Apple iPhone 16: Everything we know so far
AppleiPhone 16 might be months away but there’s no shortage of leaks and rumors. Here are all the rumors you need to know about Apple’s upcoming smartphone.
Apple announced the iPhone 15 series back in September 2023 with many new changes. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models received bigger upgrades than the non-pro phones. Titanium and the new A17 Pro chip became the main highlight of the iPhone 15 series.
The upcoming iPhone 16 lineup could bring even more features to the table. While there’s still time for the official debut, leaks and rumors already give us a good idea of what to expect from the upcoming iPhones.
Apple could bump up the screen sizes of the Pro models and revamp the design of all four iPhones. A new chipset may debut with the iPhones alongside changes in the display technology. The iPhone 16 will also come loaded with AI features thanks to iOS 18.
Release rumors
We expect the iPhone 16 to be released in September 2024. Apple always sticks to its routine with iPhone launches. The iPhone 15 came out on September 12, 2023, the iPhone 14 was revealed on September 16, 2021, and the iPhone 13 dropped on September 14, 2021. So, it’s pretty likely that we’ll see the iPhone 16 sometime in September 2024. But, Apple hasn’t confirmed the exact date yet.
Price speculation
AppleNikkei Asia reported that the production costs for the iPhone 15 were higher than those of last year’s iPhone 14 models. However, Apple absorbed these increased costs to maintain the same prices as the iPhone 14 series. The company may pass on this price increase to consumers with the iPhone 16 lineup.
For reference, the base model of the iPhone 15 in the US starts at $799, and the iPhone 15 Plus starts at $899. The iPhone 15 Pro kicks off at $999, while the top-of-the-line iPhone 15 Pro Max costs $1,199.
Design & display
A leak from a reliable source suggests that the iPhone 16 Pro might sport an extremely bright display. The upcoming iPhone is said to reach a peak brightness of 1200 nits, at least 20% more than the predecessor. The iPhone 15 Pro’s display maxes out at 1000 nits.
The peak display is measured for regular usage and SDR content. However, for HDR content, the display on the iPhone 16 Pro is expected to remain unchanged at 1600 nits, maximum. This means that users will experience an improved display for most scenarios, and the new OLED iPad Pro with 1000 nits of peak brightness might not remain the brightest display on an Apple device.
2024 could be the year of changes for the iPhones. Apple could introduce a new button on their smartphones, called the “capture button”. According to a previous report, the capture button will likely be positioned below the power button on the right side of the device.
However, according to a supply chain report, Apple might replace the existing physical buttons on both sides of the iPhone with capacitive versions that will offer iPhone 16 users haptic feedback.
Apple is reported to have moved the mmWave antenna to the left to make room for the new button. You may also see solid-state technology on the iPhone 16’s action button, something that was previously rumored for the iPhone 15.
The vanilla iPhone 16 might undergo a design revamp, possibly taking cues from the iPhone X with vertical camera lenses like the iPhone 12. Several leaked dummies of the iPhone 16 series reveal how the new models might look.
The Pro iPhones may get an increase in screen size, as reported by MacRumors. The iPhone 16 Pro could rock a 6.27-inch display (rounded to 6.3 inches).
The iPhone 16 Pro Max might go even bigger with a 6.85-inch display (rounded to 6.9 inches). Ice Universe claims it measures 163.024mm × 77.575mm × 8.26mm. The new iPhone is 3.1mm taller, 0.88mm wider, and 1mm thicker than the 15 Pro Max.
Leaker Ice Universe also says the bezels around the entire screen will be super thin at just 0.05 inches. That’s even slimmer than rivals like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, which has 0.06-inch bezels.
In total, the bezels on the iPhone 16 Pro Max are rumored to be only 0.08 inches wide, compared to 0.13 inches for the Galaxy S24 Ultra. According to Ice Universe, “the iPhone 16 Pro Max will be the closest thing to a borderless sci-fi phone on the market.”
Apple may also use new micro-lens tech on the display for improved brightness and reduced power consumption.
