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. Apple made a big deal about this during its presentation. Here are the US prices for the four iPhone 16 models without trade-ins (they cost the same as last year’s 15 series).
| iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | €799 | €899 | $999 | $1,199 |
Thinking of buying an iPhone 16? While you’re pondering that, here are some alternatives. The obvious place to start is other iPhones, so we’ve looked at some refurbished units from Amazon . Partly because they’re cheaper, but also because you can’t buy a new iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max from Apple anymore (though Apple.com still has new 15s and 15s Plus).
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 there’s also a 3x lens. The main camera has a 200MP sensor. There’s also an S Pen, which gives this phone some tablet-like capabilities.
The Samsung Galaxy S24+ has a 6.7-inch display, the same size as the iPhone 15 Plus and 16 Plus. But as we mentioned above, instead of the outdated 60Hz panel, you get a 120Hz LTPO panel. This model also has a telephoto camera (3x 10MP).
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 and a 3x 10MP telephoto camera, things Apple charges extra for.
Apple still doesn’t have a foldable, so there’s no direct competitor to the Galaxy Z Fold6. But we couldn’t pass it up after seeing the $400 discount. It’s still expensive, but maybe now is the time to consider making the switch to a foldable.
Flip foldables are arguably a better alternative to iPhones, and there are plenty to choose from. Starting with the Galaxy Z Flip6, which you can buy for $950, less than a new iPhone 16 Pro (note: we linked the 512GB Z Flip6 because the 256GB model had a smaller discount, so they both end up costing the same).
Then there are the Motorola Razrs. These range from fairly cheap – the Razr 2023 will cost just $400, which is mid-range money (and to be fair, it is mid-range) – to not all that expensive with the Razr+ 2024 at $900. If you’re not sure which one is best for you, we’d recommend the Razr+ 2023 – it’s well-priced (at $600, it’s $100 less than the Razr 2024) and still offers good performance (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1) and a large, functional cover display (3.6″, 144Hz).
That’s it for foldable phones, and we have one more phone to offer: the Motorola Edge (2024). It costs $450, but its curved 6.6-inch 144Hz OLED display and vegan leather back give it a premium look. It has a 50MP main camera and a 13MP ultra-wide angle on the back. The 5,000mAh battery supports fast 68W wired and 15W wireless charging. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset is quite slow for this price range, but the phone does come with Ready For (Moto’s desktop environment).
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