The latest iPhone models were only announced last September, but attention has quickly shifted to their successors.
As good as the iPhone 15 range is, there’s definitely still room for improvement. Apple has absolutely nailed some aspects of the iPhone, yet it still falls behind the Android competition in other areas.
So, understandably, many people are excited for the upcoming iPhone 16 launch. And there are already loads of leaks and rumours flying around. Here are the ones that you need to know about.
When will the iPhone 16 be released?
When it comes to new iPhones, Apple’s release schedule is like clockwork.
September is traditionally when we see new models, and we have no reason to suspect the iPhone 16 should change that pattern. So, we’re very confident in predicting that the iPhone 16 will be unveiled in September 2024.
However, you won’t be able to get your hands on one immediately. Pre-orders usually last for around 10 days, though the iPhone 14 Plus in 2022 ended up being delayed until October. Apple will want to avoid a repeat of that in 2024.
How much will the iPhone 16 cost?
Apple has been quite consistent with its pricing over recent years. There were some price hikes recently, but they are (at least in large part) due to higher manufacturing costs and inflation.
It’s worth noting that iPhone 15 Pro Max also starts at 256GB storage, so that’s the only reason its price is higher than its predecessor:
These are the starting price for the current iPhone 15 range:
- iPhone 15 – $799/£799
- iPhone 15 Plus – $899/£899
- iPhone 15 Pro – $999/£999
- iPhone 15 Pro Max – $1,199/£1,199
Pricing is likely to remain relatively consistent on the iPhone 16 range, though a potential new iPhone 16 Ultra model may complicate it. The name change (from Pro Max) could mean an even heftier price tag, as the name signifies the absolute best an iPhone can possibly.
However, according to leaker yeux1122 on South Korean platform Naver, the titanium frame on the iPhone 16 models will be cheaper to produce compared to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, potentially leading to cost savings for consumers.
What specs and features will the iPhone 16 have?
There’s still much time to go until the iPhone 16 range is revealed, but we already have many clues and reports on what Apple has in store.
Most of them concern the Pro versions, though there’s still some big news on the standard models. Here’s what we’ve found so far.
Design
Apple has been exploring various camera bump designs for the standard iPhone 16 models. Its latest prototype, shared by Majin Bu on X, showcases a vertical camera arrangement with a pill-shaped raised surface.
This camera bump incorporates two distinctive camera rings for the wide and ultrawide lenses, taking inspiration from earlier prototype designs (via MacRumors). Throughout the prototyping phase, Apple has maintained a vertical camera layout, without altering the position of the flash or the camera lenses in this latest iteration.
The same leaker subsequently posted images of what are supposedly moulds and mock-ups for the regular iPhone 16, showing dual vertical lenses once again:
Majin Bu clarifies in the replies that there’s some uncertainty regarding the first photo, but the second one supposedly has supporting evidence. Bu also says there’s “no further news at the moment” regarding the Pro models, as of 18 February.
This design pays homage to previous iPhone models, notably the iPhone X, which also featured a pill-shaped camera design with a slim module. While the iPhone 12 also employed a vertical camera setup, it had a broader square bump to accommodate the flash and microphone.
MacRumors also stated that recent iPhone 16 prototypes have seen minor adjustments to the Action Button and Capture Button. They feature a smaller Action Button than the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, alongside a new pressure-sensitive capture button.
Mark Gurman suggested the Capture button could be used to record video. The Information also mentioned it might enable zooming and focusing with swipes. Both sources have a strong track record for Apple news, so we can be fairly confident this is accurate.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Elsewhere, Apple is expected to replace the mute switch with the Action button in the upcoming iPhone 16 and 16 Plus models, matching what we see on the current Pro versions.
Additionally, writing in a December 2023 Medium post, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggest improvements to the microphone, potentially enhancing water resistance and signal-to-noise ratio to complement the upgraded AI-powered Siri experience
Display
There are no expected size changes for the regular iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, with these devices retaining the same dimensions as their predecessor.
However, according to leaker Unknownz21, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will feature larger displays. The iPhone 16 Pro is set to sport a display measuring 6.27 inches (rounded to 6.3), while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is projected to boast a 6.85-inch display (rounded to 6.9).
9to5Mac released preliminary CAD renders of the iPhone 16 Pro Max back in May 2023, though they’ve since been deleted. However, the article also suggests a 6.9-inch display.
With the enlarged display sizes, the physical dimensions of the iPhone’s body are expected to increase as well. Both models are predicted to be taller and wider than the iPhone 15 Pro models.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
There was speculation that Apple will move its Face ID sensors under the display, but 9to5Mac suggests this won’t happen until after 2026. In the meantime, there’s no indication that Apple will follow the lead of many Android phones and introduce an under-display fingerprint sensor.
