With iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max on order for pickup or supply beginning Friday, early critiques of the premium handsets are rolling in. Our iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max overview roundup finds so much to love within the largest upgrades — primarily elevated display screen measurement and the cameras’ beefed up performance.
However with Apple Intelligence nonetheless to come back to check the superior new A18 Professional chip, upgrades appear largely iterative, leaving a lot of the eye centered on the large jumps iPhone 16 and Plus took this yr.
iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max overview roundup: Larger sizes, higher efficiency
Quickly after Apple rolled out iPhone 16 on September 13, it started to appear like the bottom fashions would possibly outshine the normally flashier Professional fashions is yr. And early gross sales figures could bear that out. The reason being bigger-than-average upgrades within the base mannequin in comparison with the iPhone Professional fashions for this yr. Early critiques of iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are, certainly, very constructive. However after all the Professional fashions noticed upgrades, too, and loads of reviewers nonetheless name it the very best iPhone due to its excellent characteristic set.
Design and show
The iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max characteristic barely bigger shows than their predecessors, with slimmer bezels permitting for six.3-inch and 6.9-inch screens respectively, critiques in TechCrunch and elsewhere identified. Whereas the scale enhance is refined, Tom’s Information famous that the Professional Max specifically feels noticeably bigger, probably making one-handed use more difficult for some of us.
Gizmodo praised the new desert titanium colour possibility as notably enticing, although Wired lamented the lack of extra vibrant colour decisions for the Professional fashions in comparison with the usual iPhone 16. The telephones retain their sturdy titanium body and Ceramic Defend entrance, with Apple claiming 50% improved drop safety.
Efficiency and battery life
Powered by Apple’s new A18 Professional chip, the iPhone 16 Professional fashions ship distinctive efficiency. Tom’s Information cited benchmarks displaying CPU efficiency as much as 50% sooner than prime Android opponents. Wired famous that whereas gaming efficiency is robust, some high-end titles like Resident Evil Village skilled occasional crashes throughout testing.
Battery life sees enhancements, too, notably on the Professional Max. Tom’s Information recorded over 18 hours of steady internet shopping, a 4-hour enhance over the iPhone 15 Professional Max. The usual Professional mannequin presents extra modest positive aspects however nonetheless gives all-day battery life for many customers. Gizmodo highlighted that charging speeds stay unchanged, with Apple nonetheless not supporting sooner 45W charging regardless of some rumors.
Cameras and images
Photograph: Apple
The digital camera system receives notable upgrades, with each Professional fashions now that includes an identical setups together with a 48MP predominant sensor, 48MP ultra-wide, and 5x telephoto zoom, reviewers famous.
Key enhancements embody:
- A brand new 48MP “Fusion Digicam” system promising “zero shutter lag” for sooner seize after you press the button, plus improved low-light efficiency. As a overview Engadget identified, the velocity is stunning. The reviewer saved taking the shot prematurely, anticipating at the very least a little bit of lag.
- In AM, reviewer Austin Mann stated he was most excited concerning the ultra-wide-angle functionality, which he demonstrated fairly nicely in Kenya, Africa (see his video under).
- Enhanced Photographic Types with extra granular colour changes and pores and skin tone choices.
- 4K video recording at 120fps for smoother slow-motion footage.
- Improved “Audio Combine” options for isolating voices in noisy environments.
Whereas reviewers usually reward digital camera high quality, opinions are blended on whether or not it constantly outperforms prime Android opponents just like the Google Pixel 9 Professional. Wired famous that in some eventualities, comparable to panoramas and ultra-wide photographs, it most well-liked the Pixel’s output.
New Digicam Management button
A standout {hardware} addition is the brand new Digicam Management performance and its button. The customizable, touch-sensitive button gives fast entry to the digital camera app and varied capturing controls.
Reviewers had blended emotions about its utility:
- TechCrunch discovered it sooner than utilizing on-screen controls for capabilities like zooming.
- Gizmodo famous it may be awkward to make use of, particularly for left-handed customers.
- Wired finally most well-liked it as a easy shutter button reasonably than utilizing its extra superior gesture controls.
Apple Intelligence options
Photograph: Apple
A major focus of the iPhone 16 Professional is its Apple Intelligence AI capabilities. Nonetheless, most of those options weren’t out there throughout the overview interval and can arrive through software program replace in October. Based mostly on beta testing, reviewers shared preliminary impressions:
- Tom’s Information: Improved Siri with a brand new visible design and skill to deal with follow-up questions.
- Gizmodo: “Clear Up” picture enhancing just like Google’s Magic Eraser.
- Wired: Writing instruments for summarizing textual content, adjusting tone and proofreading, plus real-time transcription in apps like Voice Memos and through telephone calls.
Wired famous that whereas some options like sensible replies really feel like catch-up to present Android capabilities, Apple’s implementation focuses on privateness and on-device processing. Gizmodo argued this cautious method could profit customers in the long term in comparison with extra aggressive AI rollouts from opponents.
Nice options in iOS 18
Reviewers additionally famous the brand new iPhones ship with iOS 18, bringing welcome new options like:
- Additional dwelling display screen customization choices
- Redesigned Photographs app
- RCS messaging assist for improved texting with Android customers
- New password administration app
Conclusion: Significant upgrades, however actual take a look at may include Apple Intelligence
Reviewers usually agreed that the iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max are glorious units that deliver significant enhancements to digital camera capabilities, efficiency and battery life. Nonetheless, the dearth of instant availability for closely marketed AI options leaves some uncertainty about their real-world affect.
Tom’s Information concluded that whereas it’s an iterative replace, the iPhone 16 Professional Max “retains its title as the very best telephone” as a result of its mixture of efficiency, digital camera high quality and battery life. Wired emphasised that the variations between Professional and non-Professional fashions really feel much less vital this yr, probably making the usual iPhone 16 a compelling possibility for a lot of customers.
In the end, these due for an improve will probably be pleased with the iPhone 16 Professional’s refinements, however homeowners of current fashions could wish to wait to see how Apple Intelligence options materialize earlier than making the bounce.
Pricing and availability
The iPhone 16 Professional begins at $999, with the Professional Max starting at $1,199. Pre-orders can be found now, with units transport and in shops Friday. For those who go for one, don’t overlook to get a protecting case for it from amongst our picks for the very best ones thus far.
