Just Got a New iPhone 16? How to Use All the New Features

[MacRumors]

We're guessing there have been quite a few iPhone 16 models gifted to lucky recipients over the holidays. If you're the new owner of one of Apple's latest models, then keep reading. Whether you're upgrading from an older iPhone or completely new to the devices, this article will help you get the most out your iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max.

With the holidays in full swing, MacRumors has put together the following series of dedicated iPhone 16 how-to articles explaining all the new features that can be found on Apple's newest models.

All iPhone 16 Models

• iPhone 16 Camera Control: Everything You Need to Know
• How to Adjust Camera Control Button Pressure
• How to Prevent Accidental Camera Control Presses
• How to Adjust Double-Click Speed of Camera Control
• How to Disable Camera Control Clean Preview Mode
• How to Disable Camera Control Light Press Adjustments
• How to Lock Auto Exposure and Focus With Camera Control
• How to Use the Camera Control Button as a QR Code Scanner
• How to Use the Camera Control Button as a Magnifier
• How to Take a Selfie With the Camera Control Button
• How to Disable the Camera Control Button
• How to Customize the Action Button
• How to Switch Between Mute/Silent and Ring Mode
• How to Hide the Silent Mode Bell Icon in the Status Bar
• Adapt Your Shots in Real-Time With New Photographic Styles
• How to Adjust Photographic Styles After Shooting
• How to Capture Spatial Photos and Video
• How to Shoot Macro Photography and Video
• Edit Spatial Audio in Videos With Audio Mix
• How to Hard Reset or Force Restart All iPhone 16 Models

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max

• How to Use 5x Optical Zoom
• Using the New ProRAW Shooting Formats
• How to Shoot 4K Video at 120 fps to Slow Down Reality

iOS 18

All iPhone 16 models come with iOS 18 pre-installed. During the iOS 18 beta testing process from June to September, MacRumors wrote a series of in-depth feature guides highlighting every major new addition, plus how tos that walk you through using the new features. We have also been covering additional new features and changes to the operating system as Apple Intelligence is gradually rolled out in iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2. Be sure to refer to our ultimate walkthrough, and check out our charging options how-to and AirPods Pro 2 new features roundup, to get yourself up to speed.

• Ultimate iOS 18 Walkthrough: Guides and How Tos for New Features
• iOS 18.1 Features: Everything New in iOS 18.1
• iOS 18.2 Features: Everything New in iOS 18.2
• Using the New iPhone Charging Limit Options for iPhone 15 and iPhone 16
• Six New Features iOS 18 Brings to the AirPods Pro

Enjoy your new iPhone, and happy holidays from the MacRumors team!

Article Link: Just Got a New iPhone 16? How to Use All the New Features

 

[NoSoup4U]

We're guessing there have been quite a few iPhone 16 models gifted to lucky recipients over the holidays. If you're the new owner of one of Apple's latest models, then keep reading. ...

Not to get too picky — because the guide for new iPhone owners is great — but literally 3 articles ago, ...

"CIRP data indicates that close to 0% of ‌iPhone‌ buyers and just 1% of Mac buyers received their devices as gifts during the holiday season."

Here Are the Three Apple Products You're Most Likely to Unwrap This Christmas

With such a wide array of products now available, Apple devices will be under the Christmas trees of many families this season. However, there are...

www.macrumors.com

 

[iGüey]

I’m iPhone user since 2015, and with every replacement (6, 8, 11 Pro) I have doubled the storage: 128, 256, 512. So this has allowed me to keep all my data since my iPhone 6.

Back on December 2019 I got an iPhone 11 Pro Midnight Green with 512 GB.

Unfortunately after 5 years of rough and loyally use, the battery of my 11 Pro has been degraded to 74% and has been very hard to finish the day without charging at midday. Also the lightning charging port stop working 2 years ago so the only way I’m able to charge it is through a Qi “wireless” charging base…. what drive me nuts when I’m away from home or my office.

So this year I became my own Santa and gifted myself a brand new iPhone 16 Pro White Titanium with 1 TB!

