iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro: 10 ways to convince yourself you need an upgrade

As tick follows tock, Apple released a new round of iPhones in September 2024, and they’re all better than the models that came before. That’s a given at this point, but where things really get interesting is whether or not it’s worth paying the extra £200 to jump from the entry-level iPhone 16 to the more premium iPhone 16 Pro.

In previous years, that was a relatively easy decision to make. The Pro model not only used nicer materials, but had better cameras, a better display, and more. But while some of that remains true, it’s also accurate to say that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro are more similar than previous iterations ever were. And that can make a buying decision more complicated.

So with that being said, here are 10 ways to convince yourself that the iPhone 16 Pro is the phone for you.

1. I am titaaaaaaniuuuuum

The iPhone 16 is made from an aluminum construction which looks great in a new range of glorious colors. But if you’re all about premium materials the iPhone 16 Pro’s titanium is where it’s at. It’s just a shame that the colors are so muted compared to the non-Pro model.

2. Putting on a display

Unlike the 2023 lineup, there’s actually a size difference between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro’s displays this year. The former has the familiar 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display while the latter stretches that to 6.3 inches. It has smaller bezels as a result, but you’ll also get 120Hz ProMotion support (for smoother animations and scrolling) and Always-On display support as well. Both are huge deals and arguably worth the price of admission alone.

3. Pro performance

This year’s iPhone 16 Pro has the A18 Pro beating at its heart, while the iPhone 16 has to settle for the equally new A18. The differences? The Pro gains an additional GPU core, improving gaming performance. That chip is also faster, albeit barely so. Still, every little helps.

4. A photographer’s iPhone

The iPhone 16 Pro, as has become the norm, has one extra camera to laud over the iPhone 16 in the form of a 5x tetraprism telephoto lens. That’s great for taking shots of far-away things, as you’d expect, but it isn’t the only difference here. While both models have an ultra wide camera, only the iPhone 16 Pro received an upgrade to 48 megapixels this year, offering a sharper image and more flexibility.

5. Not all USB-C ports are created equal

Sticking with the photography theme, people who take a lot of photos or capture a tonne of video on their iPhone will know that getting those files onto a computer can be an exercise in frustration. While the iPhone 16 has a USB-C port, it’s limited to just USB 2 transfer speeds. Upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro and you’ll experience USB 3 speeds which promise up to 20x faster transfer times.

6. More storage than you can shake a stick at

Whether it’s videos or games, those who have big storage needs are going to need to go Pro. The iPhone 16 is available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB configurations while the iPhone 16 Pro offers a 1TB option at the very top of the range.

7. Pro iPhone, pro video features

It’s no secret that the iPhone is a favourite among creatives, and pro videographers already know that they’re going to go Pro year after year. It’s no different with the iPhone 16 Pro thanks to support for advanced video features like Log video recording, compatibility with the Academy Color Encoding System, and support for slo-mo video recording up to 120fps at 1080p resolution. There’s even support for ProRes video recording at up to 4K and 120fps when connected to an external storage device. You won’t get any of that with an iPhone 16.

8. A battery life monster

It’s no good having all of the new Apple Intelligence features, great cameras, and a triple-A gaming experience if the battery won’t last. And the iPhone 16 Pro ups the ante here, too. Apple says buyers can expect up to 27 hours of video playback (22 hours on the iPhone 16) and 22 hours of streamed video playback (80 hours on the iPhone 16.) Both support MagSafe, Qi2, and wired USB-C charging, though.

9. Great now, even better in the future?

We can’t deny that neither of these iPhones is cheap, which means getting the best value possible is key. Most people don’t change their iPhones each year, and new software adds new features regularly. But only last year’s iPhone 15 Pro is getting Apple Intelligence which leaves iPhone 15 buyers high and dry. Could something similar happen in the future? We don’t know, but we do know that the iPhone 16 Pro’s A18 Pro chip offers more headroom, and that means it’ll be snappier for longer, no matter what.

10. Taking a macro look at life

Back to photography again, the iPhone 16 Pro’s ultrawide camera offers improved macro capabilities thanks to that upgraded 48-megapixel sensor. If you’re someone who takes lots of shots of really small things, all those extra pixels could make all the difference.

Ultimately, both of these iPhones are great additions to the lineup and worthy upgrades for iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro owners. Which you choose will depend on your needs, but those who are really serious about the iPhone’s cameras have already made their mind up — it’s the iPhone 16 Pro all day long. For everyone else? The iPhone 16 is a great iPhone, and it’s all the better for those gorgeous colours, too.

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