The Ultimate Guide to the iPhone 16 & Iphone 16 Pro Max: Everything You Need to Know

The 2024 iPhone 16 Lineup

Only half a year has passed since Apple released the 2023 iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models. However, true to form with rumors, attention has already shifted to the anticipated 2024 iPhone 16 lineup (Iphone 16, Iphone 16 Pro & Iphone 16 Pro Max.

The iPhone 16 will bring notable changes to the iPhone lineup, with Apple expected to increase the size of the iPhone 16 Pro to 6.3 inches and the size of the iPhone 16 Pro Max to 6.9 inches, marking the first size upgrade in several years. The size changes will be limited to the iPhone 16 Pro models, with the iPhone 16 models to stay the same size as the iPhone 15 models. While the iPhone 16 models won’t get bigger, they will get some minor design tweaks thanks to extra buttons, but for the most part, both the standard iPhone 16 models and the Pro models will look like the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro models.

New Design Innovation

Apple’s crafting new A-series chips for iPhone 16 series, utilizing cutting-edge N3E 3-nanometer node technology. While improvements to efficiency and performance are anticipated, specific details are yet to be disclosed. iPhone 16 and 16 Pro might use distinct chips, with the premium chip potentially exclusive to Pro models.

The Action Button, once limited to iPhone 15 Pro, will be on all four iPhone 16 models in 2024. Additionally, the iPhone 16 lineup is rumored to introduce a new “Capture Button” for capturing photos and videos. Similar to a digital camera’s shutter button, the Capture Button will detect varying levels of pressure for focusing and capturing images.

For the iPhone 16 series, Apple is planning a new vertical camera lens arrangement, departing from the previous diagonal setup. This change is expected to enable standard iPhone 16 models to capture Spatial Video for the Vision Pro headset. Furthermore, Apple may introduce the Tetraprism 5x optical zoom lens to the iPhone 16 Pro, potentially extending beyond just the iPhone 16 Pro Max this year.

This compilation encompasses all the rumors surrounding the iPhone 16 lineup thus far. With several months remaining before the expected launch, there’s ample time for Apple to make adjustments.

iPhone 16 Design

Apple tested several designs for the standard iPhone 16 models, but ultimately decided on a vertically aligned camera system with a pill-shaped camera bump. Prior iPhones have used a square-shaped camera bump to accommodate the diagonal lenses, but Apple is able to slim down the camera bump with the new lens arrangement.

The pill-shaped bump houses the separate Wide and Ultrawide lenses. The microphone will be next to the lenses, while the camera flash will be located on the back of the device outside of the bump.

On the left side of the iPhone, Apple plans to replace the mute switch with the Action button, and the iPhone 16 models will adopt the same button that was introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro models. The volume buttons will be located below the Action button.

The right side of the device will feature a new Capture Button, which will be located where the mmWave antenna has been on prior iPhone models in the U.S. It is located in a spot that will make it easy to press when the iPhone is in a landscape orientation. Apple plans to move the mmWave antenna to the bottom left side of the iPhone 16.

Aside from the new vertical lens arrangement and the Capture Button, the iPhone 16 models will have the same general design as the iPhone 15 models with no notable changes to body shape or size.

Colors

The iPhone 16 models could come in seven colors : blue, pink, yellow, green, black, white, and purple.

Dummy Models

Prior to the launch of new iPhone models, case makers source the leaked dimensions and specifications of the upcoming devices from Apple suppliers. The information is used to make dummy models for creating cases, and because there’s a lot of money involved in being the first to come out with a case for a new device, dummy models are often accurate representations of what we can expect to see from new iPhones.

iPhone 16 dummy models leaked in April give a clear look at the size differences that we can expect from the iPhone 16 lineup. The Pro models are a bit taller and wider, and the standard iPhone 16 models have a redesigned camera cutout that’s vertical instead of diagonal for the two-lens camera system of those iPhones.

There are few changes to the exterior camera design of the iPhone 16 Pro models, with Apple continuing to use a square camera bump that houses the three lenses.

The side left of the dummy models shows the Action Button across all four models, which is in line with rumors. The right side highlights the new Capture Button, which is flush with the side of the device rather than protruding like the volume and power buttons.

Size Changes for iPhone 16 Pro

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are anticipated to feature larger displays, as indicated by various sources. The iPhone 16 Pro is projected to have a 6.3-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to sport a 6.9-inch display.

With the enlargement of the display size, the dimensions of the iPhone bodies will also expand. Both models are predicted to be taller and wider compared to the iPhone 15 Pro models. While the thickness will remain unchanged, there will be a slight increase in weight due to the larger size. The overall shape and design are not expected to be altered.

iPhone 16 Pro

iPhone 16 Pro Max

	iPhone 16 Pro Max	iPhone 15 Pro Max
Thickness	8.25 mm	8.25 mm
Height	163.0 mm	159.9 mm
Width	77.58 mm	76.70 mm
Display	6.9″ (174.06 mm)	6.7″ (169.98 mm)
Weight	225 grams	221 grams

We are not expecting size changes for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, and these devices will be the same size as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.

