This week all eyes were on Apple and the new iPhone 16 series. Pre-orders started this Friday and will last for a week. Shipping and open sales begin next Friday.
You can pre-order via Apple.com , and if you do, be sure to check for trade-in deals. Are you getting an iPhone 16? If so, here are the prices for the new models, which will be available starting next Friday.
But before you commit, there are a few alternatives to consider. The obvious place to start is other iPhones, so we looked at a number of new and refurbished units from Amazon.
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus retain the same 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays as their 15-series counterparts. Yes, they still have 60Hz panels. So, what’s changed? The more powerful Apple A18 chipset and the extra RAM memory the 16 series phones run Apple Intelligence, the 15 and 15 Plus are not supported. The new models also have charge faster and new ultra-wide cameras with macro mode. Perhaps the biggest upgrade is the Camera control and the Action button, which enables a variety of new shortcuts.
But if we look back at the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, they have the same screens. Same 48MP main cameras and 12MP selfie cameras too.
The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max get larger 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, respectively. That’s good for those who like big displays, but bad for those who think the new models are too big. Faster charging and new buttons are also present on the 16 Pro duo. There’s also a new 48MP ultra-wide camera, and this year the little Pro gets the same 5x periscope as the Pro Max (the 15 Pro has a 3x lens).
Unlike the vanilla models, the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max get an update with Apple Intelligence (coming next month). The main and selfie cameras are the same, and the 15 Pro Max even gets the same periscope.
You can switch to Android this generation. All Galaxy S24 models have 120Hz LTPO displays and they all have AI (mostly powered by Google).
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has both a 5x periscope (with a 50MP sensor to boot, not a 12MP like on the iPhones) and also a 3x lens. Its main camera has a 200MP sensor. There’s also an S Pen, which gives this phone some tablet-like capabilities.
The new iPhone 16 Pro is bigger than the Galaxy S24. And with no new Xperia 5 this year and no tiny Zenfone 11 in sight, these are the last small flagships standing. The tiny S24 also has a 120Hz LTPO display, a 3x 10MP telephoto camera, things Apple charges extra for.
Note that the Galaxy S24 and S24 Ultra come with a discount: an additional discount at checkout, some Galaxy Store credit for apps (or wallpapers, whatever), and a free Samsung Galaxy Book Go.
The Google Pixel 9 may not have an LTPO display, but at least its 6.3-inch OLED panel runs at 120Hz. The Tensor G4 isn’t particularly fast for normal tasks, but it does have a beefy NPU (and for things that can’t be done locally, Google’s servers take over). The phone features a 50MP main camera and a 48MP ultra-wide one, while the iPhone 16 only has a 12MP ultra-wide one.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro weighs exactly the same as the iPhone 16 Pro, at 199 grams, but is slightly taller and a fraction of a millimeter wider and thicker than Apple’s phone. This time around, it’s 48MP ultra-wide versus 48MP ultra-wide, but the Pixel Pro also has a 48MP 5x telephoto camera, while the iPhone Pro has just a 12MP sensor behind the 5x periscope. The Pixel Pros also have 42MP selfie cameras, beating out the 12MP selfie modules that Apple uses.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is slightly smaller than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. What we said about the 9 Pro’s cameras applies here (they use the same hardware). Also, both Pixel Pros have 120Hz LTPO displays, unlike the vanilla Pixel 9. And in case you were wondering: Google doesn’t think Qi2 is a big problemso you’ll have to charge wirelessly without magnets. Speaking of charging, this year Google has increased both wired and wireless speeds, as has Apple, and on paper they’re very close. The real race will be decided when we do the iPhone reviews.
Let’s also take a look at what Motorola has to offer. The Moto Edge 50 Ultra features the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, not the most exciting choice, but it is faster than the Tensor G4. It has a 6.7-inch 144Hz OLED display and a small 4,500mAh battery with super-fast charging – 125W wired and 50W wireless. The camera looks impressive too, with a 50MP main camera (1/1.3”), 64MP 3x telephoto and 50MP ultra-wide, plus a 50MP selfie snapper. These take great photos, but video was pretty poor.
The new Motorola Edge 50 Neo isn’t quite as small as the iPhone 16, but with a 6.4-inch display it’s smaller than most Androids. And it’s a 120Hz LTPO panel, which is strong to see at this price. Don’t be fooled by the vegan leather back – like the Ultra, this one’s IP68-rated. It’s even MIL-STD-810H compliant. The camera isn’t quite as capable as the Ultra, but you do get a 10MP 3x zoom camera, joining the 50MP main camera (1/1.5”) and 13MP ultra-wide snapper. The selfie snapper has a 32MP sensor.
The Dimensity 7300 chipset isn’t great, but something had to give to hit this price point. The phone also has solid charging options, 68W wired and 15W wireless, from its 4,310mAh battery. And did we mention Motorola has committed to 5 years of support? Not bad for a mid-ranger (we know Moto doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to software, but here’s how it can turn things around).
You can even pick up a foldable for around iPhone 16 Plus money. The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra, for example, folds out to offer a 6.9-inch screen, closing down to a fairly compact but still quite usable device with its 4-inch 165Hz cover display (both have LTPO panels). This one’s not lacking in power with a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, but the camera situation won’t be for everyone – the 50MP main sensor has a small (1/1.95”) and there’s no ultra-wide, with Moto opting for a 50MP 2x portrait camera instead. Battery life offers decent stamina at 4,000mAh and it charges quickly at 45W over USB-C (there’s also 15W wireless).
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