controls the camera. Whether or not it's actually useful is another question.
One feature criticized on the iPhone 15 has been carried over to the iPhone 16, causing it to also be one of our main points of criticism. Although the smartphone almost has a four-figure price tag, the OLED screen continues to run at a no longer up-to-date 60 Hz. Plus, you will still have to make do without an always-on display. Additionally, you only get a 12-month warranty, it still has the slow USB-C 2.0 and the charging speed is not particularly fast.
One alternative to the iPhone 16 is, for example, the iPhone 15, which is now significantly cheaper and has a very similar feature set. One recommendation on the Android side is the 6.2-inch Samsung Galaxy S24 and, at 6.36 inches, the similarly compact Xiaomi 14.
Pros
Cons
Price and availability
The iPhone 16 starts at $799 if purchased from Apple, with our 512 GB review model setting you back $1,099.
Possible alternatives compared
Image | Model / Review | Geizhals | Weight | Drive | Display |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apple iPhone 16 Apple A18 ⎘ Apple A18 GPU ⎘ 8 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 170 g | Apple 512GB NVMe | 6.10" 2556x1179 460 PPI Super Retina XDR OLED | ||
Apple iPhone 15 Apple A16 Bionic ⎘ Apple A16 GPU 5-Core ⎘ 6 GB Memory, 128 GB NVMe | Listenpreis 949€ | 171 g | 128 GB NVMe | 6.10" 2556x1179 461 PPI Super Retina XDR OLED | |
Google Pixel 9 Google Tensor G4 ⎘ ARM Mali-G715 MP7 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 128 GB | 198 g | 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.30" 2424x1080 421 PPI OLED | ||
Samsung Galaxy S24 Samsung Exynos 2400 ⎘ Samsung Xclipse 940 ⎘ 8 GB Memory, 256 GB | Listenpreis 899€ | 167 g | 256 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.20" 2340x1080 416 PPI Dynamic AMOLED 2X | |
Sony Xperia 5 V Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 740 ⎘ 8 GB Memory, 128 GB | Listenpreis 999€ | 182 g | 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.10" 2520x1080 449 PPI OLED | |
Xiaomi 14 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 750 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 256 GB | 193 g | 256 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.36" 2670x1200 460 PPI OLED |
Table of Contents
- Verdict - Still strict separation between the Pro and non-Pro models
- Case - Bold colors for the iPhone 16
- Features - The Apple iPhone 16 has 8 GB of RAM
- Software - The Apple iPhone 16 with iOS 18 and initially without AI
- Communication and GNSS - WiFi 7 with the handbreak on
- Telephone functions and voice quaility
- Cameras - A 48 MP camera with 2x zoom
- Accessories and warranty - The Apple iPhone 16 comes with a 12-month warranty
- Input devices & operation - The iPhone 16 has two new buttons
- Display - A bright, 60 Hz OLED panel
- Performance - The Apple iPhone 16 is equipped with the A18 SoC
- Games - A gaming platform with a 60fps limit
- Emissions - The iPhone 16 has stereo speakers
- Battery life - The iPhone 16 gets a bigger battery
- Notebookcheck overall rating
This year, September 7 was an important date for Apple fans since that was the day the US American manufacturer presented its latest iPhone generation. After taking an extensive look at the iPhone 16 Pro, the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the iPhone 16 Plus, it's now the turn of the iPhone 16.
The smallest of the new iPhone models will set you back exactly the amount you paid for the iPhone 15. The starting price is identical to a year ago - a not-exactly-cheap $799. In return, the Apple A18-equipped, 6.1-inch phone has leapt forward when it comes to performance. It comes with a new camera button and can now rely on 8 GB of RAM instead of the previous 6. It has a 6 percent larger battery capacity and now also supports WiFi 7.
Case - Bold colors for the iPhone 16
Apart from the arrangement of the rear camera, Apple has adopted the iPhone 15's design, more or less 1:1, for its iPhone 16. However, unlike the predecessor, considerably bolder colors are available on day one. Our review device is Teal, with the other colors being Ultramarine, Pink, White and Black.
The iPhone 16 also possesses a stylish unibody case, is excellently crafted, feels very premium, and, in our tests, it proved itself to be exceptionally resistant to any of our attempts to dent or twist it. The chassis is dust and waterproof according to IP68.
