The iPhone 15 might only be six months old, but our attention is already turning to what Apple could be cooking up with the iPhone 16 and its larger iPhone 16 Plus sibling.
Rumours and leaks begin for the next iPhone as soon as the previous model is released and we’re already starting to see some possible changes for the 2024 update. We’ve also listed a few features we’d love to see arrive with the iPhone 16.
Release Date
There, of course, has been no confirmed release date for the iPhone 16 and nothing official will be confirmed until the device is announced during a live event in 2024.
We can, however, make some guesses about when the event and following launch will likely take place.
Apple typically sends out invitations for the iPhone launch event about two weeks before it takes place, and it is fairly easy to predict it’ll take place sometime in September – probably the second or third week.
The phone will then go up for pre-order the Friday after the event, with a full release happening the following Friday.
What do we know so far?
We’re still six months out from the launch of the iPhone 16, and while some early rumours are pointing towards new features it’s worth taking them all with a pinch of salt as a lot can change. For instance, earlier in 2023 it was suggested the iPhone 16 Pro would come with under-display Face ID and now that seems very unlikely.
According to information published by MacRumors, the iPhone 16 could have some interesting button and camera design changes. Mock-ups for the three devices said to be in testing show a phone with a vertically aligned camera module, not too dissimilar to the way it looked on the iPhone X.
Another one of the designs also has a new unified volume button instead of the current separate up and down buttons. The report claims this would have been a solid-state button that provided haptic feedback – but that the idea has been scrapped.
These models also show the Action Button and another button, dubbed the Capture button. Talk of this additional key has surfaced before, with the idea being it would sit where the mmWave antenna currently sits on US versions of the current iPhones. Importantly, both the Action and Capture buttons are said to be available across all versions of the iPhone 16.
Rumours also suggest that both the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will get a little larger, with the former measuring 6.27 inches while the latter a hefty 6.85 inches. Unlike the competing Galaxy S24, which offers a larger screen in the same size body as its predecessor, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will be wider and taller as a result of the screen increase.
Apple could also once again rejig its processor setup with the iPhone 16 range. In contrast to recent iPhones where only the Pro models get the latest chipset, all models of iPhone 16 are said to use an A18 chipset. However, it could be that Apple still separates them into A18 and A18 Pro with a difference in modules to differentiate between them.
Not simply focused on hardware, it’s rumoured that iOS 18 – and by extension, the iPhone 16 – will focus heavily on AI capabilities to allow Apple to better compete with recent advancements on offer from the likes of the Google Pixel 8 and Samsung Galaxy S24.
What we want from the iPhone 16
ProMotion
Considering it has Pro in the name, it seems unlikely we’ll see the fast refresh rate ProMotion tech arrive on the standard iPhone models in its current form – but it feels odd Apple is still launching high-end phones with 60Hz panels in 2023, let alone 2024.
Current rumours point to the iPhone 16 retaining the same screen as the iPhone 14, yet a smoother, faster display remains one of our most requested features for the upcoming device.
A third rear camera
Apple has stuck staunchly to the rule that the standard iPhone models get two rear cameras and the Pro models get three – but we think it’s time for that to change.
With the telephoto camera on the Pro phones getting better, it feels like it’s time for the iPhone 16 to get at least a dedicated 2x lens to improve zooming.
It’s not like it’s unusual for the phones available at a similar price to pack a dedicated zoom camera, with the base Galaxy S flagship toting the feature.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
