Apple iPhone 16 PRO iPhone 16 PRO Review

The iPhone 16 Pro's A18 Pro chip delivers elite, 98th-percentile performance, and its camera is top-notch. But its battery life ranks in the bottom quarter, and at $979, it's a premium price for a power user who doesn't mind carrying a charger. Consider Android rivals for better battery and value.

The iPhone 16 Pro lands in the 98th percentile for overall performance in our database. That's not just fast, it's one of the quickest phones you can get right now, thanks to Apple's A18 Pro chip. It's paired with a solid 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, which is more than enough for most people. The camera system is also a standout, scoring in the 91st percentile, so you're getting flagship-level photo and video chops.

But there's a trade-off. The battery life sits at a dismal 24th percentile. With a 3582 mAh cell, you're looking at a phone that needs a charger more often than its competitors. It's a classic Apple move: give you incredible power and a great camera, but make you pay for it in daily endurance. The $979 price tag for this 512GB model is also firmly in premium territory.

Let's talk about that 98th percentile performance score. It's real. The A18 Pro chip, with its two high-performance cores at 4.05 GHz and four efficiency cores, is a monster. In practical terms, this thing chews through apps, games, and 8K video editing without breaking a sweat. It's future-proofed for years. The GPU is a 5-core design, and while we don't have a direct gaming benchmark percentile, the overall performance ranking suggests you won't be disappointed.

The camera performance, at the 91st percentile, is backed by a versatile triple setup: a 48MP main sensor, a 48MP ultra-wide, and a 12MP 2x telephoto. For video creators, the 8K recording and Dolby Vision HDR support are serious tools. Just know that all this power comes from a battery that scores in the 40th percentile. The 27 hours of rated video playback is decent on paper, but in mixed daily use with that powerful chip, you'll feel the drain.

At $979 for the 512GB model, you're paying a premium for the Apple ecosystem, the A18 Pro's raw power (98th percentile), and that excellent camera (91st percentile). The value proposition hinges entirely on how much you prioritize those two things. If top-tier performance and a great camera are your non-negotiables, this price might be justifiable. But if battery life (24th percentile) is a daily concern, or if you want more features for your money (45th percentile), there are competitors that offer a better overall package for less cash.

Stacked against its rivals, the iPhone 16 Pro's story is about strengths and weaknesses. The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE will likely offer a better screen and battery for hundreds less, but won't touch the A18 Pro's CPU performance. The Google Pixel 10 will almost certainly destroy it in computational photography features and battery efficiency, while probably matching or beating it on pure camera quality. The OnePlus 15 will be a value king, offering 80-90% of the performance and camera quality at a much lower price point, with faster charging. The iPhone 16 Pro wins if your benchmark is pure, unadulterated speed and you're locked into iOS. For everyone else, the competition makes a compelling, and often more balanced, argument.

Skip the iPhone 16 Pro if your top priority is all-day battery life. A score in the 24th percentile means you'll be hunting for outlets, and that's a deal-breaker for many. Also, avoid it if you're budget-conscious. At $979, you're paying a lot for performance and the Apple logo, while competitors in the $600-$800 range offer 90% of the experience with better batteries and more features. Finally, if you value a dazzling screen above all else, its 30th percentile display ranking suggests you can do better elsewhere.

We can recommend the iPhone 16 Pro, but with a big, flashing caveat. If you need the absolute fastest phone money can buy and you live within the Apple ecosystem, this is your device. The 98th percentile performance and 91st percentile camera are legit. However, you must be willing to accept the 24th percentile battery life as a daily companion and the $979 price tag. For most people, a phone is a tool that needs to last all day, and rivals like the Pixel 10 or Galaxy S25 FE offer a more balanced, enduring experience for less money. This is a specialist's phone, not a generalist's.