Apple’s 2024 iPhone series is official, with the tech giant unveiling four new high-end smartphones with upgraded features and specs. The iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max come packed with better cameras, Apple’s on-device AI and new design features. Best of all, the range is actually cheaper than last year’s iPhone 15 family — meaning you’ll get better specs for less.
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro series will be available to pre-order from September 13, with each phone arriving in-store the following week. Read on for all the details on Apple’s newest premium smartphones.
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When is the iPhone 16 release date?
The iPhone 16 range will be available to pre-order from Apple, selected retailers and Australian telcos from 10pm AEST on Friday, September 13. Devices will ship to customers and hit Aussie stores on Friday, September 20.
What is the price of the iPhone 16?
This year’s iPhone range is slightly cheaper than the 2023 iPhone 15 series: you’ll find the standard 16 and 16 Plus down by $50 – $100, while the Pro series has decreased by $50.
You can pick up the iPhone 16 series at full price from Apple and authorised sellers. If you’d prefer to buy on a phone plan, each model will be available from Telstra, Optus or Vodafone on 12, 24 or 36-month of device payment plans.
Here are the recommended retail prices of Apple’s iPhone 16 range.
iPhone 16 prices
- 128GB: $1,399 AUD
- 256GB: $1,599 AUD
- 512GB: $1,949 AUD
iPhone 16 Plus prices
- 128GB: $1,599 AUD
- 256GB: $1,799 AUD
- 512GB: $2,149 AUD
iPhone 16 Pro prices
- 128GB: $1,799 AUD
- 256GB: $1,999 AUD
- 512GB: $2,349 AUD
- 1TB: $2,699 AUD
iPhone 16 Pro Max prices
- 256GB: $2,149 AUD
- 512GB: $2,499 AUD
- 1TB: $2,849 AUD
Prepaid SIM-only plans you might like
The following table shows a selection of sponsored SIM Only plans on Canstar Blue’s database with links to referral partners.
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1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $17.50) SIM Only Prepaid
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50GB Data/month |
$17.50 Cost/month |
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1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $17.50) SIM Only Prepaid
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50GB Data/month |
$17.50 Cost/month |
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1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $10) SIM Only Prepaid
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25GB Data/month |
$10.00 Cost/month |
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Where can I buy the iPhone 16?
You can order any of the iPhone 16 models directly from Apple, both online and in store. You’ll also be able to buy the series from authorised retailers such as JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys, Officeworks and Harvey Norman. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone will also stock the range on device plans.
The following table compares a selection of 24-month 128GB iPhone 16 plans as published on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of their standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our phone plan comparison tool to compare plans from a range of providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
The following table compares a selection of 24-month 128GB iPhone 16 Plus plans as published on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of their standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our phone plan comparison tool to compare plans from a range of providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
The following table compares a selection of 24-month 128GB iPhone 15 plans as published on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of their standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our phone plan comparison tool to compare plans from a range of providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
The following table compares a selection of 24-month 256GB iPhone 16 Pro Max plans as published on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of their standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our phone plan comparison tool to compare plans from a range of providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus
Design and display
- iPhone 16: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display
- iPhone 16 Plus: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display
- Face ID facial recognition
- IP68 water and dust resistance
- Dynamic Island widget
- Action button
- Camera Control button
The standard iPhone 16 and larger iPhone 16 Plus showcase a similar overall design to last year’s 15, although the alignment of the rear cameras has been tweaked to stack the lenses vertically. Both phones come with a tough aluminium body and Ceramic Shield font, and IP68 dust and water resistance for up to 30 minutes of submersion in up to six metres of fresh water.
Unlike the Pro series, there’s no display size increases in the 16, so customers will get the same 6.1 or 6.7 inches of screen as last year’s models. Both phones feature Apple’s Super Retina XDR displays, with a peak outdoor brightness of up to 2,000 nits and a maximum refresh rate rate of 60Hz. This is again the same screen specs as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, so buyers expecting a faster refresh rate on par with competing phones may be disappointed. As with last year, the 16 and 16 Plus include Apple’s Dynamic Island on-screen widget, which allows for fast notifications and app controls.
However, there’s two major changes in store for iPhone 16 users. One is the inclusion of the Action button, which is a physical button that was first introduced in the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. Located in place of the mute switch on the left side, this button can be configured to perform a variety of one-click tasks, such as switching on silent mode, activating the flashlight or camera, accessibility features and more. The second is a devoted Camera Control sensor under the Action button, which responds both to presses and sliding gestures to allow you to adjust camera features.
