Tomorrow is the big day. Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 16line at its "Glowtime" event on Monday, Sept. 9. During the event, you can followCNET's iPhone 16 event live blogfor details about every feature and device that Apple announces.
Apple's new iPhone, a follow-up to the iPhone 15, is launching hot on the heels of Google's new Pixel 9 and 9 Pro. The iPhone 16 will be a platform forApple Intelligence, which is now available to try as part of a developer beta for iOS 18.1 on last year's iPhone 15 Pro. And if the rumors are true, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro will each get a number of significant updates from new power-efficient displays and larger screens to better zoom lenses and the inclusion of an Action button across all 2024 iPhone models.
Read more:Apple's iPhone 16 Event Invites Are Here: What We Could See on Sept. 9
The iPhone 16 series will be as much about revamped hardware as it is a platform for Apple's suite of newAI-powered features. All this comes at a time when rival phone-makers like Samsung and Google have phones full of AI, to make everything from writing messages and removing objects and people from photos super easy.
That's not to say that the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro will just be about AI and Apple Intelligence. Expect new colors, upgraded cameras and larger screens. Here are the most credible rumors for the iPhone 16.
iPhone 16 release date
Apple is holding an event at Apple Park on Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. PT. New iPhones typically go on sale shortly after the event, usually the Friday of the following week. That would mean the iPhone 16's release date could be Friday, Sept. 20 with preorders starting on Friday, Sept. 13. (For the iPhone 13, preorders began Sept. 17 and the phones went on sale Sept. 24.)
Watch this: What You Think About Apple's iPhone 16 Event
iPhone 16 design
The rumors of larger screen sizes are piling in, at least for select iPhone 16 models. The Korean publication, the Elec, published a report saying selectiPhone 16 models are poised to adopt an innovative screen technology, resulting in thinner bezels, the frame around the phone's screen. This development could translate to a slightly larger screen area for some iPhone 16 models, although it's not clear which.
Apple has historically introduced display upgrades in its Pro line of products, before sometimes trickling them down to lower-cost models afterwards. Display manufacturers have reportedly introduced a novel border reduction structure technology, enabling more compact control circuitry and ultimately leading to slimmer bezels.
The last iPhone Plus
The iPhone 16 Plus may be be the last of Apple's larger regular iPhone. Apple is reportedly planning to cut the larger-screened Plus model of its standard iPhone from its lineup next year and will instead introduce a new ultra-thin premium iPhone said to be called theiPhone 17 Slim. That's according to reports from two analysts known for their Apple predictions:TF International Securities' Ming-Chi Kuoand Haitong International Securities' Jeff Pu (as9to5Macreported).
iPhone 16 colors
Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has color predictions for the iPhone 16 lineup. In apost on X, he said that the blue color option of the iPhone 15 Pro would be discontinued and replaced with a new rose model, which would be available for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. He also predicted that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will be available in white, replacing the yellow model.
Possible iPhone 16 series colors
| iPhone 16 | Black, blue, green, pink, white |
|---|---|
| iPhone 16 Plus | Black, blue, green, pink, white |
| iPhone 16 Pro | Black, natural, pink, white titanium finishes |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | Black, natural, pink, white titanium finishes |
iPhone 16 Pro screen size
Speaking of screen sizes, Apple has maintained the two screen sizes for iPhone Pro models since 2020 when it launched the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max. However, that's rumored to change with the iPhone 16 Pro models, which might get bigger screens.
Display analyst Ross Young suggested earlier this year that the iPhone 16 Pro models will have larger screens, putting the sizes at 6.3 inches for the iPhone 16 Pro and 6.9 inches for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. That rumor was later corroborated by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who said the iPhone 16 Pro models could grow by "a couple tenths of an inch diagonally."