Camera specs speculation
AppleThe cameras on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to see no major changes. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, on the other hand, could see big improvements.
They could include an improved 48-megapixel ultra-wide lens, meaning improved images even in lower lighting conditions. The iPhone 16 Pro could also get a 5x telephoto lens, which is currently limited to the Pro Max model.
Rumors of a ‘super telephoto periscope camera‘ for iPhone 16 Pro Max have also been making the rounds, suggesting that the phone would boast higher zoom capabilities. Another rumor from Korea claims Apple might give iPhone 16 Pro Max a new anti-reflective optical coating technology to improve the quality of photos. The new coating will allegedly reduce artifacts like lens flare and ghosting.
Specifications rumors
Contradicting old leaks and rumors, multiple reports suggest that all the upcoming iPhone 16 lineup models will sport the new A18 chipset. A code change reveals five new iPhone models in Apple’s backend code, each likely powered by the A18 chip.
The identifiers for five new iPhone models are as follows:
- iPhone17,1
- iPhone17,2
- iPhone17,3
- iPhone17,4
- iPhone17,5
MacRumors explains that all the model identifiers start with the same number. This is a clear giveaway that these five iPhones will have the same chipset.
We’re not sure about the fifth iPhone model on this list as the iPhone 16 lineup is expected to have only 4 phones – iPhone 16, 16 Plus, Pro, and Pro Max.
Another report from China Times says that Apple has ordered TSMC to produce 90 to 100 million units of 3nm A18 chipset. This suggests that the same chipset will be used on all iPhone 16 models.
While the report doesn’t have a bifurcation between A18 and A18 Pro, it says that the two chipsets’ performance will vary.
It also mentions that the RAM on all the models in the iPhone 16 lineup will be upgraded from 6 GB to 8 GB. This is to ensure that all these devices support all Apple Intelligence features.
Apple/PexelsThe iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to be powered by A18 Pro, based on TSMC’s 3nm process node. It’s too early to tell what kind of improvements it will bring over iPhone 15 Pro’s A17 Pro chip.
The chip situation is quite confusing for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, though. The smartphones could use an A17 chip manufactured on TSMC’s inferior N3E process. This could help Apple keep the costs in check.
However, analyst Jeff Pu says the non-pro iPhones will be powered by an A18 chip with one less GPU core than the A18 Pro chip.
TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the iPhone 16 Pro models will be getting new Wi-Fi 7 technology, while the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are reported to feature Wi-Fi 6E. The non-Pro iPhones may, however, receive a RAM boost to 8GB.
Apple might be changing the batteries in all four iPhones. According to leaker Majin Bu on X, the standard iPhone 16 could have a 3561 mAh battery, which is better than the iPhone 15’s 3349 mAh battery. The iPhone 16 Pro Max might get a 4676 mAh battery, up from the 4441 mAh battery in the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Apple could also shrink the iPhone 16 Plus battery from 4383 mAh to 4006 mAh. The iPhone 16 Pro could possibly get a 4676 mAh battery unit instead of the 4441 mAh unit found in the iPhone 15 Pro.
Software
AppleThe iPhone 16 lineup will run iOS 18 out of the box, which Apple announced during the WWDC 2024. The latest software brings a number of features that we’ve never seen before.
The home screen undergoes several radical changes. For the first time, users will be able to place app icons anywhere, as long as they adhere to the traditional grid structure. The same applies to widgets. Users can change the size of icons on the home screen and even alter their colors to match the theme of the wallpaper.
iOS 18 further introduces Apple Intelligence—Apple’s suite of AI features. Key updates include an AI-powered Siri that can do much more than it does now. It can help summarize notifications and news articles and translate text in real-time.
Is the iPhone 16 series worth waiting for?
As we mentioned earlier, 2024 could be the year of change for the iPhones. If the rumors are to be believed, the iPhone 16 lineup is shaping up to be a significant upgrade. However, the non-Pro iPhones are still expected to receive only mediocre updates.
You might want to wait and see what’s in store if you are using one of the latest iPhones. Older iPhone users should consider getting the iPhone 15 models. They won’t be missing out on much.