According to Korean site The Elec (via MacRumors), the OLED panels on at least some of the iPhone 16 models will use micro-lens technology. This will supposedly allow them to deliver enhanced brightness and increased power efficiency.
Performance
When Apple introduced the new 3nm processor for the iPhone 15 Pro models, it also changed the name of the chip, from the A17 Bionic to the A17 Pro.
The new surname indicates that it is a special version of the chip for the Pro models, which means the iPhone 16 will likely get a stripped-down version of the chip called the A17 Bionic.
On the other hand, analyst Jeff Pu believes that Apple may opt for a different approach by naming the new chips A18 and A18 Pro.
This suggests that all iPhone 16 models would feature some iteration of the A18 chip rather than adopting an A17. In another report at Hong Kong investment firm Haitong International Securities, Pu also said the full iPhone 16 range will have 8GB of RAM, just like the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
Reports also suggest that Apple has addressed the issue of overheating that affected some iPhone 15 models. According to Kosutami on X, Apple is in the process of developing a graphene thermal system that should help mitigate these issues.
Currently, iPhones use copper for their heat sinks, but graphene boasts higher thermal conductivity.
Cameras
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via Digital Trends), Apple will put a new 48Mp ultrawide lens on the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, a substantial improvement compared to the current 12Mp. Like the 48Mp main, it would probably use pixel binning (where four pixels are combined into one) for 12Mp images by default.
Elsewhere, The Elec (via MacRumors) suggests that both iPhone 15 Pro models will get upgraded telephoto cameras offering 5x optical and 25x digital zoom. Ming-Chi Kuo previously said the same.
However, there’s also speculation that the iPhone 16 Pro Max might feature a super telephoto camera for a significant boost in optical zoom, helping to distinguish it from the standard Pro model.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Battery & charging
According to MacRumors, that the iPhone 16 Pro models may feature stacked battery technology, offering higher capacity and prolonged lifespan.
The introduction of stacked batteries could potentially coincide with faster 40W wired charging and 20W MagSafe charging capabilities.
In November, an image purportedly showing the iPhone 16 Pro battery leaked, revealing a new design, updated connector, and a capacity of 3355mAh.
According to Majin Bu, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Max will boast larger batteries compared to their predecessors, but the iPhone 16 Plus may see a decrease in battery capacity.
Additionally, the Pro Max model is expected to transition from the L-shaped battery design back to a rectangular shape, just like the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus.
Korean leaker yeux1122 also claims that the iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to feature a larger battery than the one found in the iPhone 15 Pro Max, likely exceeding 4,441mAh. Additionally, they suggest that the iPhone 16 Pro will also have a larger battery than its predecessor, although it won’t match the size or longevity of the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s battery.
Software
Given the iPhone 16 is expected in September and WWDC usually happens in the summer, it’s reasonable to expect all iPhone 16 models to ship running iOS 18.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and leaker Revegnus, iOS 18 is expected to introduce numerous new features powered by large language models (LLMs) to all iPhones. However, on-device AI capabilities might remain exclusive to the iPhone 16.
Possible AI features for iOS 18 may include enhanced interactions with Siri and Messages, automatically generated Apple Music playlists, and integration with productivity apps, among others.
Connectivity
Apple transitioned to USB-C technology starting with the iPhone 15 lineup, and that’s almost certain to continue on the iPhone 16 models.
Although Apple has been developing its in-house 5G modem chips, they probably won’t be ready for 2024 phones. Instead, according to technology analyst Jeff Pu, the iPhone 16 Pro may adopt Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X75 modem to enhance 5G connectivity speed and efficiency.
However, the base-model iPhone 16 is likely to retain the Qualcomm X70 chip from the iPhone 15. Additionally, the iPhone 16 could feature Wi-Fi 7 technology.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Apple’s AR/VR headset, the Vision Pro, is now on sale. We’re expecting the company to do its best to integrate it seamlessly into the ecosystem, and the iPhone will be a gateway for this.
Foundry
iPhone 16 Ultra
One of the more interesting rumours that were circulating even around the iPhone 15 launch was the possibility of yet another model, called the iPhone 15 (or now 16) Ultra. We are not sure whether it would be a fifth version of the iPhone or a rebranded iPhone 16 Pro Max, but there is quite a lot of talk about this faster, more feature-rich version.
Of course, it is supposed to be even more expensive than the current lineup, but in exchange, customers would get a slew of upgrades. It’s supposed to feature an upgraded, faster variant of the A18 chip (presumably with more GPU cores), a bigger screen, and possibly even a portless design.
However, there are no indications of such a device in the early iOS 18 code. The code implies that Apple is currently developing only four iPhones, comprising two standard iPhone 16 models and two iPhone 16 Pro models.
That’s all we know at this point about the upcoming iPhone 16 range. We’ll update this article once more is revealed.
In the meantime, be sure to read about the upcoming iPhone SE 4 and check out the best iPhones you can buy right now.
