Apple finally did it. They stopped playing it safe with those dusty, muted "pastels" that looked more like primer than actual paint. If you’ve been looking at the iPhone 16 Plus Ultramarine, you already know it’s the standout. It’s loud. It’s deeply saturated. Honestly, it’s the first time in years a non-Pro model feels like the more exciting choice.
But look, picking a phone because of a color is usually a mistake. People do it, then they slap a $10 black plastic case on it, and the "Ultramarine" vibe is gone forever. With the 16 Plus, there’s more going on under that blue glass than just a fresh coat of paint. We’re talking about a massive shift in how the "regular" iPhone handles power, thermal management, and those new buttons everyone is arguing about on Reddit.
Why the iPhone 16 Plus Ultramarine is the Color Everyone’s Grabbing
Color is subjective, sure. But there’s actual science—or at least very intentional engineering—behind why this specific shade looks the way it does. Apple used a dual-ion exchange process for the back glass. This isn't just a sticker under the glass; the color is infused into the material itself. It gives the iPhone 16 Plus Ultramarine a depth that the old "Pacific Blue" or "Sierra Blue" never quite reached. It’s punchy. In direct sunlight, it almost glows a vibrant violet-blue, but in a dimly lit room, it settles into a deep, moody navy.
It's refreshing. For the last few generations, the base models felt like the "budget" option visually. They were pale. They were safe. The Ultramarine 16 Plus feels like a statement. It’s the color you get when you want people to know you didn't just get the "default" phone.
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The Display Reality Check
You’re getting a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display. It’s huge. If you’re coming from a standard 14 or 15, the extra screen real estate is immediately noticeable for gaming or just doomscrolling. But we have to talk about the 60Hz elephant in the room.
Apple still hasn't given the Plus model ProMotion.
If you’ve used a Pro model with 120Hz, you will notice the "jitter" when scrolling. It’s just how it is. However, for most people—honestly, for 90% of the population—the 2,000 nits of peak brightness matters way more. You can actually see your maps while standing in the middle of a sunny sidewalk in July. That’s a practical win over a higher refresh rate that mostly just makes menus look smoother.
The A18 Chip: Not Just a "Pro" Hand-Me-Down
In previous years, the Plus model usually got last year's Pro chip. Not this time. The iPhone 16 Plus Ultramarine runs on the A18. It’s a 3-nanometer beast designed specifically to handle Apple Intelligence.
Why does this matter for you?
Efficiency. The A18 is roughly 30% faster than the A16 Bionic found in the iPhone 15, but it uses less power to do the same tasks. This contributes to the legendary battery life the Plus models are known for. You can easily go a day and a half without hunting for a USB-C cable. If you’re a light user, two days isn't out of the question.
- Subsystem improvements: The internal thermal design was overhauled.
- Gaming: It supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing now.
- Future-proofing: With 8GB of RAM as the new floor, this phone won't feel sluggish in three years.
Actually, the gaming aspect is wild. You can play AAA titles like Resident Evil Village or Death Stranding on this thing. Does it get warm? A little. Does it throttle like the old models? Hardly ever. The new logic board layout helps dissipate heat toward the edges, away from your palms.
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That New Camera Control Button
Okay, let’s get into the weird stuff. Apple added a "Camera Control" button on the right side. It’s not just a clicker; it’s a sapphire crystal-covered capacitive sensor with a haptic engine.
It feels... different.
You click it to launch the camera. You light-press to bring up zoom or exposure. You slide your finger across it to cycle through photographic styles. For the iPhone 16 Plus Ultramarine, it adds a level of "pro-sumer" feel to a device that is technically the mid-range option.
Is it perfect? No. If you have small hands, reaching it in portrait mode is a bit of a stretch. But in landscape, it makes the phone feel like a real camera. It encourages you to actually compose a shot rather than just tapping the screen and hoping for the best.
The Vertical Camera Layout
You might have noticed the cameras are now stacked vertically instead of diagonally. This wasn't just a design tweak to make you buy new cases. It’s functional. This layout allows the iPhone 16 Plus to capture Spatial Video and Spatial Photos for the Apple Vision Pro. Even if you don't own a $3,500 headset, shooting in this format means you're archiving your memories in 3D for whenever that tech eventually becomes affordable.
The 48MP Fusion camera is the workhorse here. It basically gives you a "2x optical-quality" telephoto by cropping into the center of the high-res sensor. It’s great for portraits. You get that natural background blur (bokeh) without the weird artificial edges you sometimes see in software-only portrait modes.
The "Plus" Size Dilemma
Here’s the thing about the Plus. It’s big.
It’s basically the same footprint as the Pro Max, but it’s significantly lighter. Because the 16 Plus uses aluminum instead of the Pro's titanium or the old stainless steel, it doesn't feel like a brick in your pocket.
Weight matters. If you spend three hours a night holding your phone over your face in bed, your wrists will thank you for choosing the Plus over the Pro Max.
- Portability: It fits in back pockets, but front pockets are a struggle.
- Case selection: Clear cases are mandatory for the Ultramarine. Don't hide it.
- Durability: The latest generation Ceramic Shield is supposedly 50% tougher than the first version. (But please, still use a screen protector).
Apple Intelligence and the Long Game
We can't talk about this phone without mentioning AI. Apple Intelligence is the reason the iPhone 16 Plus Ultramarine exists in this specific configuration. The A18 chip and the 8GB of RAM are there to run on-device LLMs (Large Language Models).
This means Siri might actually become useful. It can look through your emails to find that flight number you forgot, or it can "Clean Up" a photo by removing a distracting trash can in the background. Most of this happens on the device itself, which is a massive win for privacy. You aren't sending your entire life to a server in some warehouse just to summarize a text message.
Is the Ultramarine Plus Right for You?
If you want the best screen and the most cameras, go Pro. If you want the best value-to-size ratio, this is it. The iPhone 16 Plus Ultramarine sits in this sweet spot where you get the flagship "look" and the flagship "speed" without paying the $1,100+ Pro Max tax.
You have to be okay with the 60Hz screen. That’s the only real compromise. If you’re coming from an iPhone 11, 12, or 13, this will feel like a spaceship. The jump in battery life alone is worth the upgrade.
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Practical Next Steps for Buyers
If you’ve decided the Ultramarine is the one, don’t just walk into a store and pay full retail.
Check your trade-in values specifically for the 16 Plus. Carriers often give more aggressive credits for the Plus than the Pro because they want to move more volume of the "mainstream" units.
Pick the right case immediately. If you get a solid color case, you wasted your time picking Ultramarine. Look for a high-quality polycarbonate clear case with UV resistance—otherwise, it’ll turn yellow in three months and your beautiful blue phone will look like a swamp.
Test the Camera Control in-store. It has a learning curve. Spend five minutes clicking and sliding before you leave the shop so you don't get frustrated when you're trying to take a quick photo later.
Optimize your charging. Since this has a massive battery, use a 20W or higher brick. The 16 Plus supports faster MagSafe charging now (up to 25W with the right adapter), which is a lifesaver when you only have 30 minutes to juice up before heading out.
The iPhone 16 Plus Ultramarine isn't just a phone; it's the end of the "boring" base model era. It has the guts of a pro machine and a color that actually has some soul. Stop overthinking the Pro features you probably won't use and enjoy the best-looking blue phone Apple has ever made.