Apple’s Glowtime event has concluded and we have our eyes set on the iPhone 16 series. After months of iPhone 16 rumors and leaks, finally, Apple has finally released four new iPhone variants. More than the hardware, it is the software tweaks, iOS 18, new Siri 2.0, Camera Controls, and Apple Intelligence that’s making the headlines. It’s a lot to unpack. Let’s get cracking.
Table of Contents
Design
Apple is going back to the vertical camera island layout with the iPhone 16 series. Reason – this will help the iPhone shoot better spatial videos (for Vision Pro users). The camera island will have a pill-shaped design that oddly reminds me of the Pixel 9 series for some reason.
Here is how the buttons are arranged:
- Left side – volume buttons and the Action button that now replaces the iconic mute switch
- Right side – a new Camera Control on the lower side to make it easier to reach when holding the phone in landscape mode
When the action button was launched, Apple had restricted it to the Pro models only at launch. But it has been expanded to all models with iPhone 16. Not just that, Camera Control is also available on all iPhone models.
Some things you can do with the Action button:
- enable/disable flashlight
- lock/unlock the phone
- turn camera on
- launch a shortcut you created using Shortcuts app
- change mode
- identify a song
- customize the action button to do different things based on day or night or location
- and more
There is a new Camera Control button available on all iPhone 16 models. We cover it in much detail later below in the article.
Screen Sizes
The iPhone 16 Pro models will get a bigger screen this year. That means a larger and heavier phone. They are also taller and wider than the iPhone 15 Pro models.
The iPhone base models, 16 and 16 Plus, are the same size as iPhone 15/15 Plus. However, iPhone 16 is slightly on the [heavier lighter side placeholder]
| Model | iPhone 15 | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 6.1 inches | 6.7 inches | 6.1 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Weight | 171 g (6.03 oz) | 201 g (7.09 oz) | 170 g (6.00 oz) | 199 g (7.02 oz) |
Here’s how iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max fare against iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. They are a bit bigger than last year’s models which may make people with small hands like me unhappy.
| Model | iPhone 15 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro Max | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 6.1 inches | 6.7 inches | 6.3 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Weight | 187 g (6.60 oz) | 221 g (7.80 oz) | 199 g (7.02 oz) | 227 g (8.01 oz) |
Must Read: Not sure if you want to upgrade to the latest iPhone model? Here’s why I am planning to get an iPhone 15 over iPhone 16.
Processor and RAM
All iPhone 16 models are powered by the A18 chipset that Apple develops in-house. Of course, base iPhone 16/16Plus models get the A18 chip built with 3nm nano technology while the Pro models will ship with the A18 Pro. So how do they differ? Notably, A18 Pro is also built using the same 3nm nanotech.
A18 comes with 2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores resulting in a 30% performance boost compared to older-gen chips. What’s interesting is that Apple claims it is ‘faster than the competition’ but I will ask you to wait for our in-depth benchmark tests.
The A18 has a 5-core GPU that will help with camera features, AAA gaming titles, and AI. It is around 40% faster than iPhone 15 and is powered by A16. All in all, A18 provides good performance but consumes less energy which means better battery life.
The A18 Pro has a 6-core GPU with some software tweaks and advanced caching underneath to boost the performance. Also, the neural engine has been upgraded to ensure smooth performance while using Apple Intelligence.
Also Read: Are you still rocking the iPhone 13? Here’s what we think you should do if you are eyeing the iPhone 16 models.
Apple mentioned how iPhones need 8GB of RAM at the minimum to run AI – reason why iPhone 15 base models aren’t eligible. Hence, iPhone 16 series has seen a bump in RAM compared to the iPhone 15 base models that shipped with 6GB RAM.
Thermals
I don’t remember my iPhone getting heated in any arguments. iPhones run cool, however, with a new powerful processor, AI and machine learning, and ever-demanding games, Apple has decided to deploy a new graphene thermal design.
Why graphene? Because it can conduct thermals better than copper which was used in iPhone 15 series. With gamers in mind, iPhone 16 comes with a new thermal sink.
Wi-Fi 7
Several notable leakers and reports cite that Apple will go for Wi-Fi 7 this year for the iPhone 16 models. That means data transfer speeds of up to 40Gb/s which is insane. Here are some notable features of Wi-Fi 7.
