The iPhone 16: Disappointing Display Performance Exposed by DxOMark
Apple has once again captured attention with the launch of its latest flagship, the iPhone 16 series, introduced on September 9, 2024. While the tech giant boasted enhancements including Apple Intelligence support, a new Camera Control button, and upgraded processing power, one aspect draws significant criticism—the display performance. In a rather surprising twist, DxOMark’s latest analysis shows that the iPhone 16’s display may lag behind some budget Android smartphones.
The disappointing display of the iPhone 16 shows a need for improvement in Apple’s flagship offerings.
A Mediocre Performance Score
The iPhone 16 scored a mere 142 in DxOMark’s rigorous display evaluation, placing it a shocking 40th among all tested smartphones. This score puts it behind popular mid-range competitors such as the Galaxy A35 5G and Google’s Pixel 9a, which managed to score 143 and 145 points respectively. The situation is dire as top-tier Android models, including the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, dominate the leaderboard, raising concerns about Apple’s direction in display technology.
Analyzing the Shortcomings
Upon reviewing the iPhone 16’s display performance, DxOMark identified a series of significant shortcomings:
- 60Hz Refresh Rate: In an era where even mid-range devices boast higher refresh rates, Apple’s decision to stick with a 60Hz refresh rate is perplexing. This can lead to less fluid animations and an overall outdated feel, especially for a flagship device.
- Inconsistent Average Brightness: While Apple claims a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, actual tests only show around 1,969 nits. This discrepancy raises questions on real-world performance, particularly in HDR and SDR videos.
- Orange Cast with True Tone: Although colors on the iPhone 16 are generally appealing, an orange hue is evident under specific conditions, particularly with True Tone activated, which could distort the image quality.
- Touch Interaction Issues: Users have reported inconsistent touch responses, especially around the device’s corners, which disrupts the seamless interaction experience.
- Contrast Issues in SDR Content: Low-light performance of SDR content leaves much to be desired, reflecting a stark contrast when switching to HDR, leading to noticeable brightness discrepancies.
What Still Works?
Despite these failures, the iPhone 16 isn’t devoid of positives:
- The display offers vibrant and consistent colors, ensuring good readability under a variety of conditions.
- The motion blur performance and frame drop management remain efficient, which is crucial for video playback.
- Touch responsiveness is generally excellent, aside from corner interactions, and the device has received the DXOMARK Eye Comfort label due to effective blue-light filtering.
What Apple Needs to Improve
Given the low display score amidst mainstream competition, it’s clear that Apple needs to address these shortcomings in future iPhone versions. As Apple is notorious for maintaining certain features through multiple iterations, fans are hopeful that the upcoming iPhone 17 will rectify these issues, with rumors suggesting the inclusion of 120Hz ProMotion displays across the board in 2025.
As it stands, the future of Apple’s display strategies is uncertain. The company’s focus on incremental improvements, such as new buttons or software features, may not be enough to satisfy tech-savvy consumers who demand high-quality displays on par with competitive devices.
“Wake up Apple,” is the cry from customers yearning for advancement in fundamental aspects of the iPhone experience.
Stay tuned as we continue to follow the developments and improvements in Apple’s iPhone lineup.
