Apple iPhone 16 Series: Everything We Know So Far

August 15, 2024, 01:43 PM
by Shahriar Rabab

UNB News
Publish- August 15, 2024, 01:43 PM
Shahriar Rabab
Update- August 18, 2024, 03:07 PM

Apple iPhone 16 Series: Everything We Know So Far

Representational image: Freepik

Apple has been consistent with its mid-September launch schedule over the years. Last year, the iPhone 15 series was announced on 12th September with pre-orders beginning just three days later. With less than a month to go for this year’s speculated release, here are some exciting and almost-confirmed changes we’ll see on the new iPhone 16 series.

Major Leaks and Rumors Regarding iPhone 16 series

An Upgraded Display

The iPhone 16 series is set to feature a larger and brighter display with even more reduced bezels than the 15 series. The new models are tipped to be 6.3 inches in the standard iPhone 16 and 16 Pro whereas the 16 Plus and 16 Pro Max will be bumped up to 6.9 inches. It’s a good 0.2-inch upgrade over the current variants.

It’s also tipped that the 16 series will feature new displays developed by Samsung. The new models are set to be even brighter thanks to the M14 OLED material on the micro-LED panel.

There was a rumor regarding the inclusion of an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. However, the plan is reported to have been scrapped in favor of an overhauled Face ID system.

New Camera System

There will be several changes to the camera system of the 16 series. The first and most obvious change comes in the base 16 and 16 Plus as they will now feature vertical camera lenses. The change isn’t just aesthetic as the vertical setup will allow the devices to shoot spatial videos compatible with the Vision Pro headset.

The 16 Pro will get the 5X telephoto zoom lens this time around which was reserved for the Pro Max variant last year. The ultrawide sensor will also be updated to a 48 MP sensor across the models. This is a highly anticipated upgrade as the iPhones had the same 12 MP ultrawide shooter since the 11.

There’s also an unreliable rumor about a larger main sensor and a super-telephoto lens for the Pro Max. But you’ll be better off taking that with a grain of salt.

New Buttons

Last year we saw the Action Button on the Pro models which replaced the long-standing and much-loved mute toggle. This year, Apple is making the Action Button a standard in all the models. And with that, the mute toggle is truly gone from the Apple design system.

But for those who like customization, the Action Button is set to include all the features from the 15 Pro series with a possible inclusion of a few more with the new iOS update.

Apple is also planning to include a Capture Button this year. It will be placed below the power button where your index finger generally would be while taking a landscape shot. The haptic-based mechanism will function as a focus, zooming, and capturing button depending on press strength. It's Apple’s way of mimicking traditional photography and bringing a sense of nostalgia into mobile photography.

A New Chip for Better AI and ML

The new 16 series will feature the updated Apple’s Bionic A18 chip. However, the chipset could be differentiated into A18 and A18 Pro for the standard and Pro variants. The souped-up version is expected to have more GPU cores than the standard one. The A18 Pro is also slated to have the next-gen neural engine for upgraded AI and ML capabilities. This will make way for future Apple Intelligence integration.

The new models will also feature a better thermal management system across all the options. The current iPhone models feature a copper-based heat dissipation solution. The new models, as tipped, will come with a graphene-based solution for better efficiency.

This is a much-needed upgrade considering how powerful the Apple chips are. Last year we noticed certain thermal throttling issues on the iPhone 15 series. Given the processor upgrade, the thermal management system upgrade also seems the logical solution.

RAM Upgradation

iPhone has been stuck on 6 GB RAM for several iterations. That’s hopefully going to change with the iPhone 16 series as all the models are slated to come with a standard 8 GB RAM.

Latest Battery Technology

The iPhone 16 series will see the introduction of the stacked battery technology for the first time. Battery stacking is usually seen in EVs and medical equipment. It's still an emerging tech in smartphones which helps to save a lot of internal space.

The 16 series may also see the use of a stainless steel casing for the battery. It’ll increase the overall battery density by 10% which in turn means longer-lasting battery health. However, it is highly likely to be featured on one of the Pro variants.

Reports coming out of China hint at a 2.5% to 6% increase in battery on the standard 16, 16 Pro, and Pro Max. The Plus however might see a battery decrement.

Unconfirmed reports also suggest the charging speed be bumped up to 40W wired and 27W MagSafe charging. The significant jump in charge speed makes us question its authenticity even more. But if it does happen, we’re all here for it.

New 5G Modem

Apple is reportedly going with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X75 modem for their Pro models this year. The X75 brings upgraded and advanced 5G capabilities with AI and ML integration. It is also reported to use 20% less circuit than the existing X70 modems making it more power efficient.

However, the standard 16 and 16 Plus will feature the X70 modem seen on the 15 series. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo forecasts that this is the last year of Apple using third-party modems. We might see in-house 5G modems coming out with the 2025 iPhones.

Increased Price

An unfortunate report coming out of China is that the 16 series might see a price increment for all the models. Last year the production cost of the 15 series was already at an all-time high with a 16% increment over the 14 series. While Apple resorted to absorbing the cost, the same might not hold for the 16 series. As a result, there’s strong speculation of “The most expensive iPhones yet”.

Final Words

To be honest, the iPhone 16 series might not be the next big thing in Apple's innovation list. It's going to be just another incremental update over the 15 with minor spec bumps and new colorways. The Apple Intelligence is expected to show up sometime in Q4 this year, well after the launch of the 16 series. For now, all eyes are on a mid-September release date and the speculated release of the iPhone SE 4 and iPhone 17 Air next year.