Even though the iPhone 15 series hit the market a few months back, there’s already talk about the next iPhone 16 lineup. With several months to go before Apple officially launches the iPhone 16, leaks and rumors are popping up. While the basic iPhone 15 and the fancy iPhone 15 Pro had some tweaks in the camera and design, experts think Apple is gearing up for some big changes with the new iPhone 16 series.
So, what’s in store for the iPhone 16, and are these expected upgrades worth the excitement? Let’s dig into all the info we’ve got:
iPhone 16 and 16 Plus Likely to Come with 60Hz Displays
According to a report from industry insider Ross Young, Apple is expected to reserve the high-refresh-rate 120Hz ProMotion display for the Pro lineup in the iPhone 16 series. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are anticipated to come with a 60Hz panel featuring a pill-shaped cutout for the dynamic island, similar to the design seen in the iPhone 15. As is the annual tradition, Apple is likely to enhance the screen, providing better color accuracy and a higher brightness level.
As expected, Apple is set to follow its established pattern by introducing at least four models in the iPhone 16 lineup. This includes the standard iPhone 16 with a 6.1-inch display and the larger 16 Plus featuring a 6.7-inch screen. However, there might be some changes in the Pro models. According to information shared by u/Redditor on Reddit, the iPhone 16 Pro is rumored to sport a 6.3-inch screen, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to boast an even larger 6.9-inch display – the biggest ever seen on an iPhone. The report also suggests that Apple will incorporate a new 5x periscope zoom lens, also referred to as “tetra-prism,” into the iPhone 16 Pro.
With the anticipated upgrades, there’s a possibility of witnessing another price increase in the Pro lineup, particularly in India. The larger screens not only offer a visual boost but also imply larger batteries, potentially leading to improved battery life.
No Major Changes in Design Expected
As per Mark Gurman’s newsletter, Power On, featured on Bloomberg, major hardware enhancements aren’t expected for the iPhone 16 series. Instead, the primary focus will be on software improvements. The report suggests that the upcoming iOS 18 is poised to introduce new generative-AI-backed features, akin to applications like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Copilot. Upon release, the iPhone 16 series will run on iOS 18, which will debut at the upcoming WWDC 2024.
This implies that the iPhone 16 series may house a new and robust chip, potentially named A18 Pro, specifically designed to handle generative AI tasks with an enhanced NPU. This specialization, is particularly evident in the Pro models, while the base variants might incorporate a scaled-down version of the A17 Pro, currently powering the iPhone 15 Pro series. Consequently, the entire iPhone 16 series is expected to adeptly manage AAA console-quality titles, much like the iPhone 15 Pro series.
While there has been talk about Apple replacing clickable buttons with solid-state technology for a while, the iPhone 16 Pro series could be the first to embrace the same. Similarly, the all-new action button introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro series might be coming to all four variants of the iPhone 16 lineup. Apple will definitely introduce new color variants to help distinguish between the two generations of iPhones.
Possible Inclusion of LiDAR Sensor in iPhone 16 and 16 Plus
Apple introduced LiDAR, a sensor that measures depth, back in 2020 with the iPhone 12 Pro, and with the iPhone 16 series, the company might introduce the same technology on the base models. The concept of the iPhone 16 featuring a dual-camera setup and a LiDAR sensor has been making rounds on the internet for a while now. This allows users to record 3D or spatial video on their iPhone, and the same feature will soon be made available on the iPhone 15 Pro series with a software update, where users can experience 3D videos on the upcoming Vision Pro.