Apple’s event is confirmed for September 9th, which is two weeks from the time of writing this article. Apple is expected to unveil the new iPhone 16 series, promising bigger screens, better battery life, new colors, and a new hardware button. We might also see the iPhone SE 4, Apple Watch Series 10, Watch Ultra 3, Watch SE 3, and AirPods 4. We have a separate article detailing all products we expect Apple to unveil including an iPad Mini. However, in this article, we will focus solely on the iPhone 16 series and what to expect. Let’s get started.
Note: The specifications and information in this article are based on rumors from various sources we trust. Official details have not been released at the time of writing.
Table of Contents
Expected Variants and Colors
We are likely to see a pretty similar setup to what we have now – two 16 models and 16 Pro models.
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
However, there are some new colors this time around:
There are mixed rumors about the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus color options. Some suggest seven colors – blue, pink, yellow, green, black, white, and purple. However, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes it will come in black, green, pink, blue, and white, with no purple or yellow. Some also predict that the iPhone 16 Plus will have some exclusive colors.
When it comes to iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models, you get the same Space black, silver, grey, and the new bronze or desert titanium color that replaces the blue titanium color of the iPhone 15 Pro series.
Design
iPhone 16 series is going to be similar to the iPhone 15 in style with the same color-infused back glass, square sides with titanium frame that is light-weight and stronger. However, there are two main changes to the design – a new shutter button and a change in the camera module arrangement. Let’s go through each in detail.
Shutter Button or Camera Button
I have customized the action button on my iPhone 15 Pro to take pictures. On the iPhone 16, I won’t need to do that, as there will be a new shutter button located at the bottom right side. This button can be used for taking photos and videos, and can be half-pressed to focus, just like on DSLRs. Some rumors suggest it will support gestures like swiping to zoom in and out.
With the iPhone 16 series, we expect the action button to be available even on non-Pro iPhone models, unlike iPhone 15 series. It seems the shutter button will also arrive on all iPhones models and not just Pro models. However, if I could ask one thing of Apple, it would be to let us pause video recordings and switch between the rear and front cameras while recording—just like many other phones have been able to do for years.
Vertical Rear Camera Layout
On the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models, the diagonal camera layout will now be vertical again. This change may enable spatial video recording on non-Pro models, compatible with the Vision Pro (mode on camera later below).
Another change that might not be immediately noticeable is that MagSafe has become much slimmer, reducing the size of the magnetic ring needed for MagSafe-compatible cases.
Display
According to multiple sources, both Pro versions are expected to see a bigger screen size—from 6.1 to 6.3 inches for the iPhone 16 Pro and from 6.7 to 6.9 inches for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. That means taller and wider iPhones than in previous years models. While the thickness of the phone might remain the same at 8.25mm, the weight may increase for both Pro and Pro Max models.
For context, this is a dummy iPhone 16 Pro Max compared with the iPhone 15 Pro Max as posted by Zone of Tech.
We don’t expect any size difference in iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models, which may come in the same 6.1 and 6.7-inch displays as before. According to The Elec, all four iPhone 16 Pro models may use micro-lens technology to increase brightness/power efficiency. Unfortunately, Apple may again release the non-Pro models with 60hz which is mediocre in 2024.
A18 Chipset
Here’s a table summarizing the key specifications of the A18 chip as found in iOS 18 codebase:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Process Technology | 3-nanometer |
| High-Performance Cores | 2 cores at 3890 MHz |
| Efficiency Cores | 4 cores at 2200 MHz |
| Antutu CPU Score | 568,990 |
| Antutu GPU Score | 660,671 |
| Antutu Overall Score | 1,915,345 |
| GeekBench 6 Single-Core Score | 3,678 |
| GeekBench 6 Multi-Core Score | 8,974 |
| Comparison to A17 | Significantly higher overall score (A18: 1,915,345 vs. A17: 1,510,300) |
However, these specifications might pertain to the A18 Pro chip used in the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 16 and 16 Plus may feature a less powerful A18 chip, which could result in lower benchmark scores. As of now, there are no leaked benchmark scores for this version of the chip.
The standard iPhone 15 and 15 Plus do not support Apple Intelligence, whereas all four models of iPhone 16 series have neural engine built-in and can run AI on the device.
When it comes to RAM, the standard iPhone 16 models could be upgraded with 8GB of RAM, up from 6GB in the iPhone 15 models. That would see all four iPhone 16 models offering 8GB of RAM. Most probably, the upgrade is to run AI on the device.
Camera
The camera details are scarce. In the Pro models, the ultrawide camera has been bumped from 12MP to 48MP. While 5x optical zoom was previously exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it may also be available on the iPhone 16 Pro.
We are not expecting any changes in iPhone 16 and 16 Plus model cameras but Apple may surprise us. Oh, and the camera island will mimic iPhone 12 series with a vertical pill-shaped setup.
Battery
There is a small change to the battery capacity of all four phones. Here’s a detailed table comparing with the iPhone 15 models.
| Model | iPhone 15 (2023) | iPhone 16 (2024) | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | 3,349 mAh | 3,561 mAh | +6% |
| Plus | 4,383 mAh | 4,006 mAh | -9% |
| Pro | 3,274 mAh | 3,355 mAh | +2.5% |
| Pro Max | 4,422 mAh | 4,676 mAh | +5% |
Rumors suggest that the iPhone 16 Pro models will use stacked battery technology, common in electric vehicles and medical devices. However, these minor differences in capacity may not significantly impact real-world usage. To satisfy the EU requirements, Apple may allow battery replacement in the iPhone 16 series though they have time until 2025.
According to a rumor from China, the iPhone 16 Pro will support 40W wired charging and 20W MagSafe charging. Currently, iPhone models support up to 27W wired charging and 15W MagSafe charging. It remains unclear if this rumor is accurate.
Price
Here are the expected prices for the iPhone 16 series
| Model | US Price |
|---|---|
| iPhone 16 | $799 (₹67,000) |
| iPhone 16 Plus | $899 (₹75,500) |
| iPhone 16 Pro | $1,099 (₹92,300) |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | $1,199 (₹1,00,700) |
iPhone 16 prices could remain the same or close to iPhone 15 models. The one exception could be the iPhone 16 Pro, which may see a $100 price hike, bringing its starting price to $1,099.
Overall, the iPhone 16 lineup looks strong with new colors, faster charging, AI features, Wi-Fi 7, and faster processors, while maintaining the same prices band as the previous models, except for the Pro model.