I’m very glad with my purchase although being honest, until now I haven’t found too much differences between my new 16 Pro and my old 11 Pro. Ok, better camera, larger screen, but nothing very special that had justified the update beyond my issues with the battery and the lightning charging port which by their own were enough reasons to update.

So thank you MacRumors, I will read this article with all my attention to find out how to take advantage and to get the most benefit of my new 16 pro, assuming that I’m may not aware of some new features which I could be missing.

BTW, I expect my new iPhone should last me at least 5 years more. The only way I would update before is, if Apple launches a flip or foldable iPhone which I would buy since day 1.

 

[Daws]

How do you turn it on?

 

[anthony131]

Not to get too picky — because the guide for new iPhone owners is great — but literally 3 articles ago, ...

"CIRP data indicates that close to 0% of ‌iPhone‌ buyers and just 1% of Mac buyers received their devices as gifts during the holiday season."

Here Are the Three Apple Products You're Most Likely to Unwrap This Christmas

With such a wide array of products now available, Apple devices will be under the Christmas trees of many families this season. However, there are...

www.macrumors.com

Not to get too picky but if you’re an iPhone or Mac buyer, no, you likely didn’t get it as a gift.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I’m very glad with my purchase although being honest, until now I haven’t found too much differences between my new 16 Pro and my old 11 Pro. Ok, better camera, larger screen, but nothing very special that had justified the update beyond my issues with the battery and the lightning charging port which by their own were enough reasons to update.

This is honestly sort of an indictment on Apple and their design philosophy

Port issues aside, in the modern tech era, we should be able to much more easily and cheaply swap in a new battery and keep using tech that otherwise works perfectly

This should be a main focus of a supposedly design driven organization

The summary of the post I quoted is basically “phone continues to work fine and not much has actually changed, but I needed a new device because the battery is toast and the port broke”

 

[myhaksown]

Personally my favorite feature of the 16 series is the return policy. Then I can get a iPhone that’s an actual upgrade in September.

 

[I7guy]

This is honestly sort of an indictment on Apple and their design philosophy

Port issues aside, in the modern tech era, we should be able to much more easily and cheaply swap in a new battery and keep using tech that otherwise works perfectly

This should be a main focus of a supposedly design driven organization

The summary of the post I quoted is basically “phone continues to work fine and not much has actually changed, but I needed a new device because the battery is toast and the port broke”

The quoted op is the type of post expected from someone who just uses their phone to check Facebook.

But op is correct other than:
- camera system
- size
- processor
-apple intelligence
- dynamic island
- esat
- battery life
- usb c
- 5g
- newer gorilla glass
- ip rating
- MagSafe, faster charging
- top end capacity
- always on display
- resolution
- etc

The specs for the phones are identical.

 

[exodiusprime]

I was originally gonna hold onto the 14 PM I was using since January (when I bought one on FB Marketplace for $650) til iPhone 17, but Verizon surprised me with a $1000 offer for any phone trade-in! For whatever reason, I didn't have to pay anything down either! I've used Verizon for 4 years and don't recall ever having this happen (at the very least, they've asked me to pay the sales tax upfront)!

I've been using a 16 PM Desert 512GB for the past week and definitely enjoy the use of USB-C to charge everything (MBP, iPad, and Watch) and the improved camera quality! It just feels great holding with the titanium! Still getting used to AI with things like Image Playground, but it seems like a good upgrade with the sort of photos I've been able to take with it!

 

[darngooddesign]

The quoted op is the type of post expected from someone who just uses their phone to check Facebook.

But op is correct other than:
- camera system
- size
- processor
-apple intelligence
- dynamic island
- esat
- battery life
- usb c
- 5g
- newer gorilla glass
- ip rating
- MagSafe, faster charging
- top end capacity
- always on display
- resolution
- etc

The specs for the phones are identical.

And double the RAM and larger SSD tiers.

But yeah, except ALL of the specs improving, what have the Romans done for us?

 

[I7guy]

And double the RAM and larger SSD tiers.

But yeah, except ALL of the specs improving, what have the Romans done for us?

