Apple’s upcoming phones have long since been a matter of intense interest. 2024’s iPhone 16 will be no different.
The iPhone 15 is now here. But there have been several features that, last year, we were expecting to appear on it. And now we know they didn’t. Instead, those features are set for this year’s iPhone 16 which – if iPhone launch event form continues – will debut on 10 September 2024.
Obviously, it is ridiculously early to be talking about the 2024 iPhone. But we can look at what we know about the technologies inside of it and what we predict might be in store for the next generation.
Sweet 16 means new names
It seems churlish to suggest that the 2024 iPhone will be called anything but iPhone 16. We’re still a few years off the 20th anniversary of the iPhone in 2027. Is that when we might get a break in the naming strategy? You may recall that Apple did the iPhone X after a decade of iPhone and missed out iPhone 9. So could we get an iPhone XX at that point?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max was rumored to be called the Ultra. But Apple didn’t call it that and so may well introduce the name this time around. This is because the handset could be larger (see the display section below).
Apple does like to introduce higher-spec models to take advantage of bigger sales prices. It’s something it has done with the Pro iPhones as well as Macs, the Apple Watch and the iPad. In early 2023, the strategy was spelled out in Apple’s Q1 2023 earnings call. “I think people are willing to really stretch to get the best they can afford in that category,” said Tim Cook at the time.
Throwback camera bumps?
According to Macrumors, Apple is experimenting with two different rear camera arrangements: an iPhone 12-inspired arrangement with two individual lenses stacked vertically, or an iPhone X-style single lozenge containing both lenses. The former is apparently more likely, given it has been used on more internal prototype units than the latter.
We’re not convinced of an iPhone X styling revival, as it would set the regular iPhone 16 apart too much from the Pro variants. Individual lenses make the most sense, but we wouldn’t mind a return to vertical stacked sensors in place of the diagonal ones seen on the last few iPhone generations.
More customisable buttons
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max replaced the mute switch with a customizable Action button. Apple reportedly wanted to do more than this, though it didn’t happen in time for launch. Expect the iPhone 16 Pro to take the concept a step further, with solid state power and volume buttons. The latter two could be combined into a single long button – as was originally rumoured for iPhone 15.
Solid state tech has previously been seen on older iPhone and iPad Home buttons, as well as the MacBook trackpad. With all these instances, there is no actual press when you touch the button. Instead, haptics make you think you have pressed it. Fewer moving parts means a lower chance the button will go wrong, and it’s better for waterproofing.
We suspect there are also space considerations, too – though additional haptic hardware will surely be needed. Rumours are that two additional Taptic engines would be required but again this would take up valuable space.
It’s widely expected that the regular iPhone 16 models will get an action button instead of a mute switch, bringing it more in line with the Pro model on customization. Individual power and volume keys are more likely here. A further capacitive capture button has been spotted on early prototypes, which might be dedicated to the camera, although other leaks have suggested Apple is testing devices without this feature too.
Display differences
Well-known display analyst Ross Young has said that the display sizes will change for iPhone 16 having been set in relative stone (aside from the Mini dalliance) for some years. Other leakers have since joined in with this prediction including long-time Apple watcher Ming-Chi Kuo.
That means this year’s iPhone 16 Pro Max (or 16 Ultra as it may be known) will have a 6.9in display instead of a 6.7in one. That would give it a 19.6.9 display instead of the current 19.5.9 – but quite similar.
There is some suggestion that the 6.1in screen size of the standard models could increase to 6.3in, though this seems a little less certain. More specifically Ross Young cites iPhone 16 Pro at 6.27in and iPhone 16 Ultra at 6.86in.
Even zoomier zoom
Last year’s iPhone 15 Pro Max got a persiscope lens, but there’s a better version on the way this year. Indeed, a ‘Super Telephoto’ periscope lens may be set for iPhone 16. This stems from a rumour on Weibo that also suggests that the focal length will get significantly longer for this year’s models. This is firmly in the unknown for now though.
