Apple iPhone 16 Plus
How long will it last?
Our estimateSupported until September 2031 · Buy-by September 2029
Apple doesn't publish an end date, but iPhones have a consistent ~7-year update track record — on that basis the iPhone 16 Plus should be supported until around September 2031. Buying it today still gets you about 5.3 years of safe use (Apple's written legal minimum is 5 years).
Source: Apple's documentation · last verified 2026-06-11 · how we compute this
TrueCost
Street price ÷ months of safe use remaining — the number that makes cheap short-lived phones expensive, and well-supported ones cheap.
31% cheaper than the $600–900 median ($14.81/mo, dying phones excluded)
Our verdict
A big-screen, big-battery iPhone with Apple Intelligence and the A18 chip — held back mainly by its old-school 60Hz display.
Pros
- Large 4674mAh battery gives some of the best endurance in the lineup
- A18 chip is fast and enables Apple Intelligence features
- 48MP Fusion camera plus new Camera Control button and macro ultra-wide
- Big, bright 6.7-inch OLED is great for video and reading
- Long update runway expected to stretch toward 2031
Cons
- Display is still 60Hz, trailing 120Hz competitors and Pro models
- No dedicated telephoto lens, so zoom beyond 2x is digital
- Large size makes one-handed use difficult
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz, Dynamic Island, up to 2000 nits peak |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Apple A18 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 48MP — 48MP Fusion, 26mm, ƒ/1.6, sensor-shift OIS; 2x telephoto crop |
| ultra-wide | 12MP — macro support |
| front | 12MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 4,674 mAh |
| Charging | Wired ~50% in 30 min with 20W+; up to 25W MagSafe with 30W adapter |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 160.9 × 77.8 × 7.80 mm |
| Weight | 199 g |
| Materials | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front |
| Water resistance | IP68 |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | iOS 18 at launch |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C |
| Update policy | ~7 years of updates (our estimate from Apple's track record — written minimum is 5 years) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the iPhone 16 Plus get updates?
Apple does not publish a fixed pledge, but its recent iPhones have received roughly seven years of iOS and security updates. Released in September 2024, the iPhone 16 Plus should be supported into about 2031, giving it one of the longest runways of any phone you can buy in 2026.
Is a used iPhone 16 Plus worth it in 2026?
Yes, especially for battery-focused buyers. Around 650 dollars used it offers a huge battery, the fast A18 chip, Apple Intelligence support and a long update window. The main trade-off is the 60Hz screen, which feels dated next to 120Hz rivals.
Does the iPhone 16 Plus support Apple Intelligence?
Yes. The A18 chip and 8GB of RAM let the iPhone 16 Plus run Apple Intelligence features such as writing tools, notification summaries and a smarter Siri, where available in your region and language.
Why does the iPhone 16 Plus still use a 60Hz screen?
Apple reserves its 120Hz ProMotion display for the Pro models, so the 16 Plus sticks with a 60Hz panel. It is perfectly usable, but scrolling and animations are not as smooth as on Pro iPhones or many Android phones at this price.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-11.