Apple iPhone 16 Launch Date. The iPhone 16 models are expected to come out in September 2024,
The series is expected to bring significant upgrades and improvements compared to its predecessors. Speculation suggests that there will be enhancements in camera performance, display, a more powerful processor, and an entirely new design.
Let’s take a detailed look at all the renders, rumours, and speculation surrounding the highly anticipated iPhone 16 release.
The Apple iPhone 16 series could pack several new features, including a bigger display and camera button, and offer more storage.
Design: The iPhone 16 is expected to undergo significant design changes, as leaked prototype models hint at a departure from previous iterations. Reports suggest Apple will ditch the triangular camera layout and instead adopt a vertical dual-camera layout, possibly geared toward spatial video recording for the Apple Vision Pro headset. The layout might look similar to the vertical camera island of the iPhone X.
Additionally, renders indicate variations in design elements, such as volume buttons and the introduction of a new Capture button, suggesting enhanced camera functionality. The colour palette for the base model iPhone 16 is speculated to include pale yellow, pink, and black, with the possibility of additional colour options.
New Button: Apple is also said to be adding a new Capture button in its iPhone 16 series, which will offer users a new quick button to access the camera shutter and more features. Meanwhile, the Action Button, which was introduced in the iPhone 15 Pro variants, is said to come in all variants of the iPhone 16. Apple is also said to increase the size of the Action Button to be more tactile and easy to use.
Display and features: While the physical dimensions of the iPhone 16 are expected to remain similar to its predecessors, reports suggest slight increases in display size for the Pro models. The iPhone 16 Pro is projected to feature a 6.3-inch display, while the Pro Max variant might boast a massive 6.9-inch screen.
Additionally, advancements in display technology, including micro-lens technology for OLED panels, are anticipated to offer improved brightness and power efficiency.
Processor: The iPhone 16 lineup is speculated to be powered by the A17 chip, with potential variations like the A17 Pro for premium models. Reports suggest improvements in thermal management and battery technology, including stacked batteries for enhanced capacity and longevity.
Moreover, advancements in 5G connectivity are anticipated, with the Pro models likely to integrate Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X75 modem for faster and more efficient performance. The addition of Wi-Fi 7 technology further augments connectivity speeds, promising seamless browsing experiences.
Camera and Battery Life: Camera enthusiasts can look forward to significant upgrades in the iPhone 16 Pro models. These enhancements include a 48MP ultrawide lens and a 5x optical zoom tetraprism camera. With these improvements, the iPhone 16 Pro aims to deliver unparalleled image quality and versatility, catering to diverse photography needs.
Regarding battery life, the iPhone 16 Pro models are rumoured to feature stacked battery technology, enabling faster charging speeds and prolonged usage durations. With advancements in battery capacity and efficiency, users can expect enhanced performance and longevity from their devices.
Software and Updates: The iPhone 16 lineup is expected to debut alongside iOS 18, showcasing Apple’s continued commitment to software innovation. Enhanced AI-powered features, including smarter interactions with Siri and Messages, are anticipated to enrich the user experience.
Furthermore, improvements in microphone technology and signal-to-noise ratio are speculated to complement the software upgrades, ensuring crystal-clear audio and seamless voice commands.
Launch Date and Price: Apple typically unveils its new iPhones in September, with availability following shortly after that. Barring any unforeseen delays, we can expect the release of the new iPhone 16 series around the same timeline during fall 2024.
While pricing details for the iPhone 16 lineup remain undisclosed, rumours suggest that Apple might raise prices slightly compared to the iPhone 15 lineup, following the trend set by the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Considering the rumoured enhancements and advancements, we can anticipate a price increase of $100. For Indian consumers, this could translate to a rough? 10,000 increase compared to the preceding models, aligning with Apple’s global pricing strategy.
Twice the storage on iPhone 16 Pro
Apple has been offering up to 1 TB of storage on the Pro iPhones for a while now, and starting with the iPhone 16, the company is expected to offer up to 2 TB of storage, at least on the pro models, suggests a report from DigiTimes. On top of that, the report also highlights that Apple could opt for a slightly cheaper QLC (Quad-Level Cell) NAND type storage, which is cheaper than the TLC (Triple-Level Cell) NAND.
This would attract content creators, who need an iPhone with large storage capacity, and given iPhones can also shoot 3D Spatial videos, a higher storage variant could also attract power users, who like to store all their data locally on the iPhone. This could also mean, just like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, all variants of the iPhone 16 could finally start at 256 GB of internal storage.
Considering QLC NAND is cheaper than TLC NAND, Apple is said to be investing in both technologies at this moment. A single QLC NAND can also store more data than a TLC NAND. However, TLC NAND has issues like lower read/write speeds and lower reliability with a slightly higher risk of failure when compared to QLC-type NAND.
A dedicated camera button
A new leak by The Information indicates that the iPhone 16 Pro series might come with an extra button, rather than the earlier suggested buttonless iPhone. As per the leak, the new button on the iPhone 16 series could be located on the lower right-hand side of the iPhone, similar to the older Nokia Lumia and Sony Xperia flagships.
The positioning of this new capacitive button indicates that it could double as a camera trigger, in fact, similar to how one can use a volume button as a camera trigger, and it could mimic the feeling of pressing a physical button using a haptic engine. It is also said to be pressure pressure-sensitive button, allowing users to use the same button for focusing and clicking pictures or shooting videos.
AAA gaming across the lineup
Apple has been using a previous generation chip on the baseline iPhone models for a while now, and the company is likely to go back to using the same chip across the lineup. A report from MacRumors suggests that the entire iPhone 16 lineup is said to be powered by the A18 chip. However, the Pro models could feature speed-binned chips with higher CPU clock speed and more CPU cores.
This would enable console-level AAA-grade gaming on the entire iPhone 16 lineup, and the A18 chip is said to be a 3nm chip, similar to the A17 Pro and the M3 chip, and the iPhone 16 Pro family might include more memory (RAM) to enable more camera features and computing capabilities.
Considering the recent industry trends of offering extended software support for up to 7 years, we could see a similar announcement from Apple, and these new chips could also enable some new AI features, powered by on-device generative AI capability.
Periscope zoom lens on more iPhones
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that Apple will start offering the 5x telephoto zoom lens on the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. With a larger display on the iPhone 16 Pro, Apple should be able to implement the new zoom lens, which takes slightly more space on the inside of the phone when compared to a regular camera module.
Besides, the iPhone 16 Pro might also get a high-resolution ultra-wide angle lens. Just like the 48 MP primary shooter, and new ultra-wide angle lens is also said to offer 48 MP resolution, allowing users to natively shoot 24 MP images by default, which will have more details and clarity when compared to images shot on a 12 MP Ultra-wide angle lens.
The selfie camera, despite staying at 12 MP resolution is also said to get an upgrade with a slightly wider aperture to enhance low-light performance. However, the regular iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Plus might continue to offer a 12 MP ultra-wide angle lens.