Color is a funny thing in the tech world. We spend months dissecting $NPU$ benchmarks and $3nm$ architecture, but then we stand at the Apple Store counter and stare at a tray of glass slabs like we’re picking out a wedding tie.
Honestly, the iPhone 16 Plus blue—technically called Ultramarine—is the most misunderstood part of this year's lineup. People see the photos online and think it’s just another "Pacific Blue" or "Sierra Blue" retread. It isn't. Not even close.
While the Pro models are stuck in what I like to call the "Industrial Beige Phase" (officially Desert Titanium), the 16 Plus went in the opposite direction. It's loud. It’s vibrant. It basically looks like someone took a handful of blueberries and turned them into a gemstone. But there is a lot more to this phone than just a pretty backplate.
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The Ultramarine Identity Crisis
Let’s get the color science out of the way first. Apple uses a color-infused back glass process that actually bakes the pigment into the material rather than just painting the back.
In the iPhone 16 Plus blue, this results in a weirdly beautiful contrast. The back is a saturated, matte ultramarine that feels like soft sea glass. Then you look at the camera bump. Because the glass is polished and transparent there, the blue becomes incredibly deep and dark.
It's a two-tone effect that previous "Blue" iPhones never quite nailed.
If you’re coming from an iPhone 15 Plus, you’ll notice the shift immediately. Last year’s blue was so pale it practically looked like a glass of milk with a drop of food coloring in it. This year? Apple found the saturation slider and cranked it to 100.
Why the "Plus" size actually wins in 2026
Most people assume that if you want a big screen, you have to get the Pro Max. That’s the big mistake.
The iPhone 16 Plus blue gives you that massive 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display without the literal "Pro" weight. Here is the reality: the iPhone 16 Pro Max weighs about 227 grams. The 16 Plus? It’s roughly 199 grams.
- Hand Fatigue: It’s a real thing. Using the 16 Plus one-handed for a long Discord session or scrolling TikTok is just... easier.
- The Viewfinder: If you use the new Camera Control button, having that extra screen real estate makes a massive difference for framing shots.
- Thermal Headroom: Because the body is larger than the base iPhone 16, it handles the heat from the A18 chip much better during long gaming sessions.
Speaking of the A18, we need to talk about why this isn't just a "budget" chip. In previous years, the non-Pro phones got last year’s hand-me-down silicon. Not this time. The A18 is a beast built on second-generation $3nm$ technology. It was designed specifically to handle Apple Intelligence.
Whether you actually care about AI or just want your phone to not lag when you're editing 4K video, that $8GB$ of RAM is the real hero here. It's the floor for everything Apple is doing with on-device processing now.
The Camera Control Learning Curve
Every iPhone 16 Plus blue comes with the new Camera Control button on the right side. I’ll be honest: it’s kinda weird at first.
It’s not just a shutter button. It’s a sapphire crystal-covered capacitive sensor with a high-precision force sensor. You can click it to launch the camera, but you can also slide your finger across it to zoom or swap Photographic Styles.
I’ve seen a lot of people struggle with this in the first week. They press too hard or accidentally trigger the zoom when they just wanted to snap a photo.
Pro Tip: Go into your Settings > Accessibility > Camera Control. You can actually adjust the "Firm Press" pressure or even turn off the light-press menu if it’s driving you crazy.
Once you get the muscle memory down, it changes how you shoot. Being able to cycle through the new "Undertones" in the Photographic Styles menu without covering the screen with your thumb is a game-changer for people who actually care about the vibe of their photos.
The 60Hz Elephant in the Room
We have to talk about it. It’s 2026, and the iPhone 16 Plus blue still has a 60Hz refresh rate.
If you are coming from a Pro model with ProMotion ($120Hz$), you will notice the "stutter" immediately. It’s like switching from a high-def movie back to a flip book for the first few hours.
However, if you’re upgrading from an iPhone 11, 12, or 13, you won't care. iOS is so well-optimized that the animations still feel "Apple smooth." But let’s be real: for a phone that costs this much, 60Hz feels like a stubborn holdout from another era.
Apple uses this to push people toward the Pro, but for most users—the ones just watching Netflix, texting, and taking photos of their dog—it’s a spec-sheet battle that doesn't ruin the daily experience.
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Battery Life: The Hidden Superpower
This is why you actually buy the Plus.
While the Pro Max gets all the glory, the 16 Plus is a battery champion. Because it doesn't have the power-hungry Always-On display or the complex ProMotion circuitry running at high refresh rates all the time, the 4,674 mAh battery goes a long way.
In real-world testing, this phone easily clears two days of moderate use.
If you’re a heavy traveler or someone who hates carrying a MagSafe puck everywhere, the iPhone 16 Plus blue is arguably the best "travel" phone Apple makes. It’s light, the screen is huge for movies on the plane, and the battery simply refuses to die before bedtime.
Is the Ultramarine Blue right for you?
Choosing the blue 16 Plus is a bit of a statement. It’s not a "neutral" phone. If you put a thick, black case on it, you’re kind of wasting the point.
- Go Caseless or Clear: If you want this phone, get a high-quality clear case. The way the blue shifts under different lighting (from a bright neon in sunlight to a deep indigo in the evening) is the whole reason to buy this specific SKU.
- Check the Storage: Don't get the $128GB$ model if you plan on taking a lot of "Spatial Photos." These files are larger than your standard JPEGs, and with the A18 chip making gaming so viable, you'll fill that space up with Genshin Impact or Resident Evil faster than you think.
- The Action Button: Don't just leave it on "Mute." Since you have a dedicated Camera Control button now, use the Action Button for something else—like triggering a Shortcut that opens your garage door or starts a Voice Memo.
The iPhone 16 Plus blue represents a shift in Apple’s strategy. They’ve stopped making the "base" models feel like second-class citizens. You get the same Action Button, the same Camera Control, and the same primary A-series chip architecture as the most expensive phones.
You’re basically trading the telephoto lens and a high-refresh screen for a lighter phone, a more vibrant color, and a few hundred dollars back in your pocket. For most people, that’s a trade worth making.
Next Steps for New Owners
If you just unboxed your blue 16 Plus, start by setting up your Photographic Styles. Go to the Camera app, tap the grid icon, and choose a style that fits your aesthetic. Unlike filters, these change the way the ISP processes skin tones and shadows in real-time, so your "blue" phone won't just look good on the outside—your photos will actually look better on the inside, too.
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Then, head over to the Display & Brightness settings. Since this panel hits $2000$ nits peak brightness, make sure "True Tone" is on to save your eyes when you're using that massive 6.7-inch screen at night.