Wi-Fi 7 should offer iPhone users fast transfer speeds, low latency, and reliable connectivity. However, Wi-Fi is limited to iPhone 16 Pro models only. [placeholder]
Here’s a table highlighting the differences between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 if you want to geek out:
| Feature | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Max Speed | Up to 9.6 Gbps | Up to 46 Gbps |
| Frequency Bands | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz |
| Channel Width | Up to 160 MHz | Up to 320 MHz |
| MU-MIMO | 8×8 | 16×16 |
| Latency | Low | Ultra-low |
| OFDMA | Yes | Enhanced OFDMA |
| Target Wake Time (TWT) | Yes (Power-saving mode) | Improved TWT |
| QAM | 1024-QAM | 4096-QAM |
| Use Cases | General wireless networking | AR/VR, 8K streaming, extreme gaming |
Wi-Fi 7 offers significantly higher speeds, wider channels, and more efficient performance, making it ideal for demanding applications like 8K streaming and VR.
Apple Intelligence
Well, you know what it is and how it works. A lot has been said and written about Apple’s take on AI and the features they are bringing to supported devices.
Some AI features that are integrated throughout the iOS experience are:
- Writing tools – rewrite, summarize, adjust tone, proofread,
- Create new emojis (genmojis) – simply write to generate new emojis
- Image playground app – generate images on the fly using a dedicated app (will be integrated in other apps too)
- Find images or things inside images using text (NLP or natural language processing). Same for videos too. Create a movie or storyline from these findings.
- Summaries in the email
- Notifications will be summarize
- Important notifications like OTPs will appear at the top
- Clean Up App – remove background objects and people (check out our comparison of Clean Up, Magic Eraser, and Object Eraser)
Siri is more personal, being able to remember context. You say one thing but then change your mind and say something else, Siri will understand. Siri can tap into your personal context depending on messages, emails, or things you searched for weeks and months ago. One example can be you asking Siri to send photos to your friend from last week’s b’day party.
Private Cloud Compute – All the data related to tasks that need large language models and large generative models that need to be performed in the cloud are stored here but never shared with Apple. It is secure and private. Not only that, individual privacy experts can audit Privacy Cloud Compute to ensure privacy is guaranteed.
Pro Tip: Don’t want to upgrade to the latest iPhone model? Here’s how you can get AI features on an old iPhone model.
Visual Intelligence
Something that surprised me was Visual Intelligence, which can be launched using Camera Controls button (long-press when the camera app is closed). Think of it as Circle to Search from Samsung but on steroids. Point the camera at the restaurant name, and it will pull the hotel’s menu so you can order.
And just like Circle to Search, find anything on your screen like a pair of shoes or that bicycle. Visual intelligence will arrive via OTA update later this year. Scan a date on an event flyer and add it to your calendar.
What I like is the ChatGPT integration within Visual Intelligence so you can use the camera to solve problems, math, or answer questions. We have covered ChatGPT in good detail before.
Apple Intelligence will be free and be available next month in most countries all over the world.
Camera
The camera setup more or less remains the same. There will be a dedicated Camera Control button that you can use to take photos and record videos. We discuss Camera Control button in the next section.
First, here’s a table highlighting the camera specs of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 base models:
| Model | Main Camera | Ultra-Wide Camera | Telephoto Camera | Front Camera |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 15 | 48 MP (wide), f/1.6, 26mm (wide) | 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm | N/A | 12 MP f/1.9, 23mm |
| iPhone 15 Plus | 48 MP (wide), f/1.6, 26mm (wide) | 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm | N/A | 12 MP f/1.9, 23mm |
| iPhone 16 | 48 MP fusion camera, f/1.8, 24mm(wide) | 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm | 12 MP (telephoto, 2x zoom), f/2.8 | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm |
| iPhone 16 Plus | 48 MP fusion camera, f/1.8, 24mm | 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm | 12 MP (telephoto, 2x zoom), f/2.8 | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm |
And here’s how the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 Pro series looks.
