Technologies

iPhone 16 Plus vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: How the Latest Big iPhones Compare

Apple’s most advanced phones include the largest iPhones yet — here’s how their specs and features compare in the iPhone 16 era.

At its September 2024 Glowtime event, Apple unveiled its latest lineup of iPhone 16 handsets. These phones share a lot of new features, with the biggest differences being in size and the division between standard and premium phones. While the iPhone 16E released in 2025 corners the affordable market, the biggest iPhone 16 models remain the priciest, and there’s plenty to differentiate them. Here’s the iPhone 16 Plus versus the iPhone 16 Pro Max comparison.

The most prominent distinction between the two bigger phones is size, as they’re no longer tied for the title of largest iPhone on record. The iPhone 16 Plus still has a 6.7-inch display, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch display, giving it the crown for the biggest iPhone ever made.

See more: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Review: Compelling Upgrade With My Favorite iPhone Feature in Years

That decision has knock-on effects: everything the iPhone 16 Plus is, the iPhone 16 Pro Max does a little better. That comes at a literal price, with the iPhone 16 Plus with 128GB of storage starting at $899 (£899, AU$1,599) and the iPhone 16 Pro Max with 256GB of storage starting at $1,199 (£1,199, AU$2,149).

More from the Apple event

That’s a sizable price gulf between the two, but there are a handful of things the even bigger phone packs that its now-smaller sibling doesn’t. The iPhone 16 Plus has a 48-megapixel fusion camera (with a neat new 12-megapixel 2x digital zoom feature) and 48-megapixel ultrawide camera; the iPhone 16 Pro Max has that and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. Both phones have a 12-megapixel TrueDepth front-facing camera for selfies and FaceID.

The Pro Max also has a higher video ceiling, recording 4K video at 120 frames per second, which is good for converting to slow motion; the Plus tops out at 4K video with 60 frames per second. Both phones can shoot Spatial Video, the depth-focused format of videos watchable only in Apple Vision Pro, at 1080p at 30 frames per second.

What the Pro Max does have over its cheaper sibling is more sensitive audio recording thanks to its four microphones over the Plus’s 3. Both phones get Audio Mix, a trio of professional toggles to direct the phone to record certain sound sources over others when recording a video: in-frame captures who’s speaking in front of the camera (even if people nearby are speaking off-camera), studio is built for podcasters and vloggers to make them sound like they’re nestled in the sound-damped walls of a studio and cinematic combines sounds toward the front of the screen (much like a standard movie mix).

Unsurprisingly, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a more advanced A18 Pro chipset than the iPhone 16 Plus’s A18 silicon, though both support Apple Intelligence. The bigger phone has more maximum storage with 256GB, 512GB and 1TB options, while the Plus has 128GB, 256GB and 512GB configurations. Apple has not released the RAM on each model.

Where the Plus is 6.33×3.06×0.31 inches (160.9×77.8×7.8mm), the Pro Max is 6.42×3.06×0.32 inches (163×77.6×8.25mm). That also means the smaller phone is lighter at 199 grams (7.03 ounces), while the bigger handset is 227 grams (7.99 ounces). The Pro Max comes in a titanium frame with four colors: black, white, a silver-ish natural and a tan desert hue. The Plus has a more vibrant range of colors: black, white, pink, teal and ultramarine. Both phones are IP68 rated for dust and water resistance, and both pack USB-C ports.

Both phones’ displays have OLED Super Retina XDR and 460 pixels-per-inch resolution, so they’re equally as sharp, though the larger Pro Max logically has more pixels in its screen (2,868×1,320-pixel resolution) than the relatively smaller Plus (2,796×1,290-pixel resolution). The big difference is in display refresh rate, with the Pro Max topping out at 120 Hz with its ProMotion tech while the Plus retains the 60 Hz refresh rate that base iPhones have had for years. Both phones max out at 2,000 nits of brightness in direct sunlight, but they can dip down to a single nit in darkness, which helps preserve battery.

That extra space means more battery life (though in typical Apple fashion, we don’t have rough hourly usage rather than exact capacity figures). The iPhone 16 Pro Max tops out at up to 33 hours of video playback (or up to 29 hours if streaming the video), while the iPhone 16 Plus has up to 27 hours of video playback (or up to 24 hours if streaming it). Both phones have the same wired charging (up to 20 watt) as the previous generation, though MagSafe wireless charging has been bumped up to 25 watts if using a 30-watt or faster charger.

