Best iPhone 16 plans in Australia (December 2024)
Should you buy from Apple's latest iPhone from Telstra, Optus, Vodafone or outright?
The best iPhone 16 plans are a hot commodity, with Apple's latest iPhone only releasing in September. Picking the best of the bunch isn't easy, though, as the answer will be different depending on your budget and data needs.
The iPhone 16 can handle Apple Intelligence, Apple's generative AI tools for writing and editing, image creation, and organising. Something that older models, apart from the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, cannot. If you're wondering whether it's worth upgrading, you can check out our comparison of the two newest base iPhone models.
As well as its AI functionality, the iPhone 16 also introduces the Apple Camera control, action button and excellent performance. You can buy it outright from retailers like Amazon or The Good Guys and pair it with one of our best SIM-only plans, but if spending a lump sum AU$1,400 isn't for you, now is a good time to be shopping the best iPhone 16 plans.
Vodafone is often the number one choice for iPhone plans, and it's no different right now thanks to a AU$10p/m discount on the first 12 months of its Small, Medium and Large plans. Oh, and its throwing in a free three-month subscription to Binge, too. Meanwhile, Optus is offering up to AU$20 in SubHub credit with its AU$79 Promo plan and AU$82 Choice Plus plan, and Telstra's only deal is AU$10 off the first six months with a new upfront mobile plan.
So, whether you're using your monthly data to watch the best shows on Binge, or your pairing your new iPhone 16 with one of the best SIM-only plans, these are the best iPhone 16 plans in Australia.
- Best iPhone 15 plans
- Best iPhone 15 Plus plans
- Best iPhone 15 Pro plans
- Best iPhone 16 plans
- Best iPhone 16 Plus plans
- Best iPhone 16 Pro plans
- Best iPhone 16 Pro Max plans
Best iPhone 16 plans: our picks
Best overall iPhone 16 plan
iPhone 16 (128GB) | 50GB | 24 Months | AU97.29p/m (for 12 months, then AU$107.29)
With a AU$10 discount to the monthly cost of its AU$49 Small Plan, Vodafone is easily offering the best iPhone 16 plans right now. Saving you AU$240 over 24 months, this plan also provides a hefty 50GB of data per month and 5G connectivity, as well as three months to watch all the best shows on Binge for free.
Total cost over 24 months is: AU$1,868.64
Best premium iPhone 16 plan
iPhone 16 (128GB) | 180GB | 24 Months | AU$107.29p/m (for 12 months, then AU$117.29)
If 50GB of data isn't quite enough to satisfy you, how's 180GB sound? That's exactly what Vodafone's AU$59 Medium Plan provides, and right now it will only cost you just AU$49p/m for the first 12 months. You still get those three free months of Binge, too.
Total cost over 24 months is: AU$2,694.96
Compare iPhone 16 telco plans
Still want to know what other carriers are offering? Here's a quick look at what you'' pay each month for the 128GB iPhone 16 over a 24-month contract.
Other iPhone 16 deals
Vodafone | trade-in and get up to AU$1,500 in credit
Vodafone’s trade-in offer can get you up to AU$1,500 in credit to put towards your iPhone 16 Pro purchase. The actual amount you’ll receive for a trade-in depends on the model and condition of your device, for example, you’d need an iPhone 15 Pro Max (1TB) in good nick in order to get the full AU$1,500 in credit. On top of this, Vodafone is also offering double data on all its mobile plans for anyone buying a new iPhone 16.
Optus | trade-in an eligible phone and receive a gift card worth up to AU$1,200
By trading in your old device, you can earn big bucks on a gift card and use it to pay for your new iPhone 16 or any other device of your choosing. To get the full value, you'd likely have to trade in an iPhone 15 Pro, but there's still value to be found in lesser devices.
The Good Guys | outright from AU$1,397
If you're looking to buy outright, this is the best deal you're likely to find, with TGG bringing the iPhone 16 Pro under AU$1,400 for the 128GB model.
JB Hi-Fi | Outright from AU$1,397
While it's not as cheap as you'll get from trading in your old device or from Kogan, this brings the iPhone 16 down to just AU$1,397..
Kogan | bigger discounts for First members
The cheapest outright price available from what we can find, though you'll have to sign up to Kogan First to make the most of it. Kogan is offering the iPhone 16 Pro for just AU$1,279 to Kogan First members, and AU$1,299 for non members.
iPhone 16 Key Information
Both iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models have received large upgrades over the iPhone 15, at least by Apple standards. There's an all-new A18 (and A18 Pro) chipsets specifically built to handle the rigours of AI functionality through Apple Intelligence, while the cameras have seen significant changes to hardware and software.
Apple Intelligence offers a whole array of AI features across Apple's entire range of existing applications. There's language models similar to ChatGPT for texts or emails, a new 'Visual Intelligence' app that is just like Google Lens and even image and emoji generators.
The improvements aren't all software based, though. Regarding hardware, the iPhone 16 series sports an upgraded camera with a new physical camera control button that directly interacts with the camera app, allowing you to snap shots like a digital Camera. Apple's new 'Fusion camera' is the new 48MP main camera thanks to its ability to swiftly change between taking storage-friendly images and high-resolution photos, as well as offering Stereoscopic capture for Apple Vision Pro.
Coming in five vibrant and attractive colourways – Ultramarine, Pink, Black, Teal and white – the iPhone 16 can be yours today for AU$1,399, AU$1,599 and AU$1,799 depending on which storage option you choose.
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A Digital Content Writer for the Australian TechRadar team, Max covers all things tech and lifestyle and is keen on using tech to make life easier. A 2023 journalism graduate, Max has written across sports, entertainment and business for brands like Zero Digital Media and Valnet.Inc, but found his love for tech in his time at GadgetUser. At home when covering everything from the latest deal and coupon code to the most recent streaming service output, phone or smartwatch, Max excels at using his research, experience and writing ability give you more time to use your tech, not waste time finding it.