iPhone 16: Everything We Know So Far

Are you excited about the latest iPhone 16 release in September 2024? If you’re preparing to buy one when it hits the shelves, having some information on the specifications won’t hurt. So far, most industry analysts paint a promising picture regarding the upgrades. Rumour has it that the next-generation 16 series is coming with some radical changes.

We’re talking about better capacities (finally), a cool new “capture button” for all enthusiastic photographers, and much-advanced A-series chips. Are you curious about the Pro models? Well, they will literally be getting bigger, marking Apple’s first size upgrade in years.

While the standard iPhone 16 models won’t get any larger, they will still enjoy some nifty upgrades. That fancy “Action Button” exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro will become a staple in every new Apple smartphone. Exciting, isn’t it? Speaking of leaks and rumours, this blog provides insights on the upcoming iPhone 16 features, its specifications, design, pricing, and why it’s worth the wait.

Here’s a quick rundown of the biggest rumours we have to date:

• Prediction for iPhone 16 Release Date: September 2024
• Design:1-inch standard, Action button, redesigned camera block, Capture button; Larger sizes for the “Pro” line
• Chipset: A18
• AI features: Generative AI in apps such as notes & camera
• Camera: Vertical camera lenses for standard models, Spatial video support
• Software: iOS 18

iPhone 16 Release Date

According to the latest leaks, the iPhone 16 is expected to be released in September 2024, continuing Apple’s tradition of Fall launches. The new announcement has generated a lot of buzz among consumers and tech enthusiasts.

Since the iPhone 5 and onwards, the company always introduced its flagship phones around this time of the year. Except in 2020, the iPhone 12 launch was slightly halted due to the pandemic and was pushed to October 2020. Fingers crossed, hopefully, there will be no delay this time.

iPhone 16 Design and Display

Apple supply chain expert Ming-Chi Kuo confirmed that the iPhone 16 series will look very familiar to the previous models. However, minor modifications are still coming. Apple plans to replace the mute switch with an Action button and this enhancement will not be restricted to only Pro models. Rather, all base handsets of the 16 series will adopt this feature. Additionally, the right side will have a new Capture button, making it easy to take pictures in the landscape orientation.

The screen probably won’t be in for many upgrades—it will once again be 6.1 inches, with an 1179 x 2556 resolution. Expect the display technology to be OLED again, but the screen might be brighter than its 2,000-nit predecessor. On the contrary, the Pro and Pro Max will feature larger screens than their previous generations. According to reliable sources for the iPhone 16 leaks, these variants are expected to come with a 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display respectively.

There have been mixed rumours about the colour options as well. One even suggested seven iPhone 16 colours, including white, purple, pink, yellow, blue, black, and green. Apple will likely keep the outdated 60Hz display on the base models instead of upgrading them to the 120Hz ProMotion display. After all, this is a feature omitted from standard handsets and kept exclusively for the Pro models.

iPhone 16 Specifications

The iPhone has come a long way since the first handset came out in 2007. From a tiny display to what is now essentially one of the biggest screens, the evolution is a commendable feat for Apple. Inevitably, 2024 will witness the beginning of a new chapter with the iPhone 16 launch date coming closer.

Chipset

All iPhone 16s could have the same next-generation A18 chipset as per the recent discoveries in Apple's backend code for the iOS 18. However, the company could still differentiate between the base and high-end models. While the former could feature A18 chips with a smaller number of GPU cores, the latter might have a processor with a better GPU.

A-series chips for the iPhone 16 lineup are built on the latest N3E 3-nanometer node. Historically, Apple has equipped standard iPhones with the previous year’s Pro-level chipset. If this is the pattern that’s followed, we can anticipate the A17 Pro’s chip for the base iPhone 16. Even if they get A18, expect the chipset to be weaker than the one in the 16 Pro and Pro Max.

Memory and Storage

Multiple rumours have confirmed that the iPhone 16 will have 8GB RAM (an additional 2G compared to the iPhone 15). In terms of storage, we believe it’ll likely be similar to the iPhone 15 models—125GB, 256GB, and 512GB for the standard, Pro, and Pro Max.

Battery

A major concern for many users is the iPhone battery. The good news is that several reports mention a minor increase in battery life for the new models. Compared to the iPhone 15s, the 16 series could get a 6% boost in battery capacity. Furthermore, the iPhone 16 lineup may come with a 3,561 mAh battery pack—an improvement from the 3,349 mAh battery of the last series.

Some new thermal design changes are also in line. This includes a metal battery casing to tackle overheating concerns. Another addition is graphite sheets to improve heat dissipation and address potential overheating from the silicon chip.

MagSafe

Connectivity in the iPhone Pro series could also see some improvements. The iPhone 16 Pro may support 20W MagSafe and 40W fast wired charging. It is a move in the right direction and will satisfy most Apple enthusiasts.

iPhone 16 Prices and Variants

There are different expectations when it comes to the possible price range of the iPhone 16 series. Apple has followed the same pricing trend over the years, since the launch of the iPhone 12 series in 2020. A good place to start predicting costs is by comparing it with the previous models. Here’s what the iPhone 15 and 14 cost in different configurations:

Apple doesn’t lower rates for new models, so you’ll probably pay at least the iPhone 15s worth. Nonetheless, there are some speculations that the price might be lower. A report surfaced in mid-2023, suggesting that Apple would switch to a more affordable A17 Pro chipset. If this rumour is true, the iPhone could get cheaper.

