iPhone 16 lineup

The iPhone 16 lineup, launching in September 2024, will feature significant updates, particularly in size. The iPhone 16 Pro will increase to 6.3 inches, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max will grow to 6.9 inches, marking the first size upgrade in several years. These size changes will apply only to the Pro models, while the standard iPhone 16 models will maintain the same dimensions as the iPhone 15. Although the iPhone 16 models won’t be larger, they will include some minor design adjustments, such as additional buttons. Overall, both the standard and Pro iPhone 16 models will resemble their iPhone 15 and 15 Pro predecessors.

Apple is developing new A-series chips for the iPhone 16 lineup, utilizing the latest N3E 3-nanometer technology. These chips are expected to offer enhancements in efficiency and performance, though specific details are still unknown. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro may feature different chips, with the more advanced chip reserved for the Pro models.

Additionally, the Action Button, previously exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro models, will be included in all four iPhone 16 models. The lineup will also introduce a new “Capture Button” designed for taking photos and videos. This button will function similarly to a digital camera shutter button, with varying pressure levels to focus and then capture an image.

For the iPhone 16 models, Apple is planning a new vertical camera lens arrangement that is a departure from the prior diagonal lens setup. The new orientation will presumably allow the standard iPhone 16 models to capture Spatial Video for the Vision Pro headset. Apple is also expected to bring the Tetraprism 5x optical zoom lens to the iPhone 16 Pro, so it may not be limited to just the iPhone 16 Pro Max this year.

This roundup features all of the rumors about the iPhone 16 lineup that we’ve heard so far. There are still a few months to go before a launch is expected, but most of what Apple has planned is now locked in.

iPhone 16 Design

Apple explored various designs for the standard iPhone 16 models before settling on a vertically aligned camera system with a pill-shaped camera bump. This design allows for a slimmer profile compared to the previous square-shaped bumps used to accommodate diagonal lenses.

The new pill-shaped bump will house the separate Wide and Ultrawide lenses, with the microphone positioned next to the lenses and the camera flash placed on the back of the device outside the bump.

On the left side of the iPhone, the traditional mute switch will be replaced by the Action button, the same one introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro models. The volume buttons will be positioned below this Action button.

The right side of the device will feature a new Capture Button, replacing the mm Wave antenna spot on previous U.S. iPhone models. This placement is designed for easy access when the iPhone is used in landscape mode. The mm Wave antenna will be relocated to the bottom left side of the iPhone 16.

Other than the updated vertical lens arrangement and the addition of the Capture Button, the iPhone 16 models will retain the general design and dimensions of the iPhone 15 models, with no major changes to the body shape or size.

Colors

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, though, believes the iPhone 16 will be available in black, green, pink, blue, and white, with no purple or yellow options

The iPhone 16 models are expected to adopt the same color-infused back glass that was used for the iPhone 15 models. The rear glass layer will feature a frosted effect that contrasts with the main frame color.

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.

Several versions of 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 expected to have larger display sizes, according to multiple sources. The iPhone 16 Pro will have a display that’s 6.27 inches in size (rounded to 6.3), while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to have a display that’s 6.85 inches in size (rounded to 6.9).

With the increase in display size, the dimensions of the iPhone’s body will also increase. Both models are expected to be taller and wider than the iPhone 15 Pro models, and while thickness will remain the same, the weight will increase slightly due to the larger size. General shape and design will not be updated, but the bezels will be slimmer.

iPhone 16 Pro

	iPhone 16 Pro
Thickness	8.25 mm
Height	149.6 mm
Width	71.45 mm
Display	6.3″ (159.31 mm)
Screen Border	1.2 mm
Weight	194 grams

iPhone 16 Pro Max

	iPhone 16 Pro Max
Thickness	8.26 mm
Height	163.0 mm
Width	77.58 mm
Display	6.9″ (174.06 mm)
Screen Border	1.15 mm
Weight	225 grams

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 is not yet clear if the slimmed down bezels will be limited to the iPhone 16 Pro models or if it will be a change implemented across the entire lineup.

There could be some minor tweaks to the Face ID system in the iPhone 16 models, but it is not clear what might be different. An Apple supplier in England reportedly lost a supply deal with Apple because Apple has plans to “overhaul” Face ID with the launch of the iPhone 16.

Buttons

Apple plans to add two new buttons to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, one that will replace the Mute Switch and one that’s entirely new.

Action Button

The iPhone 15 Pro models include an Action Button, and in 2024, the Action Button is expected to expanded to the standard iPhone 16 models. The Action Button used across the iPhone 16 lineup will be identical to the iPhone 15 Pro Action Button.

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.

iPhone 16 Camera Technology

The iPhone 16 Pro models could include an improved Ultra Wide camera with a 48-megapixel sensor, which would allow improved images in lower lighting conditions. It would likely function like the 48-megapixel Main 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 sensor used in the iPhone 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 sensors.

Both the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 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 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 Pro 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 iPhone 16 Pro will support 40W wired charging and 20W MagSafe charging, according to a rumor out of China. As of right now, the iPhone models support up to 27W wired charging and 15W MagSafe charging. It is not yet clear if the rumor is accurate.

The iPhone 16 battery is expected to have an updated stainless steel casing that allows for higher energy density, ultimately bringing a density increase of up to 10 percent. That could lead to longer battery life, but this isn’t a feature that is likely to come to all iPhone 16 models.

EU law requires smartphone manufacturers create batteries that can be replaced by owners using easily accessible tools, and Apple will need to implement support by 2025. Apple is planning to adopt a new battery replacement method for at least one iPhone 16 model, encasing the battery in metal rather than foil. With a low volt of electricity, the battery will be able to removed from the chassis, which would eliminate the need for adhesive and ease repairs.

sources 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	4,422 mAh	4,676 mAh	+5%