The 2024 iPhone 16 Lineup
Although Apple has just released the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models for 2023, analysts, leakers, and other insiders with access to confidential information are already anticipating the 2024 iPhone 16 portfolio.
Apple is anticipated to expand the size of the iPhone 16 Pro to 6.3 inches and the iPhone 16 Pro to 6.9 inches, which would be the first significant size improvement in a number of years, bringing about significant changes to the iPhone 16 series. The iPhone 16 models will remain the same size as the iPhone 15 models, with the size adjustments exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro variants.
For the iPhone 16 family, Apple is developing new A-series CPUs based on the most recent N3E 3-nanometer node. Performance and efficiency gains are possible, but specifics on what to anticipate have not yet been disclosed. In 2024, the Action Button, which was exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro versions, is anticipated to be extended to the four iPhone 16 models. Additionally, there are rumours that the upcoming iPhones will feature a new “Capture Button” for capturing images and movies.
There is still plenty of time for Apple to change its mind, so the information in this collection could change as the company refines the designs of the forthcoming iPhone models. It comprises preliminary rumours about the iPhone 16 lineup.
iPhone 16 Design Prototypes
For the iPhone 16 design, Apple produced three prototypes, each with a few minor differences in features. A vertically oriented camera is present in all three, which probably enables the capture of spatial footage for the Vision Pro headset.
Two of the concepts included two different lenses, while one featured a pill-shaped camera a la iPhone X. A three-panel design featured a two-lens camera, conventional mechanical volume buttons, an Action Button, and a novel Capture Button. Another version featured haptic buttons with a single volume button.
We anticipate that Apple will select the third design, which is represented by the black phone in the pictures. The rear camera will be positioned vertically, there will be a second “Capture” button on the right side for recording video, and below the Action Button, on the left, will be a mmWave antenna for the United States.
Keep in mind that Apple has tested the colours shown in the photos, so the regular iPhone 16 models may come in pink, yellow, and black.
Our renders are derived on design data that was provided to MacRumors by an inside source. The typical iPhone 16 models are seen in these pictures. Larger and equipped with triple-lens cameras, the iPhone 16 Pro versions will also come with the new Capture Button.
Changes in Size for the iPhone 16 Pro
Several sources predict that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will have bigger displays. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are anticipated to sport displays that measure 6.27 inches (rounded to 6.3) and 6.85 inches (rounded to 6.9), respectively.
The iPhone’s body measurements will rise in tandem with the display size. It is anticipated that both versions will be broader and taller than the iPhone 15 Pro models. The thickness will stay the same, but because of their increased size, the weight will go up a little.
iPhone 16 Pro
| iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 8.25 mm | 8.25 mm |
| Height | 149.6 mm | 146.6 mm |
| Width | 71.45 mm | 70.60 mm |
| Display | 6.3″ (159.31 mm) | 6.1″ (155.38 mm) |
| Weight | 194 grams | 187 grams |
iPhone 16 Pro Max
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 8.25 mm | 8.25 mm |
| Height | 163.0 mm | 159.9 mm |
| Width | 77.58 mm | 76.70 mm |
| Display | 6.9″ (174.06 mm) | 6.7″ (169.98 mm) |
| Weight | 225 grams | 221 grams |
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will be the same size as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus; we do not anticipate any size adjustments.
Display Technology
Micro-lens technology could be used in the OLED screens of the iPhone 16 to cut battery consumption and boost brightness. To lessen internal reflection, micro-lens arrays, or MLAs, employ a uniform pattern made of billions of lenses inside the panel. Perceived brightness is increased by the reflected light, while power usage remains unchanged.
Thanks to better materials, the OLED screens used in the iPhone 16 series will be more power efficient.
iPhone 16 Ultra: What is it?
Alongside the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple may release a high-end iPhone 16 “Ultra” with the iPhone 16. Positioned as the highest-end iPhone offering, the smartphone might come with a larger display, a better camera, and maybe even a portless design.
There are no indications of an iPhone 16 Ultra in the preliminary iOS 18 code, despite speculations to the contrary. According to the code, Apple is only working on four iPhone variants: two regular iPhone 16 models and two “Pro” iPhone 16 versions.
Knobs
Apple originally intended to replace the physical volume, power, and mute buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro models with solid-state ones. However, the functionality was removed from the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max due to “unresolved technical issues”.
We don’t anticipate significant changes between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models because Apple decided to stick with mechanical buttons after retesting solid-state capacitive buttons for the iPhone 16 variants.
Button for Action
An Action Button is included with the iPhone 15 Pro models, and it is anticipated that the standard iPhone 16 models will also have an Action Button by 2024. The Action Button on the iPhone 16 series will be the same as the Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro.
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.
A-Series Chips
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to use an A17 chip, but rumors suggest it won’t be the same A17 Pro chip that’s in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Apple is using TSMC’s N3B process for the iPhone 17 Pro chip, but next year, will use the lower-cost N3E process for the standard “A17” that’s in the works.
N3B is TSMC’s original 3-nanometer node created in partnership with Apple, while N3E is a more affordable node that has a lower transistor density, lower efficiency, and a higher yield.
Apple does not typically design chips specifically for the standard iPhone models, with the devices either using the same chips as the Pro models or adopting the chip from the prior year’s iPhone models. With the iPhone 15, for example, the device used the A16 chip that was previously introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro.
While one rumor has suggested Apple will call the chip used in the standard iPhone 16 models the “A17,” analyst Jeff Pu believes Apple will instead use A18 and A18 Pro naming, with all iPhone 16 models featuring some kind of A18-series chip. Pu believes all of the chips will use the N3E manufacturing process, and the Pro chips could perhaps have an extra GPU core not available in the standard chips.
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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.
5G Modem Chips
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.
WiFi 7
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 6S is limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models.
USB-C Port
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.
AI Capabilities
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.
iPhone 16 Camera Technology
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 may allow for spatial video recording using the Ultrawide and Wide cameras.
Vertically-arranged rear camera lenses on iPhone 12
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.
Battery
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.
Pricing
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.
iPhone 16 Launch Date
The iPhone 16 models are expected to come out in September 2024, and they will follow the 2023 iPhone 15 models.
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