Apple iPhone 16 rumors: Everything we know so far and what we want to see

Apple’s iPhone 15 series is about to complete one whole year of being out in the market. Naturally, we’re moving our attention toward the 2024 models — and with the launch just a few weeks away, there are already plenty of iPhone 16 rumors and leaks going around.

Apple made some significant changes to the 2023 iPhone lineup, including the addition of USB-C, the mute-switch-replacing Action Button, Titanium bodies instead of Stainless Steel on the Pro iPhones, Dynamic Island on the non-Pro iPhones, a periscope camera for the Pro Max model, and more. If you’ve been following Apple long enough, you’d know that most of these new features from the iPhone 15 series would most certainly be coming to iPhone 16 models. Additionally, what’s exclusive to the 2023 Pros would likely trickle down to the non-Pro variants this year. Keeping all that in mind, here’s what you can expect from the iPhone 16 lineup in 2024.

Will there be an iPhone 16 series?

A better question might be: will these new iPhones be called the iPhone 16 series? This is not nearly as assured, although we are pretty confident that’s what will happen. It’s been a long time since Apple didn’t use a new number for its yearly iPhone upgrade. In fact, the last time there was an “S” series iPhone was the iPhone XS and XS Max in 2018, nearly six years ago. Since then, it’s been a brand new number every year, so we’re pretty confident there will be an iPhone 16 release this year.

What is the most likely iPhone 16 series release date?

• Apple iPhone 13: September 14, 2021
• Apple iPhone 14: September 7, 2022
• Apple iPhone 15: September 12, 2023

Apple has been launching new iPhones in September since the iPhone 5, and the iPhone 16 will be no different. Apple officially announced on its website that it will be holding an event on September 9, 2024. This event should focus on the new iPhone family, but will also include some of Apple’s other hardware. Although the iPhone 16 series will launch on this date, don’t expect the full suite of Apple Intelligence features to be ready by this time.

A sketchy rumor from the German blog Macerkopf suggests that pre-orders will start on September 12. The site doesn’t provide a source, but if this is true, it would be a surprise as Apple tends to start pre-orders on Fridays. That being said, the Cupertino firm also tends to hold events on Tuesdays, but has opted to hold this year’s launch event on a Monday. It also claims that general availability will open up on September 19.

What rumored specs and features could the iPhone 16 series have?

Apple doesn’t reinvent the iPhone every year, but it almost always launches significant changes. Here are the things we expect to see later this year with the iPhone 16 series.

Design, display, and buttons

Apple made several notable design changes on the iPhone 15 series, and we expect the company to refine these going forward. We think Apple’s newly launched Action Button will make its way to the non-Pro iPhone 16 models this year. As we said earlier, bringing Pro features to base iPhone models is a practice Apple has followed for years. The Dynamic Island on the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus (previously reserved only for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max) is a prime example of that. So, if you prefer the classic mute switch over the new Action Button, know that it will most likely disappear for good after the iPhone 16 lineup goes official.

If one new button wasn’t enough, rumor has it that Apple will equip the iPhone 16 series with yet another button. According to a MacRumors report and frequent Apple leaker Mark Gurman, Apple internally refers to this new button as the “Capture Button.” It is expected to appear on the right side of the device, and Gurman says it could be used to shoot images and record videos. The Information says that the button will be a physical button that will be sensitive to both pressure and touch. The report mentions that lightly pressing the button will allow you to focus, while a firmer press will capture an image or start recording. It is said that you will also be able to swipe left or right on the button to zoom in or out.

A leak from Apple Insider sheds a little more light on this Capture Button, as well as new details on the cameras that we’ll get into a little later. But focusing on the Capture Button, it is said to be designed exclusively for camera apps and will be able to open whatever camera app you choose, whether its Apple’s own software or from a third party. As mentioned by The Information’s report, this button is capable of sensing the amount of force you’re using to press down for the purpose of registering half and full presses. The leak says that the force sensitivity will be tied to a developer API, which will allow you to customize what these actions do. Additionally, the act of using the button as a capacitive trackpad for functions like zooming in and out is also said to be tied to a developer API.

All-in-all, it looks like the iPhone 16 series may come with as many as five buttons, including the power button, two volume buttons, the Action Button, and the new Capture Button. The Capture Button is said to be in testing across all four models within the iPhone 16 series, so it’s possible this will not be a Pro-only feature.

