by Hartley Charlton
After over a year of reports, there are now more than a dozen specific rumors about the features and improvements set to be offered by the two non-Pro iPhone 16 models later in 2024.
While the upgrades that the iPhone 16 offers over the iPhone 15 will likely be at the center of Apple's marketing strategy later this year, many users are on two-year upgrade cycles, so the features introduced on both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 will stack up. All of the changes the iPhone 16 models are expected to feature compared to their two direct forerunners are listed below, using information from a range of reliable sources that we have previously covered. We will update this article as more rumors emerge in the coming months.
This guide focuses on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 16, but to learn about how we are expecting the iPhone 14 Pro to improve on the iPhone 16 Pro, see our other comparison article.
Design
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to largely carry over the design of their predecessors. As a result, the iPhone 16 will be a relatively significant evolution over the iPhone 14, featuring slightly rounded edges, a frosted glass back, and a vertical rear camera arrangement to facilitate spatial video capture. Other important design changes are expected to include the removal of the mute switch in favor of the Action button introduced on last year's Pro models and the introduction of an all-new "Capture" button.
iPhone 14 | iPhone 16 |
---|---|
Aluminum chassis with squared-off edges | Aluminum chassis with contoured edges |
Glossy glass back | Color-infused frosted glass back |
"Notch" TrueDepth camera array | Dynamic Island |
Diagonally arranged rear camera array | Vertically arranged rear camera array to support spatial video capture |
Ring/Silent switch | Action Button |
"Capture Button" to trigger photography and videography features | |
Lightning port | USB-C port |
Displays
For iPhone 14 users, the iPhone 16 will offer many of the display upgrades that came to the previous generation, as well as a more efficient OLED panel thanks to micro-lens technology.
iPhone 14 | iPhone 16 |
---|---|
More efficient OLED display with brighter micro-lens technology | |
800 nits max brightness (typical) | 1,000 nits max brightness (typical) |
1,200 nits peak brightness (HDR) | 1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR) |
2,000 nits peak brightness (outdoor) |
Cameras
The iPhone 15 introduced a major camera upgrade for Apple's standard smartphone lineup, bringing over the 48-megapixel camera of the iPhone 14 Pro. With a number of other improvements such as spatial video capture, the iPhone 16 should be a significant camera upgrade over the iPhone 14.
iPhone 14 | iPhone 16 |
---|---|
12-megapixel main camera with ƒ/1.5 aperture | 48-megapixel main camera with ƒ/1.6 aperture |
0.5x and 1x optical zoom options | 0.5x, 1x, and 2x optical zoom options |
24- and 48-megapixel super-high-resolution photos | |
Smart HDR 4 | Smart HDR 5 |
Portrait mode with Focus and Depth Control | Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control |
Night mode and Night mode portraits | Improved Night mode and Night mode portraits |
Spatial video capture |
Chip, Memory, and Connectivity
With the iPhone 16 models rumored to receive the same A18 chip as the Pro models, the new models could offer a major performance improvement over the iPhone 14, which features the A15 Bionic chip first introduced in 2021. The 2GB of additional memory and the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip are also due to be notable upgrades.
iPhone 14 | iPhone 16 |
---|---|
A15 Bionic chip (TSMC's "N5P" enhanced 5nm process) | A18 chip (TSMC's "N3E" enhanced 3nm process) |
16-core Neural Engine | Neural Engine with "significantly" more cores to support new AI features |
6GB memory | 8GB memory (+33%) |
Wi-Fi 6 connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E connectivity |
First-generation Ultra Wideband chip | Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (connects from 3x further away) |
Precision Finding for Find My friends |
Batteries and Charging
The iPhone 16 models could receive some major improvements in battery technology and charging, sporting denser batteries and faster charging capabilities. It is worth noting that the iPhone 16 Plus is rumored to feature a smaller battery than its predecessors, but it is not clear how this will affect actual battery life.
iPhone 14 | iPhone 16 |
---|---|
Single-layer battery technology | Stacked battery technology for increased energy density and prolonged lifespan |
iPhone 14: 3,279 mAh battery iPhone 14 Plus: 4,325 mAh battery | iPhone 16: 3,561 mAh battery iPhone 16 Plus: 4,006 mAh battery |
Up to 27W wired charging | Up to 40W wired charging (48% faster) |
15W charging via MagSafe | 20W charging via MagSafe (33% faster) |
Setting to prevent charging above 80% | |
Battery manufacture date, first use, and cycle count information in Settings |
Other Features and Changes
While many of Apple's devices are rumored to receive a series of new AI-based features via software updates later this year, the iPhone 16 models are expected to take these further with exclusive capabilities facilitated by a more powerful Neural Engine in the A18 chip and an upgraded microphone.
iPhone 14 | iPhone 16 |
---|---|
Upcoming support for new AI features in iOS 18 | Upcoming support for new AI features in iOS 18, plus a suite of device-exclusive AI features |
Microphone | Upgraded microphone with improved signal-to-noise ratio and water resistance, designed to support new AI features |
Improved audio quality on phone calls |
Will It Be Worth Upgrading?
The iPhone 15 was a fairly significant upgrade over the iPhone 14 in 2023, introducing a more modern design with the Dynamic Island, a USB-C port, and q 48-megapixel camera. The iPhone 16 will build on these upgrades, offering the Capture and Action buttons, AI features, and spatial video capture. With over 30 upgrades rumored to be in store, many current iPhone 14 users will find upgrading to an iPhone 16 model worthwhile, if not essential.
