This page holds the whole iPhone 16 generation: the 16e, the standard 16, the larger 16 Plus, and the 16 Pro and Pro Max. The iPhone 17 sits here too, for anyone who wants to see the next step alongside them.

Start with size

The 16 and 16 Pro share the smaller body; the 16 Plus and 16 Pro Max share the larger one. That single decision shapes everything else, because the bigger chassis also holds the bigger battery. If you routinely finish a day with power to spare, the smaller phones will suit you; if you run flat by dinner, the Plus and Pro Max are the fix.

Then decide whether you need Pro

Standard and Pro models share a lot here, including the Action button and the side camera control. The Pro models add a dedicated telephoto lens with genuine optical reach, a higher refresh-rate display that makes scrolling look smoother, a titanium frame, and more capable video tools. If you shoot distant subjects or record video seriously, that gap is real. Otherwise it is not.

Where the 16e fits

The 16e is the entry point: one rear camera, the same modern software support, and the lowest cost of admission. It suits anyone who wants a current iPhone without paying for lenses they will not use.

Picking one

Small and simple, choose the 16 or 16e. Big screen and long battery, choose the 16 Plus. Camera-led, choose a Pro. Put any two beside each other on our comparison tool, or look at the earlier generations in used iPhones.