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| (Image credit: Unbox Therapy / YouTube) |
Even though the iPhone 16's anticipated September debut is still a long way off, we've already learnt a lot about it. The introduction of this phone is still very far off.
The design, along with a number of important features and enhancements, for the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max (and maybe an iPhone 16 Ultra as well), have already been made public due to a variety of rumors and purported leaks. Luckily for users, it appears like all models will come with something fresh and engaging to experiment with, so regardless of how much you want to spend on the next iPhone, it will feel like a significant upgrade.
For a recap of all the iPhone 16 rumors that have surfaced thus far, with an emphasis on the basic and Plus versions, continue reading.
IPHONE 16: AVAILABILITY AND POSSIBLE PRICE
September 2024 should witness the release of the iPhone 16 series if Apple sticks to its present plan. Although there have been a few instances of delays in recent years, Apple has never strayed too far from its plan.
As of right now, no pricing speculations have surfaced for the iPhone 16, so our best guess is that Apple will stick with an entry-level model that costs $800, Pro models that range from $1,000 to $1,100, and greater capacity versions that add a few hundred more to the price. Nevertheless, the increasing cost of phone components may result in an increase in the price of the iPhone 16. For instance, the Galaxy S24 Ultra's price increased by $100 this year compared to its predecessor, reaching the impressive $1,299 mark.
We would have to assume that the iPhone 16 Ultra, if it exists as some have claimed, would cost significantly more—possibly $1,200 or more.
IPHONE 16: DESIGN AND DISPLAY
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A new design for the iPhone 16 is suggested by one design rumor; it even showed up on a prototype of the iPhone 16 Pro. With a single cutout for the selfie camera, this design replaces the Dynamic Island on later models and the notch on earlier iPhones with under-display Face ID. That would drastically alter the appearance of the iPhone, however it remains to be seen how effectively the infrared projector and sensor would function with an additional layer of screen in the way.
The iPhone 16 Pro prototype rumor's source, however, doesn't believe this will be the final design; the iPhone 16 won't likely make an appearance until the iPhone 17. Furthermore, supply chain specialist Ming-Chi Kuo of Apple has since informed us that the iPhone 16 series won't be seeing any significant external alterations.
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With the addition of a new Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro in 2023, it appears that all iPhone 16s may have a "Capture button." This appears to be a camera shutter button with the ability to focus images as well, based on what has been observed on prototype iPhone 16 devices. Once more, a fingerprint sensor is not anticipated to be included in the next iPhones.
According to a different rumor, the Action button will be added to the regular iPhone and, if one exists, the iPhone 16 Plus, when those devices get another feature from the iPhone 15 Pro. According to one insider, this won't be changed from what we saw on the iPhone 15 Pro.
Online leaks of the iPhone 16's prototype designs indicate that the device will have redesigned side buttons and relocated primary cameras to make it more like the iPhone 12.
According to a MacRumors render, the iPhone 16 could feature a thinner elevated camera area. This design features a raised section that resembles a pill, with both cameras arranged horizontally and the flash to the side. The iPhone X, which had a similar design, is shockingly close to this one.
Furthermore, it appears that the non-pro iPhone 16 models may choose for a vertical camera arrangement instead, perhaps enabling them to capture 3D footage. Photos of iPhone 16 mockups and molds displaying the vertical cutouts for the device's twin cameras were sent by tipster Majin Bu.
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Additional leaks of the iPhone 16 basic model's schematics and renderings, as well as leaked engineering drawings and a CAD picture, support this. We have a decent notion of the phone's appearance, assuming Apple doesn't make a last-minute design change.
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The iPhone 16 may come in a few different sizes. The iPhone 16 Pro is reportedly 6.3 inches in size, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is 6.9 inches. Rumor has it that we'll see bigger Pro versions the following year. The Pro Max model's larger size in comparison to the iPhone 15 Pro Max is also displayed in CAD drawings.
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg also thinks that the screen size of the Pro model will increase. The iPhone 16 Pro versions would reportedly rise by "a couple tenths of an inch diagonally," making them the largest iPhones to yet, according to Gurman's Power On newsletter. This was also confirmed by analyst Jeff Pu, who forecast an increase in screen size of 0.2 inches.
