iPhone 16 Review

The iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are already among the most highly anticipated phones of 2024, despite the iPhone 15 line having launched less than six months ago. There’s still a fair amount of time to wait until we see Apple’s next handsets, but that hasn’t stopped the iPhone 16 rumors from arriving in earnest.

Indeed, we’ve already got a vague picture of what the iPhone 16 and its siblings could bring to the mobile table later this year. Highlights include camera upgrades, a new ‘Capture’ button, and larger displays for the Pro models, and one thing we do know is that the new phones will feature support for the Apple Vision Pro (check out our full Apple Vision Pro review to see what we think of the new mixed-reality headset). But there are plenty of other leaks to be digested, too, and below, you’ll find everything we’ve heard about these upcoming best iPhone contenders so far.

• Tipsters are in disagreement over iPhone 16 pricing

For obvious reasons, we’re unlikely to learn official iPhone 16 pricing until September next year, and tipsters are already divided over whether Apple will increase or decrease prices next year.

Currently, Apple’s cheapest iPhone 15 model, the standard iPhone 15, starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,499, while its most expensive, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, starts at $1,199 / £1,399 / AU$2,099. These figures could be mimicked by the iPhone 16 line in 2024, just as the iPhone 15 mimicked the iPhone 14 line on the price front.

Size Updates

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are expected to have larger display sizes, according to multiple sources. The iPhone 16 Pro will have a display that’s 6.27 inches in size (rounded to 6.3), while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to have a display that’s 6.85 inches in size (rounded to 6.9).

With the increase in display size, the dimensions of the iPhone’s body will also increase. Both models are expected to be taller and wider than the iPhone 15 Pro models, and while thickness will remain the same, the weight will increase slightly due to the larger size.

iPhone 16 Pro

iPhone 16 Pro Max

Display Technology

The iPhone 16 models are expected are expected to adopt new micro-lens OLED display technology for improved power brightness and reduced power consumption, which could bring an improvement in battery life.

Buttons

The iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to have the same power, volume, and Action buttons as the iPhone 15 Pro models, with no design changes or updates. Apple is planning to add a new button, though, the “Capture Button.”

The Capture Button will be located on the same side of the iPhone as the Power button, in the space that is occupied by the 5G mmWave antenna in the United States.

With the addition of this button, the mmWave cutout will be relocated to the left side of the device, below the volume buttons. Like the rest of the iPhone 16 Pro buttons, the Capture Button will be mechanical rather than capacitive, but it will be able to respond to pressure and touch. iPhone users will be able to zoom in and out by swiping left and right on the button, focus with a light press, and activate a recording with a more forceful press.

Detecting multiple levels of pressure will let the Capture Button emulate a two-step shutter button like the button used on digital cameras, providing a function that many users will be familiar with.

The Capture Button will be available on all four iPhone 16 models, and it will be used for taking photos and videos.

A-Series Chips

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will adopt a new A-series chip, which will be built on the 3-nanometer node like the A17 Pro. It’s not yet clear what Apple will call this chip, but A18 Pro has been rumored, with an A18 planned for the standard iPhone 16 models.

The next-generation A18 chip that’s planned for the iPhone 16 Pro models could feature an upgraded Neural Engine with “significantly” more cores, allowing for improved AI/machine learning performance.

Thermal Improvements

The iPhone 16 models are expected to include a new thermal design that will combat overheating. Apple is said to be working on a graphene thermal system for the iPhone 16 models, and the iPhone 16 Pro models may also include a metal battery casing that will improve heat dissipation.

Graphene has higher thermal conductivity than the copper that’s used in iPhone heat sinks.

iPhone 16 Camera Technology

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max could have a more advanced 48-megapixel Main camera sensor that uses technologies like a stacked design for better performance, and Digital Gain Control for better dynamic range and noise control. The Pro Max may include a 12 percent larger camera sensor for better dynamic range, background blur, and low0light performance.

The iPhone 16 Pro models are also expected have improved 48-megapixel Ultra Wide lens. The upgraded Ultra Wide lens should allow the camera to capture more light, resulting in enhanced photos when shooting in 0.5x mode, especially in low-light environments. It would likely function like the 48-megapixel Wide camera, which uses pixel binning to combine the data from four pixels into one “super pixel” for better image quality.

The 48-megapixel wide-angle camera used in the iPhone 16 Pro Max will reportedly feature an eight-part hybrid lens with two glass elements and six plastic elements, along with improvements for the telephoto and ultra wide camera lenses.

Both the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max are expected to get Tetraprism zoom lenses in 2024, instead of the technology being limited to the larger Pro Max. That means both iPhone 16 Pro models will feature at least 5x optical zoom and at least 25x digital zoom.