Both phones run iOS 18 out of the box, and both will get Apple Intelligence when it drops later in September. Apple didn’t reveal much more about its AI capabilities than was shown off at WWDC back in June. The generative AI will supercharge Siri, offer suggestions for spiffing up the tone of a message, automatically arrange your photos and offer more accurate contextual searches among them.

Apple’s also added AI-generated emoji, which you can whip up by submitting prompts — say, a cowboy frog on a diving board.

The big reveal is Visual Intelligence, which sees Apple’s AI applied to the camera. Visual Intelligence is able to search for whatever is in your viewfinder. This is summoned with a new hardware feature: the Camera Control button, which is found on both phones on the right side below the lock button. It’s capacitive and physically clicky, so you’ll be able to push in for Visual Intelligence or tap it to bring up its second functionality: acting as an extra camera setting toggle.

For example, when your camera app is open, you can run your finger along it to zoom in and out or change the aperture — and it’ll work as an extra menu within third-party apps, too. The Apple presentation showed it functioning in Snap.

Similarly, the Action Button is now on both the premium and standard phones, taking the place of the ringer-silent switch to act as a customizable app shortcut. It’s no longer exclusive to the premium handsets.

That shrinks the number of exclusives that the Pro Max holds over the Plus, making its $300 price differential harder to justify. True, it’s larger, with a third rear camera (telephoto), titanium frame and bigger battery. But with Apple Intelligence coming to both phones (it’s only drifting back to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models), the premium phones are harder to justify over their cheaper siblings.

For a more detailed comparison, check our specs sheet below:

iPhone 16 Plus vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max

	Apple iPhone 16 Plus	Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate, brightness	6.7-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display; 2,796 x 1,290 pixel resolution	6.9-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display; 2,868 x 1,320 pixel resolution
Pixel density	460 ppi	460 ppi
Dimensions (inches)	6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 inches	6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches
Dimensions (millimeters)	160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8mm	163 x 77.6 x 8.25mm
Weight (grams, ounces)	199 g, 7.03 oz	227 g, 7.99oz
Mobile software	iOS 18	iOS 18
Camera	48-megapixel (fusion), 12-megapixel (ultrawide)	48-megapixel (fusion), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 5x telephoto
Front-facing camera	12-megapixel	12-megapixel
Video capture	4K at 60fps; spatial video at 1080p at 30fps	4K up to 120fps; spatial video at 1080p at 30fps
Processor	A18	A18 Pro
RAM/storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Expandable storage	No	No
Battery	Up to 27 hours video playback; up to 24 hours video playback (streamed). 20W wired charging. MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with 30W adapter or higher; Qi2 up to 15W	Up to 33 hours video playback; up to 29 hours video playback (streamed). 20W wired charging. MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with 30W adapter or higher; Qi2 up to 15W
Fingerprint sensor	None (Face ID)	None (Face ID)
Connector	USB-C	USB-C
Headphone jack	No	No
Special features	Apple Intelligence, Action button, Camera Control button, Dynamic Island, 1 to 2,000 nits display brightness range, IP68 resistance. Colors: black, white, pink, teal, ultramarine.	Apple Intelligence, Action button, Camera Control button, 4x audio mics, Dynamic Island, 1 to 2,000 nits display brightness range, IP68 resistance. Colors: black titanium, white titantium, natural titanium, desert titanium.
US price off-contract	$899 (128GB), $899 (256GB), $1,199 (512GB)	$1,199 (256GB), $1,399 (512GB), $1,599 (1TB)
UK price	£899 (128GB), £999 (256GB), £1,199 (512GB)	£1,199 (256GB), £1,399 (512GB), £1,599 (1TB)
Australia price	AU$1,599 (128GB), AU$1,799 (256GB), AU$2,149 (512GB)	AU$2,149 (256GB), AU$2,499 (512GB), AU$2,849 (1TB)

Technologies

Act Fast to Save 15% on This Powerful CarbonMag Portable Charger

This Sharge charger can keep you powered on the go, and right now you don’t have to pay full price.

There’s nothing worse than your phone dying in the middle of the day, especially when finding an outlet means being stuck in an uncomfortable situation. MagSafe portable wireless chargers are a great fix for that, as they snap onto the back of your phone and charge it while you go about your day. One solid pick that won’t weigh your phone down like a brick is the CarbonMag MagSafe portable charger by Sharge. And right now it can be yours for less with this Prime Day deal.

Thanks to Prime Day, you can currently snag it for 15% off with the code QHUAPIWG at checkout — bringing the price down from $70 to just $59. That’s the same cost as the smaller 5,000mAh model, but this one gives you double the battery capacity for the same price.