For the designs of the base iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, we expect Apple to stick to the same screen sizes as last year. Display analyst Ross Young also suggests that Apple is only expected to bring high refresh rate screens to base iPhones in 2025. That means we might be stuck with 60Hz displays on the cheaper iPhones in 2024, which is profoundly disappointing, especially when you consider you can get a budget Android phone with a 90Hz display for less than $400 these days.

As for the Pro models, they could be larger than ever. Gurman and Young concur that Apple plans to increase the size of its two iPhone 16 Pro models by “a couple of tenths of an inch diagonally.” The new displays are expected to measure 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches for the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, respectively, making the Pro Max the largest iPhone ever. Universe Ice also recently mentioned that the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s display could be 6.88 inches, which is rounded up to 6.9-inch.

As a brief aside, the Pro Max name might not stick around. According to 9to5Mac, the top-of-the-line iPhone could adopt the “Ultra” branding in 2024, which we heard in 2023, too — so take that rumor with a grain of salt.

Speaking of the displays, the iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to get Samsung Display’s new M14 OLED panels, ET News reports (h/t: Phandroid). As a result, they should be brighter than ever, last longer, and could be more energy efficient.

A rumor from Ice Universe (via MacRumors) suggests that the bezels on the iPhone 16 Pro will be even thinner than the bezels on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. If true, this would mean that the bezels will be narrower than 1.52mm. To accomplish this, it is rumored that Apple will rely on Border Reduction Structure (BRS) technology. A more recent rumor suggests the iPhone 16 Pro Max (or Ultra) might also have crazy-thin bezels — so small it will be almost like they’re not even there. Ice Universe, the source for this leak, says the iPhone 16 Pro Max might end up being “the world’s closest smartphone to a borderless sci-fi form factor.”

We have also seen a few dummy units around, giving us a fair idea of what the lineup will look like. Leaker MajinBu reshared comparison pics of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro as against the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, and the size difference on the Pro iPhone is very apparent year-on-year.

Sonny Dickson also shared dummy units of the entire iPhone 16 series, corroborating the difference in screen sizes, the vertically placed cameras, the Action button, and the Capture button on all four phones.

Dickson later shared better-quality dummy units, which you can see at the top of this section. Those dummy units show off the redesigned camera modules on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, as well as just how large the Pro Max is.

If you’re wondering about the colors coming to the series, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared that he believes most of the existing colors will be brought over from the iPhone 15. However, he claims that the iPhone 15 Pro’s “Blue Titanium” could be replaced by a rose color on the iPhone 16 Pro models, and the iPhone 16 could drop yellow in favor of white.

But Sonny Dickson‘s latest leak is the one that gave us our first look at the color options on the iPhone 16. The images showcase a new set of iPhone 16 and 16 Pro dummy units, which appear more refined than previous ones Dickson has shared, indicating that they might closely resemble the final product.

Among the colors shown for the non-Pro iPhone 16, there’s a rich green and an appealing blue alongside Apple’s staple pink/rose gold option. Even the traditional black-and-white colors look more saturated this time around, reminding us of the iPhone X. The video below gives you a better look at the colors and how they might look in real life. (h/t: Android Headlines)

In terms of physical dimensions and port placements, the iPhone 16 appears to be identical to the iPhone 15. However, the camera module is getting a noticeable makeover, as evidenced by multiple leaks thus far. The new arrangement features a vertically stacked dual-camera setup, bringing to mind the configuration seen on the iPhone X. That said, the hands-on leaks now reveal that the cameras seem to protrude a bit more with larger lens cutouts compared to the iPhone X, so it’s not an entirely identical look.

Thanks to Weibo user Witty Cat, we have an even more detailed peek at the iPhone 16’s design. The leaker shared photos showcasing what seem to be iPhone 16 dummy models in both black and white. The images give us a good view of the device’s back, highlighting two finishes and the rear camera system.

All the leaks up to this point suggest that all iPhone 16 models might embrace a frosted matte glass back this year, a departure from the glossy finish seen in previous non-Pro iPhones. This new design choice is expected to not only look great but also provide a more premium feel.

We’ve talked a lot about the colors for the base models, but what about the Pro iPhones? This year, we can see the return of a white and a natural titanium color variant. What’s new this year is the deep black option, which could be a stark departure from the subtler hues that Apple’s Pro iPhones generally go for. Interestingly, Dickson’s first leak only shows three colorways for the iPhone 16 Pro phones, but in a recent X post, the leaker shared the image below. This image once again showcases some dummy units of the iPhone 16 Pro, but this set introduces a new color variant.

