iPhone 16

It's been only months since Apple launched the 2023 iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models, but as is typical with rumors, people are already looking to the 2024 iPhone 16 lineup.

The iPhone 16 will bring notable changes to the iPhone lineup, with Apple expected to increase the size of the iPhone 16 Pro to 6.3 inches and the size of the iPhone 16 Pro Max to 6.9 inches, marking the first size upgrade in several years. The size changes will be limited to the iPhone 16 Pro models, with the iPhone 16 models to stay the same size as the iPhone 15 models. While the iPhone 16 models won't get bigger, they will get some minor design tweaks thanks to extra buttons, but for the most part, both the standard iPhone 16 models and the Pro models will look like the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro models.

Apple is designing new A-series chips for the iPhone 16 lineup, built on the latest N3E 3-nanometer node. We could see some improvements to efficiency and performance, but we haven't yet heard details on just what we can expect. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro could use different chips, with the higher-end chip limited to the Pro models.

The Action Button that was limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models will expand to all four iPhone 16 models in 2024, and the iPhone 16 lineup is also said to have a new "Capture Button" that's used for taking photos and videos. The Capture Button will work like the shutter button on a digital camera, detecting multiple levels of pressure for focusing and then capturing an image.

• iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 16: 15+ Rumored Upgrades Compared
• iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: 25+ Rumored Upgrades Compared

For the iPhone 16 models, Apple is planning a new vertical camera lens arrangement that is a departure from the prior diagonal lens setup. The new orientation will presumably allow the standard iPhone 16 models to capture Spatial Video for the Vision Pro headset. Apple is also expected to bring the Tetraprism 5x optical zoom lens to the iPhone 16 Pro, so it may not be limited to just the iPhone 16 Pro Max this year.

This roundup features all of the rumors about the iPhone 16 lineup that we've heard so far. There are still several months to go before a launch is expected, so there is plenty of time for Apple to change its plans.

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Apple tested several designs for the standard iPhone 16 models, but ultimately decided on a vertically aligned camera system with a pill-shaped camera bump. Prior iPhones have used a square-shaped camera bump to accommodate the diagonal lenses, but Apple is able to slim down the camera bump with the new lens arrangement.

The pill-shaped bump houses the separate Wide and Ultrawide lenses. The microphone will be next to the lenses, while the camera flash will be located on the back of the device outside of the bump.

On the left side of the iPhone, Apple plans to replace the mute switch with the Action button, and the iPhone 16 models will adopt the same button that was introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro models. The volume buttons will be located below the Action button.

The right side of the device will feature a new Capture Button, which will be located where the mmWave antenna has been on prior iPhone models in the U.S. It is located in a spot that will make it easy to press when the iPhone is in a landscape orientation. Apple plans to move the mmWave antenna to the bottom left side of the iPhone 16.

Aside from the new vertical lens arrangement and the Capture Button, the iPhone 16 models will have the same general design as the iPhone 15 models with no notable changes to body shape or size.

Dummy Models and Cases

Dummy models that are meant to represent the iPhone 16 lineup provide a look at the rumored design of the devices. The iPhone 16 Pro dummies are slightly larger than their iPhone 15 Pro counterparts, and the new "Capture Button" is located on the right side. The button is almost flush to the iPhone 16 chassis, but it is expected to be a mechanical button.

The iPhone 16 dummy model features the rumored redesigned vertical camera setup, with Apple doing away with the diagonal lens.

Dummy models are typically based on information that leaks out of Apple's factories and the supply chain, and they're often accurate. The dummy models are used by casemakers to be the first to market with accessories for new iPhone models, which is a big business due to the money involved.

Cases for the standard iPhone 16 models have a vertical cutout for the camera, which is meant to accommodate the redesigned vertical camera layout.

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are expected to have larger display sizes, according to multiple sources. The iPhone 16 Pro will have a display that's 6.27 inches in size (rounded to 6.3), while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to have a display that's 6.85 inches in size (rounded to 6.9).

With the increase in display size, the dimensions of the iPhone's body will also increase. Both models are expected to be taller and wider than the iPhone 15 Pro models, and while thickness will remain the same, the weight will increase slightly due to the larger size. General shape and design will not be updated.

iPhone 16 Pro

iPhone 16 Pro Max

We are not expecting size changes for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, and these devices will be the same size as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.

The iPhone 16 OLED panels could use micro-lens technology for both improved brightness and and reduced power consumption. Micro-lens arrays or MLA uses a uniform pattern of billions of lenses inside the panel to reduce internal reflection. The reflected light increases perceived brightness without increasing power consumption.

The OLED displays that used in the iPhone 16 lineup will be more power efficient thanks to improved materials.

