iPhone 16: All the rumors so far

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There’s still a long wait ahead for the iPhone 16’s announcement, but even though its expected September release is far in the future, we’ve already learned quite a lot about this phone.

Thanks to various rumors and alleged leaks, the design and several key features and upgrades for the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max (and possibly an iPhone 16 Ultra too) are already out in the open. Fortunately for users, all models look to be getting something new and interesting to play with, so no matter how much you fancy spending on the next iPhone, it’ll feel like a strong upgrade.

Read on for a summary of all the iPhone 16 rumors we’ve seen so far, focusing on the base and Plus models.

IPHONE 16: LATEST NEWS (UPDATED JANUARY 29)

  • This is what the iPhone 16 should steal from the Samsung Galaxy S24.
  • A larger main camera and a 48MP ultrawide camera could appear on the iPhone 16 Pro models.
  • The base iPhone models could get upgraded to have 8GB RAM and WIFi 6E support.

IPHONE 16: POSSIBLE PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

If Apple keeps to its current schedule, we should see the iPhone 16 series arrive in September 2024. Delays are possible, and have happened a couple of times in the past few years, but Apple never deviated too much.

IPHONE 16: DESIGN AND DISPLAY

One possible design rumor suggests a new look for the iPhone 16 — it’s even appeared in an iPhone 16 Pro prototype. This design uses under-display Face ID, replacing the notch on older iPhones and the Dynamic Island on newer models, with a single cutout for the selfie camera. That would change the face of the iPhone significantly, although we’d have to wonder how well the infrared projector and sensor will work with an extra layer of screen in the way.

However, the source of the iPhone 16 Pro prototype rumor doesn’t expect this to be the iPhone 16’s final design — it likely won’t appear until the iPhone 17.

After the iPhone 15 Pro got a new Action button in 2023, it now seems like all iPhone 16s could get a “Capture button.” This has apparently appeared on prototype iPhone 16 units, and sounds like it may be be a camera shutter button. Once again, the new iPhones are not expect to feature a fingerprint sensor.

Another report claims the Action button will come to the standard iPhone — and the iPhone 16 Plus if there is one — as those phones adopt another iPhone 15 Pro feature. This won’t be altered from what we saw on the iPhone 15 Pro, says one source.

Prototype designs for the iPhone 16 have been posted online, which suggests that we’ll get repositioned main cameras on the new iPhone (so it resembles the iPhone 12), and reworked side buttons.

We could see some size changes with the iPhone 16. It’s rumored that we’ll see larger Pro models next year, with the iPhone 16 Pro apparently measuring 6.3 inches and the iPhone 16 Pro Max 6.9 inches. CAD designs also show off the Pro Max model’s size difference compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. 

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also believes the Pro model will see a boost to its screen size. Gurman’s Power On newsletter claims the iPhone 16 Pro models will grow by “a couple tenths of an inch diagonally,” making them the biggest iPhones to date.  Analyst Jeff Pu also reiterated this, predicting a 0.2-inch screen size increase.

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, however, are said to be sticking with the current 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch sizes, in what would be a small consideration for users who prefer smaller phones. They may also keep the iPhone 15’s aging 60Hz refresh rate too, a disappointment considering how most Android phones offer 90Hz or higher for smoother, more efficient scrolling.

Some render artists have already tried putting iPhone 15 rumors together into renders, with one drawing showing thin bezels and four rear cameras while another takes inspiration from the Apple Watch Ultra with a smoother back and chunky rounded sides. We can’t imagine Apple would be so adventurous with the iPhone 16’s design, but maybe as more leaks pile up, these will be more accurate to the real thing than we realized.

Currently however, the best renders we have show very familiar-looking pro iPhones, aside from a new Capture button (more on that below).

The displays on the new phones could use a new OLED material set supplied by Samsung. According to the rumors, the upgraded panel would replace blue fluorescent technology with blue phosphorescence technology — a move that would apparently improve the power efficiency of the iPhone’s display.

Beyond getting larger with the rest of the phone, another potential change to the iPhone 16’s display is the addition of MicroLED display, for improved brightness and color while using less power. This is a brand-new technology for Apple though, so it’s possible we’d have to wait for another year or two after the iPhone 16 if it’s not ready in time. If that’s the case, then we can presume we’d end up with OLED panels once again, or potentially miniLED, Apple’s other display tech found on certain iPads and MacBooks.