Apple iPhone 16 Plus 5G Expert Rating: 8.5/10

Table Of The Content 

Apple iPhone 16 Plus 5G Unboxing Experience Design and Build Display Performance Camera System Video & Audio Performance Battery Life & Charging Gaming performance AI Features Connectivity Security iPhone 16 Plus 5G vs Competitors Pricing and Availability Customer Feedback Final Verdict Frequently Asked Questions

Apple iPhone 16 Plus 5G: A Balanced Powerhouse for the Mainstream

The iPhone 16 Plus 5G, released along with its siblings in September 2024, targets that sweetest spot where users want a large screen with good battery backup and are just short of buying into the "Pro" category premium price. It retains the basic treatment that applies to the regular iPhone 16 but acquires a special personality with bigger size and superior endurance. Let's delve into a comprehensive review.

iPhone 16 Plus Unboxing Experience

Being so familiar to all long-standing Apple users, the unboxing of the iPhone 16 Plus 5G still manages to give one the feeling of being premium and satisfying. Apple has been following the minimalist route with its packaging lately, and it is a sustainable way to ensure that the very first interaction with the device is special.
Here's a breakdown of what you can expect when you unbox your new iPhone 16 Plus:

The Box: Compact and Iconic

You'll find the iPhone 16 Plus in a sleek, compact, and sturdy white box. True to Apple's environmentally conscious efforts, the box is made from 100% recycled fiber. The design on the lid of the box will typically show the back of the iPhone 16 Plus, allowing you to see the vibrant color you chose (Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, Black, or White) and the new vertical camera arrangement. This immediately highlights one of the key visual changes for this generation.

The Unveiling: A Premium First Look

Once you remove the two protective paper seals, opening the lid presents the iPhone 16 Plus poised right at the center. Usually, the phone is placed perfectly snug within a recessed tray, sometimes with a protective layer over the screen-and that layer could be anything from a regular plastic sheath to a simple frosted film. This showy entrance is meant to highlight the 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display and the premium finish of the phone. The very moment you hold the phone, you know that aluminum frame feels good, and the color-infused glass-back even better.

What's Inside the Box

• The iPhone 16 Plus
  
• Braided USB Type-C to Type-C Cable
  
• SIM Eject Tool
  
• Documentation
  

The Initial Impressions:

• Feel in Hand: Picking up the iPhone 16 Plus, you'll notice its solid yet refined feel. The slightly lighter weight (199 grams) compared to some previous models and the comfortable curved edges make it feel good to hold for a large phone. The matte finish on the glass back is pleasant to touch and helps resist fingerprints.
  
• Action Button & Camera Control: You'll immediately spot the new Action Button on the left side (inherited from the Pro models) and the entirely new Camera Control button on the right. These physical additions invite immediate interaction and promise enhanced usability.
  
• Brightest Display: Once turned on, the 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display will awe you with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and intense brightness. Even at a mere 60Hz level, the entire process of setting up looks amazing with smooth animations and perfectly rendered text.

iPhone 16 Plus 5G Design and Build: Refined Elegance with a New Look

With the iPhone 16 Plus, Apple keeps up its tradition of high aesthetics and durability. Constructed in aluminum, the featured back of the phone is color-infused glass in crazy new hues like Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, Black, and White. The matte finish lends it a luxurious texture and is also quite resistant to smudging.

One of the marked differences as compared to past non-Pro versions lies in the vertical placement of the rear cameras, a nod to earlier iPhones but mostly to allow Spatial Video capture; this slight change also lends the phone a cleaner and more streamlined appearance.

Justifying its name, the Action Button grant rests on the iPhone 16 Plus an inheritance from last year's Pro models; a customizable physical button can be assigned to any function you'd want quick access to, from opening the camera to voice memos or translations. It retains the IP68-rated dust and water resistance, resisting everyday spills and splashes. Weighing in at 199 grams, it is a little bit lighter than its predecessor, thus improving holdability to some extent for a 6.7-inch device.

iPhone 16 Plus 5G Display: A Big, Bright Canvas, But No ProMotion

The iPhone 16 Plus boasts a remarkable 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2796x1290 pixels, leading to an extremely sharp 460 PPI. This display offers:

• Vivid colors and deep blacks as all OLED panels always do.
  
• Impressive brightness levels: 1,000 nits typical brightness, 1,600 nits peak brightness HDR, and an insane 2,000 nits peak outdoor brightness, allowing for comfortable viewing even under direct plenty of sunlight.
  

