iPhone 16 rumors: Everything you need to know about the new iPhone

The iPhone 16 promises a range of upgrades that could improve Apple's flagship while narrowing the gap between the regular iPhone and Pro series.  

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 plan on 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 cheat sheet: Biggest rumors

• Release date prediction: September 2024
• Price prediction: from $799
• Design: 6.1-inch standard and 6.7-inch Plus versions, redesigned camera block, Action button, Capture button; bigger screens on the Pro models
• Cameras: Spatial video support; upgraded ultrawide camera on the Pro models
• AI features: Generative AI in several Apple apps, including Photos and Notes
• Specs: A18 or A17 Pro chip, 8GB RAM, 256GB default storage, Wi-Fi 6E
• Battery: Larger battery in standard model and on both Pro models
• Software: iOS 18

iPhone 16: Possible price and availability

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

We have no specific pricing rumors for the iPhone 16 right now, but we can start by assuming that Apple will keep to an $800 price for the entry-level model, with Pro models costing $1,000 - $1,100, and higher storage versions adding a few hundred more onto the price. That said, phone component costs are on the rise, and that could push iPhone 16 prices upward. Just this year, the Galaxy S24 Ultra saw its price rise by $100 over its predecessor to a lofty $1,299, just as an example.

If there is an iPhone 16 Ultra as some people have claimed, we'd have to imagine it would cost even more, perhaps $1,200 or higher. However, it seems increasingly likely that Apple is sticking with the current lineup of a standard model, a Plus version and two Pro editions with the iPhone 16.

iPhone 16: Design

We've heard from Apple supply chain expert Ming-Chi Kuo that no big exterior changes are coming to the iPhone 16 series. But a few small tweaks could still be coming.

After the iPhone 15 Pro got a new Action button in 2023, it now seems like all iPhone 16 models 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 with the option to focus shots too. 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. This won't be functionally different 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. Non-pro iPhone 16 models could be going for a vertical camera layout, which could give them the ability to shoot spatial video. Various mockups, leaked schematics, CAD drawings and dummy units seem to corroborate this change.

For what it's worth, photos of what appear to be iPhone 16 cases confirm the vertically stacked cameras as well as the presence of Action and Capture buttons on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.

When it comes to colors, we may see Apple bring add a new Rose option to the iPhone 16 Pro. What's more, Space Black from the iPhone 14 Pro, and the classic silver option, may be coming back too. As for the basic models, all iPhone 15 colors could be returning in one form or another, along with new white and purple options to give users the widest choice of iPhone colors yet. 

it appears that Apple is planning to remove the yellow option for the iPhone  16 and iPhone 16 Plus. A recent post from Apple Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has indicated that the iPhone 16 will come in black, green, pink and white instead. They have also stated that Apple may rename some of the colors, and even similarly named shades could look different to the current models. 

iPhone 16: Display

It's rumored that we'll see larger iPhone 16 Pro models this year, with the iPhone 16 Pro apparently measuring 6.3 inches and the iPhone 16 Pro Max 6.9 inches (backed up by a roadmap made by Samsung Securities). CAD designs also show off the Pro Max model's size difference compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and if you want the alleged exact measurements down to fractions of a millimeter, those have leaked too. 

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also believes the Pro model will see a boost to its screen size. Gurman 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.

One possible upgrade for all models is new thinner bezels around the display. Assuming Apple's manufacturing partners can get their production up to standard in time, it'll make the screens of the new iPhones look even larger. A more recent rumor suggests that Apple will limit thinner bezels to the iPhone 16 Pro models, Specifically, the iPhone 16 Pro would feature a 1.2mm bezel, compared to 1.15mm on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. For context, the iPhone 15 Pro has a 1.71m, bezel.

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. To that end, a report out of Asia tips the iPhone 16 Pro models to get an advanced OLED panel from Samsung that should make those two phones 20% brighter than their predecessors.

iPhone 16: Possible specs

If Apple sticks to its current way of doing things, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus would inherit the A17 Pro chip we see in the iPhone 15 Pro models. A more promising rumor suggests all iPhone 16 model will run on 3-nanometer A18 chips, with the Pro models set to get more powerful versions of the A18. However, another leak suggests the A18 Pro could fall behind the competition.

It's also been speculated that the A18 may get a larger die area than the A17, which adds room for additional transistors or specialized hardware — which may help power the phone's on-device AI. An upgrade to 8GB of RAM may also help boost these features. 

Regardless of the A18's design, Apple is apparently ordering a lot of chips — up to 100 million units, according to one report — as it's anticipating lots of demand for iPhone 16 models.

WiFi 6E support for faster and more reliable home internet speeds is also rumored. Several sources have now claimed this, though more recent rumors suggest Wi-Fi 7 may be on the cards for iPhone 16 Pro models.

Storage will likely start at 128GB for the base, Plus and Pro iPhone 16 models, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max beginning at 256GB like the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Apple may start offering 256GB by default on all models though, and up to 2TB of storage on the Pro models, thanks to a new type of memory, although this could be slower to read and write data than current iPhones. 

