As soon as anew iPhoneis released, rumors start about what the next device will be like. At this point, though, the iPhone 16 is right around the corner – an announcement is expected at aSeptember 9 press event. Here are all the key iPhone 16 and 16 Plus rumors we’ve heard so far, and our interpretation of what we’ll see.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus release date and price
Every new iPhone since the iPhone 12 has been released in September (SE modelsaside). Based on that and the timing of Apple’s event, it seems likely that preorders will start September 13 ahead of general availability on September 20.
The iPhone 15 maintained the same pricing structure as the iPhone 14, with the exception of theiPhone 15 Pro Max, which ditched a 128GB option. That meant that the base model of the iPhone 15 Pro Max was $100 higher.
A teardown of iPhone 15 models byNikkei Asiafound that internal components were more expensive, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max in particular using components that were about 10 percent more expensive than the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Apple chose not to pass those increased costs onto consumers, but since the iPhone 16 series could easily be more expensive to make, Apple may have little option but to increase prices if it wants to maintain profit margins. We wouldn’t be surprised to see the base iPhone 16 start at $899. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max could be getting larger screens, making price hikes even easier to justify from a business perspective.
Overall, we’re expecting to see the same flat-edge design that’s been the norm since theiPhone 12. There’s likely to be one noticeable difference – after introducing theAction buttonto the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, it appears that Apple has got the button bug. Rumors suggest that there will be a new button added on the right-hand side of the iPhone 16, underneath the power button. This button is reportedly called theCapture buttonor Camera button. Either way it should make shooting photos and video more convenient, letting you quickly open a camera app then record, focus, and zoom depending on how you press the button or slide your finger along it.
It’s rumored that the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max could swap physical buttons for solid-state ones, using haptic feedback to simulate the sensation of being pressed. We’re not sure if that will carry over to cheaper models.
One significant change to the iPhone 16 lineup may be larger screen sizes, but as analystRoss Youngsuggests, only on Pro models. It’s likely that the base iPhone 16 will keep a 6.1-inch screen size, and iPhone 16 Plus 6.7 inches. The Pro and Pro Max are expected to shift to 6.3 and 6.9 inches, respectively.
It seems unlikely thatProMotionwill make it to the cheaper devices, instead keeping them firmly pegged at a 60Hz refresh rate. If so, it’ll be a disappointment to many people – rival products in the same price bracket offer faster and/or dynamic refresh rates, the latter tech enabling always-on display features like Apple’s ownStandBy.
What may change for non-Pro models is the introduction of micro-lens technology. This uses tiny reflectors within a display to direct the light from the panel towards the screen, increasing brightness without the need for additional power consumption. This tech can also reduce viewing angles, however, and it remains to be seen whether Apple is willing to make the sacrifice.
The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus run on the sameA16 Bionicprocessor that was used in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, with only 15 Pro models getting the A17 Pro. This year, Apple is widely expected to give every iPhone 16 versions of its new A18 chip. Why? The answer isApple Intelligence, a suite of generative AI tools and Siri upgrades. It’s capable of running on an A17 Pro, but the A18 is likely to have enhancements specifically geared towards AI.
Another big upgrade for non-Pro iPhones could be a bump in RAM. At least some configurations should get 8GB, a significant increase over the 6GB of RAM in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. This is another change thought to be related to Apple Intelligence, although it’ll smooth out performance in other areas as well.
Where the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus won’t see an upgrade is in wireless tech. Whereas Pro models could get a new modem, the 16 and 16 Plus may use the sameQualcomm Snapdragon X70from the iPhone 15. Non-Pro phones may also miss out on the introduction of Wi-Fi 7, though that standard is still pretty rare, and Wi-Fi 6E is more than enough for the average person.
One rumored upgrade is the use of agraphene-based thermal systemto fix theoverheating issuethat has plagued some iPhone 15 models.
My 10 favorite iOS 18 features that you need to try
Despite Apple Intelligence not arriving until next month, iOS 18’s first public release includes several awesome new features.
The base iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are likely to stick with a 48-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide, but switch to a vertical camera bump, presumably to support the Spatial Photo and Video formats introduced alongside theVision Pro. Other features could be mostly AI-based, such as the Clean Up eraser found in iOS 18.
It looks like the biggest changes are coming to Pro models, as usual. Both the 16 Pro and Pro Max should have 5x optical zoom, whereas that was limited to the Pro Max in 15 models. The new Pros should also be capable of shooting 4K video up to 120 frames per second, according to9to5Mac, although you’ll need external storage to do that in ProRes quality.
There’s a possibility that Pros will gain the ability to shoot 8K video, something that’s been available on other phones for some time. If it happens, it may have limited use – 4K clips already take up substantial storage, and few people have 8K TVs, let alone smaller 8K screens.