There’s also some gossip that Apple could introduce a high-end model iPhone 16 Ultra along with other variants. It will be ranked as the company’s top-of-the-line device with exceptional features, like a better display, additional camera improvements, and a portless design.

However, it’s still a rumour as no evidence of such a device was found in the early iOS 18 code. Instead, it confirmed only four iPhones in the works, including two standard and two Pro variants.

iPhone 16 Camera Enhancements

After thoroughly testing several designs, Apple finally adopted a vertically aligned camera system for the iPhone 16 series, similar to the iPhone 12. The earlier generations - iPhone 15, 14, and 12, use a diagonal layout. A leaked image of the camera chassis boasts the rumoured vertical layout, seemingly supporting Apple’s design choice speculation for the new handsets. This swap might bring back the spatial video recording feature using the Ultrawide and Wide cameras.

With this new arrangement, the camera bump has slimmed down. The square module on current and previous generations will give way to a pill-shaped one. It is expected to look similar to the iPhone X and iPhone XS camera design.

Another big upgrade anticipated with the iPhone 16 Pro, is the camera system. Compared to the 12-megapixel Ultra-Wide and 3x telephoto lens on the iPhone 15 Pro, the to-be-released variant could feature a 48-megapixel Ultra-Wide camera and a 5x telephoto lens. As discussed previously, Apple might introduce a new dedicated Capture button to make photography even more fun and convenient.

iPhone 16 Software and Features

The iOS 18 is rumoured to be one of the most exciting updates to the iPhone 16. It will come with new customisation options, Siri improvements, and more. Unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 in June, it is the next-generation version of iOS built around Apple Intelligence. The company highlighted that an AI feature set is integrated into the iOS 18 software, calling it “AI for the rest of us”.

Another notable upgrade the standard iPhone 16 models could get is their adaptability to Wi-Fi 6E, which supports the 6GHz Wi-Fi band. Currently, Wi-Fi 6E is limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models. The good news is the new Pro models might adopt the next-generation WiFi 7 technology, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. This technology is expected to provide at least 30 GB/s speed and could go as high as 40 GB/s.

iPhone 16’s AI Capabilities

A few weeks ago, rumours surfaced that iOS 18 was shaping up as the biggest iPhone update in Apple's history. This is mainly because cutting-edge generative AI features are being included in the software. As per the reports, although many new Large Language Model features will be brought by iOS 18, Apple might restrict its capabilities exclusively to the iPhone 16 and 15 pro models.

Apple entirely overhauled Siri with AI, creating a personal assistant that is more relevant, natural, and powerful. Apart from the new voice commands, a new “Type to Siri” option will be made available. After activating this function with a double tap on the bottom of the display, you can ask it to perform a specific task on a particular app. Moreover, there’s more personal context when fulfilling user requests.

Furthermore, Siri may be able to do tons of tasks like photo editing, file management, creating folders, and more. Besides, the iOS 18 update will bring the following Apple Intelligence features to the iPhone 16:

• Image Playground: Use prompts or Apple's themes to create unique images. You can include photos of your friends and family to make fun custom collages in various styles, including sketches, illustrations, and animation. The feature is also integrated into Notes, Messages, and other apps.
• Writing Tools: Feel more confident when writing with AI-powered Writing Tools. Whether it's crafting an email, finishing a blog post, or recording class notes, Apple Intelligence can help with everything. Other features it will bring are Rewrite, Proofread, and Summarise.
• Genmoji: One of the most exciting Apple AI features is the new take on emojis, Genmoji. Give a prompt and create a Genmoji of family and friends based on their photos.
• Privacy: Apple Intelligence has taken the privacy factor to another level with On-device Processing and Private Cloud Computing.

Sustainability and Environmental Impact

Apple has always been at the forefront of inventing sustainable products to minimise its carbon footprint. In 2023, the company reduced over 55% of Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions from its carbon footprint. The same year, through their Supplier Clean Energy Programme, the firm avoided 18.5M tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Furthermore, Apple is promoting the concept of refurbished phones and a circular economy.  In 2023, about 12.8M devices and accessories were sent to new users for reuse to support environmental sustainability. Many dealerships have taken after the company’s view on used iPhones. Like Apple, Mobile Guru, an Australian-owned store, is a leading supplier of refurbished smartphones and also has a great collection of cheap iPhones. We believe that refurbished devices allow you to enjoy better performance at lower prices and save the environment.

How We Sourced Predictions?

All the iPhone 16 leaks and information gathered are from authentic sources to keep the data as relevant as possible. Most of our details are inspired by Apple’s supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s article. We also took information from Mark Gurman’s report on the Bloomberg newsletter. Data related to Apple Intelligence and iOS 18 is available at Apple’s Newsroom.

The iPhone 16 represents a new era for Apple devices. However, not everyone can afford the latest series due to budget constraints, or personal preferences. If that’s the case, visit Mobile Guru to purchase a refurbished iPhone handset at a bargain price. We have a huge selection of the latest devices that offer great value for money. Plus, your order is secured with up to 24 months warranty.

No matter which handset you choose, we bet it'll feel like a strong upgrade. Trust us, you’ll not find a better deal than this. Call us on 1300 362 017 or email us at hello@mobileguru.com.au to discuss your requirements.