It is said that the existing 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch sizes of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will not change. This is a minor point of concern for those who want smaller phones. It is disappointing that they might retain the outdated 60Hz refresh rate of the iPhone 15, when most Android phones provide 90Hz or more for more fluid and effective scrolling.
Render artists have already attempted to include the alleged iPhone 15 into their works. One illustration has small bezels and four rear cameras, while another draws inspiration from the Apple Watch Ultra, which has a chunkier rounded edge and smoother back. Although we find it hard to believe Apple would take such chances with the iPhone 16, it's possible that when additional leaks surface, these will turn out to be closer to the official version than we initially thought.
With the exception of the expected addition of a Capture button, the best models we have depict pro iPhones that appear quite familiar.
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Samsung may provide a new OLED material set for the phones' panels. Rumor has claimed that the updated screen will use blue phosphorescence technology in instead of blue fluorescent technology, which should increase the iPhone's display's power efficiency.
In addition to enlarging to match the rest of the phone, the iPhone 16's display may also gain a MicroLED display, which would boost brightness and color while consuming less battery. However, since this is brand-new technology for Apple, if it's not available in time for the iPhone 16, we could have to wait a year or two.If so, we may assume that we'll eventually see OLED panels once more, or even miniLED, which is Apple's alternative display technology that can be seen on some iPads and MacBooks.
POSSIBLE SPECS FOR THE IPHONE 16
The A17 chip found in the iPhone 15 Pro models would be inherited by the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus if Apple continues with its present course of action (albeit the A17 chip that ends up in the iPhone 16 won't be the actual A17 Pro). A more encouraging rumor states that all iPhone 16 models will be powered by 3-nanometer A18 CPUs, with the Pro models receiving stronger A18 variants that may even outperform some laptops on performance evaluations. Nevertheless, a new leak implies that the A18 Pro could lag behind the competition.
However, as of right now, there are no solid rumors on the type of processor or storage capacity that these phones will include. But the cheapest model could finally get 8GB of RAM in addition to WiFi 6E connectivity for faster and more dependable home internet rates. This has now been reported by a number of sites, raising the likelihood that these adjustments will truly occur.
The basic, Plus, and Pro iPhone 16 models' storage will probably start at 128GB, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max's storage will start at 256GB, much like the iPhone 15 Pro Max's.Thanks to a new kind of memory, Apple may start selling up to 2TB of storage on the Pro models, however it could read and write data more slowly than on existing iPhones.
However, one aspect of the iPhone 16's internals that keeps coming up is an Apple-built modem—an improvement that Apple has been attempting to deploy for some time. If Apple does a good job of optimizing it, this would replace the Qualcomm 5G processor that iPhones have been using since the iPhone 12. It might offer efficiency and performance gains. But since Apple hasn't really produced a production-ready processor for this function for a number of years, it's unlikely to be included in the iPhone 16. This is especially true given that Qualcomm is scheduled to continue providing modems for the iPhone through 2026.
Jeff Pu claims that the iPhone 16 Pro will use the Snapdragon X75 modem, but not the non-Pro devices. This provides 7.5Gbps download speeds using the new "5G advanced" standard.
In terms of Wi-Fi connections, the iPhone 16 Pro models could support Wi-Fi 7. Given that you'll need a Wi-Fi 7 router to reach the maximum speeds, consumers might not take full use of this feature right out of the box, but it would be a good way to prepare for the future.
iPhone 16: Lithium-ion
According to a leak, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Max may get larger batteries. If this seeming increase is real, the battery's capacity will rise by 6%. On the other hand, the battery size of the iPhone 16 Plus may go smaller.
There haven't been many speculations about batteries elsewhere. In response to concerns about some iPhone 15 Pro models overheating, there has been considerable discussion about Apple investigating innovative methods to distribute heat in the iPhone 16. Using a new battery connection and a frosted metal cover is one potential fix for Apple.
IPHONE 16: CAMERAS
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We'd think the cameras on the iPhone 16 will be the same as those on the iPhone 15, which are probably going to be a 48MP primary camera supplemented by 12MP ultrawide, selfie, and telephoto (on the Pro versions) cameras. However, there have been speculations to the contrary. The Pro models' bigger sensors might provide the more costly iPhones a stronger photographic advantage, even if both ordinary and Pro devices may have the same 48MP primary resolution.
