Hands-on: iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro (videos)

Apple today officially unveiled the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, featuring new A18 chips, the camera control button, and more. Read on to recap some iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro hands-on content from today’s “It’s Glowtime” special event at Apple Park.

To refresh your memory, here are the highlights of what’s new in the iPhone 16:

New camera control button
Action button
Support for spatial photos and videos
Improved 48MP ultra-wide angle camera
A18 chip
Apple Intelligence support
New colors: black, white, pink, teal and ultramarine

And for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max:

Larger 6.3-inch or 6.9-inch displays
A18 Pro chip
Improved 48MP ultra-wide angle camera
New camera control button
4K video at 120 frames per second
5x telephoto lens comes to the iPhone 16 Pro for the first time
New colors: darker black titanium, lighter white titanium, natural titanium, desert titanium

Here is what The Verge website Nilay Patel had something to say about the camera control button today after trying it out:

The reason for this is not Only A shutter button is also a multifunctional capacitive control surface. The physical button itself is highly sensitive, so a very light press brings up the swipe-to-zoom control, and a light double press brings up additional controls you can swipe between, like lens selection, exposure, and the new photo styles available on the Pro. It took me a second to figure out how hard to press, but it wasn’t difficult to figure out. Apple says the button will get a two-stage shutter function that lets you lock focus and exposure as part of a software update later this year.

Cherlynn Low at Engadget on the larger screen sizes of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max:

One reason I found the iPhone 16 Pro to be a little slimmer than its predecessor may have to do with its display. It’s now 6.9 inches, compared to the 6.7-inch screen on its predecessor. However, Apple has managed to keep the handset the same size as before, while shrinking the bezels even further. It’s not something you’ll notice without putting the two devices side by side and taking a close look at the bezels, but it makes a small difference that makes this year’s Pro Max feel new.

Kerry Wan at ZDNet on the iPhone 16 colors:

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus come in five bold, colorful glass finishes: blue, green, pink, white, and black. They’re much more saturated than iPhone colors of recent years – especially the blue – and remind me of when Apple launched the iPhone XR. That said, no matter which of the new colors you choose, they’ll look unique, have a lot of character, and won’t be as easily confused with one another as they were with the iPhone 15.

Follow all iPhone 16 announcements and Apple events in our dedicated news hub.