All eyes will be on Apple this fall as it is expected to launch the iPhone 16. We’re still a few months away, but the numerous leaks we’ve seen so far give us an idea of ​​what to expect in the standard models this year – which gives us even more reason to be certain.
While the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are expected to get their share of upgrades, those who don’t want to spend a lot of money on an iPhone may be drawn to what the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have to offer. The most exciting rumors point to new display technology, a record button and a dedicated video recording mode. Most surprising may be the productivity AI feature, which we’ll get a preview of when iOS 18 is unveiled at Apple’s WWDC 2024 developer conference in June.
All this is a powerful argument. Here are all the big upgrades that got us excited about the iPhone 16.
Support spatial video recording
There’s no denying that Apple’s Vision Pro is revolutionizing computing, but one aspect that users have come to appreciate is the ability to record and view spatial video with headphones. And while recording was exclusive to the Vision Pro, Apple eventually extended spatial video recording support to the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max due to the camera layout.
Given the location of Apple’s rear cameras, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are also expected to support spatial video recording. Specifically, it goes from the diagonal layout we get on the current iPhone 15 to a vertical layout that groups the 48-megapixel main camera and the 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera on top of each other.
This allows the iPhone 16 to effectively record spatial video that can be viewed on Apple Vision Pro, providing an immersive experience that makes you feel like you’re in the middle of the video.
Thin frame, bright screen
iPhone 16 display rumors are driven by individuality, with one report suggesting that the new iPhones will have the same 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch sizes – with the same 60Hz refresh rate as before. There’s no reason to worry just yet, as the bezels around the display are expected to be thinner as long as Apple’s manufacturing partners can produce on time and to Apple’s standards.
However, the iPhone 16’s biggest display upgrade focuses on using Samsung’s new OLED material, effectively improving power efficiency. Another possibility is that Apple could switch to a microLED display for its iPhone 16, which would naturally boost screen brightness and color while using less power. This will be a special treat as the iPhone 15 already has one of the brightest displays of its size, reaching a respectable peak brightness of 1,401 nits.
New record button
Apple usually keeps certain features exclusive to its Pro models, but it looks like the Capture button will appear alongside the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. It is not yet known whether the action button will appear on standard models, but the record button makes it easy to operate the camera and take pictures.
Of course, Apple will differentiate them from previous camera buttons on other phones. First, it is placed below the power button and provides haptic feedback as it uses a capacitive semiconductor design. Essentially, the shutter button can differentiate the pressure applied to it – meaning it can be used to adjust focus, as the shutter button is designed on some of the best mirrorless cameras.
A18 chip instead of A17
By using the same chip in all iPhone 16 models, Apple could be doing something completely different from previous iPhone releases. In the past, it was common for Apple to use older chipsets in its standard models and save newer chips for iPhone professional phones.
While it’s still possible that the iPhone 16 inherits the A17 Pro chip introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro model, another rumor suggests that all four iPhone 16 models will run on the 3nm A18 chipset. As expected, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max will get slightly more powerful versions. Still, the A18 chip could mean big performance gains for standard models, which will likely prove useful for AI-powered software features.
Generative Artificial Intelligence
AI has been all the rage in recent months, and many phone manufacturers have increasingly started rolling out new features. Apple is preparing to enter the arena with AI features that could be with iOS 18, whether they focus more on Siri or related to other aspects of the experience.
Generative AI could come in the form of a feature called “Siri Summarization” that links Apple’s voice assistant to the ChatGPT API. This will give Siri extra intelligence to create summaries and respond to more complex requests.
Beyond Siri, generative AI capabilities could also find their way into other areas, such as creating AI tools for developers and Apple Music playlists. When it comes to photos and videos, Apple is working on creating an artificial intelligence model that allows changes to photos based on user instructions. There aren’t many details yet on the exact editing features it will offer, but it should at least compete with what Google and Samsung offer with their flagship phones.
256GB primary storage
Let’s call it a well-deserved upgrade, but it looks like we might be getting a 256GB base model for the iPhone 16. This will double the entry-level storage currently available on the iPhone 15. It comes with 8 GB RAM capacity.
Since the iPhone 16 supports spatial video recording, this upgrade makes the devices better equipped to store all these files. This will be a big leap and could set a new standard for all major releases for the rest of the year.
Wi-Fi 6e
While the iPhone 15 Pro models benefited from higher speeds thanks to Wi-Fi 6e, the iPhone 15 had to work with Wi-Fi 6. However, the leak suggests that the iPhone 16 will add Wi-Fi 6e to its arsenal, giving it access to the 6GHz range. For the average person, this simply means faster speeds and less interference from competing Wi-Fi devices.
