iPhone 16: release date speculation, latest leaks, price predictions and more
Rumors hint at new displays, chipsets, cameras, and more
![iPhone 15 on an orange background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2aLGoGx4yRSGC8grpY9nPT-320-80.jpg)
We expect the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max to be among the best phones of 2024, and while we're still a couple of months away from the official launch of Apple's next smartphones, that hasn't stopped the iPhone 16 rumors from arriving in earnest.
Indeed, we've already got a pretty solid picture of what the iPhone 16 and its siblings could bring to the mobile table later this year, not least because Apple teased its feature-packed iOS 18 update at WWDC 2024. The company's upcoming software overhaul will bring major upgrades to core iPhone apps on the iPhone 16 and other compatible models, so we're eagerly awaiting its arrival.
But away from iOS 18, there are plenty of other iPhone 16 leaks to be digested, and below, you’ll find everything we've heard so far. For a detailed look at the rest of Apple's upcoming best iPhone contenders, check out our dedicated iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max hubs.
iPhone 16: what you need to know
- The iPhone 16 range will likely be released in early September
- Expect the iPhone 16 to start at $799 / £799 / AU$1,499
- Four models are expected: the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max
- Expect a similar design as the iPhone 15, but with an Action button on all models and potentially a dedicated camera capture button
- The iPhone 16 family will likely get the A17 Pro chip or an A18 Pro chip
- RAM will probably come in at 8GB, while storage will likely start at 256GB and go up to 1TB for the Pro phones
- Camera hardware could be the same for the standard and Plus iPhone 16 models, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max is tipped to have big upgrades
- Battery upgrades are predicted, with hard ware changes tipped but we also forecast some software optimization
- All new iPhones will come with iOS 18
- All iPhone 16 models could come with a new smarter Siri and potentially some early Apple Intelligence AI features
- Color options look set to follow the iPhone 15's mix of green, pink, yellow and more, but we could see a purple colorway and a white option
iPhone 16 latest rumors and leaks
Apple’s biggest Siri upgrades may not land on iPhones until early next year, according to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman. And the iPhone 16 Pro has once again been tipped to match the Pro Max with 5x optical zoom.
iPhone 16 release date speculation
- Likely to launch in the first half of September 2024
- The shipping date will probably be a week or so later
If Apple sticks to tradition, we expect it to announce the release date for the iPhone 16 at the 2024 edition of its annual September launch event. We’re unlikely to learn the actual date of that event until sometime in August 2024, however we can use the dates of bygone Apple events to predict when next year’s Apple event might take place, and therefore when the iPhone 16 could hit shelves.
Apple generally picks the first or second week of September for its annual iPhone launches, and usually opts for a Tuesday, though occasionally the company goes for a Wednesday. The 2023 (read: iPhone 15) edition of Apple’s September event fell on September 12, with all four of the iPhone 15 models announced at the time going on sale just over a week later, on September 22.
That means September 3 or 10 are quite likely launch days for the iPhone 16 in 2024 (both dates are Tuesdays), though September 4 and 11 are possibilities, too. As with the iPhone 15, the iPhone 16 will probably begin shipping a week after pre-orders go live.
It's worth noting also that Apple started manufacturing screens for the iPhone 16 line in June, which is in line with previous years, suggesting the phones are on schedule.
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iPhone 16 price predictions
- Tipsters are in disagreement over iPhone 16 pricing
- But expect the iPhone 16 to start at around $799 / £799 / AU$1,499
For obvious reasons, we're unlikely to learn official iPhone 16 pricing until September, and tipsters are already divided over whether Apple will increase or decrease prices this year.
Currently, Apple's cheapest iPhone 15 model, the standard iPhone 15, starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,499, while its most expensive, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, starts at $1,199 / £1,399 / AU$2,099. These figures could be mimicked by the iPhone 16 line, just as the iPhone 15 mimicked the iPhone 14 line on the price front.
However, some analysts predict that the iPhone 16 could actually be cheaper than the iPhone 15. This is because Apple has reportedly switched the process it uses to manufacture iPhone chipsets, which could impact iPhone prices for the end consumer.
That said, on the flip side, the iPhone 16 could be more expensive than the iPhone 15 due to rising production costs. According to a recent Nikkei Asia report, the iPhone 15 Pro Max costs Apple $558 to produce; a 12% increase over the equivalent production cost of the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
We've similarly heard that the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max might have more expensive cameras, which could push their prices up.
If production costs continue to rise, Apple may be forced to increase iPhone 16 retail prices in a bid to protect its bottom line. In other words, we could be looking at an iPhone 16 that costs in excess of $799 / £799 / AU$1,499 at its most basic, with an iPhone 16 Pro Max that starts at more than $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,199.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that Apple may debut its first Ultra-branded iPhone in 2024. Initially, rumors purported that an iPhone 15 Ultra would be replacing the iPhone 15 Pro Max in 2023, but that didn't happen, and analysts now predict that an iPhone 16 Ultra could debut this year, instead.
