If you’re looking for a bigger iPhone experience, you’re likely debating between the iPhone 16 Plus and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Both boast the latest generation processors, impressive cameras, and similar core features like the Action Button and Camera Control. But, with the iPhone 16 Plus offering a significantly lower price tag, it’s worth considering which one truly offers the best value for your money.
Design: A Tale of Two Finishes
The iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max share a similar design language, though the differences are less pronounced than in previous years. The iPhone 16 Plus, for the first time, embraces the Action Button previously exclusive to the Pro models, and both phones feature the new Camera Control button. To further distinguish the two lines, Apple has introduced a redesigned vertical camera array on the iPhone 16 Plus, as opposed to the diagonal array found on the Pro Max.
While the iPhone 16 Plus is slightly thinner and shorter, both phones boast similar widths. However, the iPhone 16 Plus tips the scales significantly lighter than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The Camera Control button, placed at the bottom right of both phones, offers a unique tactile experience with its capacitive sensor that enables swiping, pressing, and half-pressing for specific camera features.
In terms of materials, the iPhone 16 Plus opts for an aluminum frame with a Corning Gorilla Glass back, available in five vibrant colors: black, white, pink, teal, and the eye-catching ultramarine. The iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the other hand, retains the robust titanium build from the iPhone 15 Pro line, offering four colors: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and the new Desert Titanium. While both designs are sleek, the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s titanium build edges out the iPhone 16 Plus’s aluminum finish.
Display: Size Matters, but So Does Smoothness
This year, Apple has made the Pro Max display even larger, boasting the biggest iPhone screen ever at 6.9 inches. While some may find this size to be overwhelming, the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s ultra-thin bezels help maintain a comfortable, ergonomic experience. This makes it the largest display of any flagship smartphone in the US, surpassing even the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, and OnePlus 12.
Both phones feature a stunning Super Retina XDR OLED display with excellent brightness, achieving up to 2,000 nits peak brightness and dimming down to just 1 nit for low-light conditions. The displays are also protected by Ceramic Shield, promising exceptional durability against bumps and drops. However, scratch resistance may vary between the two.
While both displays share similarities, the iPhone 16 Pro Max stands out thanks to its ProMotion display featuring LTPO technology for a smooth, variable refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz. This allows for an always-on display (AOD), a feature absent on the iPhone 16 Plus, which is limited to a fixed 60Hz refresh rate. However, the iPhone 16 Plus does gain the Dynamic Island feature previously exclusive to Pro models. While the iPhone 16 Plus boasts a sizable 6.7-inch display, the ProMotion capabilities on the iPhone 16 Pro Max offer a superior viewing experience.
Camera: A Pro-Level Experience, But How Much Do You Need?
Cameras played a significant role in the iPhone 16 launch, with non-Pro models receiving the same set of new camera features as their Pro counterparts. Both phones boast updated cameras, but, as with previous generations, the iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts a higher-grade camera for professional photographers and videographers.
The iPhone 16 Plus utilizes a new 48-megapixel Fusion camera alongside a 12MP ultrawide camera. The Fusion camera leverages pixel binning, merging pixels to create larger ones for capturing 24MP photos with enhanced light sensitivity. The iPhone 16 Plus also incorporates a 2x telephoto feature, achieving this effect through cropping the middle 12MP of the image. While this isn’t a dedicated lens, it boasts a faster aperture than previous 2x telephoto lenses, improving night photography.
The 12MP ultrawide camera shares many similarities with its predecessor, but now boasts autofocus, enabling a new macro photography mode for non-Pro iPhones. The iPhone 16 Pro Max utilizes the same 48MP Fusion camera, but pairs it with an improved 48MP ultrawide camera, though with a smaller pixel size, which may affect low-light ultrawide photography. It also retains the 5x telephoto lens from the iPhone 15 Pro Max, lacking any notable year-on-year improvements.
Both cameras feature innovative software-based features to leverage their capabilities. Audio Mix allows you to adjust the sound recorded during videos, while both phones capture spatial videos and photos, ideal for the Apple Vision Pro. The iPhone 16 Pro Max additionally supports Dolby Vision and 4K recording at 120 frames per second (fps).
The iPhone 16 Pro Max undoubtedly boasts the best iPhone camera, but the iPhone 16 Plus offers a remarkably similar experience. Unless you absolutely require a telephoto lens or a superior ultrawide camera, the iPhone 16 Plus’s camera may be more than enough for your needs.
Performance and Software: Power on Par
Apple emphasizes “Apple Intelligence” in both the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max, meaning they feature the latest 3nm processors, offering significant gains in memory bandwidth, neural processing unit (NPU) capabilities, and gaming performance. For the first time, the iPhone 16 Plus adopts the same latest-generation processor as its Pro counterpart. In previous years, Apple opted for older processors, but with Apple Intelligence in mind, it equipped the entire iPhone 16 lineup with the A18 processor.
The A18 processor in the iPhone 16 Plus features a six-core CPU, and the A18 Pro chipset in the iPhone 16 Pro Max includes the same feature set but with an additional core in its GPU. Both phones deliver exceptional performance, making it difficult to distinguish between the two. They both run iOS 18 out of the box, with Apple Intelligence expected to launch later this year.
Battery Life and Charging: A Tie, But With a Twist
While Apple doesn’t disclose individual battery capacities, the Pro Max lineup is known for exceptional battery life. The iPhone 16 Plus, boasting virtually identical battery capacity, should offer similar performance but is rated lower by Apple. While we need more time with the iPhone 16 Plus to fully assess its battery life, Apple claims it can deliver up to 27 hours of video playback or 100 hours of audio playback. The iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the other hand, has consistently demonstrated excellent battery life, lasting for two days between charges.
The biggest improvement this year lies in charging capabilities. Across the entire iPhone 16 lineup, Apple has enhanced charging speeds, whether you’re using a cable, Qi-wireless charging, or a MagSafe charger. MagSafe wireless charging is now boosted to 25W with Apple’s new MagSafe cable and a 30W charging puck. Qi-wireless charging has also increased to 15W using a first-generation or second-generation Qi charger. Both phones support up to 45W charging via USB-C when wired.
Availability and Price: The Biggest Difference
The iPhone 16 Plus starts at $899 and is available in five colors: black, white, pink, ultramarine, and teal. It offers 128GB of base storage, with optional upgrades to 256GB and 512GB.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max, starting at $1,199, comes with 256GB of base storage and offers upgrades to 512GB and 1TB. It’s available in four titanium colors: natural, black, white, and Desert.
Verdict: The Choice Is Yours
The iPhone 16 Pro Max offers the pinnacle of iPhone experience, but its $1,199 price tag is $300 higher than the iPhone 16 Plus. Given the minimal differences between the two phones and the significant price gap, the iPhone 16 Plus may be the more compelling choice for most users.
If you prioritize the telephoto lens, the improved ultrawide camera, or slightly longer battery life, the iPhone 16 Pro Max may be worth the additional premium. However, as highlighted in our iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro comparison, the differences between the non-Pro and Pro phones this year are relatively minor, with a $200 price difference.
Ultimately, the decision boils down to your individual needs and budget. Both the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max represent excellent additions to the iPhone lineup, offering a captivating experience. One boasts the largest screen, while the other delivers the best Plus experience, and both share a compelling set of features that make this year’s lineup truly exceptional.