Apple is rumored to be using a new ultra-thin bezel technology for the iPhone 16 models, minimizing the bezel at the bottom of the display. Apple is adopting Border Reduction Structure Technology for the improvement, and this functionality is said to be coming to all four iPhone 16 models.

Apple plans to add two new buttons to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, one that will replace the Mute Switch and one that's entirely new.

Action Button

The iPhone 15 Pro models include an Action Button, and in 2024, the Action Button is expected to expanded to the standard iPhone 16 models. The Action Button used across the iPhone 16 lineup will be identical to the iPhone 15 Pro Action Button.

The Action button, which replaces the traditional mute switch, can perform multiple functions such as activating the Flashlight, turning on the Camera, launching a Shortcut, enabling or disabling a Focus mode, using Translate, turning on/off Silent Mode, and more.

Capture Button

The extra Capture Button The button is located on the same side of the iPhone as the Power button, in the space that is occupied by the 5G mmWave antenna in the United States.

With the addition of this button, the mmWave cutout has been relocated to the left side of the device, below the volume buttons. While the button is expected to be mechanical rather than capacitive, The Information says that it will be able to respond to pressure and touch. iPhone users will be able to zoom in and out by swiping left and right on the button, focus with a light press, and activate a recording with a more forceful press.

The Capture Button will be available on all four iPhone 16 models, and it will be used for taking photos and videos.

Leaked technical information for Apple's chip lineup suggests that all four iPhone 16 models will use the same A18 chip, but Apple may still separate these into an A18 and an A18 Pro with some modules disabled or binned to differentiate between them.

The next-generation A18 chip that's planned for the iPhone 16 Pro models could feature an upgraded Neural Engine with "significantly" more cores, allowing for improved AI/machine learning performance, plus it is expected to have a larger die size.

Thermal Improvements

The iPhone 16 models are expected to include a new thermal design that will combat overheating. Apple is said to be working on a graphene thermal system for the iPhone 16 models, and the iPhone 16 Pro models may also include a metal battery casing that will improve heat dissipation.

Graphene has higher thermal conductivity than the copper that's used in iPhone heat sinks.

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.

The iPhone 16 Pro models could be equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X75 modem, allowing for faster and more efficient 5G connectivity. According to Qualcomm, the X75 offers improved carrier aggregation, plus the combined sub-6Ghz and mmWave 5G transceiver takes up 25 percent less circuit board space and uses up to 20 percent less power.

Qualcomm's X75 supports the "5G Advanced" standard with AI and machine learning enhancements for 5G improvements, so Apple could market the iPhone 16 Pro models as having "5G Advanced" connectivity.

The standard iPhone 16 models are expected to use Qualcomm's X70 chip, which is the chip that was already used in the iPhone 15 models.

Apple is working to develop its own modem chip and antenna setup to eliminate its dependance on Qualcomm, but Apple's modem chips are not expected to be ready to debut in 2024. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple-designed modem chips will come out in 2025.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes the iPhone 16 Pro models could adopt the net-generation WiFi 7 technology, which is expected to provide speeds of "at least 30" gigabits per second, and could hit up to 40Gb/s.

Wi-Fi 7 is also able to use 320MHz channels and supports 4K quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) technology, ultimately providing up to 2.4x faster speeds than Wi-Fi 6 with the same number of antennas. Wi-Fi 7 will ultimately provide faster maximum transfer speeds, lower latency, and more reliably connectivity.

While Wi-Fi 7 could be limited to the iPhone 16 Pro models, the standard iPhone 16 models could get an upgrade to Wi-Fi 6E, which supports the 6GHz Wi-Fi band. Right now, Wi-Fi 6E is limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models.

Apple will transition to USB-C technology with the iPhone 15 lineup, and it's also expected to be used for the iPhone 16 models.

With iOS 18, Apple is rumored to be introducing new Siri features powered by large language models, and some of the cutting-edge generative AI features could be limited to the iPhone 16 models.

According to details shared by a leaker, iOS 18 will bring many of the new LLM features to all iPhones, but on-device AI features could remain exclusive to the iPhone 16. iOS 18's updated AI functionality could include improved interactions between Siri and the Messages app, auto-generated Apple Music playlists, integration with productivity apps for AI-assisted content creation, and more.

Microphone Improvements

The iPhone 16 models are expected to feature an improved microphone that will accompanying the AI-enhanced Siri experience. The microphone will have improved water resistance and a better signal-to-noise ratio that will "improve the Siri experience significantly," according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

The iPhone 16 Pro models could include an improved 48-megapixel Ultra Wide lens, which would allow improved images in lower lighting conditions. It would likely function like the 48-megapixel Wide camera, which uses pixel binning to combine the data from four pixels into one "super pixel" for better image quality.