The iPhone 16 has an aluminum frame, and the rear is made from matte, solid-colored glass, which hardly attracts fingerprints apart from the Apple logo in the middle. On the front, once again, the Ceramic Shield screen protection has been used. However, this is claimed to 50 percent more robust than the type found in the iPhone 15.
While the predecessor's main and ultra-wide-angle cameras were offset to the side, they are now located directly on top of one another, the same as the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. This also means that both devices can now shoot three-dimensional videos. This was not possible with either the iPhone or the iPhone 15 Plus due to the diagonal positioning of both cameras.
Nothing has changed concerning the dimensions. The iPhone 16 is exactly the same size as the iPhone 15 and weighs 1 gram less. This is not likely to be noticeable in everyday use.
Features - The Apple iPhone 16 has 8 GB of RAM
To ensure that Apple's new AI features also run on the "smallest" new iPhone, the iPhone 16 has 8 GB of RAM (iPhone 15: 6 GB). However, price-wise, nothing has changed compared to the iPhone 15. The available storage is also the same:
- 128 GB mass storage: $799
- 256 GB mass storage: $899
- 512 GB mass storage: $1,099
Unlike the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, the iPhone 16's USB-C port is connected internally using the USB 2.0 speed rather than USB 3.2. This makes data transfer much slower, and this was confirmed by the copy test with our test SSD, the Samsung 980 Pro (38.9 MB/s).
The USB-C port supports the DisplayPort protocol, meaning you can mirror the iPhone's screen on a monitor. To achieve this, you will also need a USB-C cable (USB 3.1 or higher) as well as a suitable external display.
In addition to Bluetooth 5.3 and an NFC chip (which is only available in read mode), the iPhone 16 also possesses an ultra-wideband chip. One new addition is support for the smart home wireless standard, Thread.
In Europe, Apple continues to offer the iPhone 16 with a nano-SIM slot. Together with an eSIM, dual-SIM operation is possible. Alternatively, 2 eSIMs also work.
Software - The Apple iPhone 16 with iOS 18 and initially without AI
The iPhone 16 runs the new iOS 18. In addition to small changes such as the newly-designed photo app, a significantly more customizable control center and a move away from the rigid app grid. Apps can now be placed anywhere on the home screen. However, above all else, it's the AI functions that set the new operating system apart from iOS 17.
We already presented the AI functions - otherwise known as Apple Intelligence - in our iPhone 16 Plus review. They include AI-generated emojis, photo editing, voice message transcription, websites and other text-based content as well as a smarter Siri voice assistant.
However, due to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) data protection, Apple Intelligence for iPhones won't initially be available in the EU. Apple wants to play catch-up as soon as an agreement has been reached with the European Commission, something that probably won't happen before 2025.
Apple hasn't provided any information on how long the iPhone 16 will receive updates. However, experience shows that you can bank on a 5-year update period. On top of this, older devices still receive updates, if critical security gaps need to be closed.
Sustainability
According to Apple, more than 30 percent of the iPhone 16 consists of recycled material. When it comes to gold, cobalt, lithium and rare earth, the recycling quota even manages to hit 100 percent.
The packaging doesn't contain any plastics and consists 100 percent of wood fibers, which have also either been recycled or sourced from responsibly farmed forests. Apple has provided precise information in this report.
In the past, iPhones weren't exactly famous for being easy to repair. However, in the meantime, that has changed significantly, since the current iPhones have a modular internal design and can be opened from both sides. Additionally, the iOS-integrated repair assistant helps to avoid software errors after replacing components.
Experienced users can repair their iPhones themselves. Although special tools are required to do this, Apple also provides support with detailed repair manuals.
Communication and GNSS - WiFi 7 with the handbreak on
When it comes to the Wi-Fi speed, the iPhone 16 is on par with all the other iPhone 16 models. With WiFi 7 and 2x2 MIMO, it offers the fastest Wi-Fi standard currently available, which also allows it to access the 6 GHz band.
Despite this, Apple has also installed hidden brakes since the smartphone's WiFi 7 capabilities are limited to a bandwidth of 160 MHz. This limits the Wi-Fi tempo to WiFi 6E levels. However, connected to our Asus ROG Rapture AXE11000 reference router, the iPhone 16 performs well. It delivers stable transfer speeds, which sit in the 6 GHz band at a peak of 1,401 MBit/s.