• Dynamic Island: This interactive pill-shaped cutout at the top continues its seamless integration for alerts, activities, and Face ID. 
  But, for a number of people, the 60Hz refresh rate still remains a point of dispute. While most Android phones, all priced far below, advertise 120Hz and above refresh rates, the iPhone 16 Plus still clings to the 60Hz. Due to this, scrolling gestures and animation effects felt less buttery smooth as compared to pros or even many other competing devices. Also, it lacks an Always-On Display, which is dependent on ProMotion. So in terms of color accuracy and brightness, the iPhone 16 Plus' display is stellar, but this lack of a high refresh rate spells out a stark difference from the Pro line-up and a potential pain point for some.

iPhone 16 Plus 5G Performance: A18 Chip – Power for Today and Tomorrow

At the core of the iPhone 16 Plus lies Apple's new A18 chip. Equipped with a hexa-core CPU, 5-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine, this chip offers truly impressive overall performance. 

• Everyday Usage: Sliding through iOS 18, launching apps, and multitasking are incredibly fluid and instantaneous. 
  
• Gaming: The A18 chip runs AAA games without any drift in frame rate or in its visual fidelity. In benchmark tests, there's a clear jump from the A17 Bionic, with some graphics tests running nearly 33% more frames than the iPhone 15 Plus. The new thermal design with the main logic board updated and chip placement optimized helps in maintaining performance when under load. 
  

• AI Prowess: A Neural Engine in A18 is optimized towards large generative AI models and hence plays an important role in enabling the new Apple Intelligence features (discussed below).
  The 8GB RAM of the iPhone 16 Plus is enough to provide smooth operation and future-proofing. It packs all the power a user is ever going to need for lag-free, super-responsive interactions.

iPhone 16 Plus 5G Camera System: Stepping Up for Spatial Capture and More

The iPhone 16 Plus enjoys an advanced dual-camera system that sees lot of improvements in the base models:

• 48MP Fusion Main Camera (f/1.6 with sensor-shift OIS): This is the primary workhorse, capable of capturing stunning super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP) with excellent detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance. The "Fusion" aspect allows for greater flexibility and quality. It also enables a 2x optical-quality Telephoto option (at 52mm focal length), effectively giving you two optical-quality cameras in one.
  
• 12MP Ultra Wide Camera (f/2.2 with 120° FOV): Somewhat the Ultra Wide this year is an exceedingly large upgrade with autofocus and a bigger aperture to get incredibly sharp, detailed macro shots and gather 2.6x more light for more quality in adverse lighting.
  
• Spatial Video Recording: The chief new feature capable of recording Spatial Videos at 1080p @ 30fps. This is enabled by the new vertical camera configuration and allows users to relive memories with tremendous depth on Apple Vision Pro and alike.
  
• Front Camera: Featuring a 12MP (f/1.9) TrueDepth front camera with autofocus as well as Retina Flash, it favors crisp selfies perfectly exposed and supports 4K Dolby Vision video recording.
  
• Camera Control: The camera control button gives you tactile feedback and placement on the device's right side and is quicker to use in operations concerning the camera. One press launches the Camera app; a light double press opens a menu of controls like zoom or tone, while a firm press takes a photo or starts recording video.  It can be customized as well.
  
• Next-Generation Photographic Styles & Visual Intelligence: Upgraded Photographic Styles allow more truly personal looks with improved skin-tone rendering with the mood that the user wants to create. Visual Intelligence enables you to get information about what you are pointing your camera at (i.e., product info, plant identification).
  While it lacks the dedicated telephoto lens and ProRes video capabilities of the Pro models, the iPhone 16 Plus offers a highly capable and versatile camera system for everyday photography and video, with exciting new capabilities like Spatial Video.

iPhone 16 Plus Video & Audio Performance

The iPhone 16 Plus offers a superb audio and video experience, making it an excellent device for multimedia consumption.

Video Performance: A Visual Feast

The star of the show for video is its expansive 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display. This panel delivers:

• Exceptional Clarity: With a resolution of 2796x1290 pixels (460 PPI), videos are incredibly sharp and detailed.
  
• Vibrant Colors and Contrast: OLED technology ensures deep, inky blacks and vibrant, accurate colors, making movies and TV shows pop.
  
• High Brightness: With a typical brightness of 1,000 nits and an impressive 2,000 nits peak outdoor brightness, content remains clearly visible even under direct sunlight, perfect for on-the-go viewing.
  
