Everything we know so far and what we want to see

Update: January 5, 2024 (05:12 AM ET): We have up to date our iPhone 16 collection rumor hub to embody info on iPhone 16 Pro mockups and the ultrawide digicam improve.

Apple’s iPhone 15 collection remains to be pretty new proper now, however the leaks panorama is far extra developed than what it used to be until a couple of years again, and thanks to that, we have already got numerous iPhone 16 rumors and leaks going round.

Apple made some important modifications to the 2023 iPhone lineup, together with the addition of USB-C, the mute-switch-replacing Action Button, Titanium our bodies as an alternative of Stainless Steel, Dynamic Island on the non-Pro iPhones, a periscope digicam for the Pro Max mannequin, and extra. If you’ve been following Apple lengthy sufficient, you’d know that almost all of those new options from the iPhone 15 collection would most definitely be coming to iPhone 16 fashions. What’s unique to the Pros right now would probably trickle down to the non-Pro variants subsequent yr. It’s simply how Apple does issues. With all that and the leaks that we have at hand, right here’s what you’ll be able to count on from the iPhone 16 lineup.

There’s little doubt Apple will launch new iPhones in 2024. The firm’s numbered collection has been going regular because the iPhone 4. Before that, Apple had the unique iPhone and two iPhone 3G fashions. But ever because the iPhone 4, Apple has been in keeping with the numbered naming scheme, and we’re now nearing the iPhone 16 collection. The 2024 lineup will mark 18 years of iPhones. Will Apple lastly mature sufficient to open up its walled backyard that’s iOS? Who is aware of? But we do have tons of iPhone 16 data to run by. Read on to get the lowdown.

• Apple iPhone 13: September 14, 2021
• Apple iPhone 14: September 7, 2022
• Apple iPhone 15: September 12, 2023

Apple has been launching new iPhones in September because the iPhone 5. Barring the iPhone SE fashions, September is Apple’s most well-liked month for flagship bulletins. It was solely through the pandemic that Apple went astray and launched the iPhone 12 collection in October. But if all goes as deliberate and there are not any last-minute manufacturing hitches, the iPhone 16 collection ought to arrive like clockwork in September 2024. It’s too early for even leaked particulars a few doable iPhone 16 launch date, however we’ll replace this text as and when we hear something about it.

Design, show, and buttons

Apple made a number of notable design modifications on the iPhone 15 collection, and we count on the corporate to refine these going ahead. We suppose Apple’s newly launched Action Button will make its approach to the non-Pro iPhone 16 fashions subsequent yr. Lending additional credence to this chance, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg claims the Action Button will trickle down to the non-Pro fashions. As we stated earlier, bringing Pro options to base iPhone fashions is a apply Apple has adopted for years. The Dynamic Island on the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus is a primary instance of that. So, when you want the mute swap over the brand new button, know that it’ll most definitely disappear for good after the iPhone 16 lineup goes official.

If one new button wasn’t sufficient, rumor has it that Apple will equip the iPhone 16 collection with one more button. According to a MacRumors report and Gurman, Apple internally refers to this new button because the “Capture Button.” It is anticipated to seem on the correct aspect of the gadget and, by the sound of it, may have one thing to do with taking photos. All-in-all, it seems just like the iPhone 16 collection could include as many as 5 buttons, together with the facility button, two quantity buttons, the Action Button, and the brand new Capture Button. What’s unclear is that if all iPhone 16 fashions will get this rumored new button or if Apple will once more reserve it for the Pro fashions to make them extra premium than the Plus and customary variants.

Another idea is that Apple may take away all of the bodily buttons and go for solid-state buttons for subsequent yr’s iPhone 16 Pro fashions. This characteristic was closely anticipated on the iPhone 15 collection however reportedly had to be delayed due to manufacturing points.

A MacRumors report included mockups of three completely different iPhone 16 early prototypes, pictured under. The first iPhone 16 prototype, rendered in yellow, featured an iPhone X-style digicam tablet. It additionally featured a unified quantity rocker that might present haptic suggestions.

The second iPhone 16 prototype, rendered in pink, featured vertically aligned cameras however with separated quantity buttons.

The third iPhone 16 prototype, rendered in Midnight Black, featured vertically aligned cameras, separated quantity buttons, but additionally a bigger Action button and a brand new Capture button.

All three prototypes featured an Action button, indicating that the mute swap could possibly be properly on its approach out.

There’s additionally the chance Apple does nothing in any respect with the design. In November, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that the iPhone 16 received’t have any main {hardware} advances in 2024. It seems like Apple could also be focusing extra on software program this time round.

The general footprint of the brand new 2024 iPhones may be bigger than ever. Gurman and show analyst Ross Young concur that Apple plans to improve the scale of its two iPhone 16 Pro fashions by “a couple of tenths of an inch diagonally.” The new shows are anticipated to measure 6.2 inches and 6.8 inches for the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, respectively, making them the biggest ever for the ‌iPhone‌. Meanwhile, 9to5Mac claims the top-of-the-line iPhone may undertake the “Ultra” branding subsequent yr and characteristic a 6.9-inch show, whereas the smaller iPhone 16 Pro may get a 6.3-inch OLED.

A MacRumors report corroborates the bigger shows and capacitive Capture button with iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max mockups.

The heating issues that originally impacted the iPhone 15 Pro seem to have had an impact on Apple’s planning. According to tipster Kosutami, the agency doesn’t want to repeat this error with the iPhone 16. The leak alleges Apple is engaged on a graphene-based thermal system to enhance warmth dissipation.