This device is made out of carbon fiber, which makes it 40% lighter than your usual power banks and 80% more durable than chargers made with the materials normally used. It gets you a 10,000mAh battery capacity, enough to charge your devices multiple times throughout the day. You’ll enjoy up to 15W wireless charging, which can power an iPhone 15 from 0% to 55% in just 44 minutes.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

The charger also features ultrastrong (but safe) magnets that maintain a stable hold on your smartphone. You can use the built-in USB-C port for pass-through charging or to power another device at the same time. The only catch? We don’t know when the discount code expires, so you might want to hurry.

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Why this deal matters

MagSafe wireless chargers can be a game-changer for anyone tired of juggling wires throughout the day. This deal gets you a slim, lightweight, yet powerful option at a $11 discount for a limited time. We recommend acting while you can.

Technologies

Save Up to $35 Off a Baseus Charging Station This July 4th and Stay Powered Up All Weekend

When USB ports aren’t enough, a Baseus charging station is what you need. Power all your gadgets with multiple well-spaced AC outlets and no clutter.

Keeping all your gear charged can be a job unto itself, and it gets more complicated when you have visitors. Whether you’re having guests this Fourth of July weekend or you just need a better charging solution for your family, a charging station could be the answer. But even the best charging stations can only share so many watts between devices, which is why the best charging stations from brands like Anker and Baseus not only feature multiple USB ports but also multiple AC outlets. AC outlets accommodate those few devices that still use proprietary chargers, and it lets you expand beyond the included 2-4 USB ports without sacrificing wattage when you need to top off everyone quickly before heading out.

The Fourth of July deals are bouncing into next week’s Amazon Prime Day to give us some of the best savings of the year a week early. Among the dozens of mobile accessories Baseus has on sale this holiday weekend is a trio of towers that can declutter your desk and keep everything you need ready and recharged. Available in 6-in-1, 7-in-1 for $65, and 10-in-1 varieties, these charging stations all offer two USB-C ports, at least one USB-A port and multiple AC outlets. Just note: You’ll need to clip the on-page coupon to get the lowest possible price.

For the best blend of power and ports, Baseus’ 100W 7-in-1 USB-C charging station can fast charge a laptop at 65W — full speed for all Chromebooks and many Windows laptops — while a phone and tablet each standard charge at 15W and still leave 5W for your smartwatch while your non-USB tech or your desk’s smart speaker can use the AC ports on both sides and the back of the tower. These towers are part power delivery chargers and part surge protectors with surge and lightning protection to keep your digital lifelines from frying should calamity strike.

The Baseus $35 10-in-1 desktop charging station model may sound like it’s the most powerful, but it only offers 35 watts to share between the two USB-C and USB-A ports, leaving the lion’s share of the station’s potential power to the six AC ports. This isn’t to say 35W between four ports is useless, but you’ll want to use those ports for lower-powered devices like recharging your smartwatch or wireless earbuds.

If you’re looking to charge multiple phones and tablets with those ports, you’re probably better off going with the 6-in-1 USB-C Charging Station at $50, which may only have three AC ports but features a retractable USB-C cable in addition to one standard USB-A and one USB-C port. Those three ports share 65W, meaning that you can charge both a phone and tablet at full speed rather than both getting middling speeds.

Why this deal matters

I use a 100W charging station like this at my desk and have another next to my couch for both me and my guests to keep our phones powered and ready. Being able to stick my 65W travel charger into one of the AC ports and fast charge four phones instead of two — well, one phone and my Chromebook — when I have people over and then swap it back to powering my oil diffuser or smart speaker once they’re gone is a godsend, and since the wall outlets are spread out across multiple sides of the tower instead of sandwiched next to each other in a line, I never have to worry about bulky plugs blocking out half my ports.

Because these charging stations double as surge protectors, you can also click their switch to power off and disconnect everything when severe weather comes, unlike standard charging stations you would have to unplug. Living in lightning capital of the U.S. makes this feature more important to me than most, but it can also be handy for parents wanting a one-click shut-off for all the kids’ consoles and computers.

We’re still days away from Prime Day, and deals like these will continue to drop through the next week, but these chargers are all within a few dollars of their lowest prices ever. We’ll watch for further price drops and competing deals throughout the holiday week, including Anker’s plethora of deals on chargers, speakers and smart home appliances.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for July 4, #284

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for July 4, No. 284.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition has kind of a July 4 flavor. But come on, New York Times puzzle makers, is the blue category really a sport? Read on for hints and the answers. And pass the mustard.

Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That’s a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: What you won.

Green group hint: Lone Star State sports.

Blue group hint: Chow down.

Purple group hint: Not cold.