If all you do is check Facebook, nothing. There are quality of life improvements as well as enhancements to the camera. As well as apple intelligence.

Maybe one doesn’t care about those and checking Facebook is fine, but as a photographer the updates to the lenses are exciting. Playing around with apple intelligence to me is cool. More battery life, bigger display etc.

 

[iGüey]

The summary of the post I quoted is basically “phone continues to work fine and not much has actually changed, but I needed a new device because the battery is toast and the port broke”

Yes it does, you’re right!

I could have lived with my old iPhone 2 years more until iPhones show a true evolution (and not just marginal steps forward) if my battery could have been easily replaced and if its lightning port were not broken.

As you well point, everything is fine with my old iPhone but the battery and the port, which we should be able to repair without the need of replacing the whole phone.

 

[anthony131]

If all you do is check Facebook, nothing. There are quality of life improvements as well as enhancements to the camera. As well as apple intelligence.

Maybe one doesn’t care about those and checking Facebook is fine, but as a photographer the updates to the lenses are exciting. Playing around with apple intelligence to me is cool. More battery life, bigger display etc.

So, according to you, people are buying these $1,000+ phones for either (a) Facebook or (b) “photography”.

Please let me share with you that today’s smart phones can in fact do more than these two things. I can also share with you that any actual photographer would not so highly praise this phone as a camera replacement. The difference in photos between the iPhone 16 and 12 (which I just upgraded from) are minimal and are laughable in comparison to an inexpensive digital camera. Unless, of course, you’re of the belief that Facebook is the only thing to do with your photography.

 

[I7guy]

So, according to you, people are buying these $1,000+ phones for either (a) Facebook or (b) “photography”.

Please let me share with you that today’s smart phones can in fact do more than these two things. I can also share with you that any actual photographer would not so highly praise this phone as a camera replacement. The difference in photos between the iPhone 16 and 12 (which I just upgraded from) are minimal and are laughable in comparison to an inexpensive digital camera. Unless, of course, you’re of the belief that Facebook is the only thing to do with your photography.

There is clearly is context missing. But that’s the way she goes with a point and shoot post.

You cannot not speak for the universe of photographers. You can only speak for yourself.

 

[Naraxus]

This is honestly sort of an indictment on Apple and their design philosophy

Port issues aside, in the modern tech era, we should be able to much more easily and cheaply swap in a new battery and keep using tech that otherwise works perfectly

This should be a main focus of a supposedly design driven organization

The summary of the post I quoted is basically “phone continues to work fine and not much has actually changed, but I needed a new device because the battery is toast and the port broke”

Afaict you're the only one asking for removable batteries in their iPhones.

The billions of iPhone customers over the years seem fine without it.

 

[anthony131]

There is clearly is context missing. But that’s the way she goes with a point and shoot post.

You cannot not speak for the universe of photographers. You can only speak for yourself.

Nor can you speak for the universe of iPhone owners.

Back to your original point, nothing at all is interesting to me with the iPhone 16. I was more than happy with my 12 Mini but the speakers were dying so I had to downgrade to the 16. I hate the 16. In every way I need a phone, it is inferior to the Mini series.

As someone who has actually earned income as an amateur photographer for over 25 years, it is genuinely funny that someone would claim to use a phone as anything more than a point and shoot snapshot camera. I mean, sure it can be done. We used to make art projects using the Gameboy camera.

 

[Ameer_1]

I barely used the capture button it's a last-minute idea from Apple since nothing changed from the 15 pro to the 16 Pro. I haven't even used the AI features yet.

 

[Daniel L]

Reading this list just makes me sad. As a person who went from 15pm to 16pm there’s nothing except the camera control button that gets in the way more than help

 

[svish]

Good article. But not much has changed in the recent past with iPhones. With the 16 series, the main change will be the Camera control. It is useful in certain situations only.

 

[AndiG]

I’m very glad with my purchase although being honest, until now I haven’t found too much differences between my new 16 Pro and my old 11 Pro. Ok, better camera, larger screen, but nothing very special that had justified the update beyond my issues with the battery and the lightning charging port which by their own were enough reasons to update.

