You've probably seen the renders. Those deep, royal purple mockups floating around social media that look like a grape soda exploded in a design lab. They look incredible, honestly. But if you walk into an Apple Store looking for a "purple iPhone 16 Plus," you’re going to be a little confused.
Here is the thing: Apple didn't officially name a color "purple" this year.
Instead, they gave us Ultramarine. It is a wild, shapeshifting color that basically functions as the purple iPhone 16 Plus everyone was waiting for. Depending on the light in your living room or the sun hitting it at the park, it swings from a deep indigo to a vibrant violet. It’s easily the most aggressive color choice Apple has made in years. No more of those "is it white or is it barely-there-blue" pastels from the iPhone 15 era. This thing is loud.
Why the purple iPhone 16 Plus isn't actually purple
Apple's color strategy shifted big time with the 16 series. For the last few cycles, the non-Pro models were almost translucent—kinda like sea glass. This year, they used a color-infused back glass that is saturated. The Ultramarine finish on the iPhone 16 Plus is the spiritual successor to the fan-favorite Purple iPhone 12 and the Deep Purple 14 Pro, but it's more "blue-adjacent."
If you're a purple purist, you'll notice the aluminum rails have a distinct violet tint. It's that rich, electric hue. But the back glass? That’s where the debate starts. In bright daylight, it’s a punchy blue. Under warm indoor lighting? It’s unmistakably purple. It’s basically a mood ring in phone form.
Breaking down the 16 Plus vibe
- The Look: Vertical camera layout. It looks like a throwback to the iPhone X but modernized. This wasn't just for aesthetics; it's so you can take Spatial Photos and Videos for the Vision Pro.
- The Feel: It’s a 6.7-inch beast. At 199 grams, it’s not exactly light, but it feels more balanced than the brick-like Pro Max.
- The Durability: Latest-generation Ceramic Shield. Apple says it's 2x tougher than any other smartphone glass. I still wouldn't skip a screen protector, though.
The Camera Control button is weirdly addictive
Every single iPhone 16 Plus gets the new Camera Control. It’s not just a button. It’s a sapphire crystal-covered multi-tool. You can click it to launch the camera, but the real magic is the capacitive sensor.
✨ Don't miss: Mac Charger Price Check: Why Your Next Power Brick Might Cost $19 or $100
You slide your finger across it to zoom. Or double-tap lightly to switch from the 48MP Fusion lens to the Ultra Wide. It feels like using a real DSLR. Honestly, it takes a solid two days to build the muscle memory. At first, you’ll probably keep clicking it by accident when you’re just trying to hold the phone, but once it clicks (literally), going back to on-screen sliders feels archaic.
The 48MP Fusion camera is the workhorse here. It basically gives you a "virtual" 2x telephoto by cropping into the middle of the sensor. You're getting optical-quality shots without the dedicated third lens. For most people taking photos of their dog or their lunch, you genuinely won't miss the Pro’s zoom lens.
Apple Intelligence and the A18 leap
The "Plus" models used to get last year’s leftovers. Not this time. The purple iPhone 16 Plus (fine, Ultramarine) runs on the A18 chip. It skipped two generations of silicon compared to the A16 in the 15 Plus.
Why? Because of Apple Intelligence.
To run on-device AI—the kind that summarizes your messy emails, removes photobombers from your vacation shots, or helps Siri actually understand what you’re saying—you need RAM and NPU (Neural Processing Unit) power. This phone has 8GB of RAM, which is the "entry fee" for Apple’s AI future.
What can it actually do?
- Writing Tools: It’ll rewrite your grumpy "per my last email" into something professional.
- Clean Up: Finally, a native way to erase people from the background of your photos.
- Visual Intelligence: Point the camera at a restaurant, and it pulls up the menu and reviews. It’s like Google Lens but baked into the hardware.
The battery life king?
If you care about battery more than anything else, the 16 Plus is usually the "secret" winner. While the Pro Max technically has the biggest cell, the 16 Plus display only runs at 60Hz. Because it isn't pushing those high refresh rates (ProMotion), the battery just sips power.
Apple rates it for 27 hours of video playback. In real-world testing, this is a two-day phone for light users. If you’re a heavy social media scroller or a gamer playing Genshin Impact or Resident Evil (which the A18 can actually run now), you’re still easily clearing a full day with room to spare.
The charging also got a stealth upgrade. If you use a 30W or higher adapter with a MagSafe charger, you can hit 25W wireless charging. That’s a huge jump. It makes wireless charging actually viable when you're in a hurry, rather than just something you do overnight.
What's the catch?
It’s not all perfect. The biggest gripe most tech reviewers have is the 60Hz display. In a world where $300 Android phones have 120Hz screens, seeing a 60Hz panel on a $899 iPhone 16 Plus feels... a bit stingy.
📖 Related: Is Colossal Biosciences Legit or Just a Massive PR Stunt?
If you’re coming from an older iPhone (like an 11, 12, or 13), you won’t notice. It’ll feel smooth. But if you’ve ever spent time with a Pro model or an iPad Pro, you’ll see the slight "ghosting" when you scroll through text. It’s not a dealbreaker for most, but it’s the main reason you’d spend the extra $200 for a Pro Max.
Is the Ultramarine 16 Plus right for you?
If you want the big screen but hate the weight of titanium, this is it. If you want a phone that actually looks like a piece of fashion rather than a piece of industrial equipment, the Ultramarine finish is stunning.
It’s the best "non-pro" phone Apple has ever made because it doesn't feel like a compromise. You get the same chip, the same AI, and the same new buttons as the expensive ones.
Actionable Next Steps
- Go see it in person: Photos don't do the Ultramarine justice. Check it out at a store under different lighting to see if the "purple-ish" vibe is what you're actually looking for.
- Check your trade-in: Apple and carriers are being extremely aggressive with trade-in values for the 16 series because they want everyone on the "Apple Intelligence" train.
- Pick the right case: If you buy this for the color, get a clear MagSafe case. Putting a solid black cover on this specific shade is a tech crime.
- Storage check: If you plan on taking 48MP photos or 4K video, skip the 128GB base model. Go for the 256GB. You'll thank yourself in six months.
The purple iPhone 16 Plus—or Ultramarine, if we’re being precise—is a statement piece. It’s the sweet spot for anyone who wants the "Max" experience without the "Max" price tag or the boring "Pro" colors.