The iPhone 16 Plus represents Apple’s latest effort to refine the balance between premium features and affordability in its line-up. Positioned as the mid-tier option, it builds on the foundation of its predecessor with improvements in performance, battery life, and camera capabilities, while still offering the iconic large display that appeals to power users and tech enthusiasts.
While it doesn’t boast every cutting-edge feature of the Pro models, such as a 120Hz display or ProRAW, the iPhone 16 Plus delivers a polished experience tailored for everyday users who prioritise practicality and value. But is it truly a significant upgrade, or merely an incremental improvement? Let’s dive into the details to determine if the iPhone 16 Plus is worth the investment.
The combination of an efficient chipset and improved thermal management means the phone remains cool even during demanding tasks
| Photo Credit:
John Xavier
Display and Design
The iPhone 16 Plus features a 6.7-inch display with a 60Hz refresh rate, which may be a dealbreaker for some, especially when compared to the 120Hz ProMotion technology found in the Pro models. Despite this limitation, iOS’s optimised animations and smooth software somewhat mitigate the lower refresh rate. The screen is large, bright, and boasts excellent colour accuracy, with peak brightness matching the Pro models, making it suitable for outdoor use.
The bezels are thinner than previous non-Pro models but still slightly more noticeable than the Pro series. Dynamic Island is included, though opinions are mixed—useful for notifications and multitasking but visually intrusive for some users. The build quality stands out, with a clean aluminium frame. While Apple launched this device in a bunch of colour variants, we got the stylish-looking matte black version. The phone resists fingerprints and feels durable, with the matte black finish exuding a premium quality akin to higher-end models.
Performance and Battery
Powered by the A18 chipset and equipped with 8GB of RAM, the iPhone 16 Plus delivers excellent performance. It handles multitasking, gaming, and AI features effortlessly, rivalling even the Pro models in everyday use. iOS optimisation ensures the phone runs efficiently, making the lack of a 120Hz display less noticeable in most scenarios.
Overall, the camera suite balances practicality and performance
| Photo Credit:
John Xavier
Battery life is a standout feature. With a larger capacity than the iPhone 15 Plus, it provides around 1.25 days of usage on average, outperforming older models like the 14 Pro Max. The combination of an efficient chipset and improved thermal management means the phone remains cool even during demanding tasks like video editing or gaming. This phone is ideal for users who prioritise long-lasting battery life.
Camera
The camera system receives several meaningful upgrades. The addition of macro mode enhances versatility, allowing for close-up shots with excellent detail. The main camera supports 10x zoom, improving over previous models, while video capabilities remain strong, delivering smooth and vibrant results. The lack of ProRAW and 4K at 120fps may deter professionals, but for most users, the camera will perform exceptionally well.
Picture shot with the Apple iPhone 16 Plus camera
| Photo Credit:
John Xavier
The 12MP front-facing camera, however, remains unchanged from prior generations and feels outdated in 2024. While it delivers reliable performance, an upgrade would have been welcome.
Picture shot with the Apple iPhone 16 Plus camera
| Photo Credit:
John Xavier
Overall, the camera suite balances practicality and performance, appealing to users who want high-quality photos and videos without needing pro-level features.
Picture shot with the Apple iPhone 16 Plus camera
| Photo Credit:
John Xavier
Apple Intelligence
The iPhone 16 Plus benefits from the latest iOS 18 features, including polished widgets, AI integration, and seamless software updates. The addition of visual intelligence tools, like object and location recognition through the camera, enhances usability. While some Pro-specific features like split-screen multitasking are absent, the overall software experience is highly refined and leverages Apple’s ecosystem strengths, including iMessage and seamless device compatibility.
Picture shot with the Apple iPhone 16 Plus camera
| Photo Credit:
John Xavier
Final Verdict
The iPhone 16 Plus is a solid device that delivers an excellent balance of performance, design, and battery life at a more affordable price than the Pro models. It’s not without its drawbacks, notably the 60Hz display and the absence of certain Pro features like ProRAW or split-screen multitasking.
However, for users who prioritise long battery life, high-quality cameras, and Apple’s ecosystem, it is a compelling choice.
So, is it worth upgrading? If you are using an older Plus model, like an iPhone 14 Plus or earlier, and want better battery life, improved performance, and camera enhancements, you may want to upgrade to the new iPhone 16 Plus. On the other hand, if you currently own a 15 Plus or a Pro model with 120Hz and are satisfied with your current device, you will be better off staying with your current device.
The phone resists fingerprints and feels durable, with the matte black finish exuding a premium quality akin to higher-end models
| Photo Credit:
John Xavier
For most users, the iPhone 16 Plus is a worthy upgrade and arguably the best Plus model Apple has released. It strikes a fine balance between affordability and premium features, making it a practical choice in 2024.
The iPhone 16 Plus is available in India in three storage variants: 128 GB, priced at ₹79,900; 256 GB, priced at ₹89,900; 512 GB, priced at ₹1,09,900. These prices are consistent across all colour options, including White, Black, Pink, Teal, and Ultramarine.
Published – December 31, 2024 03:08 pm IST