The iPhone 16 can access so many frequency bands that it can be easily used worldwide. For 5G and 4G connections, it uses 4x4 MIMO, meaning it transmits on four send and receive channels simultaneously.
Networking | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
Apple iPhone 15 | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
Average of class Smartphone | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
The iPhone 16 uses the satellite navigation services GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou to determine its position. In the test, both indoors and outdoors, the location accuracy was around 4 meters and also remained high on a small bike tour.
The Apple smartphone was able to track the roughly 10-kilometer-long bike tour just as accurately as the Garmin Venu 2 fitness smartwatch, which served as the reference device. This means we can unreservedly recommend the iPhone 16 for navigation-based tasks.
Telephone functions and voice quaility
The iPhone 16 supports both VoLTE and WiFi calls. In addition to a physical SIM, you can also activate an eSIM. Alternatively, you can also have two eSIMs if you wish to do without a SIM card.
In our test, the iPhone 16 delivered good voice quality. Using the mobile and landline, we could hear our counterparts perfectly, and the same level of intelligibility was reported on the receiving end. In hands-free mode, that essentially didn't change, we just sounded a touch quieter.
If a mobile network or Wi-Fi is not at hand, the iPhone can also make emergency calls via a satellite connection. Once activated, the service is free for the next two years. However, it will presumably remain permanently free of charge. Apple would be put in a very bad light if the life-saving function had to be activated in an emergency due to the lack of an active subscription.
Cameras - A 48 MP camera with 2x zoom
The iPhone 16's selfie camera still has a 12 MP resolution and takes good shots with a nice bokeh effect. Like the main camera, it can record videos at 4K and up to 60 frames per second, delivering very good image quality in the process.
Apple also has nothing new to report regarding the iPhone's main camera. It continues to use a 48 MP resolution image sensor and allows you to capture photos at either 12 or 24 MP. You can use the full 48 MP as long as you activate Resolution control in the settings.
The Sony image sensor also allows the iPhone's main camera to capture telephoto shots at 12 MP, which represents 2x zoom. Photos captured with the main camera also impress in difficult lighting conditions with high image sharpness and balanced color reproduction. When you magnify the images using the 2x zoom, many details are still visible, however, at higher zoom levels – the digital zoom goes up to 10x – things quickly get blurry.
The main camera records videos at a maximum of 4K and 60 frames per second and possesses the same impressive image quality as the photos. The videos are very sharp, and the autofocus responds precisely, easily switching between bright and dark subjects. If you use the cinema mode, the camera automatically focuses on faces and saves additional depth information so that the focus can be adjusted later for blurry effects.
The 12 MP resolution ultra-wide-angle camera uses a new sensor that has a slightly wider f/2.2 aperture (iPhone 15: f/2.4). It does its job well within the limits of its capabilities. You get solid and largely distortion-free shots which don't show many details.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Daylight image 1Daylight image 2Ultra-wide-angle5x zoomLowlight imageIn the lab, we took another look at the main camera under full studio lighting and also at just 1 lux. Under optimum lighting conditions, it captures colors accurately, reproducing the test chart with high levels of detail and contrast.
Under poor lighting conditions, the sharpness drops off. However, the test chart is still completely recognizable, and the colors only display a comparatively small deviation from the target values.
Accessories and warranty - The Apple iPhone 16 comes with a 12-month warranty
With its iPhone 16, Apple has included a USB-C cable (USB 2.0) as well as a SIM tool. Inside the slim packaging, there are also a few booklets with info material. The Apple stickers which came with the previous iPhone models are no longer included.
Apple offers plenty of additional accessories for its smartphone and these include a 30-watt charger ($39), a MagSafe adapter ($39) and silicone cases with MagSafe functionality ($49).
The iPhone 16 comes with a 12-month warranty. Via AppleCare+ and for additional surcharges, this can be extended, starting at $9.99 a month or a one-off payment of $199 for 2 years. If you also wish to provide cover for theft and loss, the prices increase to $11.49 a month or a one-off payment of $219.
