iPhone 16 Rumors: Everything we Know in 2024

With Apple's next big iPhone Event coming in September, the iPhone 16 rumor mill is in full swing. Will the iPhone 16 represent a huge leap forward in smartphone technology, or just refinements to an already great design? Here are some of the new features and upgrades rumored to be coming to the iPhone 16: 

• A new A18 chip that will carry with it AI capabilities and faster speeds
• Camera upgrades, including 5X optical zoom lenses on Pro models
• A new touch sensitive “Capture” button for easy camera usage
• The Action button on all models
• Slightly larger displays on the Pro models, smaller bezels across the board

As in years past, the new iPhone 16 lineup is expected to be unveiled and available for preorder in September. Likewise, four models are expected: an iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Read on as we detail the rumors surrounding the new iPhone models. 

iPhone 16 Release Date

The iPhone 16 models are likely to be released in September during Apple’s annual launch event (the new Apple Watch models will be simultaneously unveiled), and available for preorder from the major carriers that same day. The devices typically become available in stores a week and a half later.

iPhone 16 Cameras

Apple has always been at the front of the pack when it comes to smartphone camera technology, but the company will really have to innovate this year if it expects to keep up with the likes of Google and Samsung. By all accounts, the iPhone 16 lineup will feature some important new camera features—and these are some of the most exciting rumored upgrades coming to the devices.  

According to trusted leaker and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature Tetraprism 5X optical zoom lenses (something initially featured in just the iPhone 15 Pro Max) while the latter will also have “super telephoto” functionality. The Tetraprism lens allows for better image stabilization and enhanced performance in low-light conditions. Both of the 16 Pro models are also rumored to feature 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera lenses.

Additionally, rumors are that all four iPhone 16 models will sport “Capture” buttons that allow for easy on-the-fly camera usage—more on that later. 

iPhone 16 Display

The iPhone 16 Pro devices are rumored to feature slightly larger OLED displays than their predecessors. Specifically, the Pro may feature a roughly 6.3-inch screen, while the Pro Max may have a 6.9-inch screen. This is up from 6.1 inches in the iPhone 15 Pro, and 6.7 inches in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. 

Additionally, there’s been some chatter that the displays in all of the iPhone 16 phones will be brighter, making use of something called “micro-lens” technology that also makes for more efficient power consumption. 

iPhone 16 Design

Information on the new iPhone 16 design specs has been coming via leaks from iPhone case designers, who have to create molds to house the new devices before they’re released. These leaks suggest that the overall design footprints of the iPhone 16 lineup will look fairly similar to the iPhone 15 devices. All four will feature the same USB-C ports introduced across the iPhone 15 line. 

Where the design of the new iPhone 16 models may break somewhat from the iPhone 16 is in the bezel sizes. Specifically, Apple is reportedly using a new technology that allows for thinner bezels, so don’t be surprised if the new iPhone 16 phones have very thin frames. While the bezels on iPhones mostly have to do with aesthetics, they tend to generate a lot of chatter online with every release. 

Additionally, Apple is reportedly changing up the orientation of its lenses—a.k.a. camera bumps—on the back of the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, which are now vertically aligned. The Pro models will still reportedly sport a diagonal lens layout. 

iPhone 16 Processing 

The iPhone 16 lineup is rumored to feature an entirely new chipset (the Qualcomm X70), marketed as the “A18” chip. These new chips are less taxing on battery life, and offer significantly improved CPU performance, translating to faster processing for all of your everyday smartphone tasks. The A18 chips have been forecasted to represent up to a 10-15% improvement over the A17 chips featured in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. 

There’s also been rumors that the iPhone 16 Pro phones will include better internal modems, allowing for faster cell phone network connection speeds and the ability to take advantage of emerging WiFi 7 technology. The regular 16 and 16 Plus, meanwhile, may be upgraded to support WiFi 6E technology. 

iPhone 16 Battery Life

As alluded to, the iPhone 16 models should feature improvements in battery life over the iPhone 15 devices. These improvements may be noticeable but not dramatic, perhaps totaling less than a 10% improvement in battery lifespan across each model. 

iPhone 16 Action Button and Capture Button

Some notable upgrades to the iPhone’s side buttons could be coming to the iPhone 16. Specifically, the Action button that was unveiled in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max could be coming to all of the iPhone 16 models. 

More excitingly, there’s been some chatter that the new iPhone 16 devices will include a new button called the “Capture” button. This touch sensitive feature is said to allow users to quickly perform various camera tasks like zooming in and out, bringing up video recording, and focusing in on subjects. 

iPhone 16 AI Features

The release of iOS 18 could bring with it strides in AI that could better those found in the Google Pixel 8 and Samsung Galaxy S24 phones. 

These enhanced AI features may include an improved Siri experience (which falls under the marketing banner of Apple Intelligence) to rival Samsung’s Bixby. All of this functionality will be made available via the release of the newest Apple operating system, iOS18, later this year. That means some of these new features will be available on other iPhone models as well, though the iPhone 16 will have the technology to take the fullest advantage of them. 

iPhone 16 Price

While the cost of the components that go into iPhones has been steadily rising, Apple has avoided passing these costs on to consumers. There’s been no solid leads as to the MSRP of the new iPhone 16 models, but given the costs of manufacturing them, a future price hike is within the realm of possibility. 

Should you plan to buy the new iPhone 16?

While all of these rumored upgrades may sound like a lot, in truth the iPhone 16 handsets may look and function fairly similarly to their predecessors. As such, if you’re not due for a device upgrade via your cell phone carrier—and you have a fairly recent model—it might be advisable to hold onto your current iPhone. Also, the iPhone 15 remains one of the best devices on the market, and you can find yours using our Phone Deal Finder:  

That said, the latest iPhone is always technically the best iPhone, so if you’re someone who requires the latest and greatest, springing for the iPhone 16 may make sense. 

Bottom Line

It’s been a while since Apple made any major overhauls to its phone designs, as the iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and iPhone 15 lineups featured largely iterative improvements, apart from modest innovations like Dynamic Island. While it's mostly conjecture at this point, it’s looking like the iPhone 16 models could largely follow this trend. However, sometimes minor changes can make a huge difference to your overall experience with a phone—this could be the case with the new Capture button, for example—so you’ll want to stay up to date as to what’s coming in the iPhone 16.  

Navigating through the smartphone market to find the best iPhone deal can be challenging—but that’s where Navi comes in. By answering a few short questions on our Phone Deal Finder tool, you’ll be directed to the best iPhone deals on the market right now.