iPhone 16 Pro upgrade: If you have a 3-year-old iPhone, here are all the new features you’ll get

In my iPhone reviewI try to keep in mind that most people upgrading to an iPhone are coming from a phone that’s at least three years old. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of the most important upgrades you’ll find in your new phone. iPhone 16 Pro (or Max) if you’re using an iPhone Pro 2021 or earlier.

Spoiler: You’ll probably be happy.

Also: We’ve used every iPhone 16 model and here’s our best buying advice for 2024

How to upgrade from iPhone 13 Pro?

If you’re using an iPhone 13 Pro or older, you’ll get a lot of significant new features when you upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max. Here’s a list of some of the best features you can expect if you upgrade.

• Longer battery life for five more hours of use — compared to iPhone 13 Pro models
• Apple Intelligence Features that will run on this phone when released in iOS 18.1 or later
• Camera control to instantly access the camera and quickly change settings for photos and videos
• 5x Quad Prism Telephoto Lens to get sharp photos and videos of things further away
• 48 megapixel photo for more detailed photos and the ability to crop further
• 4K120 Video allows you to shoot slow motion videos like Hollywood movies
• USB-C Charging with a more common cable that can connect to a wider variety of devices
• Wi-Fi 7 connectivity will give you much faster upload and download speeds if you have a gigabit connection at home and a 7GHz Wi-Fi router.
• Always on display to know the time and basic information when you are not using your phone
• Brighter screen for better outdoor use (2000 nits peak brightness on iPhone 16 Pro vs. 1200 nits peak brightness on iPhone 13 Pro)
• Dynamic Island Brings a useful new notification system
• Standby mode to see useful widgets when your phone is docked
• Action button for quick access to your favorite apps frequently used for features
• Action mode video to shoot smooth videos that look like drone footage
• SOS emergency via satellite to contact emergency services when you have no mobile signal
• Collision Detection to alert emergency services and your contacts if you are in an accident

See at Apple

My 3 Favorite Features on the iPhone 16 Pro

I spent several hours with Apple’s new flagship iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max on September 9 at the Steve Jobs Theater and quickly formed some first impressions. I’m now also doing extensive testing on both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max for more in-depth coverage on ZDNET.

Also: Hands-on with iPhone 16: So many features, I’m not jealous of the Pro models

And while the first thing many buyers might notice is this year’s new phone color — this year it’s Desert Titanium, which is really just a shade of gold — what most of us barely notice are the latest advancements in the brains that power the iPhone. It’s always been a case of unlocking new capabilities, but this year, that seems more true than ever with A18 professional. Or at least it offers my favorite new feature — and many others that prove just how powerful this device is.

And yes, I’ll stop talking about the chip and get to my three favorite features.

1. Camera control

The new Camera Control lets you do more with your iPhone camera, and do it faster. The new button is located on the right side of the phone below the power button, but it’s made of a darker metal and sits flatter on the edge of the phone.

It’s also touch-sensitive, which is a feat of engineering. A single tap opens the camera app. A second tap takes a photo. A long press starts a video. A light tap and a swipe to one side or the other lets you zoom in and out. A double tap and a swipe to the side lets you choose different settings from zoom to depth of field to new photo styles to a number of other options.

Also: iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro: Should you upgrade?

If that sounds a bit complicated, it is not. You’ll get the hang of it in no time. I tried it out and it’s going to be very handy for people who take a lot of photos with their iPhone — and let’s be honest, there are a lot of us because iPhone is the most used camera in the world. The Camera Control button gives the iPhone a feature that no other phone in the world has. Sony Xperia 1 V has a dedicated shutter button that is most similar, but its functionality is not as extensive.

Everyone will love this feature.

2. Size and finish

Both iPhone Pros have larger screens and thinner bezels this year, making them slightly taller than last year’s Pro models. The Pro expands from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches, and the Max expands from 6.7 inches to 6.9 inches. Both reviewers ZDNET Kerry Van and I noticed that right away in the iPhone 16 demo area — and we were happy about that because we both tend to prefer the slightly taller and thinner form factor of most Android Devices because it makes them easier to use with one hand.

Also: Apple Just Gave Me a Compelling Reason to Buy the Smaller iPhone 16 Pro Instead of the Max This Year

There’s another new physical feature of the iPhone 16 Pro models that I’m equally excited about, though. The titanium edges have a new finish that feels much better to grip. In fact, it feels so good that I want to do the unthinkable and try using it without a case. I’m also tempted to make the smaller 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro, rather than the Max, my daily driver—especially since the smaller Pro model now has the same camera system as the larger model.

3. Upgraded video and audio recording capabilities

Another area where the new A18 Pro chip really shows its power is in the new video and audio recording options available in the iPhone 16 Pro. First, you can now record in 4K at 120 frames per second, giving you the power to do the kind of super slow motion you only see in major motion pictures. Even just a few years ago, you would need an expensive professional camera and a desktop computer with a powerful video card to shoot and edit professional 4K120 video. Now you can do it on an iPhone—and the footage Apple has shown so far looks virtually indistinguishable from professional equipment.

Also: Every iPhone Model That Will Get Apple’s iOS 18 Update (And Which Ones Won’t)

Next, Apple also upgraded the audio in the iPhone 16 Pro with what it calls “four studio-quality microphones” paired with software and AI to do some crazy things I’ve never seen on a smartphone before. With Audio mixing softwareYou can now edit audio directly on the iPhone 16 Pro, separating foreground and background audio and letting you choose from several audio profiles, including a Studio profile that automatically reduces background audio and a Cinematic profile that makes audio sound like a movie edit.

It can also record Spatial Audio surround sound while recording video (which you can also edit in Audio Mix). And the Voice Memos app will take advantage of these upgrades in an update later this year, allowing you to layer two different tracks. These audio features are a great example of how Apple is putting AI to use in practical, behind-the-scenes ways that are much more accessible than typing into a chatbot.

There will be more

Apple calls the new A18 Pro chip as powerful as a high-end desktop, which may sound like an exaggeration, but the above features are compelling enough to make me think it could be at least as powerful as a high-end desktop from a few years ago. We’re running iPhone 16 models through benchmarks and putting the phones in some real-world scenarios to measure and compare performance.

Also: Comparing Each iPhone 16 Model: Which New iPhone Should You Buy?

Apple also claims the new A18 Pro chip is much more power efficient and will deliver iPhone 16 Pro Max has the longest battery life of any iPhone ever. We’ll also challenge that claim with our own battery tests.

The camera system has been upgraded to a 48-megapixel sensor for the ultra-wide-angle camera, better macro photography, and a few other improvements. We’ll be testing that out in a new series of ZDNET smartphone camera tests, too.

The AI ​​features Apple mentioned this summer at WWDC, including a newly upgraded Siri, won’t be available until iOS 18.1 update — and even then, they’re still in beta, and some features won’t arrive until iOS 18.2 or later. But when the AI ​​features finally arrive, Apple’s new flagship supercomputer in your pocket looks like it’ll have enough power to run them without any trouble.