Apple is expected to unveil its new iPhone lineup in September 2024. The company has a history of releasing new iPhones in September, with the exception of the iPhone 12, which launched in October 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. All signs point to a September announcement for the iPhone 16, especially since the iPhone 13, 14, and 15 series were all announced in that month.
Apple reporter Mark Gurman of Bloomberg has predicted that the iPhone 16 series will be launched on Tuesday, September 10th, 2024. This aligns with Apple’s usual Tuesday announcement schedule, followed by pre-orders starting on Friday and official sales commencing the following Friday. Based on this pattern, we expect the iPhone 16 to be announced on Tuesday, September 10th, go up for pre-order on Friday, September 13th, and be released for sale on Friday, September 20th. Chinese tech site CNMO also supports the claim of a September 10th launch date.
While Apple continues to release new iPhone models every year, these devices are built to last and receive essential software updates for several years. In 2024, we expect Apple to unveil four flagship iPhone models, following the pattern established with the iPhone 12 series in 2020. This lineup will likely consist of two regular models and two Pro models, offering a range of price points and feature sets.
Apple consistently adds new features to the iPhone, sometimes through updates to the iOS software, which can benefit older iPhones. However, the company often introduces new hardware features on newer iPhones to limit the availability of those tools. Although year-on-year upgrades can be minimal, Apple strives to differentiate new iPhone models. However, if you own an iPhone 12 or older, upgrading to an iPhone 16 will undoubtedly offer significant improvements.
Based on leaks and rumors, here’s a detailed look at what we can expect from the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro:
How many iPhone 16 models will there be?
It’s anticipated that there will be four iPhone 16 models, following the same naming conventions as the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 lineups:
* iPhone 16
* iPhone 16 Plus
* iPhone 16 Pro
* iPhone 16 Pro Max
Reliable Apple leaker Sonny Dickson has posted images of alleged dummy models of the upcoming iPhone 16 phones on X (formerly Twitter). Dickson has also shared images showcasing multiple colors for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models. While the Pro phones appear similar to the existing iPhone 15 Pro, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are expected to receive a design makeover, featuring vertically stacked dual cameras instead of diagonal placement, along with bolder color options.
How much will the iPhone 16 cost?
There is a lack of solid iPhone 16 price rumors, which could be a positive sign, suggesting that Apple may maintain the same pricing as the current iPhone 15 models:
* iPhone 15: £799
* iPhone 15 Plus: £899
* iPhone 15 Pro: £999
* iPhone 15 Pro Max: £1,199
CNMO claims the iPhone 16 Pro Max will cost $1,199, the same as the 15 Pro Max in the US, indicating potential price stability. However, CNMO is not a renowned source for these rumors, so it’s best to take this information with a grain of salt. Given the pricing of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra at £1,249, it seems unlikely that Apple would significantly raise prices for the iPhone 16. Apple sometimes adjusts iPhone prices in the UK compared to the US, but currently, the prices are numerically identical, which is a less favorable deal for British buyers due to the current exchange rate. At the time of writing, £799 for the iPhone 15 equates to $1,013 in the US, while the iPhone 15 is priced at $799 in the US.
What is new on the iPhone 16?
Design
Apple has followed a pattern of updating the iPhone’s design every two years, but this could change with the iPhone 16. While the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 shared a similar design, the iPhone 15 introduced matte glass on the regular iPhone for the first time, along with rounded edges and the Dynamic Island. Leaks of the iPhone 16 suggest a distinct look with a new camera alignment, but the overall design is expected to remain relatively similar.
In addition to casing changes, the phones could feature an updated Action Button. This new button replaced the alert switch on the iPhone 15 Pro but remained on the iPhone 15. Macrumors reported that the updated Action Button might be capacitive rather than mechanical, allowing users to swipe on the button to adjust volume or other actions. Currently, the button can only be set to perform a single function at a time. The publication believes this new Action Button, potentially called the Capture Button, will be included on all iPhone 16 models.
