Apple iPhone 16 review

Design, build quality, handling

The most basic iPhone 16 still benefits from one of the most premium assemblies available to a smartphone, and that is something we love about Apple. You do get extra for your extra money.

The iPhone 16 doesn't bring a design overhaul, but it does change one important aspect that was an eyesore for many - the camera housing. Now, it is far more subtle, symmetrical, and fitting to the overall design.

Left: iPhone 16 • Right: iPhone 16 Plus

But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

The iPhone 16 is a dual-glass smartphone with a Ceramic Shield front, aluminum frame, and a Corning-made glass back of unspecified version. Like on the Pro models, the regular iPhones also get a matte finish on the frame and back glass.

Left: iPhone 16 • Right: iPhone 16 Plus

Note that this is the Ceramic Shield second generation, the one on the iPhone 15 Pro models, and not the new third generation that premiered with the iPhone 16 Pro.

Left to right: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Plus

The iPhone 16 is IP68-rated for dust and water resistance, but it goes beyond the minimum specified by the standard. Apple has sealed all iPhones enough to survive up to 6m water depth for 30 minutes. This, together with the Ceramic Shield and the impact-ready aluminum frame, makes this 170g iPhone one of the most durable non-rugged phones on the market.

The iPhone 16 is available in a variety of colors, some new, as usual - Black, White, Pink (ours), Teal, Ultramarine.

Let's take a closer look at the iPhone 16 now.

The front is home to the 6.1-inch OLED XDR screen, which may not have a 120Hz refresh rate, but it is bright, color-accurate, and offers the best HDR implementation we've seen so far.

The display has minimal bezels, though not as thin as on the Pro models. There is a pill-shaped cutout, also known as the Dynamic Island, which encapsulates two separate punch holes combined by the software with a bunch of black pixels. It has the selfie camera, Face ID tech, and some sensors.

Above the screen is the earpiece, which also acts as a nicely powerful stereo speaker. The other speaker is at the bottom, naturally.

Apple iPhone 16

The iPhone 16 has the new Action Button on the left side.

But it also comes with an even newer Camera Control on the right side of the frame, just below the Side key. This is a button that also features capacitive and force-touch layers that offer at least three variations of functions. Plus, Apple is preparing to make it work as a two-step shutter, which is the first thing we would have expected it to do, but not Apple, obviously. Well, at least an update is coming rather soon.

Playing around with the key in the camera app is enough to prove that Apple has reinvented this control and has taken it to new heights. Once you get used to controlling the camera via this multi-function button, you will forget to use the display for anything other than a viewfinder.

We'd be first to admit, however, that the button (being touch-sensitive) does get in the way when you are not trying to use it. It's best to set it to activate on press, rather than touch.

The back of the iPhone 16 features the new pill-shaped camera housing, which is now easier on the eyes because of the smaller footprint and the regular camera arrangement. Apple has made the housing a part of the rear glass - it has been carved out as one piece - which adds some premium looks and makes everything easy on the eyes.

The Apple iPhone 16 measures 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm and weighs 170g, much like the iPhone 15.

The new model is smudge-resistant thanks to the all-matte design. It is not that grippy, but it is not very slippery either. The compact size makes it extremely easy to handle and operate with one hand.

As usual, there is no fingerprint reader on the iPhone 16. You do get Face ID, which is quite fast and reliable.

Overall, the iPhone 16 has an exemplary build, even if there is no titanium used here. The phone is lightweight, and it feels great to use. It is exceptionally sturdy and waterproof. It is another superb build from Apple.