A further report from supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests the 5x tetraprism zoom lens will be found on both Pro models for the first time. The iPhone 15 Pro maxed out at 3x using traditional glass, meaning you had to buy the iPhone 15 Pro Max for the best possible zoom. The change is reportedly down to better production yields at supplier Largan, and the fact the iPhone 16 Pro is expected to grow in size – making room for the higher-end camera hardware.
Dynamic Island floats along
There is some noise about under-display front cameras coming to iPhone 16. This is technically possible – we’ve seen them before and you couldn’t rule it out. But we think it is HIGHLY unlikely that Apple could currently make under-display Face ID work despite some claims that it will come in 2024.
Again, that’s surely a goal but is a little way off and the work Apple has put into Dynamic Island would point to it being more than a two-year boat ride. There is some suggestion that an under-display Face ID could appear in 2025 with iPhone 17 Pro instead.
One interesting other tidbit from Ross Young is that he expects that the standard iPhone models won’t have 120Hz ProMotion tech until 2025. We’re not sure about this one – the lack of 120Hz is already putting the standard iPhone models significantly behind competitors – the standard iPhone 15 is stuck on 60Hz. Will Apple really allow two more years of slipping behind? We shall see.
Battery and charging
Last year’s iPhone 15 series moved to USB-C and have bigger batteries (the iPhone 15’s is 14% bigger for example) but what we’ve heard so far about wired charging speeds are not that impressive.
Apple says you can charge an iPhone 15 from zero to 50% in 30 minutes using the separately-sold 20W USB-C power adapter. And it should be possible to charge one quicker (up to 30W) using a MacBook power brick for example – we’ll have to test this out.
There are whispers of 40W for iPhone 16. When you consider some Android phones are now capable of 150W, that would seem a little sluggish. Surely Apple will have to remedy this for iPhone 16.
Some rumours also point towards a more reliable battery thanks to stacked battery tech which lasts longer and has a higher capacity,
An Apple 5G modem is coming – but probably yet
Originally we thought that the 2024 iPhone would be where Apple’s own long-awaited modem part would appear. Now we’re not so sure.
Qualcomm has now announced that it will be in Apple “smartphone launches in 2024, 2025 and 2026”. Note that we may see a gradual introduction of Apple’s own chip during that time with Qualcomm gradually appearing in fewer and fewer of Apple’s handsets.
So how did this situation come about? Rewind to 2017 when Apple had fallen out with Qualcomm in a big patent dispute. Instead, Apple had turned to Intel who had been making decent 4G iPhone modems. Trouble was that Intel wasn’t very good at making efficient 5G modems. Basically, it couldn’t match Qualcomm’s tech.
So in 2019 Apple made a pragmatic move. It made peace with Qualcomm but also bought up most of Intel’s modem division (including some 2,200 employees) so it could take on the development and do it better. It seems that half a decade on we’re still a little way off seeing the result of this work.
Note that this cellular chip will be separate to the other A Series chip for now. The target will no doubt be to have one integrated chip that covers all wireless tech in the first instance as well as Wi-Fi 7 (also set to debut with iPhone 16) and Bluetooth. That is probably slightly further off but will surely be where Apple wants to go.
Apple is going in on AI
On-device AI seems to be the new smartphone battleground: Google struck first with the Pixel 8 Pro, but Qualcomm wasn’t far behind with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which will do generative AI of its own. Apple is expected to add something similar to iOS 18, with older handsets relying on the cloud but the iPhone 16 being able to do things locally.
Leaker @Tech_Reve suggests Apple will use a large language model (LLM) to completely overhaul Siri, turning it into the “ultimate virtual assistant”. Apps such as Messages, Pages, Numbers and Apple Music could also benefit from AI-created suggestions and predictions.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims a majorly upgraded microphone will bring greater water resistance and a significantly better signal-to-noise ratio. The move is to make Siri better at understanding you – handy when voice-controlled AI is expected to be one of the main points of focus at the iPhone 16’s reveal in September 2024.