A Photographer’s Guide
When I run workshops or present an iPhone photography talk to camera clubs, art clubs and businesses, one of the most common questions I am asked is, "Which iPhone should I get?". There's never a simple answer as there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. It all depends on what you need, especially as a photographer and of course what you can afford. With the recent release of the iPhone 16e, Apple has introduced a more budget-friendly option that may influence decisions based on cost.
So, is the iPhone 16e the right choice, or should you consider another model—or even wait for the iPhone 17? I'll attempt to answer that difficult question by breaking down the current options. My primary focus is photography features, so please keep that in mind when making your final decision.
The current series offers five models:
iPhone 16e – Affordable entry into the iPhone 16 lineup with solid performance and battery life.
iPhone 16 – Well-rounded option with improved camera and smooth everyday performance.
iPhone 16 Plus – Larger display and extended battery for an immersive experience.
iPhone 16 Pro – Premium design, ProMotion display, and advanced camera features including 5x telephoto.
iPhone 16 Pro Max – The ultimate iPhone with the biggest screen, all Pro features and and longer battery life.
iPhone 16 – Well-rounded option with improved camera and smooth everyday performance.
iPhone 16 Plus – Larger display and extended battery for an immersive experience.
iPhone 16 Pro – Premium design, ProMotion display, and advanced camera features including 5x telephoto.
iPhone 16 Pro Max – The ultimate iPhone with the biggest screen, all Pro features and and longer battery life.
When Should You Upgrade?
With each new iPhone release, Apple raises the bar for smartphone photography, and the iPhone 16 series is no exception. Before diving into the latest models though, it's worth asking yourself if you really need to upgrade?
Consider upgrading if:
• Your current phone's battery life is in decline – If you constantly need to recharge, a newer model with improved battery efficiency might be worth it.
• Your camera isn't keeping up – If your photos lack detail, low-light shots are challenging, or you're missing a key feature like telephoto zoom or ultra-wide shots, upgrading to a newer camera will make a noticeable difference.
• Your phone feels sluggish – Apps taking longer to open, laggy performance, or frequent crashes can signal that your iPhone is struggling with newer software.
• You want the latest features – If you like having the best Apple has to offer, from AI-powered tools to MagSafe charging and faster refresh rates, upgrading may make sense.
• Your current phone's battery life is in decline – If you constantly need to recharge, a newer model with improved battery efficiency might be worth it.
• Your camera isn't keeping up – If your photos lack detail, low-light shots are challenging, or you're missing a key feature like telephoto zoom or ultra-wide shots, upgrading to a newer camera will make a noticeable difference.
• Your phone feels sluggish – Apps taking longer to open, laggy performance, or frequent crashes can signal that your iPhone is struggling with newer software.
• You want the latest features – If you like having the best Apple has to offer, from AI-powered tools to MagSafe charging and faster refresh rates, upgrading may make sense.
On the other hand, even though a shiny new phone with all the latest features and advancements is very tempting, if your current iPhone is working fine and meets your needs, it might be better to wait for the expected launch of the iPhone 17 series sometime in September.
The iPhone 16e: Who Is It For?
Apple has positioned the iPhone 16e as an entry-level model within the iPhone 16 lineup, offering a balance of affordability and performance. At a starting price of £599, it’s significantly cheaper than the iPhone 16, while still delivering some powerful features.
What You Get with the iPhone 16e
• Single 48MP Main Camera – Captures high-resolution shots with 2x optical-quality zoom (a centre-crop of the 48MP sensor). Portrait mode with Depth Control. Night mode. If you don’t need an ultra-wide or dedicated telephoto lens, this could be enough for everyday photography.
• A18 Chip for Fast Performance – Keeps things running smoothly, though it has one fewer GPU core than the standard iPhone 16.
• Great Battery Life – Up to 26 hours of video playback, making it ideal for long shooting days (although I always recommend carrying a spare power source).
• Apple Intelligence Features – It’s the most affordable iPhone with Apple’s new AI-powered tools, including enhanced Siri and image processing.
• A18 Chip for Fast Performance – Keeps things running smoothly, though it has one fewer GPU core than the standard iPhone 16.
• Great Battery Life – Up to 26 hours of video playback, making it ideal for long shooting days (although I always recommend carrying a spare power source).
• Apple Intelligence Features – It’s the most affordable iPhone with Apple’s new AI-powered tools, including enhanced Siri and image processing.
What’s Missing from the iPhone 16e?
The iPhone 16e is a budget option -right? So expect that some of the advanced features that are available on other models are not included
• No MagSafe Charging – If you rely on MagSafe accessories, this might be a dealbreaker.