Battery and performance
- iPhone 16: Up to 22 hours video playback
- iPhone 16 Plus: Up to 27 hours video playback
- Apple A18 Bionic Chip
- iOS 18 operating system
- Apple Intelligence AI
- 5G connectivity
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus include Apple’s newest A18 Bionic, a six-core chipset that Apple reports is 30% faster than the A16 Bionic chip found on the iPhone 15. Built with 3-nanometer technology, and featuring Apple’s 16-core Neural Engine, the A18 offers more memory bandwidth and a higher energy efficiency than previous Apple processors.
While it seems to be business as usual for the iPhone 16 performance and software, there’s one massive new feature: Apple Intelligence. Included in all four new iPhones and integrated into the iOS18 operating system, Apple Intelligence is the brand’s generative AI tool, designed to give Samsung’s Galaxy AI and Google’s Gemini runs for their money in the smartphone space.
The on-device service focuses on three areas: writing and note-taking, image tools, and Siri assistance. Some of the features Apple Intelligence offers include:
- Proofreading, rewriting and summarising text
- Creating and enhancing original images through prompts or rough sketches
- Generating ‘Genmoji’ avatars and customised Emoji
- Improved Siri, with better and more personal responses based on context, your preferences and data
Apple is offering its Intelligence AI as a free software update, with a localised Australian-English version available in December.
The iPhone 16 series will also include Visual Intelligence, a way to get instant details on the things around you through your device’s new Camera Control button. Simply point your camera at what you’d like to identify, click, and Apple will deliver info straight to your screen.
Both phones also come with updated battery capacity: Apple is promising up to 27 hours of video playback on a single charge for the iPhone 16 Plus, and 22 hours for the standard 16.
Cameras
- 12-megapixel TrueDepth front camera
- Dual camera setup in rear (48-megapixel Fusion, 12-megapixel telephoto)
- 4K video recording
Along with software and processor improvements, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will naturally include more advanced photography. The most obvious update is the newly-added Action and Camera Control buttons for fast snapshotting without the need to open your Camera app, but the rear camera layout has also changed: the dual lenses will now be stacked vertically, rather than diagonally. This is to accommodate the recording of spatial photos and video for Apple’s Vision Pro, which is a feature previously only available on Pro iPhone models.
The camera specifications themselves have been adjusted: you’ll get a 48-megapixel two-in-one Fusion camera, plus a 12-megapixel telephoto camera in the back. Combined, these lenses offer 1x and 2x optical zoom, as well as macro modes for serious close-ups — the first time this feature has been offered in a non-Pro iPhone. The rear camera sensors also take in up to 2.6 times more light, meaning you’ll get clearer and more detailed pics in Night and Portrait modes.
In front, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus retain Apple’s classic 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera, for showstopping selfies. You’ll also get high-resolution 4K video recording at up to 60 frames per second with Dolby HDR, and plenty of modes including Cinematic, Panorama and Timelapse.
Extras
- 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage sizes
- Siri voice assistance
- Dual SIM and eSIM support
- Available in Black, Ultramarine, Teal, White, Pink
The 16 series includes some of Apple’s most popular health and safety additions from the past few years, such as Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite. Accessibility features include eye tracking, Music Haptics for deaf or hard of hearing users, and vocal shortcuts.
Both new devices will include dual SIM and eSIM support and will feature 6GB of RAM and up to 512GB of non-expandable memory. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will be offered in Black, Ultramarine, Teal, White and Pink colours at launch.
iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max
Design and display
- iPhone 16 Pro: 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR Always-On display
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR Always-On display
- Face ID facial recognition
- IP68 water and dust resistance
- Dynamic Island widget
- Action button
- Camera control button
After several years of an ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ approach to the iPhone Pro’s design, Apple is going big or going home with the 16 series. Both the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max come with bigger displays: 6.3 inches on the Pro and 6.9 inches on the Pro Max, with the Pro Max’s screen the largest ever on an Apple iPhone. Each display includes Apple’s fast ProMotion 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, plus a peak display brightness of 2,000 nits.
Each phone includes Apple’s Super Retina XDR display, with Always-On capability, so you’ll be able to see alerts, notifications and the date and time without needing to pick up your device. Like the standard iPhone 16 models, the Pro 16 includes the Dynamic Island top-screen widget, plus last year’s Action Button; you’ll also get the new Camera Control button/sensor, which uses haptic touch to allow you to adjust and control your camera with a slide of the finger.
The iPhone 16 Pro series is made from a tough Grade 5 titanium frame and durable Ceramic Shield glass in the front and back, and like the base 16 is certified IP68 water and dust resistant. All iPhone 16 models are also USB-C compatible, so your old Lightning connectors won’t work with these devices.
Battery and performance
- iPhone 16 Pro: Up to 27 hours video playback
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: Up to 33 hours video playback
- Apple A18 Pro Bionic Chip
- iOS 18 operating system
- Apple Intelligence AI
- 5G connectivity
This year’s Pro phones include Apple’s best-ever A18 Pro Bionic chip, a powerful processor designed for fast AI and machine learning. Featuring Apple’s 16-core Neural Engine, the A18 Pro runs up to 20% faster than last year’s A17 Pro, with an enhanced CPU and GPU and the ability to perform up to 35 trillion operations per second.
