Introduction
But we already know what to expect. The 16 Pro will come with a slightly larger screen, a slightly larger battery, a faster processor with AI support, and charging speeds may even be faster. Apple is also revamping the ultra-wide and zoom cameras with a new 5x zoom camera. This is shaping up to be a big year for the otherwise compact Pro model.
iPhone 16 Pro Against iPhone 13 Pro Differences:
| iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 13 Pro |
|---|---|
| Larger 6.3-inch screen | 6.1-inch screen |
| 1.2mm screen bezel size | 2.4mm bezel size |
| Slightly heavier at 194 grams | 206 grams weight |
| Faster A18 Pro chipset | Apple A15 Bionic |
| New modem for improved connectivity | Older modem |
| New 5x telephoto camera | 3x telephoto camera |
| New 48MP ultra-wide angle camera | 12MP ultra wide angle camera |
| New physical record button | No physical record button |
| Larger battery size | 3,095 mAh battery |
| Possibly faster loading | 25W wired charging |
Table of contents:
Design and size
Slightly larger size and a cool new record button
While the overall design of the iPhone 16 Pro and 13 Pro are similar, with flat sides and a familiar-looking camera system, but there are some key changes.
First off, the size is a bit bigger with the larger 6.3-inch screen (compared to the 13 Pro's 6.1-inch display). The bezels around that screen will be narrower on the 16 Pro for a more modern look.
Despite its slightly larger dimensions, the 16 Pro will weigh less because it uses titanium for the frame instead of the heavier stainless steel of the 13 Pro.
Here are the expected sizes of the new model compared to the old one:
| iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 13 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 149.6mm | 146.7mm |
| Width | 71.4mm | 71.5mm |
| thickness | 8.25mm | 7.7mm |
| Weight | 194g | 204g |
| Bezel size | 1.2mm | 2.4mm |
A brand new feature is the record button, which is located just below the power button on the right side of the phone. This new button is capacitive, so it won't be accidentally triggered while in your pocket. As the name suggests, it is dedicated to camera functions only, but it is not limited to the native camera app.
The function is similar to that of a shutter button on a conventional camera, but has advanced features.
You can then also swipe on it and it will act like a mini trackpad that lets you zoom in and out, scroll through filters, or use other custom functions.
Another innovation for iPhone 13 Pro It offers owners a USB-C port, a welcome change from the proprietary Lightning port, as well as Dynamic Island with Face ID instead of the notch. IP68 water and dust protection is the same on both phones.
Show differences
Apple switches to a larger 6.3-inch screen on the 16 Pro, a slight but still noticeable departure from the 6.1-inch display on the 13 Pro.
This may mean that compactness comes at the expense of the keyboard, but for the average user who needs a little more screen space, it seems to be the right choice.
For a more modern look, the bezels around the screen on the 16 Pro have also been reduced by half.
Another welcome change is the increase in brightness: from a typical 1,000 nits on the 13 Pro to 1,200 nits on the 16 Pro.
Both phones have a 120Hz ProMotion screen.
Despite the switch from a notch to Dynamic Island for Face ID on the front, the speed and functionality of facial recognition has not changed.
Performance and software
Faster chip with AI capabilities
We've been talking about processor speed and benchmarks for years, and while there are improvements here too this year, the big topic this time is AI.
With the expected new A18 Pro chip, Apple must show and convince the world that its chips are equal to or better than those of its competitors, especially for AI tasks.
It's also no surprise that the 16 Pro has 8GB of RAM on board, the minimum requirement for AI, while the 13 Pro, with its limited 6GB of RAM, doesn't support AI features.
However, do not expect all of the Apple Intelligence features presented to be available at once with the iPhone 16 Pro.
Other minor changes include a new modem, the Snapdragon X75, which promises better connectivity and signal reception.
The The iPhone 16 Pro is also in the race for you get Wi-Fi 7 support compared to Wi-Fi 6 on the iPhone 13 ProThis should give you up to 2.4x faster speeds and improved latency under ideal conditions.
camera
5x zoom and a brand new ultra-wide angle camera
With three cameras on the back, the iPhone 16 Pro and 13 Pro have some similarities, but a lot has actually changed in these three years.
The main camera is upgraded from 12MP to 48MP, giving you far better details and better low-light performance, as well as lossless 2x zoom quality with sensor crop.
The ultra-wide-angle camera has also been upgraded from 12 MP to 48 MP, with similar benefits for detail and night shots.
Finally, the 3x zoom camera is replaced by a 5x zoom tetraprism lens with a longer reach – ideal for filming your kids at a concert or really anything from a distance (the ability to take 3x portraits is lost, though).
As for video, you get more capable 4K cinematic video on the 16 Pro (in fact, this was also available on the 14 Pro and 15 Pro). The brand new feature, however, is 3K120 slow motion, a huge change from the less detailed 1080p slow motion we have now. We're excited about this rumored change, as even some high-end professional cameras don't support 120fps beyond 1080p. This will open up a ton of creative possibilities.
Battery life and charging
Enjoy better battery life and faster charging
A slightly larger iPhone offers the possibility for a larger battery and Apple seems to be doing just that.
The iPhone 16 Pro is rumored to have a 3,577 mAh battery, almost 16% larger than the previous model (which had a 3,095 mAh battery).
Apple rates the iPhone 13 Pro for 22 hours of video playback, so we'll look for an estimate for the 16 Pro at next week's event.
Of course, we also run our extensive internal battery tests, which should give you a much more detailed idea of the actual battery improvements.
Even more exciting is that we may finally have faster charging on the iPhone 16 Pro. We say “finally” because virtually all other flagship phones have made the jump to at least 45W charging speeds, while Apple only supports around 25W. Well, rumors suggest the 16 Pro could hit 40W charging speeds via a cable.
You may also have a faster MagSafe with 20W speeds (versus 15W on the 13 Pro).
Specifications comparison
| Technical data | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 13 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Mass | 149.6×71.5×8.25mm | 146.7×71.5×7.7mm |
| Weight | 194g | 204g |
| Screen | 6.3 inches OLED 120Hz |
6.1 inches OLED 120Hz |
| processor | Apple A18 Pro New 3nm technology |
Apple A15 Bionic 5nm |
| RAM, memory *Price expectations |
Similar configurations Prices not yet known |
6/128GB 6/256GB 6/512GB 6/1TB |
| Cameras | 48MP Main 48 MP ultra wide angle 12 megapixels, 5x zoom 12MP front |
12 MP main lens, f/1.5 12 MP ultra wide angle, f/2.2 12MP 3x zoom, f/2.8 12MP front |
| Battery size | 3,355mAh +2.5% |
3,095mAh |
| Loading speeds | 40W wired 20W MagSafe *possible |
25W wired 15W MagSafe |
Summary
So what do we have with the iPhone 16 Pro?
Three years certainly bring a lot of changes and we think this is the perfect time for iPhone 13 Pro Owners who want to upgrade to the 16 Pro.
You expect cool new AI features, a revamped camera system, longer battery life, and faster charging. These are the basics that everyone cares about and will appreciate.
Of course, we won't know if all this will happen or not until the official unveiling. Apple has its “Glowtime” planned. iPhone16 Event for next Monday, September 9th, so check back here for an update with all the final details.