iPhone 16 review: Apple's new smartphone is almost perfect

If you've been waiting patiently to upgrade your trusted old iPhone then this is definitely a year to consider making the jump to something new. Apple's latest and greatest iPhone 16 is here and there's a slew of very useful updates and shiny new features that make this device worth splashing the cash on.

Express.co.uk has had the larger iPhone 16 Plus squeezed into our pocket and there's almost nothing bad to say about it.

Let's start with the new bolder colours which are much more in your face than last year's more subtle tones. We're big fans of the bright Ultramarine, Teal, and Pink shades and they certainly shout, "I have a new iPhone!" when pulled from your jeans.

Along with that striking new look, Apple is also promising a more robust design thanks to updated Ceramic Shield technology that's around 50 percent tougher than before.

Luckily, we haven't dropped our review unit but hopefully, there will be fewer trips to the Apple Store if you are a little prone to accidents.

Hit the power button and the Super Retina XDR display springs into life with this screen still offering a bright, colourful and pin-sharp experience. During the day it can be pushed up to an eye-pleasing 2000 nits and at night things will now drop down to just 1 nit - that's good news if you love consuming endless TikTok videos or browsing the web just before bed.

The display is excellent but it's also our biggest gripe about the iPhone 16 as it still only offers a measly 60Hz refresh rate. If you've ever used the iPhone Pro's ProMotion display you'll know what a difference it makes when flicking through content, whizz around websites or scrolling through your apps.

Almost all Android phones - including much cheaper models - now include 120Hz technology and it really is about time Apple switched things over on its standard iPhones.

It's not a deal-breaker and it shouldn't stop you from buying this device but it's highly annoying that the US firm won't budge and speed up its entry-level display.

Now that we have that bad news out of the way let's carry on with all the good parts about the iPhone 16 - and there are plenty of reasons to be excited.

Firstly, it gets an upgraded A18 processor which is truly mighty. You can throw the kitchen sink at this device and it won't bat an eyelid. Everything - including photo retouching, video editing and app launching - is silky smooth and we've found nothing that this smartphone won't breeze through.

Gaming is also much-improved thanks to this speedy new brain with titles such as Resident Evil 4, Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Death Stranding getting a more console feel.

The A18 processor also means this device is ready for the upcoming Apple Intelligence update - more on that later.

Next, there are some new buttons embedded into the sides of the aluminium casing including the useful Action Button which was only previously available on iPhone 15 Pro models.

We really like this customisable extra as it lets you access features such as the Torch, Shazam music searching and Voice Memos with just one tap. It's nice to see it arrive on Apple's cheaper phones and that's not all as you also get the new Camera Control as well.

This sits on the bottom right of the device and lets you launch the camera app and snap photos via a simple press. Of course, you've been able to snap selfies using the volume switches for years but this is more than just a shutter button as you can also change settings and even zoom using swipes and gentle double taps.

That's thanks to Apple featuring a force sensor that interacts with the Taptic Engine to give you those controls.

It's definitely a useful addition that we've thoroughly enjoyed. However, the gesture controls do take a bit of getting used to and you'll need some patience to get to grips with all the features it offers.

Is this a ground-breaking addition to the iPhone? Probably not...will you use it? 100 percent yes!

Whilst we are on the subject of photography there's more good news if you enjoy snapping photos on your phone. Apple has upgraded the rear dual-lens snappers to include a 48MP Fusion camera and 12MP Ultra Wide camera.

The iPhone has always been good at getting great point-and-shoot images and this latest models take things up a notch.

You can get nearer to the action thanks to a 2x Telephoto capability, there's also a Macro option for extreme close-ups and all the shots we've snapped look bright and packed with detail. Night photography is also improved thanks to the lenses letting in more light when the sun goes down.

Of course, if you want the ultimate camera then you'll need to go Pro but for the average user, it's really hard to fault the iPhone 16.

If you want to make things look Instagram-ready, Apple has also included a swathe of styles - such as Natural, Dramatic and Vibrant - which can be changed after the image is taken and edited to suit your desired look.

Video has also been improved this year thanks to better audio recording which can reduce background noise and focus in on the people you are shooting. It's a really smart update that could be useful for budding moviemakers.

Thanks to the new stacked position of these cameras it's also possible to shoot immersive Spatial Photos and Videos which can then be viewed in 3D on Apple's space-aged Vision Pro headset - that's if you've splashed out the £3,500 to own one of course.

SEE OUR CAMERA SAMPLE SHOTS BELOW

As we explanied earlier, the new A18 processor offers some seriously impressive performance and things are also improved when it comes to battery life. Apple has popped bigger battery packs inside its devices this year and you'll easily get a full day of usage from a single charge.

In fact, treat the iPhone 16 kindly and you'll go a long way into a second day without needing to go near a plug. When things do finally run flat, there is faster wireless MagSafe recharging. During our tests, we were able to go from 30 percent to 70 percent in around 30 minutes.

That's clearly great but it does come with a warning as you will need to buy a new £39 MagSafe puck (and have a 30W plug, also £39) to take advantage as the older MagSafe pucks are not compatible with the faster speeds.

Other extras that are worth mentioning include faster Wi-Fi 7 speeds, Crash Detection, SOS text messaging and iOS 18 out of the box.

One thing that's sadly missing from the iPhone 16 at launch is Apple Intelligence. This update was announced earlier this year and is aimed at making these devices much, much smarter.

Apple Intelligence is coming soon but if you buy the iPhone 16 right now you won't find features such as automatic proofreading and editing for documents, prioritising your inbox and cleaning up photos without needing a degree in Photoshop.

Apple Intelligence is a massive release from the US firm that also boosts the usefulness of Siri and should make certain laborious tasks, such as trawling through emails for flight information, a whole lot faster.

We won't know just how good it is until it launches but watch this space, it could be a game-changer. It's worth remembering that only the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro will be compatible with Apple Intelligence which is another reason why this is a good year to upgrade.

Finally, there's the price as Apple has kept things the same this year. The iPhone 16 starts from £799 with the Plus model we tested costing £899. Apple has cut the cost of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 by £100 but don't forget that these devices won't get that Apple Intelligence update later in the year.

Apple iPhone 16 final verdict

We remain pretty miffed about that 60Hz screen technology (please Apple, fix it on the iPhone 17!) but that really is our only gripe this year. The iPhone 16 is no no-brainer for anyone looking to upgrade especially as it's one of the only devices that will get Apple Intelligence later this year.

It features that bold new look, gets the Action and Camera Control buttons plus there's that stupendously fast A18 processor and upgraded rear cameras.

The tougher design should also help keep it looking box-fresh for longer and it comes with Wi-Fi 7, eSIM technology for faster set-up (most UK networks now offer this service) and the latest iOS 18 operating system.

There's no price rise in 2024, the wireless charging is quicker and there's a bigger battery inside which means you won't have to worry about things running flat.

So yes, other than that screen complaint, this is the ultimate iPhone upgrade that comes highly recommended.