• HDR Support: Full support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG ensures you get the full dynamic range intended by creators, with stunning highlights and shadow detail.
  
• Spatial Video Playback: A key new feature is the ability to record and play back Spatial Videos (at 1080p 30fps), offering a truly immersive, 3D experience when viewed on compatible devices like the Apple Vision Pro.
  

While it lacks the ProMotion's 120Hz refresh rate of the Pro models, the sheer quality of the display in terms of color accuracy, contrast, and brightness ensures a premium viewing experience.

Audio Performance: Immersive Sound

The iPhone 16 Plus provides a robust audio experience:

• Stereo Speakers with Dolby Atmos: It features built-in stereo speakers that deliver a surprisingly full and loud sound for a smartphone. With Dolby Atmos support, audio gains a spatial dimension, making movies and music feel more immersive.
• Spatial Audio Playback: The phone supports Spatial Audio playback, especially when paired with compatible AirPods (like AirPods Pro or AirPods Max), creating a theater-like experience where sound seems to come from all around you, and even follows your head movements.
• High-Quality Recording: When recording video, the iPhone 16 Plus captures Spatial Audio and stereo sound, contributing to a more realistic and immersive audio track. It also features wind noise reduction for clearer recordings.
• Audio Mix: New "Audio Mix" capabilities, powered by AI, allow you to adjust voice levels in your videos post-capture, with options like "In-frame" (focuses on voices on camera), "Studio" (simulates professional studio sound), and "Cinematic" (consolidates voices to the front).

Overall, the iPhone 16 Plus offers a compelling multimedia package, delivering vibrant visuals and rich, immersive audio that significantly enhances the entertainment experience.

iPhone 16 Plus 5G Battery Life & Charging: A True Endurance Champion

• One of the strongest selling points of the iPhone 16 Plus is its battery life. Coming with a huge battery of 4,674 mAh, it promises exceptional longevity as it is 6.6% larger than that of the 15 Plus battery.
• Extended Usage: Apple claims 27 hours of video playback and up to 100 hours of audio playback. However, the usage of multiple users in the field tells the story differently, where power users have an average of about 1.5 to 2 days of battery life depending on heavy use or media consumption on the go. Weighing it down with heavy use will be a scenario the phone can be ready for all day with some snack time.
• Charging: Wired charging remains up to 30W using USB-C good enough to give you a half charge in about 35 minutes with an adapter of choice. MagSafe wirelessly can charge at 25W, and Qi2 wireless charging is supported; thus, charging fast is not a matter here. Still, in terms of speed, Apple's wired charging is below many Android flagship phones that come with much faster charging. However, the USB-C on this phone is limited to USB 2.0 speeds for data transfer. This certainly is a bit of a bummer for a device positioned at this price point.

iPhone 16 Plus Gaming performance

The iPhone 16 Plus offers a phenomenal gaming experience, largely thanks to Apple's new A18 chip. This chip, with its 5-core GPU and enhanced Neural Engine, delivers a substantial leap in graphical horsepower and efficiency compared to previous non-Pro iPhones.

• Raw Power: The A18 handles even the most graphically demanding AAA titles like Genshin
• Impact, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Resident Evil Village with remarkable ease. Expect consistently high frame rates (often a locked 60 FPS in many titles) and smooth, stutter-free gameplay, even at high graphic settings. Benchmarks show a significant improvement in GPU performance over the iPhone 15 Plus.
• Thermal Management: Apple has improved the thermal design in the iPhone 16 Plus, with optimized chip placement and cooling solutions. This ensures that the phone can sustain peak performance during extended gaming sessions without experiencing significant thermal throttling.
• Immersive Display: The large 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display is a visual feast for gamers. Its vibrant colors, deep blacks, and exceptional brightness (up to 2000 nits peak outdoor) make game worlds truly pop. While the 60Hz refresh rate remains a point of contention compared to Pro models and many Android flagships, the sheer quality and size of the panel still offer an immersive experience.
• Long Battery Life: The substantial 4,674 mAh battery ensures that gaming sessions can last for hours without needing a recharge, a significant advantage for mobile gamers.

Overall, the iPhone 16 Plus is a highly capable gaming device, delivering a premium and reliable experience for all types of mobile games.

iPhone 16 Plus 5G AI Features: The Smart Evolution

A defining feature of the iPhone 16 Plus, like other models in the lineup, is its deep integration with Apple Intelligence. While some features required an over-the-air update (iOS 18.1), they aim to provide a more personal, private, and powerful user experience.