| Model | Main Camera | Ultra-Wide Camera | Telephoto Camera | Front Camera |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 15 Pro | 48 MP (wide), f/1.8, 24mm (wide) | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm | 12 MP (telephoto, 3x zoom), f/2.8 | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | 48 MP (wide), f/1.8, 24mm (wide) | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm | 12 MP (telephoto, 3x zoom), f/2.8 | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm |
| iPhone 16 Pro | 48 MP (wide), f/1.8, 24mm (wide) | 48 MP, f/2.2, 23mm | 12 MP (telephoto, 5x zoom), f/2.8 | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | 48 MP (wide), f/1.8, 24mm (wide) | 48 MP, f/2.2, 23mm | 12 MP (telephoto, 5x zoom), f/2.8 | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm |
The Pro models can now shoot 4K in 120fps and HDR which is super cool. Plus, for professional photographers, you guys can export 4K in 120fps directly to a storage device.
Camera Control Button
There is a new button available on all iPhone 16 models called Camera Control button. You now know it can be used to summon Visual Intelligence. But once the Camera app is open, it can do so much more. It supports taps and gestures.
- click once to launch the camera app
- once app is open, click once to take a picture
- click and hold to record a video
- light-press to reveal a new camera menu
- swipe left and right to zoom in and out
- press lightly twice to reveal even more options and then swipe left and right to navigate the menu options
- press lightly to select a menu option
Camera Control works with third-party apps like camera and messaging apps. Apple gave Snapchat’s example in the keynote. We have a separate guide on how Camera Control button functions and how you can use it to click photos or record videos.
Battery
Apple has implemented a new stacked battery system in the Pro models which promises to reduce space and improve battery life. It may also increase the battery’s lifespan but that remains to be seen. Stacked batteries are often used in EVs so it’s not exactly new.
What is new is that the batteries are slightly bigger and the charging speeds have improved significantly except for the iPhone 16 Plus. Surprisingly, they have reduced the battery size for some reason compared to iPhone 15 Plus.
Here’s the table with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 base models at the top:
| Model | iPhone 15 | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Capacity | 3,349 mAh | 4,383 mAh | 3,561 mAh | 4,006 mAh |
| Wired | 20W wired, 4.5W reverse wired | 20W wired, 4.5W reverse wired | 20W wired, 4.5W reverse wired | 20W wired, 4.5W reverse wired |
| Wireless | 15W wireless (MagSafe) | 15W wireless (MagSafe) | 25W wireless (MagSafe) | 25W wireless (MagSafe) |
Here is a look at iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 Pro models: [placeholders]
| Model | iPhone 15 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro Max | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Capacity | 3,274 mAh | 4,441 mAh | 3,355 mAh | 4,676 mAh |
| Wired | 27W wired, 4.5W reverse wired | 27W wired, 4.5W reverse wired | 27W wired, 4.5W reverse wired | 27W wired, 4.5W reverse wired |
| Wireless | 15W wireless (MagSafe) | 15W wireless (MagSafe) | 25W wireless (MagSafe) | 25W wireless (MagSafe) |
AAA Games
You can now play AAA titles on all iPhone 16 models thanks to ray tracing support enabled by A18 chip, thermal design, and a new logic board. Result? You can play games like Resident Evil, Bio Hazard, and Assassins Creed Mirage.
Apple also introduced a new game from Tencent called Honor of Kings World that you can play immediately after buying any of the iPhone 16 series models.
Price and Availability
Here are the prices of the iPhone 16 series:
- iPhone 16 – $799 (128GB) -> same as last year
- iPhone 16 Plus – $899 (128GB) -> same as last year
- iPhone 16 Pro – $1,099 (128GB) -> $100 up
- iPhone 16 Pro Max – $1,199 (256GB) -> $100 up
Available to buy from September 20th.
iPhone 17 Air
Apple continues to work on new technologies that it hopes to develop and implement in time in the next generation of iPhones. Some of them are a 120Hz ProMotion display for all models, a new 5G modem chip developed in-house, 48-megapixel telephoto lens, 24-megapixel front camera, an anti-reflective coated display to improve visibility under direct sunlight and reduced scratches, and more.
Even before the Apple event concluded, rumors about the iPhone 17 series had been pouring in. There are talks about a new kind of iPhone that will be positioned between base and Pro models replacing the Plus series codenamed iPhone 17 Air. Follow on X to stay updated.
