Apple
iPhone 18 vs iPhone 16
Device summary
Apple
iPhone 16
Full specifications
| Basic information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2026 | 2024 |
| Starting price | — | $799 |
| Display size | 6.3-inch | 6.1-inch |
| Dimensions | 71.6 mm × 147.6 mm × 7.8 mm | 71.6 mm × 147.6 mm × 7.8 mm |
| Weight | 170–179 g | 170 g |
| Front material | — | Ceramic Shield |
| Back material | — | Color-infused glass |
| Display | ||
| Display technology | — | Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Resolution | — | 2556 × 1179 |
| Refresh rate | — | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness | — | 2000 nits |
| Protection | — | Ceramic Shield |
| Performance | ||
| Chipset | — | Apple A18 |
| RAM | — | 8 GB |
| Storage | — | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Expandable storage | — | No |
| Cameras | ||
| Main camera | — | Fusion · 48 MP · ƒ/1.6 · 26 mm · Sensor-shift OIS |
| Ultra-wide camera | — | Ultra Wide · 12 MP · ƒ/2.2 · 13 mm |
| Front cameras | — | TrueDepth · 12 MP · ƒ/1.9 |
| Video recording | — | 4K Dolby Vision up to 60 fps, Spatial video up to 4K at 30 fps |
| Battery & charging | ||
| Wired charging | — | 25 W |
| Wireless charging | — | 15 W |
| Charging standard | — | MagSafe, Qi2 |
| Battery type | — | Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Connectivity | ||
| Cellular | — | 5G (sub-6 GHz), Gigabit LTE |
| Wi‑Fi | — | Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be) |
| Bluetooth | — | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| USB | — | USB-C (USB 2) |
| NFC | — | Yes |
| eSIM | — | Yes |
| Satellite | — | Emergency SOS via satellite |
| Build & durability | ||
| Frame | — | Aluminum |
| Ingress protection | — | IP68 |
Basic information
Release year
- iPhone 18
- 2026
- iPhone 16
- 2024
Starting price
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- $799
Display size
- iPhone 18
- 6.3-inch
- iPhone 16
- 6.1-inch
Dimensions
- iPhone 18
- 71.6 mm × 147.6 mm × 7.8 mm
- iPhone 16
- 71.6 mm × 147.6 mm × 7.8 mm
Weight
- iPhone 18
- 170–179 g
- iPhone 16
- 170 g
Front material
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- Ceramic Shield
Back material
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- Color-infused glass
Display
Display technology
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- 2556 × 1179
Refresh rate
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- 60 Hz
Peak brightness
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- 2000 nits
Protection
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- Ceramic Shield
Performance
Chipset
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- Apple A18
RAM
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- 8 GB
Storage
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
Expandable storage
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- No
Cameras
Main camera
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- Fusion · 48 MP · ƒ/1.6 · 26 mm · Sensor-shift OIS
Ultra-wide camera
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- Ultra Wide · 12 MP · ƒ/2.2 · 13 mm
Front cameras
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- TrueDepth · 12 MP · ƒ/1.9
Video recording
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- 4K Dolby Vision up to 60 fps, Spatial video up to 4K at 30 fps
Battery & charging
Wired charging
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- 25 W
Wireless charging
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- 15 W
Charging standard
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- MagSafe, Qi2
Battery type
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion
Connectivity
Cellular
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- 5G (sub-6 GHz), Gigabit LTE
Wi‑Fi
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be)
Bluetooth
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- Bluetooth 5.3
USB
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- USB-C (USB 2)
NFC
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- Yes
eSIM
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- Yes
Satellite
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- Emergency SOS via satellite
Build & durability
Frame
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- Aluminum
Ingress protection
- iPhone 18
- —
- iPhone 16
- IP68
Key differences
The most meaningful measured gaps in size and weight — not an overall winner.
Weight
iPhone 16
5 g lighter · minor difference
Height
Very similar height
Width
Very similar width
Thickness
Very similar thickness
User Experience Summary
iPhone 16
Strengths
- Compact size with excellent one-handed handling
- Reliable all-day battery for typical use
- Consistent everyday camera and video quality
Compromises
- 60Hz display — the most repeated criticism at this price
- No Always-On display or telephoto lens
- Camera Control polarizes owners