Input devices & operation - The iPhone 16 has two new buttons
The iPhone 16's system speed is very fast, translating inputs via its 6.1-inch screen without virtually no delay. FaceID is on hand for biometric unlocking. This is done via three-dimensional face recognition, which offers high security and works very quickly and reliably. The vibration motor provides precise feedback.
The iPhone 16 screen isn't the smoothest due to its 60 Hz panel. This is especially evident when scrolling through menus and websites. The low frame rate will primarily be noticeable to users coming from a 90 Hz or 120 Hz panel.
A few years ago, there were rumours in the Apple community that there could be a button-free iPhone. The iPhone 16 could be described as a counter-movement since it comes with two new buttons compared to the iPhone 15. One of those replaces the mute switch, functioning as the familiar Action button previously seen in the iPhone 15 Pro & iPhone 15 Pro Max.
The camera button on the right-hand side is also new, and it is responsible for launching the camera app. In the camera app itself, the button serves as the shutter, and thanks to its touch-sensitive surface, it can also be used to adjust additional camera settings such as the zoom factor, exposure time, aperture and sound level. Both buttons can also be found in the iPhone 16 Pro models.
Display - A bright, 60 Hz OLED panel
The iPhone 16's 6.1-inch OLED panel is largely based on the iPhone 15. It continues to offer 2,556 x 1,179 pixels, which represents a pixel density of 460 PPI. However, one new feature is that the 60 Hz screen can now nominally dim to as little as 1 nit. In our test, we recorded 1.64 cd/m², which is quite close to the manufacturer's specification.
Apple puts the OLED panel's average brightness at 1,000 nits, with the maximum brightness in HDR content hitting 1,600 nits. In the test, the screen turned out to be a bit brighter. With a pure white background, we measured 1,102 cd/m². If you switch to smaller sections of the image (APL20 measurement), the OLED panel creates even more brightness. With SDR content, this goes up to 2,287 cd/m² and up to 2,362 cd/m² with HDR content.
The OLED panel flickers at a low 60 Hz, irrespective of the brightness levels we measured. In parallel, we measured a secondary frequency of 487 Hz. The PWM flickering is quite uniform, meaning it shouldn't really bother even sensitive users. However, if in doubt, you should try the iPhone 16 yourself before pulling the trigger on a purchase.
|
Brightness Distribution: 99 %
Center on Battery: 1101 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 0.9 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.93
ΔE Greyscale 1.3 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
99.7% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.16
Apple iPhone 16 Super Retina XDR OLED, 2556x1179, 6.1" | Apple iPhone 15 Super Retina XDR OLED, 2556x1179, 6.1" | Google Pixel 9 OLED, 2424x1080, 6.3" | Samsung Galaxy S24 Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2340x1080, 6.2" | Sony Xperia 5 V OLED, 2520x1080, 6.1" | Xiaomi 14 OLED, 2670x1200, 6.4" | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Screen | -41% | 22% | -90% | -46% | -28% | |
Brightness middle | 1101 | 1046 -5% | 2063 87% | 1349 23% | 889 -19% | 1043 -5% |
Brightness | 1102 | 1019 -8% | 1914 74% | 1369 24% | 898 -19% | 1052 -5% |
Brightness Distribution | 99 | 94 -5% | 84 -15% | 97 -2% | 97 -2% | 96 -3% |
Black Level * | ||||||
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 0.9 | 1.4 -56% | 0.7 22% | 3.3 -267% | 1.4 -56% | 1.1 -22% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 1.5 | 2.84 -89% | 2.2 -47% | 5 -233% | 4.5 -200% | 2.8 -87% |
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.3 | 2.4 -85% | 1.2 8% | 2.4 -85% | 1 23% | 1.9 -46% |
Gamma | 2.16 102% | 2.158 102% | 2.23 99% | 1.97 112% | 2.23 99% | 2.23 99% |
CCT | 6480 100% | 6410 101% | 6524 100% | 6635 98% | 6456 101% | 6740 96% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
Screen flickering / PWM detected | 60 Hz Amplitude: 25.75 % Secondary Frequency: 487 Hz | ||
The display backlight flickers at 60 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 60 Hz is very low, so the flickering may cause eyestrain and headaches after extended use. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8774 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. |
A series of measurements with fixed zoom. and various brightness settings (The amplitude curve at minimum brightness looks very flat. However, this is due to the scaling. You can find the enlarged version of the amplitude at minimum brightness in the info box.)
