The answer is the same as last year. And the same as the year before.

Once again, the question when buying an iPhone is whether or not to go for the Pro model. This year there are some differences that we didn’t find in previous generations, starting with the size of the devices themselves. Despite this, we are looking at two high-end devices with a good list of similarities.

At GEARRICE we have been able to test both the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16, and we are going to tell you based on our experience which is the most recommended model depending on the type of user. Spoiler: the answer is the same as last year.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 specifications

The similarities: same feelings as last year

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro share display technologies. Both come with Super Retina XDR panels, 2,000 nits peak brightness (1,600 in HDR), and identical calibration. I’ll go into the differences in user experience with the panels later, but I’m confident that most users will be more than satisfied with the standard models’ display.

They also share RAM, which this year is 8 GB for all models. Apple’s goal is for all four iPhone 16s to be able to run Apple Intelligence, and this was one of the minimum requirements. At the connectivity level they are also identical, and the maximum memory configuration is 1 TB for all.

Two of the big new features they share this year are, on the non-Pro models side, the Action Button. A fully programmable button that comes to replace the classic volume switch. It is no longer a feature of the Pro models and is now something native to the entire family.

Camera Control is the second major new feature. It lets you open the camera – or other camera apps as of iOS 18.1 – and control zoom and various photography functions such as aperture, photo styles, etc.

Design and user experience

The main difference for these 2024 iPhones is in the sizes. This year, we find small changes in the final dimensions due to the panels growing by 0.2 inches. The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are a few extra mm taller. This is the first time since the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max that Apple has changed the size of its panels on the Pro models.

In our experience, this is a virtually negligible increase compared to the previous generation. In fact, since the Pro models have much smaller bezels, the feeling is that of having a larger screen in practically the same size.

In terms of hand feel, the Pro models are once again the most premium and the standard models are, in my opinion, the most attractive. The color scheme of the iPhone 16 is much more striking, and the fewer grams are appreciated. They are lighter phones, to the point that the iPhone 16 Pro weighs the same as the iPhone 16 Plus. If weight is a key point for you, the Pro models are not the best option.

Once again, I give the design win to the base iPhones. They are a bit more compact, lighter, have more dynamic colors and, although it is somewhat subjective, I think they have a much more attractive design.

Display and performance: two drops of water, saving ProMotion

The panels on these devices are practically identical, with the exception that the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have a 60 Hz refresh rate. This figure is not very justified for terminals that are around 1,000 euros, but ProMotion is still reserved for the Pro variants.

My experience with the bulk of the people around me? Some don’t even notice the 120 Hz -yes, I know that a Xataka reader will see this as something implausible, but there is a whole world out there of users who don’t notice Hz-. Considering that the rest of the specs -except for the extra 0.2 inches of the Pro- are identical, the panel is not a problem on these phones.

If we jump to the Pros we’ll have it all. Adaptive refresh rate from 120 Hz to 1 Hz, the larger size and those slightly better-used frames. Of course, if we use a case, it absorbs part of the new improvement and there is hardly any difference in bezels compared to its younger brothers.

In terms of performance, the iPhone 16 Pro has a more powerful variant of the A18, the A18 Pro. It has one more core in its GPU and is slightly more capable. Again, landing in the world of average users, the difference is non-existent. These iPhones are faster, run a little less hot, and have better-sustained performance than last year.

The victory, in terms of pure technical specifications, goes to the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max in terms of screen and performance. But in terms of everyday use, I can assure you that there are practically no differences between the models.

Autonomy: a good year to bet on small models

In terms of battery life, there are improvements, but not too noticeable. In my particular case, I have noticed that the iPhone 16 Pro lasts slightly longer than the 15 Pro. My colleague Iván has not noticed a much higher battery life in the model with a larger screen, the iPhone 16 Plus.

Here the summary is the same as every year: if autonomy is key for us, Plus and Max models. If what we want is decent autonomy but size is a priority, the standard models are the solution. Despite this, the autonomy in the small models seems sufficient to endure an intense day thanks to the small improvement.

Camera: Zoom and Pro modes a difference

On a photography level, the main difference between these models is in the zoom . The iPhone 16 makes do with a 2x “telephoto” lens thanks to the cropping of the 48-megapixel sensor. In other words, they can zoom without losing much quality, although they do not have a dedicated telephoto lens for this purpose.

Although the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 have a 48-megapixel main sensor, they do not have exactly the same one. Despite this, the final quality of the photographs is practically identical, with some differences in dynamic range. In fact, curiously – as was already the case last year – it is not strange to see the iPhone 16 take slightly brighter photographs, since its sensor captures a greater dynamic range.

If you want to have complete control over your photos, the Pro models are the best option. You have the option to shoot in ProRAW, as well as recording in LOG format. These are professional formats that require you to process them yourself. The advantage? You’re likely to be able to process the files better than the phone natively interprets.

Which iPhone 16 should I buy?

The answer to this question is the same as I gave last year: the iPhone 16 is still the model to buy. In terms of quality, having one of the best processors on the market, a screen with 2,000 nits of brightness – despite the 60 Hz -, a very high-level camera with 2x zoom without loss of quality, and the guarantee that it will be updated for years, are a life insurance.

If you need a phone with longer battery life, the Plus variant is the best buy. The sacrifice is having a huge phone, but at under 200 grams the experience in hand is quite pleasant.

The fact that the standard models are the most recommended does not mean that the Pro models are a bad alternative. These models, in my opinion, are especially aimed at photography and video lovers. The 5x telephoto lens, the ProRAW format, LOG recording… The iPhone 16 Pro are beasts for content creation, both casual for networks and professional.

In short, betting on the Pros means winning in:

• A little more screen and size.
• ProMotion at 120 Hz adaptive.
• 5x telephoto camera.
• Finished in grade 5 titanium.
• A slightly faster processor.
• LOG and ProRAW modes.
• USB-C 3.2 vs 2.0.

If these points are key for us, the Pro models are the model to buy. Otherwise, which is quite likely, the base models take the win.