• Generative AI Capabilities: Powered by the A18's Neural Engine, Apple Intelligence brings generative AI directly to your device.
  
• Writing Tools: 
  

1. Proofread: Corrects grammar and spelling, and even contextual word usage.
   
2. Summarize: Condenses long texts (notes, messages, web pages) into key points or single phrases.
   
3. Rewrite: Adjusts the tone and wording of your texts for different contexts.
   
4. Smart Reply: Suggests phrases and texts as you type.
   

• Image Editing: AI-enhanced tools in the Photos app: 
  

1. Clean Up: Intelligently removes unwanted objects or distractions from photos.
   
2. Genmoji: Create custom emojis from scratch or by using photos of friends and family.
   

• Enhanced Siri: Siri receives a significant upgrade with ChatGPT AI integration, giving it more natural, flexible, and context-aware responses. Siri can now be invoked silently (without saying "Hey Siri") and also shows a visual "halo" effect around the edges of the phone when the assistant is activated. It is now also better at dealing with follow-up questions.
  
• Visual Intelligence: Pointing the camera toward an object or place will provide information with the help of Visual Intelligence (through the Camera Control button), such as identifying plants, animals, or details about landmarks. 
  
• Prioritized Notifications: "Reduce Interruptions" Focus mode uses AI to filter notifications while prioritizing them, showing the ones that truly deserve your attention from a personal context.
  
• Private Cloud Compute: Apple takes privacy seriously, so many AI tasks are performed on-device, while Private Cloud Compute handles the more complex queries with the guarantee that user data remains safe and private.
  While some Apple Intelligence features were not available out of the box and required subsequent iOS updates, their presence makes the iPhone 16 Plus a much smarter and more capable device over time.

iPhone 16 Plus 5G Connectivity: Future-Proofing with Wi-Fi 7

iPhone 16 Plus arrives with very thorough and future-ready connectivity:

• 5G (sub-6 GHz) 4x4 MIMO: Assures cellular data speed with higher reliability.
  
• Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO: Offers the newest and fastest wireless internet standard for compatible networks, with huge boosts to speed and latency.
  
• Bluetooth 5.3: For flawless and efficient wireless peripheral connectivity.
  
• The second-generation Ultra Wideband chip: For spatial awareness within Find My, Airdrop, etc.
  
• Thread networking technology: For smart home connectivity.
  
• NFC with reader mode: Apple Pay and other tap-to-pay functions.
  
• USB Type-C: The universal port for charging and data. (As stated, still USB 2.0 speeds).
  
• Dual SIM support (Nano-SIM + eSIM): Good if you want two different numbers.

iPhone 16 Plus 5G Security: Apple's Unwavering Commitment

Security has always been the cornerstone of the iPhone experience, and the 16 Plus further reinforces it: 

• Face ID: The highly secure and reliable facial recognition system, which is integrated within the Dynamic Island, is still the primary biometric authentication method. 
  
• Rugged Security Features of iOS 18: iOS 18 introduces a whole new set of privacy controls and security enhancements, thus adding to Apple's strong reputation for data protection.
  
• Emergency SOS via Satellite and Crash Detection: These are the missing pieces of safety; they automatically detect whether a severe crash has occurred, call emergency services, or connect to satellite-based emergency services in an area that lacks cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.
  
• Private Cloud Compute for AI: In Apple's AI processing paradigm, personal data going to AI processing is encrypted and not accessed by Apple, thereby keeping a high degree of privacy. 
  
• Regular Software Updates: Apple's software support leads the industry and ensures that timely security patches and feature updates are available for the device for many years to come.

iPhone 16 Plus 5G vs Competitors

Feature	iPhone 16 Plus 5G	Galaxy S24+	OnePlus 12
Price (India)	₹89,900 – ₹1,19,900	₹99,999 – ₹1,05,999	₹64,999 – ₹69,999
Display	6.7" Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz	6.7" QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz	6.82" 2K AMOLED, 120Hz LTPO
Chipset	A16 Bionic	Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (India)	Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Rear Cameras	12MP Wide + 12MP Ultra-Wide	50MP Wide + 12MP Ultra-Wide + 10MP 3x	50MP + 64MP Tele + 48MP Ultra-Wide
Front Camera	12MP	12MP	32MP
Battery	~4,400mAh	4,900mAh	5,400mAh
Charging	20W Wired, 15W MagSafe	45W Wired, 15W Wireless	100W Wired, 50W Wireless
Refresh Rate	60Hz	120Hz LTPO	120Hz LTPO
OS	iOS 18	One UI 6.1 (Android 14)	OxygenOS 14 (Android 14)
Water Resistance	IP68	IP68	IP65
Build Quality	Aluminum + Ceramic Shield	Armor Aluminum + Gorilla Glass Victus 2	Metal Frame + Glass
Software Updates	5–6 years	7 years	4 years

iPhone 16 Plus Pricing and Availability 

The iPhone 16 Plus was launched with a starting price around ₹82,900 for the 128GB variant in India.

