Compare iPhone Air vs iPhone 16 Plus

Part of the 2025 release, the iPhone Air is Apple’s thinnest phone yet. The iPhone 16 Plus on the other hand is part of Apple’s 2024 release. For 2025, the Air has been created as an alternative to the Plus, creating a new model of iPhone. Let’s compare the two to see what’s best for you.

In terms of screen size, the iPhone Air has the smaller Super Retina XDR display at 6.5-inches, and features ProMotion technology with 120Hz refresh rate and an Always-On display. The iPhone 16 Plus has a larger 6.7-inch screen but has a lower 60Hz refresh rate and is missing the Always-On display. The Air also comes in a lighter titanium frame, with the latest in Ceramic Shield 2 (which makes it 3x less scratch resistant on the front). In comparison, the 16 Plus ha an aluminium frame. Both devices feature an Action button for faster shortcuts and Camera Control button for quicker photo snaps.

The iPhone Air features the A19 Pro chip, while the 16 Plus has the A18 chip. However, both options offer an impressive playback time of up to 27 hours - so you’ll get a great battery life with either. If you’re interested in capacity, the Air offers up to 1TB in storage while the maximum for the Plus is up to 512GB. If you’re likely to store a lot on the device itself, 1TB of capacity could be a deciding factor - otherwise 512GB is plenty for the average smartphone user.

Looking for the best camera? The iPhone Air has an 18MP Centre Stage front camera, offering an improved aspect ratio when taking photos and dual capture, so you can video from front and rear-facing cameras simultaneously. The 16 Plus offers a 12MP front-facing camera, however it does have a 12MP Ultra Wide camera whereas the Air does not. The Air sticks to a main camera that is 48MP, the same as the 16 Plus. An Ultra Wide camera may be preferable if you’d like to shoot in Macro mode, capturing objects up close.

Overall, both iPhone models offer great features. The iPhone Air is a later release, so it offers a few more technical improvements - however the iPhone 16 Plus still offers a great camera, similar battery life, and a larger screen. Both also come with Apple Intelligence, so you’ll have the latest AI advances at your fingertips.