Processor
Expect an upgrade to the A17 Bionic processor, found in the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. Apple has established a pattern of equipping the base iPhone models with the previous year’s Pro processor. This year, this is particularly significant, as it would enable the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus to be compatible with Apple Intelligence, Apple’s new AI features launching with iOS 18. Currently, only the 15 Pro phones can run Apple Intelligence. We also anticipate that Apple will provide the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max with a new A18 chip to enhance the performance of these high-end phones.
Display
Strong rumors from various sources suggest that the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max will feature larger screens, reaching 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches, respectively. Consistent with leaker Dickson’s images of the range, this would result in different screen sizes for each of the four iPhone 16 models:
* iPhone 16: 6.1 inches
* iPhone 16 Plus: 6.7 inches
* iPhone 16 Pro: 6.3 inches
* iPhone 16 Pro Max: 6.9 inches
Hopefully, this won’t make the Pro Max physically larger, as it’s already quite large. Perhaps Apple has found a way to reduce bezels further and fit more screen into the same size body. Dickson’s image earlier in this article clearly shows four different sized devices. The iPhone 16 range could be the largest ever, but it might also mean that the iPhone 16 Pro phones will appear almost borderless with the Dynamic Island at the top. However, don’t expect screen upgrades for the 16 and 16 Plus. Apple is likely to keep them at 60Hz refresh rates, reserving its 120Hz ProMotion screens for the Pro models.
Cameras
It seems unlikely that Apple will update the cameras on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, unless the lack of leaks indicates that Apple has successfully concealed a major upgrade. The cameras on the iPhone 15 include a 48MP main sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide. The main sensor effectively provides a 2x zoom due to the excellent cropping capabilities of the high-resolution 1x image, somewhat compensating for the absence of an optical telephoto lens found on Pro iPhones.
The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are rumored to receive an upgraded 48MP ultra-wide camera, compared to the 12MP on the 15 Pro series. There is also speculation that the 16 Pro Max will feature an improved main lens, differentiating it from the regular 16 Pro. Apple provided the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max with the same main and ultra-wide cameras, but with a 3x optical zoom on the 15 Pro and a longer 5x zoom on the 15 Pro Max. The company has tended to give the Max slightly more advanced features, citing space constraints on smaller models. However, it’s likely done to encourage buyers to purchase the most expensive iPhone. Regardless, the Pros are the models where significant camera improvements are expected this year.
RAM and Storage
Rumors suggest that Apple could increase the RAM in the base iPhone 16 to 8GB and offer 256GB storage as standard. While this news is encouraging, these reports remain unconfirmed. Although we hoped Apple would offer 256GB on its cheapest iPhones, both the £799 iPhone 15 and £999 iPhone 15 Pro Max only have 128GB, which is rather stingy for the price. Hopefully, Apple will improve this aspect this year.
The doubling of storage may not be solely motivated by generosity. The extra RAM and storage could be necessary to handle the intensive AI processing these handsets are expected to perform. The iPhone 16 range is also likely to be the first to offer Wi-Fi 7 compatibility (according to DigiTimes), the latest industry standard. However, remember that a Wi-Fi 7 router is required to experience the improved speeds and performance of this technology.
When is Apple Intelligence launching on iPhone 16?
Although the iPhone 16 range is expected to launch in September, Bloomberg’s Gurman believes that the phones will go on sale later that month running a version of iOS 18 that does not include Apple Intelligence. Apple announced this new AI software in June, featuring an updated Siri with the ability to access data from all your apps, enabling you to ask more detailed questions and receive accurate answers. For instance, asking your iPhone what time you need to pick someone up from the airport will prompt your iPhone to scan your emails, texts, and other data (privately) to find the correct answer, including checking up-to-date flight times to account for delays. If this works as advertised, it could be fantastic. However, Apple is clearly addressing any issues if Apple Intelligence won’t be launched until October, as Gurman believes, through a software update for compatible iPhones.
Apple Intelligence will also have the ability to create custom emojis based on text prompts, generate summaries of long text documents, emails, and audio recordings, deliver prioritized notifications, draft messages for you, and create photo and video montages from your snaps. iOS will also introduce visual changes that allow iPhone users to place apps anywhere on their home screens, similar to Android, and change the color or ‘tint’ of app icons for greater personalization.
We will continue to update this article with the latest iPhone 16 leaks and rumors as we approach the phones’ launch.