Read more: How the iPhone 16's Design May Change
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models are believed to be sticking with the current 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch sizes. If the size increase is accurate, it would be yet another move from Apple to distinguish its Pro iPhone models from its regular ones.
iPhone 15 screen sizes
- iPhone 15: 6.1 inches
- iPhone 15 Plus: 6.7 inches
- iPhone 15 Pro: 6.1 inches
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: 6.7 inches
Rumored iPhone 16 screen sizes
- iPhone 16: 6.1 inches
- iPhone 16 Plus: 6.7 inches
- iPhone 16 Pro: 6.3 inches
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 6.9 inches
Another change that could make its way to iPhone 16 displays is greater power efficiency. Samsung Display is apparently developing a new material set, dubbed M14, specifically for Apple, according to aThe Elecreport, which says the new technology should arrive on iPhones launching next year. M14 will replace the blue fluorescent technology that's used now with blue phosphorescence technology, creating an even more power-efficient screen than the current LTPO ones used on Pro models, the report says.
iPhone 16 will have more AI tricks
AI is perhaps the biggest tech buzzword this year, and Apple followed in the footsteps of rivals, Samsung and Google, which each trumpeted the new AI tips and tricks on their flagship phones. Apple Intelligence made its debut during the company'sWorldwide Developers Conferencein June.
It brings ChatGPT integration, tools for proofreading and rewriting text in a different tone,new Siri featuresfor getting tech support and answering more personalized requests, and the ability to generate images and emojis, among other features. These new AI features are expected to ship on all the models of the upcoming iPhone 16 lineup with iOS 18 right out of the box.
iPhone 16 capture button?
The upcoming iPhone 16 is generating buzz with its rumored Capture Button -- a feature that promises to simplify photography and video recording, according toMacRumors, especially when held in landscape mode. The button, which could be located on the right side of the iPhone occupied by the mmWave antenna (for iPhones sold in the US), would be pressure sensitive, the report suggests. This means people a hard press will take a photo, a light press can autofocus while capturing content, and apparently it'll recognize swiping left and right, too. Like Apple did with the Action Button, it's possible this button will debut on the Pro models of the iPhone 16 before trickling down to the more affordable models.
iPhone 16 and 16 Plus get an Action button
In March, AppleInsider published a collection of photographs purportedly displaying 3D-printed dummy models of the rumored iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. The images revealed that the iPhone 16 may have a vertical camera stack as opposed to a diagonal one and an Action button, similar the one on last year's iPhone 15 Pro.
iPhone 16 camera features
Both the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max could have 5x telephoto lenses next year. According to Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo, a tetraprism lens will make its way to both Pro models next year, as opposed to just the Pro Max model. Apple equipped the iPhone 15 Pro with a 12-megapixel 3x optical zoom, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 12-megapixel 5x optical zoom camera, which is the equivalent of 120mm lens on a full-frame camera.
If this rumor is true, it could mark a breakthrough in design. When Apple launched the 15 Pro Max with its 5x telephoto lens, it cited the phone's bigger body as to why the Pro Max had it, but the Pro didn't.
Read more: iPhone 16 Camera: What Apple Could Change
According to a recent leak discovered by MacRumors, Apple might be exploring a novel approach to enhance photo quality. The rumor suggests that the company could add an anti-reflective technology to its camera manufacturing process. If successful, this could potentially eliminate unwanted artifacts like lens flare, resulting in more realistic photos.
iPhone 16 processors: A18 chip for all
In a break with the past two years, all four iPhone 16 models will apparently get a next-generation Apple chipset, which will all receive A18 branding. According to a MacRumors report citing Jeff Pu, an executive analyst for Haitong International Securities, all four models will have an A18 series chip with Pro iPhone models getting an A18 Bionic Pro and base models getting a regular A18.
The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus currently have an A16 Bionic, which debuted on the 2022 iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, while the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max run on the A17 Pro processor. Pu says the A18 chip will be manufactured with TSMC's cutting-edge 3-nanometer process.
Read more: Apple iPhone SE 4 Rumors: iPhone 14 Design, Face ID and More
Will the iPhone 16 be foldable?
Probably not. Virtually every major phone-maker -- fromGoogletoOppotoOnePlusandSamsung-- has launched several generations of bendable handsets, but Apple has been characteristically quiet about whether there will ever be a foldable iPhone. The latest rumors suggest Apple is working on a "clamshell" design iPhone, which could be ready as early as 2026 according to areportlast Tuesday from The Information.
The new design will coincide with Apple's plans to also release newly improved camera technologies, including a variable aperture, the report added. It isn't clear what's kept Apple from releasing a folding iPhone in the past few years. The company has reportedly been working on folding iPhone designs since at least 2019.
Read more:iPhone 17 Slim: The Biggest Leaks About Apple's Rumored Super Thin Phone
