It’s been almost a year since Apple released the iPhone 16. If you recall, during the launch period, I originally ordered an iPhone 16 Pro Max but returned it and purchased an iPhone 16 Plus.

As a long-time user of the iPhone Pro line, I took a chance and opted for the less expensive model this cycle. After a year of use, here are my thoughts on downgrading from iPhone Pro to the base model.

The iPhone 16 Plus in Ultramarine: A Fun but Flawed Choice

It’s funny, but one of the biggest draws to getting the base iPhone was the colors. It’s silly, but I wanted to have a colorful phone. For the first time since Apple split the line into a standard and Pro line, the standard iPhone 16 didn’t feel all that different from the Pro. Since I had less to lose and loved the color, it felt like a no-brainer.

The bright blue of the ultramarine still looks terrific. Of course, most people wrap their phones in cases, and I did the same; however, I chose a clear case so I could enjoy the color.

But I don’t love the case. The hard plastic allows me to experience the color, but dirt gets trapped between the phone and case, which can scratch the aluminum.

I’ve also had an issue lately where the camera button doesn’t respond well with the case on. I removed all the shortcuts on my phone to open the camera since I had a dedicated button, but if the case isn’t allowing the button to be pressed quickly, it defeats the purpose.

To combat these issues, I’ve gone without a case a few times, but I’m fearful of dropping it. I also don’t like the way that the camera bump makes the phone rock when it’s on a table. Therefore, I will likely need a new case if I plan to keep this phone.

But the color doesn’t change how I use my phone in the slightest. It’s fun to have a different color that isn’t a version of grey, but how often do you admire the color of the device?

Is the color of a phone enough of a reason to downgrade? Not really, but it did bring me joy. When I upgrade again, I might opt for a fun color, but I don’t think it will be the main reason to select an iPhone.

The Cheaper iPhone

Cost also helped me decide to go with the standard iPhone 16 versus the iPhone 16 Pro. By opting for the more modest iPhone 16 Plus, I saved $300 on the phone, plus AppleCare for the non-Pro line costs less as well.

I realized with this change that even though my phone wasn’t the best out there, it was still an iPhone. All the features of the Pro models are nice to have, but they don’t change how you use your phone.

After going without features like ProMotion and a telephoto lens, I realized that I don’t need those features to enjoy using my iPhone. Why would I pay more for the Pro Max when the standard iPhone does everything just as well?

My iPhone 16 Plus has never struggled or slowed down. Things are very speedy. I didn’t miss having that extra processor core at all. I have access to Apple Intelligence, although I don’t use it often. I haven’t run into an App I couldn’t run.

For day-to-day use, the iPhone 16 Plus rocked.

While I did notice the lack of ProMotion, it wasn’t a game-changer. It didn’t hold me back in any way. In fact, after a day or so of using the 16 Plus, I no longer cared that it didn’t have a higher refresh rate. I don’t do anything on my phone at high frame rates to notice outside the User Interface. Do I really notice a faster refresh rate when browsing Threads?

The Weight of the iPhone 16 Plus

The iPhone 16 Plus feels much lighter to hold than my older 14 Pro Max.

Holding a phone isn’t a workout, but it is nice to have a phone that isn’t so heavy. While the 16 Pro Max reduced the weight compared to my previous phone, the 16 Plus reduces that even more by using lighter materials.

The phone doesn’t feel cheap, despite using more inexpensive materials compared to the Pro line. I do have a few scratches on the phone, mostly from dirt in the case, but I think every case can cause this.

Smaller Camera Bump

One thing I enjoy about the iPhone 16 Plus is the absence of a large, square camera bump protruding from the back. While I miss having all the cameras, that camera bump on the back of the iPhone has gotten so out of control lately. It’s even rumored that the iPhone 17 Pro will have a bump that spans the entire width of the phone.

With the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, the camera bump is so much smaller than it has been in years. It doesn’t take up too much space, and there isn’t much wasted space. For the last few generations, even though they didn’t have all the cameras of the Pro models, the regular version also featured the square camera bump, albeit with fewer sensors.

I enjoy the size reduction, and I think these phones look so much better than the Pros without sacrificing too much.

Missing the Telephoto Lens on my iPhone 16 Plus

The thing I probably miss the most from the Pro line is the telephoto lens. The camera on my iPhone 16 Plus is great. While I know there are some differences in camera quality between the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the Plus, it’s challenging to distinguish between them.

Additionally, it features various photographic styles that enable me to adjust the tone of the pictures while taking them and even after in the Photos app.

Occasionally, I want to take a picture of something a little further away than I can digitally zoom in on. I could get closer to my subject, but most often that subject is one of my kids, and I would rather not alert them to my presence while taking that picture. If they notice me, they’ll usually stop what they are doing, and the image will be ruined.

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus allow you to zoom in up to 10x, but the quality degrades since it crops a lot of the sensor out. On our recent trip, I found myself walking closer or using the digital zoom, wishing I had that telephoto lens.

There have also been a few times when I miss having the IR sensor on my camera, like the iPhone 16 Pro’s camera system. Just the other day, as my kids started school, I used to point my phone at them and get their height. Without that sensor, I can’t measure them the same way.

Size

I returned my iPhone 16 Pro Max because it felt too big. I don’t regret it, as the Plus is a big phone, but I do wonder if the smaller Pro would have done me better. Likewise, I’ve been searching for the best typing experience on my iPhone, as I’ve been trying to write and care for my kids simultaneously.

Those extra-thin borders give the smaller Pro version a pretty large canvas to work with, and I think it might fit my current workflow better than either the 16 or 16 Plus. I might reconsider what I go with if I update my phone this year.

My Year With the iPhone 16 Plus

After a year of using the iPhone 16 Plus instead of the Pro version, I think this is the iPhone for most people.

I haven’t felt like this iPhone has been a downgrade from my past years on the Pro line for most day-to-day use. This has been one of my favorite iPhones. While writing this article, I had to push myself to actually think about what I missed from the Pro line.

I can’t wait to see what the iPhone 17 line brings, especially if they start bringing in Apple’s more efficient cellular modem. The new iPhone 16e boasts even better battery life than the standard iPhone 16in the same class size, so hopefully the iPhone 17 brings even better battery life.

What are your thoughts on the iPhone 16 Plus? Have you made the switch from Pro to Plus? Share your experiences in the comments below!

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