• 128GB Storage: Around ₹82,900 - ₹84,900
  
• 256GB Storage: Around ₹92,900 - ₹99,900
  
• 512GB Storage: Around ₹1,09,900 - ₹1,19,900

The iPhone 16 Plus was launched on September 9, 2024, and sales began September 20, 2024, across India .

• Apple India Online Store
  
• Amazon, Flipkart, Croma, Vijay Sales, and Supreme Mobiles
  
• Apple Premium Resellers & Authorized Stores
  

iPhone 16 Plus Customer Feedback

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“Battery life is great. Display is good. Camera is awesome. Build and performance are great. Sound quality is better. Little big for one hand.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“Well, it's a good phone indeed. Amazon was very helpful in timely delivery.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐“Good phone so far... didn’t like the colours on 16/16 plus models and also the camera lens position.” 

⭐⭐⭐⭐“Great experience so far. Smooth with no lags. Amazing Camera quality and great sound.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐“Good phone so far... didn’t like the colours on 16/16 plus models and also the camera lens position.” 

Apple iPhone 16 Plus 5G Final Verdict

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus 5G is a high-end beast for users who treasure premium design, battery life for an entire day, and a very smooth iOS experience. Its large 6.7" Super Retina XDR OLED display is pretty spectacular for watching movies and the A16 Bionic chip powers it well in day-to-day usage and photography through its phenomenal dual cameras.

In some aspects, it is still 60Hz and lacks the telephoto or ultrawide cameras, but it doesn't charge as fast as some of its Android competitors. That said, for the loyal iOS users or those drifting from older iPhones, the iPhone 16 Plus 5G does provide a dependable and future-proofed well-rounded experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the display size of the iPhone 16 Plus?

It features a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display.

Does iPhone 16 Plus support 5G in India?

Yes, it fully supports Indian 5G bands including NSA and SA modes.

Which processor powers the iPhone 16 Plus?

It is powered by the Apple A16 Bionic chip with 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU.

What is the battery life of the iPhone 16 Plus?

It offers up to 26 hours of video playback, one of the best in the iPhone lineup.

Does iPhone 16 Plus support fast charging?

Yes, up to 20W fast wired charging and 15W MagSafe wireless charging.

What are the storage options available?

128GB, 256GB, and 512GB variants are available.

Is iPhone 16 Plus waterproof?

Yes, it has IP68 water and dust resistance.

What is the iPhone 16 Plus rear camera setup?

Dual cameras: 12MP main with OIS + 12MP ultra-wide with 120° field of view.

Does iPhone 16 Plus support Night Mode and Cinematic Mode?

Yes, both Night Mode and Cinematic Mode (4K 30fps) are supported.

Is iPhone 16 Plus have a Dynamic Island feature?

Yes, the iPhone 16 Plus includes Dynamic Island at the top of the display.

Does iPhone 16 Plus support Face ID?

Yes, it uses Face ID for biometric authentication.

Is the iPhone 16 Plus refresh rate 120Hz?

No, it still uses a 60Hz refresh rate panel.

What colors are available for the iPhone 16 Plus?

Midnight Black, Starlight, Blue, Pink, and Product(RED) variants are available.

Is a charger included in the iPhone 16 Plus box?

No, only a USB-C to Lightning cable is included—charger sold separately.

Can I use eSIM on iPhone 16 Plus in India?

Yes, it supports both physical SIM + eSIM in India.

How many years of software updates will iPhone 16 Plus receive?

Apple typically offers 5–6 years of iOS updates.

Can iPhone 16 Plus shoot in 4K?

Yes, it supports 4K video recording at 24, 30, and 60fps.

How much does the iPhone 16 Plus weigh?

It weighs approximately 203 grams.

Is it worth upgrading from iPhone 14 or 15 Plus?

Only if you want better performance, longer battery life, and updated design with Dynamic Island.

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This content was last updated on 14/07/2025