Apple iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus: what we all know thus far

Subsequent week Apple will introduce the iPhone 16 sequence throughout an occasion dubbed “It’s Glowtime”. Here’s what we predict we all know concerning the new fashions – right here we are going to give attention to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, the 2 Professionals will likely be coated in a separate article.

The launch

Apple has formally confirmed that the iPhone 16 sequence will likely be unveiled on September 9 (Monday). The occasion will begin at 5 PM UTC.

The extra essential query is when the telephones will likely be out there – in response to Mark Gurman, all 4 iPhone 16 fashions are on monitor for a speedy pre-order (proper after the occasion) and a September 20 launch.

Apple Intelligence is reportedly delayed and gained’t be out there on launch day. As an alternative, it ought to arrive as an replace in October. Nonetheless, this delay is not going to have an effect on the iPhone 16 launch.

The design

There hasn’t been a big evolution in vanilla iPhone design because the iPhone 11, except you rely the arrival of the Dynamic Island as “vital”. The general search for the 16-series will stay the identical, however dummies have been photographed exhibiting some tweaks.

The oblong digital camera island will likely be squished horizontally, aligning the 2 cameras vertically. This additionally strikes the LED flash off the island and onto the again.

Apple iPhone 16 dummies

The dummies additionally reveal (all?) launch colours. These ought to be extra saturated than the Professional fashions, which historically solely get the lightest of hues.

Motion and Seize buttons

Facet views of dummies present the tentatively named Motion and Seize buttons, which can set off customized actions and can act as a digital camera shutter key, respectively. This does imply that the Alert Slider will likely be eliminated, nonetheless.

All 4 iPhone 16 fashions may have an Motion button

And a seize button

Apparently, the Seize button will likely be extra of a capacitive trackpad than a bodily button, permitting swiping gestures – this could possibly be used to manage zoom, for instance.

Similar(-ish) shows

The iPhone 16 may have a 6.1” show, the iPhone 16 Plus show will likely be bigger at 6.7”, simply as final yr. Nonetheless, each of those will likely be smaller than the respective Professional variants, which may have 6.3” and 6.9” diagonals. The bezels will likely be thinner, so we are able to anticipate barely smaller dimensions on the vanilla and Plus fashions (the Professionals will develop by just a few millimeters).

The shows would be the identical, save for barely slimmer bezels

All 4 fashions will use the huge Dynamic Island gap within the show and that’s unlikely to alter for the vanilla fashions subsequent yr (the Professionals might begin shifting {hardware} beneath the display).

And, no, there will likely be no ProMotion, each iPhone 16 and 16 Plus shows will run at 60Hz like at nighttime ages. Now that’s one thing that may change for the 2025 vanilla pair, when you can maintain out that lengthy.

Apple A18 chipsets and AI for all

We already talked about that Apple Intelligence will likely be delayed – however, crucially, it can ultimately arrive on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. The 15 and 15 Plus are lacking out due to their older chipsets (A16) and restricted RAM capacities (6GB).

That gained’t be the case for the 16-series, nonetheless. Apple, like each different tech firm proper now, sees AI as the following massive factor. Which means the brand new telephones may have an NPU quick sufficient for fast on-device processing and sufficient RAM to carry the comparatively massive AI fashions.

That isn’t to say that Apple will go wild with RAM capacities, no less than not but. This yr the vanilla and Plus fashions are anticipated to get 8GB of RAM, subsequent yr’s successors might go as much as 12GB (or not). Google elevated the RAM capability on the Pixel 9 sequence, however reserved a part of it in order that the AI mannequin can at all times keep loaded in reminiscence – prepared to reply at a second’s discover. Whether or not Apple does the identical stays to be seen.

The non-Professional telephones would possibly get fewer GPU cores, however that shouldn’t have an effect on AI efficiency. And with their 60Hz shows, additional GPU energy isn’t wanted anyway.

Similar(-ish) cameras

As we already noticed, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus may have two cameras – no surprises right here. Rumors counsel that the 2 telephones will use the very same 48MP important digital camera as on their 15-series predecessors. The soar from 12MP on 14-series and older fashions was fairly massive and we are able to’t anticipate the same enchancment yearly.

As for the extremely huge digital camera, it will likely be principally the identical aside from an upgraded lens – it can have a brighter f/2.2 aperture (in comparison with f/2.4) for improved low-light efficiency. Even higher, it can have autofocus, permitting it to shoot macro images.

We’ve heard rumors of different modifications, e.g. JPEG XL assist within the digital camera app (as a substitute for HEIC). And we already coated the Seize button above.

What comes subsequent

Only a temporary overview of what analysts predict will occur in 2025. This could be the tip of the highway for the big Plus sequence, which can allegedly give option to the iPhone 17 Slim. This one may have a barely smaller 6.6” show, in response to analyst Jeff Pu, which can additional separate it from the Professional Max mannequin (6.9”).

Each the iPhone 17 and 17 Slim will retain the Dynamic Island, however will function an upgraded 24MP selfie digital camera. The Professionals ought to have a smaller Island, so there will likely be a noticeable distinction between vanilla and Professional. Not less than the vanilla pair ought to lastly get excessive refresh charge screens.

Anyway, there are loads of rumors concerning the iPhone 17 technology flying round proper now and their plausibility is pretty doubtful. For instance, we’ve heard that the iPhone 17 Slim may have just one rear digital camera however will likely be dearer than the 17 Professional Max. One or each of those may not be true. Nonetheless, we thought that it was essential to say these items as context for what the iPhone 16 sequence will signify when it comes to upgrades.

There may be additionally the iPhone SE 4 to think about, which can full Apple’s transition to OLED. The brand new SE will possible arrive in Q1 2025.