New iPhones typically debut on the second Tuesday in September. This was the case for both the iPhone 15 and several previous models. If Apple continues to stick to this date, the iPhone 16 will debut on September 10, 2024.
This week, an alleged invitation from Apple to the Fall Special Event in Cupertino, scheduled for September 10, leaked onto the web. The catch is that it turned out to be an internet joke. A joke that some influencers and some media fell for. That doesn't change the fact that the second Tuesday in September is still the most likely date for the iPhone 16 premiere.
Everything indicates that – just like last year – four iPhone models will go on sale:
- iPhone 16 – 6.1 inch
- iPhone 16 Plus – 6.7 inch
- iPhone 16 Pro – 6.3 inch
- iPhone 16 Pro Max – 6.9 inch
DISPLAY: Pro models will be even bigger
While the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to have the same screen size as the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max variants will receive larger displays than last year. In the case of the iPhone 16 Pro, the diagonal will increase from 6.1 to 6.3 inches, and in the case of the iPhone 16 Pro Max – from 6.7 to 6.9 inches.
According to information from the South Korean website Elec, that the latest iPhone is to be equipped with an improved OLED screen with Micro Lens technology. This solution consists of adding an additional layer consisting of thousands of microlenses. They are to prevent light loss. The effect? Higher display brightness with lower energy expenditure.
If Micro Lens technology makes it to the iPhone this year, it will likely only be for the Pro models. The Phone 16/16 Plus is still expected to have a Super Retina display XDR. What's worse, still with a refresh rate of 60 Hz, because for ProMotion screens (120 Hz) in cheaper models we will have to wait until 2025 and the premiere of the iPhone 17.
DESIGN: Apple is going “button-centric”?
The biggest change in the design of the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus is to be the arrangement of the lenses of the main camera. Now the “eyes” are to be arranged in a vertical position. The Action Button, which was reserved exclusively for the Pro models last year, is also to be included in the standard iPhones.
The Action Button replaces the previous ringer-mute switch (i.e. the famous “flick”). Its default function is to switch between ringer and mute (as in the case of the slider). The difference is that we can also assign other functions to the new button – e.g. starting the voice recorder, camera or flashlight, or even switching between focus modes.
Apparently, the Cupertino company can never have enough buttons, because – as reported by Mac Rumors -all four iPhone 15 models are also expected to receive the so-called Capture Button. This button would be placed on the right edge of the device and would act as a physical camera shutter button.
Other major design changes are unlikely. The shape of the devices will remain unchanged (apart from the larger screen diagonal in the Pro models). Perhaps Apple will decide to slightly slim down the bezels surrounding the display.
SPECS: The A18 system will once again set a new standard for the industry
In the past, all iPhone variants within a single generation received the same processor. That changed in 2022, when the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max debuted with the new A16 Bionic chip, while the iPhone 14/Plus debuted with the older A15 chip. It was similar last year: the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max got the new A17 Bionic chip, while the other models got the older A16 chip.
As reported by Mac Rumors, this year Apple wants to return to its roots. This means that all iPhone 16 models will receive the same A18 chip, which will be made using 3-nanometer technology. However, it is possible that the Cupertino company will present two variants of this chip, which may differ from each other, for example, in the number of GPU cores.
The new A18 chip would also feature an improved neural processing unit (NPU) with more cores, which would allow for better device performance in artificial intelligence calculations.
All four iPhone 16 models are expected to have 8GB of RAM. This means that the standard 16/16 Plus models will receive 2 additional gigabytes of memory compared to last year's equivalents. As for data space, the 16 Pro/16 Pro Max models in the most expensive variants will now have as much as 2 terabytes of memory flash.
PERFORMANCE: iPhone 16 No Longer Frys an Egg. No More Overheating Devices?
It's no secret that shortly after their launch, some iPhone 15 models had problems with overheating. Apple quickly resolved the issue with a software update, but this whole situation did not have a positive impact on the company's image.
This year, Apple wants to avoid a repeat of the entertainment. There are many indications that all iPhone 16 models will have a completely new thermal design. The cooling system is to be built on the basis of graphene, which is characterized by higher thermal conductivity than copper used in the radiators of older iPhones. In addition, the iPhone 16 Pro/16 Pro Max are to be equipped with a metal casing, which will additionally improve heat dissipation.
FEATURES: Faster Wi-Fi and new 5G modem
Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max will be equipped with a new Wi-Fi 7 module, which offers throughput of 30 to 40 gigabits/s. Wi-Fi 7 will also use 320 MHz channels and support quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) technology, providing up to 2.4 times faster data transfer speeds than Wi-Fi 6, with the same number of antennas.
In turn, the iPhone 16/16 Plus are to receive an update to the Wi-Fi 6E module, which supports the 6 GHz Wi-Fi band. Last year, Wi-Fi 6E was reserved only for the iPhone 15 Pro.
Apple is expected to make similar distinctions when it comes to 5G connectivity. Pro models are expected to get the new Qualcomm Snapdragon X75 modem, which enables faster and more efficient 5G connectivity while also using less energy (up to 20 percent less than the previous generation). Standard iPhone 16 models will use the X70 system, which was introduced to Apple devices last year.
CAMERA: iPhone 16 Pro finally with 5x optical zoom
The iPhone 15 Pro Max debuted with a new telephoto lens offering a five-times optical zoom. This was made possible by the use of a new, periscope lens system. As reported by Android Authority, this year the “tetraprism” lens will come not only to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but also to the smaller 16 Pro model.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is supposed to get something “extra”, though. Its main lens will get a Sony IMX903 sensor (in the 15 Pro Max model it was the Sony IMX803). The larger sensor will allow for more light to be collected, which will translate into better quality photos and videos in more difficult lighting conditions.
As for the ultra-wide-angle lens, we can also expect something new here. As reported by Jeff Puan analyst at Haitong International Securities, both Pro models will receive a new 48-megapixel ultra camera with better light collection, which will translate into higher photo quality.
PRICES: Will Apple positively surprise us again?
According to available leaks, in the case of the American market, Apple will maintain iPhone prices at a similar level as in the case of the 15 series. iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are to cost 799 and 899, respectively. dollars. The iPhone 16 Pro is expected to be $100 more expensive than last year's model. It will be priced at $1,099. The iPhone 16 Pro Max will cost $1,199, which is exactly the same as the iPhone 15 Pro.
And how will this affect prices in Poland? Last year, Apple surprised us positively by lowering the prices of new iPhone models. Of course, this was not a manifestation of any great benevolence on the part of the Cupertino company. We mainly benefited from a more favorable dollar exchange ratewhich translated into the final price of the iPhone 15 in PLN.
The US dollar is currently at an even lower level than it was a year ago. Therefore, we can expect the prices of the iPhone 16 (apart from the 16 Pro) to be maintained at least at the same level as the iPhone 15.