Head to head

Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs Sony A7 IV

A direct, no-fluff comparison: specs, pros and cons, pricing, and the scenarios where each one earns its keep.

Spec snapshot

Apple iPhone 16 ProSony A7 IV
Price (USD)$999$2499
Our rating4.5/54.7/5
Categorysmartphone-camerascameras
Pros44
Cons33

The case for each

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

4.5

Pros

  • +Most natural color science of any flagship
  • +Tetraprism telephoto reaches 120mm equivalent
  • +Best video pipeline in any phone
  • +ProRes + external SSD workflow

Cons

  • Telephoto struggles in low light
  • Still no variable aperture
  • Pricey storage upgrades
Full review →

Sony A7 IV

4.7

Pros

  • +Class-leading autofocus
  • +Excellent 10-bit 4K
  • +Fully articulating screen
  • +Dual card slots (CFexpress + SD)

Cons

  • 4K60 has a 1.5x crop
  • Menu system still busy
  • Battery life dips in heavy video use
Full review →

Winner by use case

Vlogging & videoSony A7 IV
Low-light photographyApple iPhone 16 Pro
Value for moneySony A7 IV
Pro & enterprise useApple iPhone 16 Pro
BeginnersTie

Inferred from each camera's pros and review focus. Treat as a starting point, then read the full reviews for nuance.

Common questions

Is the Apple iPhone 16 Pro better than the Sony A7 IV?

It depends on what you shoot. Apple iPhone 16 Pro scores 4.5/5 in our review, while the Sony A7 IV scores 4.7/5. See the spec table and use-case breakdown above for our verdict.

Which is cheaper, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro or the Sony A7 IV?

Apple iPhone 16 Pro sells around $999, and Sony A7 IV around $2499. The Apple iPhone 16 Pro is the cheaper of the two.

Which one is better for beginners?

Both are capable, but beginners usually do better with whichever has the simpler interface and more forgiving autofocus. Read the "Winner by use case" section above for our specific call.

Should I upgrade from the Apple iPhone 16 Pro to the Sony A7 IV?

Only if the gap in features you actually use is wide. If you already own one, the marginal upgrade is rarely worth the cost unless a specific shortcoming is blocking your work.

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