Deal: iPhone 16 series is on pre-order, but iPhone 15 models are still available

This week all eyes were on Apple and the new iPhone 16 series. Pre-orders started this Friday and will run for a week – shipments and open sale begin next Friday.

You can pre-order from Apple.com and if you do, be sure to look for trade-in deals. Are you getting the iPhone 16? If yes, here are the prices for the new model, which will be available from Friday next week.

But there are a few options you should consider before you make the choice. The best option to start with is a second-hand iPhone, so we took a look at some new and refurbished units from Amazon.

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus keep the same 6.1″ and 6.7″ screens as their 15-series counterparts. Yes, they still have 60Hz panels. So, what changed? The more powerful Apple A18 chipset and extra RAM allow the 16-series phones to run Apple intelligence, something the 15 and 15 Plus won’t support. The new models also feature new ultra-wide cameras with faster charging and a macro mode. Perhaps the biggest upgrade is the camera control and action buttons, which enable a number of new shortcuts.

But if we look at the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, they have the same screen. Same 48MP main camera and 12MP selfie camera too.

The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max get bigger displays at 6.3” and 6.9”. This is good for those who like big displays, but bad for those who feel the new models are too big. The 16 Pro duo also gets faster charging and new buttons. Also, there’s a new 48MP ultra-wide camera and this year, the smaller Pro has the same 5x periscope as the Pro Max (the 15 Pro has a 3x lens).

Unlike the vanilla models, the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max will be updated with Apple Intelligence (coming next month). The main and selfie cameras are the same and the 15 Pro Max also has the same periscope.

You can switch to Android in this generation. All Galaxy S24 models have 120Hz LTPO displays and they all have AI (mostly powered by Google).

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has both a 5x periscope (with a 50MP sensor, not 12MP like the iPhones) and a 3x lens. The main camera has a 200MP sensor. It also has the S Pen, which gives this phone tablet-like capabilities.

The new iPhone 16 Pro is bigger than the Galaxy S24. And with no new Xperia 5 and no smaller Zenfone 11 in sight this year, these are the last small flagships. The smaller S24 also has a 120Hz LTPO display, 3x 10MP tele cameras, which Apple charges extra for.

Note that the Galaxy S24 and S24 Ultra come with discounts, additional discounts at checkout, a bit of Galaxy Store credit for apps (or wallpapers, whichever), and a free Samsung Galaxy Book Go.

The Google Pixel 9 may not have an LTPO display, but at least its 6.3” OLED panel runs at 120Hz. The Tensor G4 isn’t very fast at normal tasks, but it has a great NPU (and for things that can’t run locally, Google’s servers take over). The phone is equipped with a 50MP main camera and a 48MP ultra wide, while the iPhone 16 only has a 12MP ultra wide.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro weighs the same as the iPhone 16 Pro, at 199 grams, but it’s slightly longer and a millimeter wider and thicker than the Apple phone. This time it’s a 48MP ultra wide vs a 48MP ultra wide, but the Pixel Pro also has a 48MP 5x telephoto camera, while the iPhone Pro only has a 12MP sensor behind the 5x periscope. Also, the Pixel Pro has 42MP selfie cameras, which is better than the 12MP selfie module used by Apple.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is slightly smaller than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. What we said about the 9 Pro’s cameras applies here as well (they use the same hardware). Plus, both Pixel Pros have 120Hz LTPO displays, unlike the vanilla Pixel 9. And in case you’re wondering, Google doesn’t think Qi2 is a big deal, so you’ll get wireless charging without magnets. Speaking of charging, Google increased both wired and wireless speeds this year, as did Apple, and they’re very close on paper. The real race will be decided when we review the iPhones.

Let’s take a look at what Motorola has to offer. The Moto Edge 50 Ultra has a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, which isn’t the most exciting option, but it is faster than the Tensor G4. It has a 6.7-inch 144Hz OLED display and a small 4,500mAh battery with super fast charging – 125W wired and 50W wireless. The camera looks impressive too, with a 50MP main (1/1.3”), 64MP 3x tele and 50MP ultra wide, as well as a 50MP selfie. These take great photos, but videos were pretty poor.

The new Motorola Edge 50 Neo isn’t as small as the iPhone 16, but it’s smaller than most Androids with a 6.4-inch display. And it’s a 120Hz LTPO panel, which looks great at this price. Don’t be fooled by the vegan leather back – like the Ultra, it’s also IP68 rated. It’s also MIL-STD-810H compliant. The camera isn’t as capable as the Ultra, but you do get a 10MP 3x camera for zooming in, in addition to a 50MP main (1/1.5”) and 13MP ultra wide. The selfie module has a 32MP sensor.

The Dimensity 7300 chipset isn’t great, but at this price, something has to be given. The phone also has 68W wired and 15W wireless, solid charging for the 4,310mAh battery. And did we mention Motorola promises 5 years of support? That’s not bad for a mid-ranger (we know Moto doesn’t have a great reputation when it comes to software, but it could change things like this).

You can also buy foldables for iPhone 16 Plus money. The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra, for example, opens up to deliver a 6.9-inch screen and becomes a fairly compact but still quite useful device with a 4-inch 165Hz cover display (both have LTPO panels). It doesn’t lack power with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, but the camera situation isn’t for everyone – the 50MP main has a small sensor (1/1.95”) and there’s no ultra wide, Moto opted for a 50MP 2x portrait camera instead. The battery offers quite good stamina with a 4,000mAh capacity and charges fast at 45W over USB-C (there’s also 15W wireless).