• No Dynamic Island – The 16e sticks with the traditional notch rather than Apple’s newer **Dynamic Island interface**.
• 60Hz Display – Unlike the **120Hz ProMotion** display on the **iPhone 16 Pro**, the 16e’s screen feels less fluid.
• Fewer Camera Lens Options – No ultra-wide or dedicated telephoto lens, meaning less flexibility in framing shots.
• No ProRAW Capture - a photo format for iPhones that combines the benefits of standard RAW format with iPhone image processing
• No Macro mode – unable to capture close-ups of small subjects by focusing at very short distances.
• No Cinematic or Action modes in video - If you're into serious movie-making this may be a biggie.
• No Dynamic Island – The 16e sticks with the traditional notch rather than Apple’s newer **Dynamic Island interface**.
• 60Hz Display – Unlike the **120Hz ProMotion** display on the **iPhone 16 Pro**, the 16e’s screen feels less fluid.
• Fewer Camera Lens Options – No ultra-wide or dedicated telephoto lens, meaning less flexibility in framing shots.
• No ProRAW Capture - a photo format for iPhones that combines the benefits of standard RAW format with iPhone image processing
• No Macro mode – unable to capture close-ups of small subjects by focusing at very short distances.
• No Cinematic or Action modes in video - If you're into serious movie-making this may be a biggie.
The iPhone 16e, while a solid device, does come with its share of missing features compared to its flagship counterparts. However the essentials are included. The iPhone 16e still offers a strong 48-megapixel camera, excellent battery life, and the familiar sleek design, making it a compelling choice if you mainly use your iPhone for casual photography, social media, and daily tasks.
However, if you’re serious about iPhone photography, you may want to look at other models. TheiPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max offer triple-camera systems withultra-wide and telephoto lenses, giving you much more flexibility for capturing different perspectives. They also feature 120Hz ProMotion displays , making editing and reviewing images smoother.
How Do the Current iPhones Compare?
The iPhone 16 lineup offers something for every user. Here's how the most important specs compare across the iPhone 16 series.
A18 vs. A18 Pro: What You Need to Know
Apple’s A18 and A18 Pro chips power the iPhone 16 lineup, delivering faster performance, battery efficiency, and improved graphics. But what’s the difference between the two?
The iPhone 16e, 16 and 16 Plus come with the A18 chip, which is designed for smooth everyday use, whether you’re browsing, gaming, or taking photos. It’s powerful enough to handle Apple’s upcoming AI features and offers excellent efficiency for longer battery life. For many users, the A18 is more than enough.
The A18 Pro, powering the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, pushes performance further with a more advanced GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). This upgrade enhances everything on-screen, ensuring smooth scrolling, high-quality gaming, and seamless photo and video editing. Designed for demanding tasks, it excels in AI-driven photography enhancements, making images sharper and smarter. It also supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing, bringing realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections to mobile games for a truly immersive experience.
The Action Button
First introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro models, the Action button replaces the classic Ring/Silent switch, offering a customisable shortcut to a range of functions. It is included on all models in the iPhone 16 range.
By default, the Action button still toggles Silent Mode. But via you can 'remap it' to do much more. Some of the key options include:
• Quick access to the camera – Instantly launch the camera to capture the moment.
• Flashlight toggle – No more fumbling through Control Center in the dark.
• Voice Memos – Start recording with a single press.
• Focus Modes – Switch between work, personal, or sleep modes with ease.
• Translation – Translate phrases or have a conversation in another language.
• Accessibility shortcuts – Enable features like Magnifier or Live Speech instantly.
• Custom Shortcuts – Set up complex automation based on time, location, or even device orientation.
• Flashlight toggle – No more fumbling through Control Center in the dark.
• Voice Memos – Start recording with a single press.
• Focus Modes – Switch between work, personal, or sleep modes with ease.
• Translation – Translate phrases or have a conversation in another language.
• Accessibility shortcuts – Enable features like Magnifier or Live Speech instantly.
• Custom Shortcuts – Set up complex automation based on time, location, or even device orientation.
The Camera Control Button
Featured on all iPhone 16 models except the iPhone 16e, the Camera Control Button is designed to simplify photo and video settings. Located on the lower right side of the phone, this button provides quick access to the Camera app and allows for controls such as manual exposure, zoom, and other adjustments with just a light press. Additionally, you can engage third-party camera apps and use them with Visual Intelligence for contextual information. The button's pressure sensitivity is adjustable, allowing for a personalised experience, and it can be toggled off to disable the Clean Preview feature for a clutter-free shot.
While the Camera Control button introduces new ways to interact with the iPhone camera, user reactions vary based on individual preferences and usage habits. As with any new feature, its value largely depends on how it aligns with each user's specific needs and expectations. Game changer? Not necessarily.