When it comes to color reproduction, the OLED panel scores very well with its very good image quality. If you require colors which are as natural as possible, you should deactivate True Tone. With this function, the iPhone adapts the screen colors to the ambient light, which results in a slightly inaccurate representation.
Display Response Times
↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
---|---|---|
2.31 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1.178 ms rise | |
↘ 1.136 ms fall | ||
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 8 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21 ms). | ||
↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
2.9 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1.426 ms rise | |
↘ 1.473 ms fall | ||
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 9 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (32.9 ms). |
Outdoors, the screen content remains legible even in bright ambient light. If necessary, the viewing angle-stable OLED panel adjusts its brightness to a very high level. However, with the brightness sensor deactivated, this reaches a maximum of 840 cd/m².
Performance - The Apple iPhone 16 is equipped with the A18 SoC
Computational tasks in the iPhone are performed by the Apple 18. The high-end SoC relies on six processor cores, of which 2 are performance cores running at up to 4.04 GHz. In the CPU benchmarks, the iPhone 16 is not only significantly ahead of the iPhone 15 but is also at the top of the pack in most of the tests. Only the Xiaomi 14 is faster in AnTuTu v10.
Antutu v10 - Total Score | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Average Apple A18 (1419444 - 1632305, n=2) | |
Average of class Smartphone (142748 - 3015111, n=96, last 2 years) | |
Google Pixel 9 |
Geekbench AI | |
Single Precision TensorFlow NNAPI | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Average Apple A18 (4122 - 4352, n=2) | |
Average of class Smartphone (191 - 4619, n=30, last 2 years) | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
Half Precision TensorFlow NNAPI | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Average Apple A18 (32120 - 32432, n=2) | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
Average of class Smartphone (192 - 32432, n=30, last 2 years) | |
Quantized TensorFlow NNAPI | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Average Apple A18 (44381 - 44657, n=2) | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
Average of class Smartphone (118 - 44657, n=30, last 2 years) |
With its Apple A18 graphics chip, the iPhone 16 clearly leaves the iPhone 15 in its wake and, in the GPU benchmarks, it is in a similar performance league but playing catch up to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. In some respects, even the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is slightly faster. However, overall, the iPhone 16 is a very powerful graphics solution that is often held back by its 60 Hz screen, as the on-screen GFXBench tests show.
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7: T-Rex Onscreen | 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
GFXBench 3.0: on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
GFXBench 3.1: on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
GFXBench: on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | 3840x2160 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
Apple iPhone 15 |
3DMark / Wild Life Extreme | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
Apple iPhone 15 |
3DMark / Wild Life Unlimited Score | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Apple iPhone 15 | |
Google Pixel 9 |
3DMark / Solar Bay Score | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Apple iPhone 15 | |
Google Pixel 9 |
3DMark / Solar Bay Unlimited Score | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Apple iPhone 15 |
3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Unlimited Score | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Google Pixel 9 |
3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Score | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Google Pixel 9 |
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Onscreen | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Apple iPhone 15 | |
Apple iPhone 16 |
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Offscreen | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Apple iPhone 15 |
GFXBench 3.0 / Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Apple iPhone 15 | |
Apple iPhone 16 |
GFXBench 3.0 / 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
Apple iPhone 15 |
GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
Apple iPhone 15 | |
Apple iPhone 16 |
GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
Apple iPhone 15 |
GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Apple iPhone 15 |
GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
Apple iPhone 15 | |
Google Pixel 9 |
GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Apple iPhone 15 |
GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Apple iPhone 15 | |
Google Pixel 9 |
GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
Apple iPhone 15 | |
Apple iPhone 16 |
GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
Apple iPhone 15 | |
Google Pixel 9 |
GFXBench / 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Apple iPhone 15 | |
Google Pixel 9 |
When surfing the web, the iPhone 16 is a force to be reckoned with. No other comparison device achieves such good benchmark results.
Once again, the iPhone 15 is further back in the line.
Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
Apple iPhone 16 (Safari 18) | |
Average Apple A18 (270 - 280, n=2) | |
Apple iPhone 15 (Chrome 117) | |
Xiaomi 14 (Chrome 120.0.6099.210) | |
Sony Xperia 5 V (Chrome 117.0.5938.60) | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 (Chrome 122) | |
Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 387, n=162, last 2 years) | |
Google Pixel 9 (Chrome 129) |
Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
Apple iPhone 16 (Safari 18) | |
Average Apple A18 () | |
Apple iPhone 15 (Chrome 117) | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 (Chrome 122) | |
Xiaomi 14 (Chrome 120.0.6099.210) | |
Google Pixel 9 (Chrome 129) | |
Sony Xperia 5 V (Chrome 117.0.5938.60) | |
Average of class Smartphone (15.2 - 569, n=148, last 2 years) |
Speedometer 3.0 - Score | |
Apple iPhone 16 (Safari 18) | |
Average Apple A18 (29.9 - 32.4, n=2) | |
Google Pixel 9 (Chrome 129) | |
Xiaomi 14 (Chrome 122) | |
Average of class Smartphone (1.03 - 34, n=56, last 2 years) |
WebXPRT 4 - Overall | |
Apple iPhone 16 (Safari 18) | |
Average Apple A18 (263 - 263, n=2) | |
Xiaomi 14 (Chrome 120.0.6099.210) | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 (Chrome 122) | |
Sony Xperia 5 V (Chrome 117.0.5938.60) | |
Average of class Smartphone (22 - 271, n=153, last 2 years) | |
Google Pixel 9 (Chrome 129) |
Octane V2 - Total Score | |
Apple iPhone 16 (Safari 18) | |
Average Apple A18 (90158 - 96054, n=2) | |
Apple iPhone 15 (Chrome 117) | |
Xiaomi 14 (Chrome 120.0.6099.210) | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 (Chrome 122) | |
Sony Xperia 5 V (Chrome 117.0.5938.60) | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 100368, n=204, last 2 years) |
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
Average of class Smartphone (277 - 28190, n=161, last 2 years) | |
Google Pixel 9 (Chrome 129) | |
Sony Xperia 5 V (Chrome 117.0.5938.60) | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 (Chrome 122) | |
Xiaomi 14 (Chrome 120.0.6099.210) | |
Apple iPhone 15 (Chrome 117) | |
Average Apple A18 (285 - 290, n=2) | |
Apple iPhone 16 (Safari 18) |
* ... smaller is better
In everyday situations, the iPhone 16's NVMe storage ensures very short loading times. However, the performance cannot be quantified because there are no reliable storage benchmarks for iOS.
Games - A gaming platform with a 60fps limit
The iPhone 16's screen runs at up to 60 frames per second. In many games, this maximum is also reached. This is the case with the graphics heavyweight, Genshin Impact, even when the highest graphics details are selected.
PUBG Mobile also runs at HD settings at a near-constant 60 frames per second. In Ultra HD settings, the iPhone 16 is partially slowed down to 40fps and then jumps back up to 60fps again. Nevertheless, the gameplay remains fluid.
We determined the gaming benchmarks using our Gamebench test tool.
Emissions - The iPhone 16 has stereo speakers
Temperature
Under load, the iPhone 16 can get pretty warm. After running the 3DMark Steel Nomad Light stress test on the device for an hour, we registered surface temperatures of up to 45.3 °C. By contrast, in normal use, it remains pleasantly cool.
The 3DMark stress tests show that, under full load, the iPhone 16 only has access to its full performance for a relatively short time before the SoC is put on a leash for temperature reasons. In some situations, the performance falls by almost a third, but even then, there is still plenty of power at hand.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 44.2 °C / 112 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.2 °C for the class Smartphone.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 45.3 °C / 114 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.6 °C / 80 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Steel Nomad Stress Test
3DMark | |
Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Apple iPhone 15 | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
Apple iPhone 15 | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Sony Xperia 5 V | |
Solar Bay Stress Test Stability | |
Apple iPhone 16 | |
Xiaomi 14 | |
Apple iPhone 15 | |
Samsung Galaxy S24 | |
Steel Nomad Light Stress Test Stability | |
Google Pixel 9 | |
Apple iPhone 16 |
Speakers
With its stereo speakers, the iPhone 16 creates a relatively balanced soundscape that is especially good when it comes to voices. At high volume, the speakers are not distorted, but they do sound somewhat tinny.
