What Do We Know So Far About the New iPhone 16?
Apple has just released the public beta version of iOS 18, signaling that the launch of the iPhone 16 is fast approaching. Apple showcased iOS 18 at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June, and the debut of the public beta makes us wonder what additional innovations the next iPhone will bring – beyond Apple Intelligence.
Rumored Features of the iPhone 16
Rumors about the iPhone 16's features are numerous and include a new energy-efficient display, larger screens, better zoom lenses, an action button, and, unsurprisingly, a set of new AI-based features. However, the iPhone 16 is likely to debut in about two months, and nothing will be confirmed until Apple’s fall event. Still, these rumors can give us some idea of what to expect. Will the iPhone 16 be foldable? Probably not. The latest rumors suggest that Apple is working on iPhone Flip models in two different sizes, although they are encountering difficulties in refining these devices to meet their standards. The company might also be working on a foldable tablet with a screen size similar to the iPad Mini. While practically every major phone manufacturer – from Google to Oppo to OnePlus and Samsung – has released foldable models, Apple remains silent about whether an iPhone Flip or iPhone Fold will ever appear.
Earlier rumors suggested that Apple might not introduce its own foldable device until 2025. Samsung has not let phone fans forget this, releasing an app that allows iPhone users to experience a Z Fold-like feel by placing two iPhones side by side.
Design of the iPhone 16 with Thinner Bezels
Rumors of larger screen sizes are intensifying, at least for certain iPhone 16 models. The latest comes from the Korean publication The Elec, which reported in April that selected iPhone 16 models are set to adopt new screen technology, resulting in thinner bezels or borders around the phone’s display. This change could translate to a slightly larger display area for some iPhone 16 models, although it is not clear which models these will be.
Apple has previously introduced display enhancements in its Pro line products before sometimes extending them to lower-cost models. The report says display manufacturers have implemented new bezel-reduction structure technology, enabling more compact control circuits, ultimately leading to thinner bezels.
Larger Screens for iPhone 16 Pro Models
Speaking of screen sizes, Apple has maintained two screen sizes for Pro models since 2020 when it introduced the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max. However, that is set to change for the iPhone 16 Pro models, which may get larger screens.
Display analyst Ross Young suggested earlier this year that the iPhone 16 Pro models will have larger screens, specifying their sizes at 6.3 inches for the iPhone 16 Pro and 6.9 inches for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This rumor was later corroborated by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who stated that the iPhone 16 Pro models could grow "by a few tenths of an inch diagonally."
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to retain their current 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch sizes. If the size increase is accurate, it would be another step by Apple to differentiate the Pro models from the standard ones.
Rumored iPhone 16 Screen Sizes
- iPhone 15: 6.1 inches
- iPhone 15 Plus: 6.7 inches
- iPhone 15 Pro: 6.1 inches
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: 6.7 inches
Rumored iPhone 16 Screen Sizes
- iPhone 16: 6.1 inches
- iPhone 16 Plus: 6.7 inches
- iPhone 16 Pro: 6.3 inches
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 6.9 inches
New AI Features in iPhone 16
Artificial intelligence is perhaps the biggest tech buzzword this year, and Apple has followed in the footsteps of rivals Samsung and Google, both of which have introduced new AI features in their flagship phones. Apple Intelligence debuted at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June. It brings integration with ChatGPT, tools for checking and rewriting text in different tones, new Siri features for obtaining tech support and responding to more personalized queries, and the ability to generate images and emojis, among other functions. These new AI features are expected to be available on all models of the upcoming iPhone 16 lineup with iOS 18 right out of the box.
Design of the iPhone 16: New Action Button?
In March, AppleInsider published photos allegedly showing 3D-printed models of the purported iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. The photos revealed that the iPhone 16 might feature a vertical camera layout instead of a diagonal one, and an action button similar to last year’s iPhone 15 Pro.
Will the iPhone 16 Have a More Energy-Efficient Display?
Another change that could appear in the iPhone 16 displays is greater energy efficiency. Samsung Display is reportedly developing a new set of materials, named M14, specifically for Apple, according to TheElec, which says the new technology should appear in iPhones debuting next year. M14 will replace the current blue fluorescent diode technology, using blue phosphor technology to create an even more energy-efficient screen than the current LTPO used in Pro models, the report claims.
iPhone 16 Cameras May Have Longer Zoom
Both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models may feature 5x telephoto lenses next year. According to Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo, the tetraprism lens will appear in both Pro models next year, as opposed to only the Pro Max model. Apple equipped the iPhone 15 Pro with a 12-megapixel camera with a 3x optical zoom lens, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 12-megapixel camera with a 5x optical zoom lens, equivalent to a 120mm lens on a full-frame camera.
If this rumor proves true, it could mark a breakthrough in design. When Apple introduced the 15 Pro Max with the 5x telephoto lens, it pointed to the phone’s larger body as the reason the Pro Max had it, and the Pro did not.
iPhone 16 Pro: Fewer Lens Flares?
According to a recent leak discovered by MacRumors, Apple may be exploring a novel approach to improving photo quality. The rumor suggests that the company could add anti-reflective technology to the camera manufacturing process. If successful, this could potentially eliminate unwanted artifacts like lens flares, resulting in more realistic photos.
iPhone 16 Processors: A18 Chip for All Models?
Unlike the past two years, all four iPhone 16 models are set to receive Apple’s next-generation chipset, which will be designated as the A18 series. According to a MacRumors report citing Jeff Pu, an analyst at Haitong International Securities, all four models will feature the A18 series chip, with the Pro models getting the A18 Bionic Pro and the standard models getting the regular A18.
The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus currently have the A16 Bionic chip, which debuted in 2022 in the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, while the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max run on the A17 Pro processor. Pu claims that the A18 chip will be manufactured using TSMC’s 3-nanometer process.
Will the iPhone 16 Come in New Colors?
Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predictions about the colors for the iPhone 16 lineup. In a post on X in May, he said the iPhone 15 Pro’s blue color option will be discontinued and replaced by a new pink model, which will be available for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. He also predicted that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will come in white, replacing the yellow model.
When Will the iPhone 16 Be Released?
Apple holds its annual iPhone event in September every year, so we expect the schedule to remain the same for the iPhone 16. New iPhones are typically released shortly afterward, usually on a Friday the following week. Sometimes Apple staggers the release dates of certain models, especially when introducing a new design or size. Thus, it is possible the iPhone 16 lineup will have more than one release date.
What We Know So Far
Apple usually holds its events on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. The iPhone 15 event was held on Tuesday, September 7. The iPhone 14 event took place on Wednesday, September 7. And the iPhone 13 event was held on Tuesday, September 14.
iPhone release dates usually fall about a week and a half after Apple’s announcements.