iPhone 16 Plus review: Instagram-worthy colours, smash-proof glass, and longer battery life make Apple's £899 smartphone the perfect device for Gen Z - but the new Camera Control button is missing one key feature

With options ranging from £99 Barbie dumbphones to £2,000 trifold devices, choosing a new phone can be an overwhelming process. 

But if you're a social media obsessed Gen Z, the iPhone 16 Plus could be just what you're looking for. 

Apple unveiled its latest flagship range this month, which includes the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

They only go on sale to the public this Friday, but MailOnline's Shivali Best was given early access to the iPhone 16 Plus and has spent the last week with the device. 

From Instagram-worthy colours to incredible battery life, here's why the £899 smartphone is perfect for Gen Z - despite the fact the new Camera Control button is missing a key feature. 

Instagram-worthy colours 

'Pics or it didn't happen' has become the mantra of the social media age. 

So Instagram-obsessed Gen Z will be delighted to hear that the iPhone 16 Plus comes in a range of photo-worthy finishes. 

Last year's iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus came in muted, pastel shades, but Apple has opted for bolder and brighter colours this year, with options for Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, or Black. 

I tested out the Pink device - and it's undeniably stunning. 

The textured glass back is a pinky-purple shade, with a subtly darker colour surrounding the rear camera lenses. 

Meanwhile, the alumnium sides are a metallic pink, which blends in seamlessly. 

If you're not planning of putting a case on your iPhone, these bright colours are some of Apple's most eye-catching yet. 

Smash-proof glass  

Gen Z aren't known for being the best at looking after their devices. 

In fact, a recent survey conducted by Compare and Recycle revealed that just 42 per cent of Gen Z Brits use a screen protector. 

However, this shouldn't be an issue with the iPhone 16 Plus, which features impressively strong glass. 

The glass has been developed with the latest-generation Ceramic Shield, which is made by embedding ceramic nanocrystals into the glass through a high-temperature crystallization process.

Apple claims this makes the iPhone 16 Plus two times tougher than any other smartphone on the market. 

Admittedly, I've not thrown the iPhone 16 Plus around enough to put this to the test. 

However, if Apple's claims are true, then Ceramic Shield is the best built-in smartphone screen protection you can get - ideal if you're known for your clumsy hands!

Battery

We've all been there - you go to reach for your phone at the end of a busy day, only to discover it's on the verge of dying. 

But the days of having to carry a portable charger with you could be a thing of the past with the iPhone 16 Plus, which has had a huge boost in battery life. 

Apple claims that the iPhone 16 Plus offers up to 22 hours video playback, up to 18 hours of streaming, and up to 80 hours of audio playback on a single charge. 

During my week of testing, the battery lasted incredibly well, and was noticeably better than that on my previous iPhone 15 Pro. 

What's more, Apple's magnetic charger, MagSafe, has been given a boost. 

While the first generation MagSafe Charger only delivered 15W of power, the new charger can charge at up to 25W.

This is noticeably quicker, with my iPhone 16 Plus reaching 50 per cent battery in just 30 minutes - a gamechanger for people who often need to charge their smartphone in a rush!

Action button

The Action button was first introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max last year, and has now been added on the 16 and 16 Plus. 

This gives you the option to access a variety of functions with the press of a button - whether that's recording a Voice Memo, launching the Torch, or setting a Timer. 

Admittedly, I still use the Action Button to toggle Silent Mode on and off, much like the old silent switch. 

However, the button opens a world of new opportunities for social media loving Gen Z.

One of the options is to create a shortcut to open an app directly - whether that's Instagram, TikTok or BeReal. 

So, with a tap of the button you could be scrolling through your For You Page, without so much as having to touch the screen!    

Camera Control button 

The Action button isn't the only new button on the iPhone 16 Plus. 

Called Camera Control, a second new button is located on the right side of the new iPhone, just below the power button.

One quick press opens the Camera app, while a second press will take a photo, and holding down the button will start video recording.

There's also the option to lightly press the button and slide your finger across it to adjust the exposure, depth, zoom, cameras, or style.

Admittedly, this light press isn't the most instinctive action.  

However, you can fine-tune your preferred pressure with the Settings app, which makes it a bit easier to master!

While having the camera within touching distance is great for budding photographers, I do think that Apple has really missed a trick by not including the option to snap selfies via this button. 

Apple reassures me that this option is coming in a future update, but it's a shame that selfie fans won't be able to snap self-portrait photos immediately after getting their new device. 

Camera 

As we've come to expect from Apple, the camera is excellent on the iPhone 16 Plus for everything from group photos, to portraits, selfies, and landscapes. 

But it was the new 12MP Ultra Wide camera that impressed me the most. 

As the name suggests, this allows you to snap brilliant wide-angle shots. 

However, it also enables macro photography for the first time - thanks to the addition of auto-focus. 

This feature was initially introduced on the iPhone 13 Pro back in 2021, but this marks the first time it's been available on the cheaper iPhones. 

Using it couldn't be easier - I simply opened the Camera app, pointed the iPhone towards my banana, and once the device was close enough, a small flower icon appeared. 

Tapping this brought the fruit into focus, revealing the intricate details on the skin. 

Photographic Styles

Beyond the camera itself, a new tool called Photographic Styles also introduces a variety of new photography options. 

It allows you to locally adjust the colour, highlights, and shadows of your photos - both before you take the snap, and after. 

This might sound similar to filters, but the big difference is how and where the adjustments are applied. 

Filters tend to amend the colours across an entire photo, while Photographic Styles only applies the adjustments to specific colours.  

You can play around with the tool before you take a snap, via a new icon in the top right of the screen, next to the Live icon, or you can amend your photos after they've been snapped. 

If you're hoping to up your Instagram game and ensure all your photos have the same tone and style, this could be the perfect tool for you.   

AI-editing tools...when they finally arrive

During the iPhone launch event, Apple boasted of several exciting AI tools for the iPhone 16 Plus, thanks to Apple Intelligence. 

This includes a range of Writing Tools, the ability to type to Siri, and a new Clean Up tool that can identify and remove distracting people and objects from photos. 

The only issue is, these tools aren't available until next month. 

What's more, the full suite of Apple Intelligence tools won't come to iPhones until December at the earliest, with some countries having to wait until 2025. 

Given Apple's tagline of 'AI-opening possibilities' for the iPhone 16, I'm sure many fans will be disappointed to have to wait to see Apple Intelligence in action. 

Reasonable price

Ahead of its unveiling, many analysts predicted that the iPhone 16 Plus would be at least £100 more expensive than its predecessor. 

However, Apple pleasantly surprised us all by keeping the prices the same. 

The iPhone 16 Plus is £899 for the 128GB version, £999 for the 256GB version, and £1,199 for the 512GB version. 

This isn't cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but puts Apple in line with its main competitor, Samsung, which also charges £999 for the 256GB version of its Galaxy S24+. 

So, is it worth upgrading?

Overall, I think the iPhone 16 Plus is an excellent option if you're looking for a new smartphone - particularly if you want to boost your photography skills. 

The bright colours are some of the most stunning I've seen this year, while the improved battery life and faster MagSafe charging will be ideal for people who often charge in a rush. 

It's a real shame the AI tools aren't available just yet, but thankfully Apple reassures us that these are just around the corner. 

We'll have to wait and see if they're all Apple has made them out to be when we (eventually) get our hands on them!