With the iPhone 16 release date almost certainly mere days away at Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” September 9 event, rumors have already revealed quite a few details about the design, colors and more. There have been leaks about all four handsets in the iPhone 16 series, to the point where we already know most of what’s coming in the 2024 lineup.
Here’s what to expect: larger screens, better cameras, additional buttons and more.
iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max rumors and leaks
The launch date of the iPhone 16 series is less than a week away, and as hard as Apple tries to keep the specs under wraps, it hasn’t had much success. That’s good news for anyone shopping for a new handset. Knowing what’s coming lets people already start thinking about which of the four news versions to get. Or whether choose an iPhone 15 model already on the market instead.
iPhone 16 series design according to rumors
Photo: Sonny Dickson/Cult of Mac
The big design change will be the 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max, up from the 6.7-inch display in the current version. And the Pro version supposedly will move up from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches. Expect the overall devices to be larger, but with slimmer screen bezels.
Many people want the largest iPhone they can get for watching videos, gaming, etc. And the next Pro Max reportedly will sport the biggest iPhone screen Apple has to offer … at least until the iPhone Fold comes along in 2026.
Rumors indicate the other two upcoming 2024 models — the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus — will stick with the same screen sizes as the iPhone 15 series. That would mean a Plus version at 6.7 inches and a basic model at 6.1 inches.
iPhone 16 colors
As for casing colors, rumors say the iPhone 16 Pro models might come in a new gold titanium or maybe bronze titanium. The other options should be natural titanium, black titanium and white titanium. If so, say goodbye to blue titanium from last year’s models.
According to the latest info, the two more basic models could arrive in white, green, pink and blue colors — but not yellow.
iPhone 16 cameras
iPhone cameras are critical components for many users. Last fall, the iPhone 15 Pro Max became the first with a 5x tetraprism camera. And rumors say both iPhone 16 Pro models will gain this premium feature this year. They’ll supposedly bear able to shoot slow-motion 120fps videos in 4K resolution.
While the more affordable Plus and standard models won’t get a camera upgrade, leaks show the cameras have been arranged vertically, not offset as they are in the 2023 versions.
Action button for everyone
Multiple rumors indicate that the number of buttons on this year’s iPhones will grow. The Action button that debuted in the two 2023 Pro models reportedly will expand to all four upcoming ones, replacing the Mute switch.
And that apparently won’t be the only button change. A new multifunction camera button on the right edge of the Pro models (and maybe the non-Pro ones) reportedly will make taking pictures and videos easier.
Faster CPU for Apple Intelligence
We expect all iPhone 16 models to use A18 processors manufactured using TSMC’s N3E process, a more cost-effective and higher-yield version of its 3nm technology used in the A17. It’s possible the Pro and Pro Max versions will boast an enhanced version of the chip. All four likely will come with 8GB of RAM. And they should continue with the current storage options — from 128GB to 1TB, depending on the model.
The processor and RAM upgrades are clearly about ensuring top performance when running Apple Intelligence — the company’s upcoming (mostly) on-device AI features.
iPhone 16 battery
In addition, the latest iPhone 16 rumors point to the 2024 models benefiting from faster charging and better batteries. And a new battery design could mean easier repairability.
The new battery reportedly will come sheathed in a metal enclosure. And that will be held in place with a special glue that comes unglued when a small current is applied. Batteries inevitably degrade, and the new design should make the iPhone 16’s battery easier to replace.
iPhone 16 release date and cost
With Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event scheduled for September 9, it’s almost inconceivable that the iPhone 16 series won’t be unveiled in only a few days. Expect preorders to begin late next week, and the most likely date for the 2024 handsets to reach store shelves is September 20.
Units are reportedly being assembled in India for the first time, as this critical step increasingly expands beyond China.
So far, no iPhone 16 rumors revealed price hikes for the upcoming models. If pricing holds steady, the iPhone 16 Pro Max will start at $1,199, with the iPhone 16 Pro coming in at $999, the Plus at $899, and the standard iPhone 16 model at $799.
We originally published this article on the iPhone 16 release date and other rumors on July 27, 2024. We updated it with fresh iPhone 16 rumors.