According to one report, the 48MP primary camera may have a larger sensor. The new sensor is said to measure 1/1.14 inches (0.87 inches) as opposed to the existing 1/1.28 inches (0.78 inches). Brighter and more vivid photos could be expected with a bigger sensor.
The ultrawide cameras on the Pro versions might have a second 48MP sensor attached to them, providing the same advantages—and possibly even full 48MP ProRes shots—at the widest 0.5x magnification level possible for the iPhone. Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station reiterated this, so perhaps there's more to this claim than meets the eye.
The vertical camera configuration last seen on the iPhone 12 may return to the normal versions in the meantime. From that point on, the two lenses were arranged diagonally on the square camera bump until the release of the iPhone 15. In order to accommodate spatial video recording for Vision Pro and other headsets, this could be modified.
Additionally, we've heard that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, not only the Pro Max variant, include an upgraded telephoto camera. According to some sources, Apple may be bringing back the tetraprism telephoto lens from the iPhone 15 Pro Max from the previous year for the iPhone 16 Pro, which would enable 5x magnification on both iPhone 16 Pro versions.
We might also upgrade the lenses in these telephoto cameras to be of greater quality, but doing so would raise costs for Apple, which may then be passed on to iPhone users.
The iPhone 16 is anticipated to sport a 12MP selfie camera, much like the iPhone 15. One source claims that significant changes won't occur until the iPhone 17, which will reportedly begin utilizing 24MP sensors for its front-facing cameras.
IPHONE 16: APPS
The 2024 iPhone devices will undoubtedly run iOS 18. Less is known about the features that the next iOS will offer because those are probably not going to be revealed until just before the Worldwide Developers Conference in the summer. The software upgrade may bring about a revamp, according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, though no concrete details have emerged as of yet.
One persistent speculation about iOS 18 is that as Apple tries to catch up to rivals like Google and Samsung in the AI space, AI-powered features will probably take center stage. That may imply a redesigned Siri that is more capable of managing intricate tasks with straightforward voice instructions.
Additionally, it's probable that the iPhone 16 models will have the capacity to do all of these AI-intensive operations on the device, but previous iPhone models could have to rely on the cloud for some AI functions. That implies that under certain circumstances, the iPhone 16 would operate more quickly.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple anticipates people interacting with its AI capabilities mostly through Siri, which is why the iPhone 16 is expected to have a new microphone. With improved voice recognition capabilities, users should be able to comprehend your instructions more accurately.
According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, in his Power On newsletter, iOS 18 could be the largest software upgrade for the iPhone ever. In his post, he stated, "I've been informed that the company views the new operating system as one of the largest iOS updates, if not the largest, in its history." We should soon find out more about what makes the upgrade so significant, since he also stated that he intends to disclose more detailed information regarding iOS 18 and the intended improvements in the future."
iOS 16: Ultra Version
We anticipate the iPhone 15 series to usher in a fifth year of production for Apple, which has been producing Pro and Pro Max iPhones for the previous four. However, the iPhone 16 may introduce an iPhone Ultra variant, which would be superior than the Pro and Pro Max models. In exchange, Apple agreed to drop one of the entry-level iPhone models, leaving the lineup at four.
However, one source just states to anticipate it "in the next couple of years," so perhaps the Ultra won't be introduced with the iPhone 16 series after all.
It's unclear exactly how Apple would take the iPhone to a new level. It could borrow ideas from other Ultra phones, like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, in a number of ways, such increasing the number of cameras or widening the display. It would be fascinating to see what Apple comes up with for its flagship product, given that the Apple Watch Ultra took the fundamental design of the Apple Watch 8 and made it bigger while adding new functionality on the inside and outside. We've got some ideas on how the iPhone 16 Ultra may set itself apart from the Pro Max version.
IPHONE 16: OUTLOOk
Naturally, none of these rumors are very trustworthy at this point in the iPhone 16's development timetable. However, it's fascinating that they're already releasing information.
Upgrades to the display, a larger frame, a zoom lens that is more powerful (and available on more phones), and the yearly power and performance increases would all be improvements over the iPhone 15, which now holds the top spots in our rankings. In addition, there is the alluring possibility of what an Ultra iPhone may provide that the existing Pro versions do not.
However, it's still too soon to determine whether waiting for what the autumn will bring is truly worth forgoing any of the iPhone 15 versions. All we can do is wait and see what other rumors have to say before gradually piecing together the details through September 2024.