Release Date
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to launch in the fall. Apple usually hosts an event every September to unveil new iPhone models, with launch following just over a week later. For more information about the iPhone 16 models, see our comprehensive roundup.
Related Roundups: iPhone 14, iPhone 16
Related Forum: iPhone
87 comments
Top Rated Comments
oofio2461
2 weeks ago
Still have my iPhone 7 here, why would I upgrade?
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coffeemilktea
2 weeks ago
I was afraid the iPhone 16 was just going to be an iPhone 13SSS, but as soon as I saw the vertical camera lens arrangement, I immediately KNEW this was going to be a year filled with drastic and perhaps even daring design choices.
Other brands might be adding 5000+ mAh batteries to their phones, or 16 GB of RAM in a phone, or 100+ MP cameras, but those are all child's play compared to the truly exciting technological changes Apple has in store: vertical camera bars and a vaguely improved Siri. Now that's innovation. :cool:
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
adampk17
2 weeks ago
Going from 15W wireless charging to 20W is a 33% increase, not 25%
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
brofkand
2 weeks ago
Wait for the MacRumors article about "original iPhone" vs iPhone 16. 9837 reasons to upgrade. It will blow your mind. If it goes on like this, they have to call it "no macrumors". Sadly, there is nothing more to rumor about besides emoticons and colors.
That's why this site has turned into just another Dealmac with affiliate links everywhere. Apple is in another Spindler era, nothing new or exciting and doing long-term damage to the brand.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
peneaux
2 weeks ago
It’s tough for Tim Apple. You have to increase sales by upgrading but you don’t want to give customers too much, otherwise nobody will upgrade.
Imagine using Titanium as a major selling point. Give me a 13 mini with usb-c and I’ll be happy.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I7guy
2 weeks ago
I was afraid the iPhone 16 was just going to be an iPhone 13SSS, but as soon as I saw the vertical camera lens arrangement, I immediately KNEW this was going to be a year filled with drastic and perhaps even daring design choices.Other brands might be adding 5000+ mAh batteries to their phones, or 16 GB of RAM in a phone, or 100+ MP cameras, but those are all child's play compared to the truly exciting technological changes Apple has in store: vertical camera bars and a vaguely improved Siri. Now that's innovation. :cool:
The iPhone 16 is actually an iPhone 12SSSS. But’s it’s still a good upstate over the iPhone 12/13/14 imo.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments
Popular Stories
Warning: Apple Users Targeted in Phishing Attack Involving Rapid Password Reset Requests
Tuesday March 26, 2024 4:34 pm PDT by Juli Clover
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple's password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they'll respond favorably to social engineering. An...
Read Full Article • 149 comments
Sources: iOS 18 Lets Apps Be Placed Anywhere on Home Screen Grid
Sunday March 24, 2024 1:33 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
iOS 18 will give iPhone users greater control over Home Screen app icon arrangement, according to sources familiar with the matter. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, to ensure there is some uniformity, our sources say that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18. For example, we expect that the update will introduce...
Read Full Article • 171 comments
iOS 18: What to Expect From 'Biggest' Update in iPhone's History
Wednesday March 27, 2024 11:10 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
At least some Apple software engineers continue to believe that iOS 18 will be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. "The iOS 18 update is expected to be the most ambitious overhaul of the iPhone's software in its history, according to people working on the upgrade," wrote Gurman, in a r...
Read Full Article • 119 comments
Apple Announces WWDC 2024 Event for June 10 to 14
Tuesday March 26, 2024 10:02 am PDT by Juli Clover
Apple today announced that its 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to take place from Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14. As with WWDC events since 2020, WWDC 2024 will be an online event that is open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. WWDC 2024 will include online sessions and labs so that developers can learn about new...
Read Full Article • 97 comments
Apple Maps May Gain Custom Routes With iOS 18
Tuesday March 26, 2024 3:10 pm PDT by Aaron Perris
Apple may be planning to add support for "custom routes" in Apple Maps in iOS 18, according to code reviewed by MacRumors. Apple Maps does not currently offer a way to input self-selected routes, with Maps users limited to Apple's pre-selected options, but that may change in iOS 18. Apple has pushed an iOS 18 file to its maps backend labeled "CustomRouteCreation." While not much is revealed...
Read Full Article • 118 comments
New iPad Pro Again Rumored to Feature Landscape Front-Facing Camera
Monday March 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by Hartley Charlton
The next-generation iPad Pro will feature a landscape-oriented front-facing camera for the first time, according to the Apple leaker known as "Instant Digital." Instant Digital reiterated the design change earlier today on Weibo with a simple accompanying 2D image. The post reveals that the entire TrueDepth camera array will move to the right side of the device, while the microphone will...
Read Full Article • 100 comments
Apple Releases macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 With Fix for USB Hub Bug
Monday March 25, 2024 10:10 am PDT by Juli Clover
Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.4.1, a minor update for the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 comes three weeks after macOS Sonoma 14.4. The macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings. There's also a macOS 13.6.6 release for those who...
Read Full Article • 151 comments
iOS 18 Will Finally Bring This Android Feature to iPhone
Monday March 25, 2024 6:42 am PDT by MacRumors Staff
iOS 18 will allow iPhone users to place app icons anywhere on the Home Screen grid, according to sources familiar with development of the software update. This basic feature has long been available on Android smartphones. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, our sources said that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18....
Read Full Article