I really do miss my iPhone 11pro, one of the best devices. I also have the feeling that the photos had a better quality.

When it comes to iP15/16 pro - those devices are lame compared to a Pixel 9 pro. The integration of the AI feature into the system is stunning. And it is not about one AI feature/app or the other but the tight integration into the OS.

Apple is clearly falling behind not only when it comes to AI. But the minuscule updates every year. I can not name a thing that was facinating or wow or at least anything.
Reason why I upgraded from my 11pro was the missing 5G support and the USb-C port, enforced by the EU.

 

[I7guy]

[…]

I’m very glad with my purchase although being honest, until now I haven’t found too much differences between my new 16 Pro and my old 11 Pro. Ok, better camera, larger screen, but nothing very special that had justified the update beyond my issues with the battery and the lightning charging port which by their own were enough reasons to update.

[…]

This honestly is a complement to apple and their design philosophy. To maintain continuity between hardware and software releases.

I understand not everybody pays close attention and that for example, not many would notice the difference between windows 7 and windows 10 because Microsoft has kept the continuity between the releases.

I upgraded from an xs max to a 15pm. And while the overall phone feels the same: check Facebook, yep. Check emails , yep.

There are a myriad of quality of life improvements in hardware I noticed almost immediately and new capabilities in software enabled by new hardware. Example, I have the open trunk action assigned to the action button.

And while my Max was serving me fine, I had the itch to update. After the upgrade 4 years worth of improvements showed up.

Of course ymmv.

 

[I7guy]

Nor can you speak for the universe of iPhone owners.

One of the things I’ve learned on these forums is that people tend to speak for other people. I don’t do that.

Back to your original point, nothing at all is interesting to me with the iPhone 16. I was more than happy with my 12 Mini but the speakers were dying so I had to downgrade to the 16. I hate the 16. In every way I need a phone, it is inferior to the Mini series.

You could have picked up an iPhone 15. I love using my 15. It is way better than the phone it replaced, which is an xs max.

As someone who has actually earned income as an amateur photographer for over 25 years, it is genuinely funny that someone would claim to use a phone as anything more than a point and shoot snapshot camera. I mean, sure it can be done. We used to make art projects using the Gameboy camera.

You are not the only amateur photographer in this forum who claims to earn a living from photography. There are others and others have different opinions.

 

[kamyk35]

Yes it does, you’re right!

I could have lived with my old iPhone 2 years more until iPhones show a true evolution (and not just marginal steps forward) if my battery could have been easily replaced and if its lightning port were not broken.

As you well point, everything is fine with my old iPhone but the battery and the port, which we should be able to repair without the need of replacing the whole phone.

You're getting the feel of IOS feeling similar mixed up with hardware innovation/improvements, which is massive.
IOS is about continuity & familiarity, since my iPhone 7, through 13 Pro to now 15 Pro, IOS feels similar, however the phones themselves are very different.

 

[iGüey]

You're getting the feel of IOS feeling similar mixed up with hardware innovation/improvements, which is massive.
IOS is about continuity & familiarity, since my iPhone 7, through 13 Pro to now 15 Pro, IOS feels similar, however the phones themselves are very different.

I respect your POV and all what you’re telling but honestly I don’t see it. In my experience the improvements are just marginal and no massive at all. As I said in my original post, better camera and larger screen are just incremental improvements, not massive nor impressive improvements.

I love when Apple really improves, although honestly, from 11 pro to 16 pro, I don’t see improvements which worth, nevertheless I bought a new 16 pro because of other reasons. Why would I lie?

 

[darngooddesign]

Nor can you speak for the universe of iPhone owners.

Back to your original point, nothing at all is interesting to me with the iPhone 16. I was more than happy with my 12 Mini but the speakers were dying so I had to downgrade to the 16. I hate the 16. In every way I need a phone, it is inferior to the Mini series.

Weird that when your options were either having the speakers replaced (might as well do the battery too), or upgrading to a 13 Mini, you went with the much more expensive route of buying a new phone that you don’t like as much as the phone it replaced.