We can see the white, black, and natural titanium colorways, but the fourth option seems to be a gold-like bronze hue that we haven’t seen before on an iPhone. This colorway appears darker than the gold color options of past iPhones, almost looking like a brown leather finish. It’s possible this could be the color that replaces the Blue Titanium color option.

Since these images have leaked, an unboxing video has emerged, showcasing likely a dummy iPhone 16 Pro Max in the bronze color. According to the video, this color is called Desert Titanium.

It’s worth remembering that these dummy units might not perfectly represent the final finish, but they provide a good idea of the color palette we can expect.

iPhone 16 series camera specs

Meanwhile, Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu claims that Apple will add a 48MP ultrawide shooter to the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. Ming-Chi Kuo also reiterates this with more details, noting that the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max could jump to a 48MP 1/2.6-inch sensor with 0.7µm pixel size and 6P lens assembly for its rear ultrawide camera. The output would be 12MP, so with pixel binning, the effective pixel size would be 1.4µm. If true, this would be a significant resolution upgrade compared to the 12MP ultrawide sensor currently used on iPhone models with a 1µm pixel size.

Further supporting the possibility of an ultrawide upgrade to 48MP is a rumor from Weibo tipster OvO Baby Sauce OvO. In addition to an improvement to the ultrawide, the tipster also says the Pro Max’s main camera will be based on an advanced custom 48MP Sony IMX903 sensor.

Many of these details were corroborated by the leak from Apple Insider, which we mentioned earlier. The report also added some new information as well. According to the leak, the primary camera on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will be a 48MP lens with an f/1.6 aperture, capable of 1X and 2X zoom with optical quality 2X telephoto capabilities. Although this is the same as last year, the secondary camera will get an improved aperture, going from f/2.4 to f/2.2. It’s also said that Apple plans to give these models macro photography for the first time.

As for the Pro models, expect the same 48MP primary camera with an f/1.78 aperture. It will be able to take 2X optical-quality 12MP telephoto shots and has 1.22-micrometer pixels. Supporting the idea of Apple applying the tetraprism lens on other models, this leak says it will appear on smaller Pro. However, the lens is also staying the same as before at 12MP with f/2.8 aperture. Meanwhile, the 48MP ultrawide lens uses .7 micrometer pixels for full-resolution shots and 1.4-micrometer pixels when used as a quad pixel. It’s also said that the ultrawide will have the primary camera’s pixel-binning feature.

This leak didn’t just touch on the camera specs; it also revealed some details on the image file formats and video recording capabilities. Reportedly, the new ultrawide camera will allow users to take 48MP ProRaw photos. Continuing on the topic of image formats, it’s claimed that Apple is introducing a new format called JPEG-XL, which will join the currently supported formats of HEIF, JPEG, HEIF Max, ProRaw, and ProRAW Max.

On top of that news, it appears the Pro and Pro Max may have the ability to record videos in 3K at 120FPS. Moving up to 4K resolution will drop the frames per second down to 60. Meanwhile, it’s possible the FPS will either peak at 120 or 240 when recording in 1080p.

Processors and AI

Based on Apple’s behavior in the past two years, we expected that the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus would get the A17 Pro chip Apple is now using in the iPhone 15 Pro phones, while the iPhone 16 Pro lineup could see a brand new A18 chip. However, Jeff Pu (via MacRumors) has suggested Apple might change up its strategy this year. He claims that all four new iPhone 16 series phones might be equipped with A18 series chips. Pu also expects the chips to be manufactured by TSMC on its second-generation 3nm process instead of the first-generation 3nm process used on the A17 Pro chip.

More recently, code discovered in Apple’s backend by MacRumors seems to confirm that all four iPhone 16 models will feature the new A18 family chips. The code uses internal model numbers to refer to the new iPhones, and this time they all start with “iPhone17,” indicating a unified chip generation across the lineup.

That being said, there could still be a difference in the processors that the non-Pro and Pro iPhones 16 models get. Even within the same generation, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus could get the A18 chip, while the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max could come equipped with an A18 Pro chip with better or more GPU cores.

We’re inclined to think all iPhone 16 models could get new chips because iOS 18 is expected to lean heavily into Apple Intelligence features. Many of these features will work on-device, which will require powerful specialized chips called neural processing units (NPUs). The A17 Pro already has an NPU, but we think Apple would want all iPhone 16 models to have something better to make them powerful AI machines.

