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Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Apple iPhone Air

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleiPhone 16 PlusAppleiPhone Air
Overview
ReleasedSeptember 2024September 2025
Display
Screen size6.7″6.5″
Resolution2796 × 12902736 × 1260
Sharpness460 pixels per inch463 pixels per inch
PanelOLEDLTPO OLED
Refresh rate60 Hz120 Hz
Peak brightness2,000 nits3,000 nits
Display typeSuper Retina XDR OLED display with Dynamic Island; 6.69 inches measured as a standard rectangleSuper Retina XDR OLED display with Dynamic Island
Pixel density460 ppi460 ppi
Brightness detail1,000 nits max (typical); 1,600 nits peak (HDR); 1 nit minimum1,000 nits max (typical); 1,600 nits peak (HDR); 1 nit minimum
Always-on displayNoYes
Screen protectionLatest-generation Ceramic Shield front; fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coatingCeramic Shield 2 front, Ceramic Shield back
Display featuresHDR; True Tone; Wide colour (P3); Haptic Touch; 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio (typical)ProMotion adaptive refresh; HDR; True Tone; Wide colour (P3); Haptic Touch; 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio (typical); anti-reflective coating
Performance
ChipA18A19 Pro
Memory8 GB12 GB
Storage128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
CPU6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores
GPU5-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing5-core GPU with Neural Accelerators; hardware-accelerated ray tracing
AI engine16-core Neural Engine16-core Neural Engine
CoolingRe-engineered internal design with a 100% recycled aluminium thermal substructure to better dissipate heat–
Cameras
Main camera48 MP48 MP
Ultra wide camera12 MPNone
Telephoto cameraNoneNone
Optical zoomNoneNone
Front camera12 MP18 MP
Main camera48MP Fusion Main, 26 mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture, sensor-shift optical image stabilisation, 100% Focus Pixels; 24MP and 48MP photos48MP Fusion Main, 26 mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture, sensor-shift optical image stabilisation, 100% Focus Pixels; 24MP and 48MP photos
Ultra wide camera12MP Ultra Wide, 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 120° field of view, 100% Focus Pixels–
Front camera12MP TrueDepth camera, ƒ/1.9 aperture, autofocus with Focus Pixels18MP Center Stage camera, ƒ/1.9 aperture, autofocus with Focus Pixels
Zoom12MP optical-quality 2x Telephoto (52 mm) from the Fusion camera; 2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out (4x optical zoom range); digital zoom up to 10x12MP optical-quality 2x Telephoto (52 mm) from the Main camera; digital zoom up to 10x
Video recording4K Dolby Vision at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; 1080p Dolby Vision at 25, 30 or 60 fps; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps; Action mode up to 2.8K at 60 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 or 240 fps; spatial video 1080p at 30 fps; HEVC and H.2644K Dolby Vision at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; 1080p Dolby Vision at 25, 30 or 60 fps; Action mode up to 2.8K Dolby Vision at 60 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 or 240 fps; Dual Capture up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps; HEVC and H.264
Front video4K Dolby Vision at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; 1080p Dolby Vision at 25, 30 or 60 fps; Cinematic mode up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 fps4K Dolby Vision at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 fps; ultra-stabilised video; Centre Stage for video calls
Camera featuresCamera Control; Photonic Engine; Deep Fusion; Smart HDR 5; next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control; Night mode; macro photography; spatial photos; latest-generation Photographic Styles; Audio MixPhotonic Engine; Deep Fusion; Smart HDR 5; next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control; Night mode; Photographic Styles; customisable default lens; Camera Control
Battery and charging
Battery4,674 mAh3,149 mAh
Video playback (maker's claim)Up to 27 hoursUp to 27 hours
Wireless chargingUp to 25 WUp to 20 W
Battery life detailUp to 24 hours streamed video playback; up to 100 hours audio playback; EU energy label class B, 48 hours per charge, at least 1,000 charge cyclesUp to 22 hours streamed video playback; up to 40 hours video playback with the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery (sold separately); EU energy label class A, 40 hours per charge, at least 1,000 charge cycles
Wired chargingUp to 50% in around 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or higher (sold separately)Up to 50% in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or higher (sold separately)
Wireless chargingMagSafe up to 25W with a 30W adapter or higher; Qi2 up to 25W; up to 50% in around 30 minutes on MagSafe with a 30W adapterMagSafe and Qi2 up to 20W with a 30W adapter or higher; up to 50% in 30 minutes
Charges other devicesCharges AirPods, Apple Watch or other small USB-C devices at up to 4.5W through the USB-C port–
Connectivity
Satellite messagingYesYes
Mobile network5G (sub-6GHz) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO and LAA; UK model A3290Apple C1X modem; 5G (sub-6GHz) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO; UK model A3517
SIMDual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM); dual eSIM supportDual eSIM (two active, stores eight or more); no physical SIM card
Wi-FiWi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMOWi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Apple N1 wireless networking chip
BluetoothBluetooth 5.3; ThreadBluetooth 6; Thread
Ultra WidebandApple second-generation Ultra Wideband chipApple second-generation Ultra Wideband chip
NFCNFC with reader mode; Express Cards with Power ReserveNFC with reader mode; Express Cards with Power Reserve
Satellite featuresEmergency SOS via satellite; Roadside Assistance via satellite; Messages via satellite (US and Canada)Emergency SOS via satellite; Roadside Assistance via satellite
USBUSB-C with charging, DisplayPort and USB 2 (up to 480Mb/s); video out up to 4K HDRUSB-C with charging and USB 2 (up to 480Mb/s)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou; digital compass; iBeacon micro-locationPrecision dual-frequency GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou and NavIC); digital compass; iBeacon micro-location
Design
TypeStandardStandard
Weight199 g165 g
Thickness7.8 mm5.64 mm
Height × width160.9 × 77.8 mm156.2 × 74.7 mm
Water and dust resistanceIP68IP68
MaterialsAluminium design with 85% recycled aluminium in the enclosure; colour-infused glass back (Black, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine)Grade 5 titanium frame with a polished mirror finish; 3D-printed titanium USB-C port
ColoursBlack, White, Pink, Teal, UltramarineSpace Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, Sky Blue
ButtonsAction button; Camera Control; side button; volume up/downAction button; Camera Control; side button; volume up/down
Water resistance detailIP68 (maximum depth of 6 metres up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529IP68 (maximum depth of 6 metres up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529
BiometricsFace IDFace ID
SensorsBarometer; high dynamic range gyro; high-g accelerometer; proximity sensor; dual ambient light sensorsBarometer; high dynamic range gyro; high-g accelerometer; proximity sensor; dual ambient light sensors
SpeakersBuilt-in stereo speaker; Spatial Audio playbackBuilt-in speaker (one, not stereo)
MicrophonesBuilt-in microphones; Spatial Audio and stereo recording; wind noise reduction; Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum modesBuilt-in microphones; Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum modes
Software
Operating systemiOSiOS
Software at launchiOS 18iOS 26
Software updatesSecurity, corrective and functionality updates for at least 5 years after it stops being sold (EU product information sheet)Security, corrective and functionality updates for at least 5 years after it stops being sold (EU product information sheet)
AI featuresApple Intelligence; visual intelligence with Camera Control; Siri AI (in beta with iOS 27)Apple Intelligence; Visual Intelligence
Safety featuresCrash Detection; Emergency SOSCrash Detection
In the boxiPhone 16 Plus, USB-C Charge Cable (1 m), documentation; no power adapter or EarPodsiPhone Air, USB-C Charge Cable (1 m), documentation; no power adapter

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