Don't expect the long-rumored Apple-built modem to appear this year. Apple's reportedly been struggling to develop a production-ready chip and Qualcomm is set to supply the iPhone with modems through 2026. Jeff Pu claims we'll get a Snapdragon X75 modem with a new "5G advanced" standard that can hit 7.5 Gbps

iPhone 16: Battery

Leaks indicate that the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max could see an increased battery size. The apparent increase for those models could be joined by a 6% decrease in the capacity of the iPhone 16 Plus's battery however.

As for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, a separate rumor suggests their battery sizes will increase to 3,577 mAh and  4,747 mAh, respectively. That compares to 3,274 on the iPhone 15 Pro and 4,422 mAh on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

A different leak claims Apple could promise over 30 hours of battery life for the new iPhones. That would be quite something considering we only see all-day battery life promised for the iPhone 15 series, although we have to wonder if this will apply to all the iPhone 16s, or just the largest models.

There has been some talk of Apple looking into new ways to disperse heat in the iPhone 16 following complaints about some iPhone 15 Pro overheating. One possible solution involves Apple using a frosted metal shell and new connector for the battery, at least for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. 

Higher battery density could be on the cards too, allowing a greater capacity in the same-sized cell. Apple may turn to a stainless steel casing for its batteries, which would boost density — a move that could help the iPhone 16 Pro Max, in particular.

Apple is reportedly considering ways to make the iPhone 16 battery easier to replace. By enclosing the battery in a steel case, people would be able to remove it from the phone's chassis with a jolt of electricity.

iPhone 16: Cameras

Without rumors telling us otherwise, we'd assume the cameras used on the iPhone 16 will be roughly the same as those found on the iPhone 15, which will likely be a 48MP main camera joined by 12MP ultrawide, selfie and telephoto (on the Pro models) cameras. While both regular and Pro iPhones could use the same 48MP main resolution, the sensor on the Pro models could be larger to give the more expensive iPhones a greater advantage with photography.

The 48MP main camera could get a size upgrade says one source, claiming that the new sensor will measure 1/1.14 inches (0.87 inches) instead of the current 1/1.28 inches (0.78 inches). A larger sensor should hopefully translate to brighter and more colorful images.

A second 48MP sensor could be added to the Pro models' ultrawide cameras, allowing for the same benefits, and maybe even full 48MP ProRes shots, at the iPhone's widest 0.5x magnification level. A second source backs the 48MP ultrawide sensor rumor for the Pro models.

Meanwhile, the standard models could revert back to the vertical camera arrangement last seen on the iPhone 12. This may be changing in order to support Spatial video recording for Vision Pro and other headsets.

We've also been hearing about there being an improved telephoto camera on both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, with multiple rumors claiming the iPhone 16 Pro will adopt the tetraprism telephoto lens complete with 5x zoom capabilities. Both the telephoto and main lens may also get a higher quality lens as well. That could translate into a larger camera module on the iPhone 16 Pro.

We're expecting the same 12MP selfie cameras on the iPhone 16 as we saw on the iPhone 15. There won't be any big change until the iPhone 17, says one source, which will apparently start using 24MP sensors for its front-facing cameras.

While the basics may not change that much, it's possible that Samsung will be the one supplying Apple with the camera sensors, rather than Sony we've seen in past iPhones. So even if the resolutions don't change, we could still see improvements thanks to Samsung's latest tech being used.

iPhone 16: Software

It's a certainty that iOS 18 will power the 2024 iPhone models. And now that Apple has previewed its software update at June's Worldwide Developer Conference, we know a bit more about what those features will be, including a redesigned Photos app, the ability to more completely customize the iPhone home screen and assorted improvements to Maps, Notes and other apps.

Apple Intelligence — Apple's name for AI features coming to all its products — will be a big part of the software update, too, but only for a limited number of phones. Apple's restricting Apple Intelligence to devices with an A17 chip or later; presumably, that will include all four iPhone 16 models since they're supposed to run on A18 silicon. And thanks to a supercharged NPU, this line of iPhones could have the best AI performance of any Apple device.

Apple Intelligence features include writing tools, generative photo editing features and a smarter version of Siri aided by ChatGPT. Will all that be enough to convince people they should upgrade to the new iPhone 16 models? We'll find out later this year.

iPhone 16: Outlook

We've got a few months before the iPhone 16 arrives, so more rumors could surface — some confirming what we've already heard and some dismissing the features being touted right now. Nevertheless, we have a fairly solid picture of what to expect from the iPhone 16 ahead of its fall release.

New cameras with a longer zoom (at least on the Pro models), a larger frame, an upgraded display, plus the usual annual power and performance enhancements, would all be a step up from what the iPhone 15 delivered — and those devices dominate the upper echelons of our best iPhone rankings. 

Does that mean holding off on any iPhone purchase until the fall? If you need an iPhone now, you should pick one up. But clearly, the iPhone 16 release is going to introduce some significant changes, both in terms of hardware and software.

More from Tom's Guide

• Your iPhone has a hidden professional photography feature to make photos look more natural
• 7 hidden iOS features every new iPhone owner needs to know
• iPhone 15 upgrade guide — who should get the new phones?