Storage Options and Considerations for Photographers on the iPhone 16 Range
When it comes to mobile photography, storage capacity is one of the most important factors to consider. The amount of storage on your iPhone will directly impact your workflow, particularly if you capture high-quality photos in RAW, or if you're working with video content that can take up massive amounts of space. The iPhone 16 series offers a range of storage options designed to cater to various needs. Here’s what you should know about the available storage choices and considerations for photographers.
The iPhone 16e, 16 and iPhone 16 Plus come with storage options of 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max additionally offer 1TB as the highest tier, providing ample space for photographers who require large photo libraries or work with high-resolution images and video.
• 128GB – Adequate for casual photographers, though heavy photo and video users might find it filling up quickly.
• 256GB – A sweet spot for most users, providing ample space for thousands of photos and 4K video without stressing the device.
•512GB – Ideal for enthusiasts who shoot extensively and store a variety of high-resolution content.
•1TB (Pro models) – The ultimate for working with large amounts of RAW images, ProRAW, 4K video, and AI-enhanced photography files.
• 128GB – Adequate for casual photographers, though heavy photo and video users might find it filling up quickly.
• 256GB – A sweet spot for most users, providing ample space for thousands of photos and 4K video without stressing the device.
•512GB – Ideal for enthusiasts who shoot extensively and store a variety of high-resolution content.
•1TB (Pro models) – The ultimate for working with large amounts of RAW images, ProRAW, 4K video, and AI-enhanced photography files.
Cloud Storage and Offloading:
While the iPhone 16 series offers plenty of local storage, cloud services like iCloud, Google Photos, and Dropbox are valuable tools for managing and offloading content. By transferring images and videos you no longer need immediate access to, you can free up space for new shoots without worrying about running out of storage.
iCloud allows you to store and sync data, including photos, files, and notes, across your devices, making it easy to access your content from anywhere. Apple offers 5GB of free storage, but for more space, you can upgrade to iCloud+, which provides additional features and greater storage capacity.
With iCloud+, you can choose from storage plans of up to 12TB for those needing significant space for large photo libraries, video files, and backups. iCloud+ also includes enhanced privacy features, ensuring your data remains secure while being easily accessible across all your Apple devices. Just keep in mind that a reliable Wi-Fi connection is essential for seamless backup and syncing.
Resolution, ProRAW, and HEIF Max
The iPhone 16 series brings significant improvements to mobile photography, particularly with camera resolution, ProRAW, and HEIF Max. Here’s a breakdown of these features and which models include them.
• 48 Megapixel Fusion Camera – 2-in-1 camera system that combines a 48MP main lens with a 12MP 2x telephoto lens. Available on all iPhone 16 series models.
• Apple ProRAW – High-quality RAW image capture, giving photographers control over exposure, contrast, and colour balance during editing. This feature is only available on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, enabling detailed, professional-level photo editing.
• HEIF Max – Available on All Models, HEIF Max format improves compression efficiency and image quality. It’s available on all models in the iPhone 16 series offering high-quality images at smaller file sizes. This is ideal for storing high-resolution photos, including those captured with the 48 MP Fusion camera.
• Apple ProRAW – High-quality RAW image capture, giving photographers control over exposure, contrast, and colour balance during editing. This feature is only available on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, enabling detailed, professional-level photo editing.
• HEIF Max – Available on All Models, HEIF Max format improves compression efficiency and image quality. It’s available on all models in the iPhone 16 series offering high-quality images at smaller file sizes. This is ideal for storing high-resolution photos, including those captured with the 48 MP Fusion camera.
Should You Wait for the iPhone 17?
If you’re not in a rush to upgrade, it might be worth waiting to see what Apple unveils with the iPhone 17 lineup. As with each approaching upgrade, rumours suggest major changes could be on the way. It is widely anticipated that a faster A19 Chip will play a part, expected to bring better AI performance, enhancing computational photography and real-time editing.
If your current iPhone is still holding up, it could be smart to wait for the latest camera advancements. That said, the "best camera is the one you have with you". If your iPhone is limiting your photography, upgrading now should be a serious consideration. Whatever you choose, the most important thing is getting out there and creating!
Try Before You Buy
If you can visit an Apple Store, you’ll have the opportunity to test the iPhone (and other Apple devices) in person. Friendly Apple staff are on hand to walk you through the features, answer any questions, and let you experience the device before making a decision. Similarly, most smartphone retailers are happy to assist and may have demo handsets available for you to inspect. Holding a phone, testing its camera, and navigating its interface can give you a much better sense of whether it’s the right fit for you.
Happy Photo Taking!