The ultra-fast A18 Pro Bionic supports Apple Intelligence AI, which works with iOS 18 to offer intuitive AI assistance, along with image and text generation and editing. Apple Intelligence will be built-in across most of Apple’s iOS 18 apps, including Mail, Notes, Pages, Phone and Messages, and will work with a range of third-party apps for content creation and editing. Users can also create and edit images with Apple’s new Image Playground feature, which can be used as a standalone app or through key Apple programs such as Notes.
Like the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, this year’s 16 series is made for handheld gaming, thanks to its fast chip and focus on graphics, including improved ray tracing for more accurate shadows and lighting. Switching to Game Mode in iOS18 offers better sustained frame rates and faster responsiveness, even with wireless accessories such as controllers.
The Pro also comes with longer-lasting battery, thanks to an optimised internal design. The iPhone 16 Pro offers up to 27 hours of video playback on a full charge, while the larger iPhone 16 Pro Max can deliver up to 33 hours of video. Both phones are also compatible with 25W wireless charging.
Cameras
- 12-megapixel TrueDepth front camera
- Triple camera setup in rear (48-megapixel main, 48-megapixel ultra-wide and 12-megapixel telephoto cameras)
- 4K video recording at 120fps
After holding steady with camera sizes for several years, Apple is finally boosting the megapixels on the Pro and Pro Max’s rear ultra-wide lenses. The iPhone 16 Pro phones will feature a 48-megapixel main camera in the back, along with a 12-megapixel telephoto lens and a bigger 48-megapixel ultra-wide shooter — up from 12-megapixels on the 15 and 15 Pro. Both devices include Apple’s Tetraprism camera design ,which allows for up to 5x optical zoom and 25x digital zoom. You’ll also get 5x telephoto zoom in 120mm, which allows for sharp close-ups from a distance.
Video recording will also get an upgrade, with the 16 Pro phones able to shoot in 4K resolution Dolby Vision at a fast 120 frames per second. The Pros will include the highest resolution and frame rates of any iPhone, opening up new possibilities for slow-motion and cinematic video recording. Apple is also introducing new, studio-quality sound capture with Audio Mix, which uses four microphones to capture true-to-life audio.
As with the standard iPhone 16, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max offer a range of photography features and camera modes, include improved Night and Portrait Mode, macro photography, and Focus and Depth control for perfectly Bokeh-ed human and pet portraits. Buyers will also be able to apply the Pro’s Photographic Styles on-device colour grading in real time, and switch through Styles in live preview mode to find the best tone and palette for your shot.
Extras
- 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage sizes
- Siri voice assistance
- Dual SIM and eSIM support
- Available in Black Titanium, White Titanium, Desert Titanium and Natural Titanium
As with other models, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max include Apple’s Siri voice assistant, this time supercharged by Apple Intelligence. All of the new iPhones also include integration with other Apple products, such as the newly-announced Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4, plus built-in safety features including Crash Detection and Emergency SOS. Other notable features include MagSafe accessory compatibility, USB-C charging, dual SIM and eSIM support and ApplePay technology.
The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be available with 8GB of RAM and in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage sizes. You can pick up the phones in Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium and new Desert Titanium variants.
iPhone 16 compared: features at a glance
| iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | From $1,399 | From $1,599 | From $1,799 | From $2,149 |
| Screen size | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display | 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display | 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR Always-On display | 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR Always-On display |
| Battery | Up to 22 hours video playback | Up to 27 hours video playback | Up to 27 hours video playback | Up to 33 hours video playback |
| Chipset | A18 Bionic Chip | A18 Bionic Chip | A18 Pro Bionic Chip | A18 Pro Bionic Chip |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Rear camera | Dual 48-megapixel Fusion and 12-megapixel telephoto cameras | Dual 48-megapixel Fusion and 12-megapixel telephoto cameras | Triple 48-megapixel main, 48-megapixel ultra-wide and 12-megapixel telephoto cameras | Triple 48-megapixel main, 48-megapixel ultra-wide and 12-megapixel telephoto cameras |
| Front camera | 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera | 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera | 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera | 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera |
| Operating system | iOS 18 | iOS 18 | iOS 18 | iOS 18 |
| Colours | Black, Ultramarine, Teal, White, Pink | Black, Ultramarine, Teal, White, Pink | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium |
Compare SIM-only iPhone 16 plans
If you’re planning to buy the iPhone 16 outright, you can also pair your phone with a SIM-only plan — you can compare 5G-ready plans below.
The following table shows a selection of published postpaid SIM plans with 5G access on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
The following table shows a selection of published prepaid SIM plans with 5G access on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
All images: Apple
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