Display Technology

The iPhone 16 OLED panels could use micro-lens technology for both improved brightness and and reduced power consumption. Micro-lens arrays or MLA uses a uniform pattern of billions of lenses inside the panel to reduce internal reflection. The reflected light increases perceived brightness without increasing power consumption.

The OLED displays that used in the iPhone 16 lineup will be more power efficient thanks to improved materials.

Apple is using Border Reduction Structure (BRS) technology for some of the iPhone 16 models, which is expected to result in slimmer bezel sizes. BRS allows for a more compact and efficient layout of the circuitry under the display, allowing for thinner bezels without impacting display performance.

It’s unclear if slimmed bezels will be exclusive to iPhone 16 Pro models or applied to all models.

Buttons

iPhone 16 and 16 Plus get a new button, replacing Mute Switch, plus another new one.

Action Button

The iPhone 15 Pro has an Action Button, and it’s likely to be added to the regular iPhone 16 models in 2024. The Action Button used across the iPhone 16 lineup will be identical to the iPhone 15 Pro Action Button.

The Action button replaces the mute switch and does various tasks like flashlight, camera, shortcuts, Translate, silent mode.

Capture Button

The extra Capture Button The button is located on the same side of the iPhone as the Power button, in the space that is occupied by the 5G mmWave antenna in the United States.

With the addition of this button, the mmWave cutout has been relocated to the left side of the device, below the volume buttons. While the button is expected to be mechanical rather than capacitive, The Information says that it will be able to respond to pressure and touch. iPhone users will be able to zoom in and out by swiping left and right on the button, focus with a light press, and activate a recording with a more forceful press.

The Capture Button will be available on all four iPhone 16 models, and it will be used for taking photos and videos.

A-Series Chips

Leaked technical information for Apple’s chip lineup suggests that all four iPhone 16 models will use the same A18 chip, but Apple may still separate these into an A18 and an A18 Pro with some modules disabled or binned to differentiate between them.

The next-generation A18 chip that’s planned for the iPhone 16 Pro models could feature an upgraded Neural Engine with “significantly” more cores, allowing for improved AI/machine learning performance, plus it is expected to have a larger die size.

Thermal Improvements

The iPhone 16 models are expected to include a new thermal design that will combat overheating. Apple is said to be working on a graphene thermal system for the iPhone 16 models, and the iPhone 16 Pro models may also include a metal battery casing that will improve heat dissipation.

Graphene has higher thermal conductivity than the copper that’s used in iPhone heat sinks.

RAM

The standard iPhone 16 models could be upgraded with 8GB of RAM, up from 6GB in the iPhone 15 models. That would see all four iPhone 16 models offering 8GB of RAM.

5G Modem Chips

The iPhone 16 Pro models could be equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X75 modem, allowing for faster and more efficient 5G connectivity. According to Qualcomm, the X75 offers improved carrier aggregation, plus the combined sub-6Ghz and mmWave 5G transceiver takes up 25 percent less circuit board space and uses up to 20 percent less power.

Qualcomm’s X75 supports the “5G Advanced” standard with AI and machine learning enhancements for 5G improvements, so Apple could market the iPhone 16 Pro models as having “5G Advanced” connectivity.

The standard iPhone 16 models are expected to use Qualcomm’s X70 chip, which is the chip that was already used in the iPhone 15 models.

Apple is working to develop its own modem chip and antenna setup to eliminate its dependance on Qualcomm, but Apple’s modem chips are not expected to be ready to debut in 2024. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple-designed modem chips will come out in 2025.

WiFi 7

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes the iPhone 16 models could adopt the net-generation WiFi 7 technology, which is expected to provide speeds of “at least 30” gigabits per second, and could hit up to 40Gb/s.

Wi-Fi 7 is also able to use 320MHz channels and supports 4K quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) technology, ultimately providing up to 2.4x faster speeds than Wi-Fi 6 with the same number of antennas. Wi-Fi 7 will ultimately provide faster maximum transfer speeds, lower latency, and more reliably connectivity.

While Wi-Fi 7 could be limited to the 16 Pro models, the standard iPhone 16 models could get an upgrade to Wi-Fi 6E, which supports the 6GHz Wi-Fi band. Right now, Wi-Fi 6E is limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models.

USB-C Port

Apple will transition to USB-C technology with the iPhone 15 lineup, and it’s also expected to be used for the iPhone 16 models.

AI Capabilities

With iOS 18, Apple is rumored to be introducing new Siri features powered by large language models, and some of the cutting-edge generative AI features could be limited to the iPhone 16 models.

