Apple has just unveiled its highly anticipated iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, ushering in a new era of smartphone capabilities. Powered by the groundbreaking A18 Pro chip, these devices are designed to handle the most demanding experiences and AI workloads of the future. But the new iPhones weren’t the only stars of the show. Apple also introduced the Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4, enhanced AirPods Pro 2, and the new AirPods Max, all boasting new software features, color options, and a welcome transition to USB-C connectivity, finally bidding farewell to Lightning.
The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max come in storage options ranging from 128GB to a generous 1TB, starting at $999 for the base 128GB iPhone 16 Pro. Apple is continuing to embrace the programmable Action Button, first introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro, allowing users to customize its functionality to perform a variety of actions. A brand-new button takes things a step further, seamlessly launching the camera app and acting as a dedicated hardware shutter, just like a traditional camera.
Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, enthusiastically described the new models: “Powered by the faster, more efficient A18 Pro chip and built for Apple Intelligence, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are the most advanced iPhone models we’ve ever made. Customers who are looking for the best possible iPhone will be able to take advantage of this huge step forward, whether they’re applying edits to a photo without lifting a finger, rewriting meeting notes for a more professional tone, or using the advanced camera system to capture their next masterpiece in 4K120 FPS in Dolby Vision – all while enjoying extraordinary battery life.”
Apple has significantly increased the display sizes for the new Pro models. The iPhone 16 Pro boasts a 6.3-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max features a massive 6.9-inch display, making it the largest iPhone screen ever. Both models are equipped with stunning Super Retina XDR displays featuring Always-on functionality and ProMotion technology. To further enhance durability, Apple has incorporated the latest generation of Ceramic Shield, offering 2x the strength of glass found on other smartphones. A new mechanical architecture enhances heat dissipation and efficiency, resulting in a remarkable 20% improvement in sustained performance.
The camera system on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max has undergone a significant upgrade. Powered by the A18 Pro chip, the new 48-megapixel Fusion camera boasts a faster and more efficient quad-pixel sensor, alongside a refined Apple Camera interface. This translates to groundbreaking 4K 120FPS video recording in Dolby Vision, marking the highest resolution and frame rate combination ever achieved on an iPhone and a smartphone first, according to Apple.
The A18 Pro chip, manufactured using TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process node, features a completely redesigned architecture with smaller, faster transistors, resulting in “unprecedented efficiency.” Apple has also incorporated a new 16-core Neural Engine, delivering faster and more efficient performance than ever before, powering remarkable on-device performance for Apple Intelligence. Apple reports a 17% increase in total system memory bandwidth, the highest ever on an iPhone, along with a 20% performance leap in the 6-core GPU compared to its predecessor. Hardware-accelerated ray tracing (RT) is also significantly improved, achieving speeds up to 2x faster on the A18 Pro. A new 6-core CPU, the fastest ever in a smartphone, comprises two performance cores and four efficiency cores, enabling workloads to run 15% faster than the previous generation while consuming 20% less power.
Apple offers the new iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max in a range of storage configurations, from 128GB to the flagship 1TB option. The iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a starting price of $1199. With its powerful A18 Pro chip, enhanced camera system, larger displays, and a host of new features, Apple’s latest Pro models are undoubtedly pushing the boundaries of what a smartphone can achieve.
