These 10 features reportedly coming to the iPhone 16 Series may be worth the upgrade.
Considering the iPhone 16 Series? We have insights into what you might get. While some are better than the iPhone 15 Series, upgrading from the iPhone 14 or earlier generation is definitely an excellent decision.
New Design
The iPhone 16 is expected to launch with an updated design. According to a report, the standard iPhone 16 models will have a vertical camera arrangement or a capsule visual, trimming down the old design for a minimalist and slimmer flair.
The pill-shaped camera island houses the main and ultra-wide lenses with a microphone installed next to them. The LED flash is placed just outside the island.
The Action Button will be located above the volume keys but another button is speculated to appear on the other side of the device. No other significant changes are expected.
If the physical size is a concern, here are the leaked details for the Pro models:
iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro | |
Display | 6.3 inches | 6.1 inches |
Screen Border | 1.2 mm | 1.71 mm |
Dimension | 149.6 x 71.45 x 8.25 mm | 146.6 x 70.60 x 8.25 mm |
Weight | 194 g | 187 g |
iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
Display | 6.9 inches | 6.7 inches |
Screen Border | 1.15 mm | 1.55 mm |
Dimension | 163 x 77.58 x 8.26 mm | 159.9 x 76.70 x 8.25 mm |
Weight | 225 g | 221 g |
Better Chipset
With the latest iOS version and AI features, the iPhone 16 Series definitely needs a new chipset. There are two things circulating right now.
The first one is the continuation of the A17 Pro chipset on all four expected models. There’s nothing wrong using the same processor because it can support even AI functions.
But the second route is much better in many ways. All models could get the A18 chipset but the standard models might have limited GPU cores (disabled or whatnot), while the one for Pro models have every GPU core unlocked.
Compared to A17 Pro, the A18 chipset has substantially higher neural processing cores, key in stable and smooth AI functions. All four models of the series are reportedly getting 8 GB of RAM.
Apple Intelligence
Speaking of AI, the Apple Intelligence is the heart of the iPhone 16 Series. We may see the more polished versions that were demoed in recent weeks, such as improved Siri, generative photo editing, and writing tools.
We can expect games to run better and more reliably on the iPhone 16, especially the Pro models. Ray tracing and ultra graphics are going to be divine in this series. We may also see more console games getting ported to this lineup.
Enhanced Thermal
With AI features and a new chipset, heat will be a notorious problem. Fortunately, Apple recognized this and that’s why we may see major thermal improvements.
For standard models, Apple has been rumored working on a graphene thermal system to help dissipate heat. The limited GPU cores and smaller size of these models may complement this system.
For Pro models, a metal battery casing may be added to better move the heat away from sensitive parts. This seems effective in combating overheating with all the cores enabled.
On top of those, all models will receive a bigger graphite sheet to further reduce the heat generated by the chipset.
Upgraded Battery
How long will an iPhone 16 last throughout the day? It still depends on user habits. But the iPhone 16 Series may have an updated stainless steel casing for higher energy density. Though, the rumored increase in capacity isn’t that high.
iPhone 15 (2023) | iPhone 16 (2024) | |
Base | 3,349 mAh | 3,561 mAh |
Plus | 4,383 mAh | 4,006 mAh |
Pro | 3,274 mAh | 3,355 mAh |
Pro Max | 4,422 mAh | 4,676 mAh |
If you notice, the iPhone 16 Plus has a smaller capacity and the Pro has a lower capacity than the base, where it deserves more power because of its processor. Although these numbers aren’t final, we hope Apple ramped up the capacity across the four models.
Charging-wise, the Pro model may get 40 W wired charging rate and 20 W for MagSafe. However, all models can charge up to 27 W wired and 15 W MagSafe.
When will we ever see a 67 W charging iPhone?
Large Screens for Pro
Of course, iPhone 16 Pro models have bigger screens as revealed by values above. But what’s the display type?
The panel is still OLED. Some rumors claimed that Samsung is the new display supplier of Apple while other rumors noted the micro-lens technology. This technology has better brightness and lower power consumption.
When the light hits the panel, the reflected light is perceived by the user as higher brightness. They can see more without the panel consuming more energy.
Expect the iPhone 16 Series to have smaller bezels than the previous generation.
Improved Cameras
Besides the camera island, the sensors may not be that different compared to the 2023 models. The main camera may have the same MP but with large sensor size and improved aperture to capture more light and detail.
The Pro models are more likely to get camera upgrades, including a telephoto lens. Yet to be confirmed, the tetraprism telephoto lens is rumored to be capable of 5x zooming.
The selfie cameras on all iPhone 16 models aren’t expected with significant upgrades. Though, they are possibly tweaked to make the facial recognition module thinner and lighter.
Dedicated Capture Button
Speaking of cameras, a Capture Button is the newest physical key coming to the iPhone 16 Series. Its function is literal with a few innovative approaches when capturing scenes.
When pressed, the Capture Button works like the shutter button on the viewfinder. Taking snapshots is now faster and more convenient.
Depending on the amount of pressure applied, the Capture Button will respond accordingly and meet the desired focus. When the viewfinder is on the screen, swipe over the button to zoom in and zoom out of the subject.
While the iPhone 16 gets another physical key, no fingerprint sensor is expected in this series.
More Efficient 5G
Apart from the chipset, the 5G modem is a possible big driver for the price hike of the iPhone 16 Series. Reports suggested that Apple may use Qualcomm’s X75 modem, speculated with these attractive points:
- 25% less circuit board space
- 20% less power consumption
- 5G-Advanced support
- Up to 7.5 Gbps speed
- AI and machine learning enhancements
Depending on Apple’s speed in developing its next-generation 5G modem, the use of Qualcomm’s modem may last until 2026.
Wi-Fi 7 Adoption
Wi-Fi 6 isn’t fully enabled in many settings but we’re going Wi-Fi 7 soon. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the iPhone 16 Series may adopt the new Wi-Fi generation. If true, iPhone 16 owners can achieve speeds of up to 40 Gbps.
On top of that, Wi-Fi 7 brings in these extras:
- 4K quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) support
- Up to 2.4x faster speeds than Wi-Fi 6
- Up to 320 MHz channels
However, it’s possible that Wi-Fi 7 is exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro models while standard iPhone 16 models will get Wi-Fi 6E. Keep in mind that you need a router with Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 support to take advantage of peak speeds.
The launch of the iPhone 16 Series is on September 10 at 1 a.m. PH time during the “Glowtime” event. Click here to learn more.