A new iPhone Pro series often includes a number of additional extras to justify a higher price than the entry-level iPhone. These extras usually include a third telephoto camera – reserved for the Pro series – and other newer features that debut on a Pro model and are introduced on the standard iPhone a year later. For example, the Action button was introduced on last year’s iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, but is now available on the iPhone 16.
But while Apple typically keeps its base iPhone on sale for two years after launch, the Pro model is typically discontinued after a year. That doesn’t mean you can’t find last year’s iPhone 15 Pro—it’s likely still in stock in stores while supplies last, or available as a refurbished model—but the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will otherwise displace last year’s 15 Pro and Pro Max.
The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max each offer a slightly new design compared to last year’s Pro phones, which could make a noticeable difference in the way you use the phone. Both of this year’s Pro devices will ship with larger screens, with the smaller Pro getting a larger 6.3-inch display (up from 6.1 inches on the 15 Pro) and the Pro Max getting even bigger with a 6.9-inch display (up from last year’s 6.7-inch display).
The 16 Pro now has an identical camera to the equivalent Pro Max model, while the Pro Max usually gets a minor upgrade. This includes a 5x optical zoom, which wasn’t available on last year’s 15 Pro but is on the Pro Max. All iPhone 16 devices, including the base and Plus models, get a new camera control button that provides quick access to photo and video modes.
The iPhone 16 Pro gets access to several Apple Intelligence AI features, including a Visual Intelligence feature that uses the camera and AI to identify objects and places around you. While the iPhone 15 Pro also gets access to these features, the iPhone 14 Pro and earlier Pro models do not. These features also include note summarization, an improved Siri assistant, and Genmoji – a method of generating new emojis using a command prompt.
Aside from the AI-enabled hardware, the iPhone 16 Pro also shares features with the iPhone 15 Pro that aren’t available on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro. These premium iPhones have a titanium finish introduced last year that helps the phones be lighter than most previous models despite their larger screen size. Both the 15 Pro and 16 Pro have USB-C ports instead of Lightning ports, and both can record spatial video, a type of 3D video that you can watch with the Apple Vision Pro headset. An always-on display, a Dynamic Island camera cutout, and satellite connectivity for emergency SOS are features available on all of these Pro models except the iPhone 13 Pro.
We’ve listed all the other differences between these iPhone Pro models in the specs table below so you can see how the phone has evolved over the years. Year-on-year upgrades tend to be small in recent years, but going from an iPhone 13 Pro or earlier to the iPhone 16 Pro would be a big change.
iPhone 13 Pro vs 14 Pro vs 15 Pro vs 16 Pro
| iPhone 13 Pro | iPhone 14 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display size, technology, resolution, refresh rate | 6.1 inch OLED; 2,532 x 1,170 pixels | 6.1 inch OLED; 120Hz; 2,556 x 1,179 pixels | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,556 x 1,179 pixels; 120 Hz adaptive | 6.3-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display; resolution 2,622 x 1,206 pixels |
| Pixel density | 460ppi | 460ppi | 460ppi | 460ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.3 inches | 5.81 x 2.81 x 0.31 inches. | 2.78 x 5.77 x 0.32 inches | 5.89 x 2.81 x 0.32 inches |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 147 x 72 x 7.65mm | 147.5 x 71.5 x 7.85mm | 70.6×146.6×8.25mm | 149.6×71.5×8.25mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 204g | 206g (7.27oz) | 187g (6.6oz) | 199g |
| Mobile-Software | iOS15 | iOS16 | iOS17 | iOS18 |
| camera | 12 megapixels (wide angle), 12 megapixels (ultra wide angle), 12 megapixels (telephoto) | 48 megapixels (wide angle), 12 megapixels (ultra wide angle), 12 megapixels (telephoto) | 48 megapixels (wide angle), 12 megapixels (ultra wide angle), 12 megapixels (3x telephoto lens) | 48 megapixels (Fusion), 48 megapixels (ultra wide angle) 5x telephoto lens |
| Front-facing camera | 12 megapixels | 12 megapixels | 12 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
| Video recording | ProRes video recording up to 4K at 30 fps (1080p at 30 fps for 128 GB storage)* | 4K at 60 fps | 4K | 4K up to 120fps; spatial video at 1080p at 30fps |
| processor | Apple A15 Bionic | Apple A16 Bionic | A17 Pro | A18Pro |
| RAM/Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | RAM not available; 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Expandable memory | Unknown | None | None | NO |
| battery | NO | Unknown; Apple promises 23 hours of video playback | Unknown; Apple promises up to 23 hours of video playback (20 hours streamed) | Up to 27 hours of video playback; up to 22 hours of video playback (streamed). 20W wired charging. MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with 30W adapter or higher; Qi2 up to 15W |
| Fingerprint sensor | Unknown; Apple claims 22 hours of video playback | None (Face ID) | None (Face ID) | None (Face ID) |
| Connector | flash | flash | USB-C (USB 3.0) | USB C |
| Headphone jack | None | None | None | None |
| Special features | ProMotion technology with adaptive refresh rates of up to 120 Hz; Lidar scanner; 5G-capable; MagSafe; waterproof (IP68); wireless charging; dual SIM functions (nano-SIM and e-SIM) | Dynamic Island; Always-On Display; 5G-capable; MagSafe; waterproof (IP68); wireless charging; dual SIM capable (e-SIM) | 5G (mmw/Sub6), Action Button, Always-On Display, IP68 rating, MagSafe, Dynamic Island, 5x optical zoom (equivalent to 120 mm), satellite connectivity, eSIM, Thread network technology | Apple Intelligence, Action button, Camera control button, 4 audio microphones, Dynamic Island, Display brightness range from 1 to 2,000 nits, IP68 resistance. Colors: Black titanium, white titanium, natural titanium, desert titanium. |
| US price starts at | $999 (128GB), $1,099 (256GB), $1,299 (512GB), $1,499 (1TB) | $999 (128GB), $1,099 (256GB), $1,299 (512GB), $1,499 (1TB) | $999 (128GB), $1,099 (256GB), $1,299 (512GB), $1,499 (1TB) | $999 (128GB), $1,099 (256GB), $1,299 (512GB), $1,499 (1TB) |
Check this out: Hands-On with iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max