According to details shared by a leaker, iOS 18 will bring many of the new LLM features to all iPhones, but on-device AI features could remain exclusive to the iPhone 16. iOS 18’s updated AI functionality could include improved interactions between Siri and the Messages app, auto-generated Apple Music playlists, integration with productivity apps for AI-assisted content creation, and more.

Microphone Improvements

The iPhone 16 models are expected to feature an improved microphone that will accompanying the AI-enhanced Siri experience. The microphone will have improved water resistance and a better signal-to-noise ratio that will “improve the Siri experience significantly,” according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

iPhone 16 Camera Technology

The iPhone 16 Pro models could include an improved 48-megapixel Ultra Wide lens, which would allow improved images in lower lighting conditions. It would likely function like the 48-megapixel Wide camera, which uses pixel binning to combine the data from four pixels into one “super pixel” for better image quality.

The 48-megapixel wide-angle camera used in the 16 Pro Max will reportedly feature an eight-part hybrid lens with two glass elements and six plastic elements, along with improvements for the telephoto and ultra wide camera lenses.

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Both the iPhone 16 Pro and the 16 Pro Max could get 5x Telephoto lenses in 2024, instead of the technology being limited to the larger Pro Max.

Camera Layout

The standard iPhone 16 models are expected to have a vertical camera layout that’s similar to the camera layout used in the iPhone 12. Apple has used a diagonal layout for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14, but the swap is expected to allow for spatial video recording using the Ultrawide and Wide cameras.

A leaked image of an iPhone 16 camera chassis features the rumored vertical camera layout, seemingly confirming that design choice for the iPhone 16. Leaked iPhone 16 case molds feature the same vertical camera arrangement.

Super Periscope?

The iPhone 16 & 16 Pro Max could feature a super telephoto periscope camera for a dramatically increased optical zoom. The information comes from a Weibo account that has provided accurate information in the past, but it has not yet been backed up by a second reliable source.

“Super” or “ultra” telephoto usually describes cameras with a focal length of over 300mm. The current telephoto lens is equivalent to a 77mm lens, so if accurate, there could be a notable increase in zoom capabilities.

Battery

Rumors suggest the iPhone 16 models will use stacked battery technology, which can result in higher capacity and a longer lifespan. Stacked batteries are common in electric vehicles and medical devices, but are an emerging technology for smartphones.

The stacked battery could come alongside faster 40W wired charging and 20W MagSafe charging.

Rumors suggest that most of the iPhone 16 models will see a small increase in battery life.

	iPhone 15 Lineup (2023)	iPhone 16 Lineup (2024)	% Change
[Standard]	3,349 mAh	3,561 mAh	+6%
Plus	4,383 mAh	4,006 mAh	–9%
Pro	3,274 mAh	3,355 mAh	+2.5
Pro Max	,4222 mAh	4,676 mAh	+5%

No iPhone 16 Ultra

With the iPhone 16, Apple could introduce a high-end iPhone 16 “Ultra” that would be sold alongside the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max. The device would be positioned as the top-of-the-line iPhone offering, and it could feature additional camera improvements, a bigger display, and perhaps even a port less design.

Despite rumors of the possibility of an iPhone 16 Ultra, there are no signs of such a device in early iOS 18 code. The code suggests that Apple has only four iPhones in the works, including two standard iPhone 16 models and two “Pro” iPhone 16 models.

Pricing

Component prices for the standard iPhone 15 models were at a record high, up 16 percent compared to the iPhone 14 models. Apple absorbed the increased production costs for the iPhone 15 lineup, but Apple may need to increase the price when the iPhone 16 launches to avoid impacting overall revenue.

iPhone 16 Launch Date

The iPhone 16 models are expected to come out in September 2024, and they will follow the 2023 iPhone 15 models.

Future iPhone Features

ProMotion technology that adds up to 120Hz refresh rates to the iPhone’s display is expected to come to standard iphone models starting in 2025. Up until 2025, ProMotion will be limited to the higher-end “Pro” iPhones.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max that’s coming in 2025 could feature a 48-megapixel Telephoto lens that is optimized for the Vision Pro headset. The rumor comes from analyst Jeff Pu, who did not provide details on how it might interface with the Vision Pro. Pu also believes the iPhone 17 Pro will include an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip.

There were rumors that the iPhone 16 Pro models could adopt under-display Face ID technology, but updated information suggests that under-display Face ID will not be coming until 2025 or later. Under display Face ID will allow for more usable display space as there will be no need for the full Dynamic Island, but there will still be a camera cutout.

The 2025 iPhone 17 is expected to include an upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing camera that will significantly improve image quality and low-light performance.

Rumors suggest that the iPhone 17 models will include an anti-reflective display that is more scratch resistant than the Ceramic Shield. It is said to have a “super hard” layer that can hold up to more abuse.

With the 2026 iPhone 18, Apple will reportedly have both under-display Face ID and under-display front-facing camera technology, potentially allowing for a design that has no cutouts for the camera hardware. This would mark the first all-display design.

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