The 48-megapixel wide-angle camera used in the iPhone 16 Pro Max will reportedly feature an eight-part hybrid lens with two glass elements and six plastic elements, along with improvements for the telephoto and ultra wide camera lenses.

Both the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max could get 5x Telephoto lenses in 2024, instead of the technology being limited to the larger Pro Max.

Camera Layout

The standard iPhone 16 models are expected to have a vertical camera layout that's similar to the camera layout used in the iPhone 12. Apple has used a diagonal layout for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14, but the swap is expected to allow for spatial video recording using the Ultrawide and Wide cameras.

A leaked image of an iPhone 16 camera chassis features the rumored vertical camera layout, seemingly confirming that design choice for the iPhone 16. Leaked iPhone 16 case molds feature the same vertical camera arrangement.

Super Periscope?

The iPhone 16 Pro Max could feature a super telephoto periscope camera for a dramatically increased optical zoom. The information comes from a Weibo account that has provided accurate information in the past, but it has not yet been backed up by a second reliable source.

"Super" or "ultra" telephoto usually describes cameras with a focal length of over 300mm. The current telephoto lens is equivalent to a 77mm lens, so if accurate, there could be a notable increase in zoom capabilities.

Rumors suggest the iPhone 16 Pro models will use stacked battery technology, which can result in higher capacity and a longer lifespan. Stacked batteries are common in electric vehicles and medical devices, but are an emerging technology for smartphones.

The stacked battery could come alongside faster 40W wired charging and 20W MagSafe charging.

An image of the alleged iPhone 16 Pro battery leaked in November with a new design, updated connector, and 3355mAh capacity.

With the iPhone 16, Apple could introduce a high-end iPhone 16 "Ultra" that would be sold alongside the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The device would be positioned as the top-of-the-line iPhone offering, and it could feature additional camera improvements, a bigger display, and perhaps even a portless design.

Despite rumors of the possibility of an iPhone 16 Ultra, there are no signs of such a device in early iOS 18 code. The code suggests that Apple has only four iPhones in the works, including two standard iPhone 16 models and two "Pro" iPhone 16 models.

Component prices for the standard iPhone 15 models were at a record high, up 16 percent compared to the iPhone 14 models. Apple absorbed the increased production costs for the iPhone 15 lineup, but Apple may need to increase the price when the iPhone 16 launches to avoid impacting overall revenue.

The iPhone 16 models are expected to come out in September 2024, and they will follow the 2023 iPhone 15 models.

ProMotion technology that adds up to 120Hz refresh rates to the iPhone's display is expected to come to standard iPhone models starting in 2025. Up until 2025, ProMotion will be limited to the higher-end "Pro" iPhones.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max that's coming in 2025 could feature a 48-megapixel Telephoto lens that is optimized for the Vision Pro headset. The rumor comes from analyst Jeff Pu, who did not provide details on how it might interface with the Vision Pro. Pu also believes the iPhone 17 Pro will include an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip.

There were rumors that the iPhone 16 Pro models could adopt under-display Face ID technology, but updated information suggests that under-display Face ID will not be coming until 2025 or later. Under display Face ID will allow for more usable display space as there will be no need for the full Dynamic Island, but there will still be a camera cutout.

The 2025 iPhone 17 is expected to include an upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing camera that will significantly improve image quality and low-light performance.

Rumors suggest that the iPhone 17 models will include an anti-reflective display that is more scratch resistant than the Ceramic Shield. It is said to have a "super hard" layer that can hold up to more abuse.

With the 2026 iPhone 18, Apple will reportedly have both under-display Face ID and under-display front-facing camera technology, potentially allowing for a design that has no cutouts for the camera hardware. This would mark the first all-display design.

• March 29 - Added dummy model pictures and case images.
• March 25 - Updated with A18 Pro chip info.
• March 21 - Added info on new display technology.
• March 15 - Updated with new video.
• March 1 - New A18 chip info added.
• February 27 - General updates and refinements.
• February 21 - Added new comparison guides and more info on vertical camera leaks.
• February 16 - Updated with leaked vertical camera component.
• February 14 - Added A18 chip Neural Engine rumor.
• February 8 - Included updates on camera design.
• January 30 - Added info on lack of design changes.
• January 24 - Updated with info on the Capture Button.
• January 17 - Updated with details on Wi-Fi 6E for iPhone 16/16 Plus and 8GB RAM for all models.
• January 12 - Updated info on the Action Button.
• January 11 - Revised future iPhone features section.