On the topic of AI, when the iPhone 16 family launches, you won’t have access to the full suite of Apple Intelligence features. Some will be available, but Apple plans on holding some back until later this year and until early 2025. However, the iPhone 16 should have access to features like the new and improved Siri, AI-enhanced email tools, and transcripts, just to name a few.

Apple Intelligence won’t be the only AI present in the company’s 2024 products. The firm will also be using generative AI from its partners. Apple is reportedly integrating AI features in iOS 18 in partnership with OpenAI (owners of ChatGPT). While that deal is essentially done, there have also been rumors of Apple working with Google to bring Gemini features to iPhones, too. Given that the Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24 series all heavily focus on AI smarts, it’s pretty much a given that Apple will need to respond in the iPhone 16 series, but we don’t have the full picture of what that will look like yet.

Other expected specs and features

Apple has been working on its Messages via Satellite feature that will arrive on the iPhone 16 series with iOS 18. This feature expands upon existing Emergency SOS feature by allowing the user to send and receive texts, including emoji and Tapbacks, over satellite to friends and family through Messages, instead of just emergency services.

When the iPhone 15 series launched, it was initially plagued with overheating issues. Apparently, Apple has learned its lesson as The Information reports the company is adding a larger graphite sheet inside the chassis to prevent the issue from reoccurring.

Elsewhere, the battery capacity of at least the base iPhone 16 is expected to increase. Thanks to leaked images of the iPhone 16 battery (as seen below), we can see its capacity is about 200mAh more than the iPhone 15. Also, we see that the battery is encased in metal, which could further help cut down on overheating problems users had with the iPhone 15 series.

Meanwhile, the storage tiers of the iPhone 16 series could remain the same as the iPhone 15 series, but there may be some shuffling in RAM. Jeff Pu suggests that the base iPhone 16 could finally get 8GB of RAM, compared to the base iPhone 15’s 6GB of RAM. The iPhone 15 Pro models already have 8GB of RAM, so Apple would probably stick with the same for the iPhone 16 Pro models. The 8GB of memory was further supported by Weibo leaker Moblie phone chip expert while talking about the iPhone 17 in comparison to the iPhone 16.

In the same leak, Pu suggests the base iPhone 16 could make the jump to Wi-Fi 6E, finally. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro could get an upgrade to the Qualcomm Snapdragon X75 modem. The base iPhone 16 could retain the Qualcomm Snapdragon X70 modem, which is present on iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models.

What might the iPhone 16 series’ price be?

• iPhone 15: Starts at $799
• iPhone 15 Plus: Starts at $899
• iPhone 15 Pro: Starts at $999
• iPhone 15 Pro Max: Starts at $1,199

In 2023, Apple increased the price of its Pro Max model by $100. You could buy the base 128GB iPhone 14 Pro Max for $1,099 in 2022, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max underwent big changes and starts at $1,199 for a 256GB model. We expect Apple to stick to the new $1,199 price and higher base storage for the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

As for the rest of the lineup, it’s tough to say if Apple will keep prices unchanged or increase them. It is expected that the vanilla models will have a bump up in RAM and A18 processors, but outside of that, there don’t seem to be many upgrades. There’s a chance the iPhone 16 series could end up starting at $799 just like last year. But don’t be shocked if Apple decides to raise the starting price. For now, though, it’s probably a safe bet to assume pricing will remain unchanged. You can be assured that Apple will not lower any prices.

Should you wait for the iPhone 16 series?

You can buy the iPhone 15 ($829.99 at Amazon), iPhone 15 Plus ($899 at Apple), iPhone 15 Pro ($999 at Amazon), or iPhone 15 Pro Max ($1199 at Amazon) depending on your budget and what you need. You may also find good deals on the new iPhones at major carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon, or you could pick up the phones for free with some carriers.

If you are interested in making the jump to Android, there are also plenty of great options. The Google Pixel 8 ($699 at Amazon) would be a great Android alternative to the iPhone 15, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus ($1119.99 at Amazon) or OnePlus 12 ($899.99 at Amazon) will deliver a lot more than an iPhone 15 Plus. If you want an iPhone Pro model, the Pixel 8 Pro ($999 at Amazon) or Galaxy S24 Ultra ($1419.99 at Amazon) will really impress you.