You can connect external audio devices to the smartphone via USB-C or Bluetooth 5.3. For wireless audio transmission, the iPhone 16 only has access to Apple's AAC and the baseline SBC option and therefore not a single high-res BT codec.
Apple iPhone 16 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (90.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 21.1% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (14.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 1% of all tested devices in this class were better, 1% similar, 98% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 16% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 81% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Samsung Galaxy S24 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (91.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 22.1% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5.3% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.3% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (16.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 4% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 92% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 23% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 73% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery life - The iPhone 16 gets a bigger battery
Power consumption
Running idle, the iPhone 16 isn't quite as economical as the iPhone 15. However, it achieves higher energy efficiency and consumes significantly less power than all comparison devices.
The iPhone 16 can be charged at a maximum of 20 watts via USB-C. In the test, a full charging cycle took 1 hour and 36 minutes, with a battery level of 80 percent being reached after 53 minutes.
Via MagSafe, the charging process works at up to 25 watts. Up to 7.5 watts wirelessly via Qi is possible.
Off / Standby | 0.09 / 0.19 Watt |
Idle | 0.51 / 1.42 / 1.43 Watt |
Load |
4.21 / 10.96 Watt |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy |
Apple iPhone 16 3561 mAh | Apple iPhone 15 3349 mAh | Google Pixel 9 4700 mAh | Samsung Galaxy S24 4000 mAh | Sony Xperia 5 V 5000 mAh | Xiaomi 14 4610 mAh | Average Apple A18 | Average of class Smartphone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Power Consumption | -18% | -37% | -48% | -15% | -5% | -16% | -26% | |
Idle Minimum * | 0.51 | 0.9 -76% | 0.66 -29% | 0.42 18% | 0.79 -55% | 0.51 -0% | 0.655 ? -28% | 0.895 ? -75% |
Idle Average * | 1.42 | 1 30% | 1.49 -5% | 0.93 35% | 1.08 24% | 0.89 37% | 1.21 ? 15% | 1.447 ? -2% |
Idle Maximum * | 1.43 | 1.1 23% | 1.78 -24% | 1.07 25% | 1.12 22% | 0.92 36% | 1.315 ? 8% | 1.608 ? -12% |
Load Average * | 4.21 | 6 -43% | 7.44 -77% | 15.43 -267% | 7.93 -88% | 9.08 -116% | 6.86 ? -63% | 6.41 ? -52% |
Load Maximum * | 10.96 | 13.6 -24% | 16.64 -52% | 16.51 -51% | 8.78 20% | 9.11 17% | 12.3 ? -12% | 9.61 ? 12% |
* ... smaller is better
Power consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Power consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Battery life
Compared to the iPhone 15, the iPhone 16's battery life is not only better because it has a 6 percent larger battery. At over 18 hours of simulated web surfing and 23 hours and 7 minutes when playing an HD video in a continuous loop, it also performed better in terms of its run times. In everyday situations, the small plus can be quite noticeable depending on the use case.
In the extreme scenario - the continuous computing stress provided by the Linpack app - the smartphone kept going for 3 hours and 37 minutes before needing to be plugged in again.
Apple iPhone 16 3561 mAh | Apple iPhone 15 3349 mAh | Google Pixel 9 4700 mAh | Samsung Galaxy S24 4000 mAh | Sony Xperia 5 V 5000 mAh | Xiaomi 14 4610 mAh | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Battery Runtime | 6% | -14% | -18% | 17% | 14% | |
Reader / Idle | 2772 | 2698 -3% | 2098 -24% | 2398 -13% | 2788 1% | 2926 6% |
H.264 | 1385 | 1305 -6% | 977 -29% | 1227 -11% | 1493 8% | 1674 21% |
WiFi v1.3 | 1096 | 1002 -9% | 990 -10% | 880 -20% | 952 -13% | 1092 0% |
Load | 217 | 306 41% | 232 7% | 159 -27% | 371 71% | 277 28% |
Notebookcheck overall rating
The Apple iPhone 16 is a very good smartphone with powerful features and a compact 6.1-inch format that still only continues to rely on a 60 Hz screen.
Apple iPhone 16
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10/24/2024 v8
Manuel Masiero