As for the bottom iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, we count on Apple to stick to the identical display sizes. Display analyst Young additionally suggests that Apple is just anticipated to carry excessive refresh fee screens to base iPhones in 2025. That means we could be caught with 60Hz shows on the cheaper iPhones subsequent yr as properly.

Another visible change may make the scale of the Dynamic Island considerably smaller. The Elec reported in January 2023 that the iPhone 16 Pro fashions may home an under-display face unlock or Face ID.

There are numerous rumors already swirling round about iPhone 16 digicam specs. Apple launched a brand new tetraprism zoom lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max this yr. The lens is anticipated to match the efficiency of a 120mm full-frame digicam lens. According to Apple analyst and trusted informer Ming-Chi Kuo, the lens received’t be restricted to the highest iPhone mannequin subsequent yr, and each the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will characteristic tetraprism telephoto cameras.

Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station has additionally claimed that the iPhone 16 Pro will achieve a 5x zoom digicam quite than simply the Pro Max mannequin. They additionally declare that the iPhone 16 Pro will pack a 48MP major digicam sensor.

DCS provides that the iPhone 16 Pro Max may land with a “periscope ultra-telephoto,” which means it might need a really excessive focal size, beating the likes of the Pixel 7 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Meanwhile, Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu claims that Apple will add a 48MP ultrawide shooter to the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. Ming-Chi Kuo additionally reiterates this with extra particulars, noting that the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max may bounce to a 48MP 1/2.6-inch sensor with 0.7µm pixel measurement and 6P lens meeting for its rear ultrawide digicam. The output will likely be 12MP, so with pixel binning, the efficient pixel measurement could be 1.4µm. If true, this will likely be a serious decision improve in contrast to the 12MP ultrawide sensor presently used on iPhone fashions that has a 1µm pixel measurement.

Other anticipated specs and options

Other specs for the iPhone 16 collection stay beneath wraps, however we do count on the annual processor improve. Based on how Apple does issues, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus ought to ideally get the A17 Pro chip Apple is now utilizing within the iPhone 15 Pro telephones, whereas the iPhone 16 Pro lineup may see a model new 18-series chip from Apple.

However, analyst Jeff Pu (by way of Macrumors) has debunked this idea. He claims that every one 4 new iPhone 16 collection telephones will likely be geared up with the A18 collection chips. Pu additionally expects the chips to be manufactured by TSMC on its second-generation 3nm course of as an alternative of the first-generation 3nm course of used on the A17 Pro chip. There may nonetheless be a distinction within the processors that the non-Pro and Pro iPhones 16 fashions get. As per Pu, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will get the A18 chip, whereas the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max will come geared up with the A18 Pro chip. Meanwhile, the RAM and storage tiers of the iPhone 16 collection may stay the identical as this yr.

An October 22 report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman talked about how Apple plans to infuse generative AI into its merchandise within the coming years. The fruits of Apple’s efforts could be seen on the iPhone 16 collection, with the corporate reportedly integrating AI options in subsequent yr’s massive iOS replace in addition to its digital assistant Siri.

Lending additional credence to Gurman’s report, tipster Revegnus additionally claimed that Siri will likely be built-in with an in-house LLM. Revegnus additionally talked about we may see this AI-infused Siri as quickly as WWDC 2024 and the iPhone often is the first gadget to profit from it.

• iPhone 15: Starts at $799
• iPhone 15 Plus: Starts at $899
• iPhone 15 Pro: Starts at $999
• iPhone 15 Pro Max: Starts at $1,199

Apple has already elevated costs for its Pro Max mannequin. You may purchase the bottom 128GB iPhone 14 Pro Max for $1,099 in 2022, however the iPhone 15 Pro Max underwent massive modifications and begins at $1,199 for a 256GB mannequin. We count on Apple to stick to the brand new $1,199 value and greater base storage for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. As for the remainder of the lineup, it’s robust to say if Apple will preserve costs unchanged or improve them. We aren’t listening to about enormous upgrades simply but, so the iPhone 16 collection may additionally find yourself beginning at $799. We’ll be higher positioned to predict costs as and when extra details about the telephones leaks.

If you’re wanting to choose up a brand new flagship iPhone proper now, it makes little sense to look ahead to the iPhone 16 collection just because it’s a yr away.

Better warmth dissipation

The iPhone 15 collection isn’t off to a great begin, with overheating points being seen throughout the board. The Pro iPhone 15 fashions are extra impacted than the non-Pro variants. While Apple has acknowledged the issue and rolled out a repair that reduces overheating, we hope the corporate does a greater job with the thermals on the iPhone 16 collection. Ming-Chi Kuo claims Apple sacrificed cooling tech on the iPhone 15 Pro collection to make it lighter, and if that’s the explanation the telephones are heating up, we hope the corporate has discovered its lesson and makes amends subsequent yr.

Higher display refresh fee

The show refresh fee of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus feels archaic at 60Hz. No premium Android smartphone is caught at 60Hz anymore, and nearly all of them provide no less than a 120Hz show refresh fee if no more. Apple actually has no convincing excuse for the shortage of excessive refresh fee screens on the non-Pro iPhones. We actually hope it doesn’t wait till 2025 to give us no less than a 90Hz display on the most affordable iPhone.

Faster charging

Now that Apple has entered the USB-C fray, it may amp up charging speeds on the iPhone 16 collection. The firm remains to be utilizing iPhone 14-era 20W wired charging speeds. MagSafe additionally helps the identical 15W wi-fi charging. Surely, Apple may do higher. We’re not saying we want insane 200W charging speeds, however even a bounce to true 45W charging could be a welcome improve.