iPhone 16 Review
The iPhone 16 officially arrived on 20 September 2024 with a starting price of £799. It’s the first iPhone designed specifically with Apple Intelligence in mind — Apple’s upcoming AI system launching in December 2024 — and that has resulted in some noticeable design tweaks and new hardware choices.
Now that the handset is finally in the hands of the public, here’s our honest take on Apple’s latest release to help you decide whether it’s worth the price tag.
If you’re keeping up with Apple announcements, our Glowtime Event Highlights guide is also worth a read.
Will the iPhone 16 Be Different?
Let’s start with the design. Apple has moved away from the diagonal dual-camera layout we’ve seen since the iPhone 13 and returned to a vertical, pill-shaped camera arrangement. It’s cleaner, more compact and gives off an iPhone 12 nostalgia vibe.
The colour lineup has also had a refresh. The iPhone 16 arrives in:
- Ultramarine
- Teal
- Pink
- White
- Black
The Action Button makes a return too, carried over from the iPhone 15. Overall, the visual updates feel fresh without being dramatic — a welcome change compared to recent years where updates felt minimal.
But the most talked-about design addition is the new Capture Lens.
What Is Camera Control on iPhone 16?
The Capture Lens is a long, flat button on the side of the phone that controls photo and video functions. It’s touch-sensitive and pressure-sensitive, meaning it can respond to taps, presses and swipes:
- Press to open the Camera app
- Lightly press to bring up zoom and exposure controls
- Swipe to adjust depth of field or exposure
- Tap to begin recording
- Double-press to switch cameras
While it’s an interesting addition, we’re not fully convinced by its purpose. The Action Button already launches the camera, and the screen controls have always been intuitive. Adding another button means the right side of the iPhone now houses five buttons, which feels cluttered.
In our view, the Capture Lens may have made more sense as a replacement for the Action Button rather than an extra one.
iPhone 16 Specs
- Battery life: Up to 22 hours of video playback
- Screen size: 6.1-inch
- Storage: Up to 512GB
- Display: Super Retina XDR
- Chipset: A18
- Camera: Advanced dual-camera system (48MP + dual 12MP sensors)
- New feature: Capture Lens
- Price: £799
- Colours: Five options
- Release date: 20 September 2024
Our Thoughts
Reactions to the iPhone 16 have been surprisingly positive. Apple has often been criticised for minor aesthetic updates, but this year’s model finally brings a few clear visual differences. The new colours, the vertical lenses and the refreshed back design all make the 16 feel more distinct than recent base-model releases.
The Capture Lens, while innovative, feels unnecessary. It’s good to see Apple experimenting — but we’re not convinced this extra button truly improves the user experience.
The bigger talking point is the price. At £799, the iPhone 16 sits close to previous models despite offering only moderate design and internal upgrades. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to justify Apple’s annual price structure when many features remain familiar.
If you're curious how Apple’s competitors are shaping up this year, take a look at our Samsung S25 Rumours guide.
If the iPhone 16 doesn’t feel like the right fit, you’ll find plenty of alternatives across our range of refurbished mobile phones, each fully tested and checked through a 90-point process. And if the iPhone 16 does take your fancy, you can also trade in your current handset — we accept all phones, even damaged ones — and put the value towards your upgrade.