It’s not yet clear whether this Ultra iPhone would arrive in addition to or instead of an iPhone 16 Pro Max, but it is almost certain that Apple’s first Ultra iPhone will be the most expensive iPhone ever.
iPhone 16 design rumors
- Standard iPhone 16 rumored to sport an iPhone 12-style camera layout
- iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max may use have a redesigned camera block
- Face ID components could be hidden under the screen
- Every model could feature a new 'Capture' button
The first big iPhone 16 design rumor refers to the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, exclusively. According to Twitter leaker @URedditor, the iPhone 16 will sport a vertical camera layout, rather than the diagonal setup used on every iPhone since the iPhone 13. “This will make the device instantly recognizable as the latest model” in 2024, @URedditor writes.
This rumor was further collaborated in February 2024, when Apple Hub shared (via X) a mock-up of the iPhone 16’s rear panel. Serial iPhone leaker Majin Bu also shared leaked iPhone 16 schematics – detailing an iPhone with an identical two-lens vertical camera layout – around the same time.
We've also had a camera component leak that seems to back up the idea that the rear camera lenses are going to be vertically aligned.
This was followed up by an image supposedly showing iPhone 16 camera molds and a mockup of the back of the phone, both of which also had this design. All the signs, then, are pointing in one direction as far as this rumor goes.
The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max could also have a redesigned camera block, but in this case the lenses might be housed in a raised triangle. It's an odd design and not one we're convinced will happen, but you never know.
When it comes to screen sizes, we're expecting the standard iPhone 16 to retain the 6.1-inch display of its predecessor. By contrast, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max could be the biggest iPhones yet.
Specifically, serial Apple tipster Ross Young claims that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Ultra (or iPhone 16 Pro Max, as it may be called) will boast 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch screens, respectively, with both phones getting a new 19.6:9 aspect ratio, too. This would make them the tallest and narrowest iPhones ever.
These 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch sizes have now been backed up by a second report, while a third leak similarly claims the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max screens will be 0.2 inches larger than their predecessors.
For reference, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max use 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screens, respectively, with every iPhone 15 model sporting an aspect ratio of 19.5:9.
Beyond the sizes, the iPhone 16 line might have brighter screens than their predecessors – at least when viewed from the front. Apple is reportedly considering incorporating tech that would allow for this, while also being more power efficient, so battery life might be improved.
The most interesting iPhone 16 design rumor we've heard so far applies to every model in the lineup. According to sources familiar with the development of the iPhone 16 line, Apple’s next smartphones will feature an additional, capacitive button, known internally as the "Capture" button. The source gives no hint as to the purpose of this new button, but its name suggests that it could somehow relate to the iPhone 16’s camera functionality.
Indeed, we've since heard from another leaker that the iPhone 16's Capture button will be “a new dedicated button for taking video.”
Unlike mechanical buttons, capacitive (or solid-state) buttons don’t move when pressed. Instead, they feature haptic engines that provide physical feedback (read: vibrations). The Home button on the iPhone SE (2022) is a capacitive button, as are the trackpads on newer MacBook models, so it’s safe to expect that this new "Capture" button will feel similar to the touch.
We've heard this mystery new iPhone 16 button mentioned by a third source now too, and they added that the Action button will also be capacitive. That said, one source has instead claimed that the iPhone 16's Capture button will be mechanical, and that it will let you zoom the camera in and out by swiping across it, focus the camera with a light press, and snap a photo or start recording a video with a hard press.
iPhone 16 color rumors
- Black, green, pink, blue and white look likely for the standard models
- Black, white, rose and gray for the Pro models
As for rumors relating to the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus colors, a leak suggests they'll be sold in pink, yellow, blue, green, black, white, and purple shades. That would be mostly the same as last year, but with the addition of white and purple. However, that's more colors than Apple usually offers, so we'd take this with a pinch of salt.
The same source has since claimed that the iPhone 16's green shade uses color-infused glass, much like the iPhone 15. As with that latter phone, it's likely, then, that every iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus shade will use color-infused glass.
We've also now heard possible colors for all four iPhone 16 models from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a great track record. They claim that the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max colors will be black, white (or possibly silver), rose (which fits with another iPhone 16 Pro colors leak), and gray (which they think will be marketed as ‘Natural Titanium’).
For the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, Kuo points to black, green, pink, blue, and white shades, which would mean the current yellow option is replaced with white (and with no mention of the purple shade leaked above).
iPhone 16 camera rumors
- Same cameras tipped for the standard models
- Periscope lens rumored for the Pro models
- 48MP ultra-wide lens rumored for the Pro models
- ‘Super-telephoto’ periscope lens was rumored for the Pro Max, but now looks unlikely
On the topic of cameras, the standard iPhone 16 could sport the same 48MP main and 12MP ultra-wide dual-sensor setup as the iPhone 15, and indeed early leaks suggest as much.
As usual, the more meaningful camera upgrades are likely destined for the iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max and/or iPhone 16 Ultra. Indeed, the iPhone 16 Pro could be the first mid-sized iPhone with a periscope zoom lens – a feature that’s currently exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max in 2023.
We've heard this rumor a few times now, with analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claiming as recently as September 2023 that the iPhone 16 Pro will inherit the ‘tetraprism’ periscope camera technology used by the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and analyst Jeff Pu saying the same about the iPhone 16 Pro in October.
Even more recently, Ming-Chi Kuo reiterated his 5x zoom camera claims, adding that the production yield on this camera is now much higher than it was, which might mean Apple is better able to equip multiple phones with it.
Periscope cameras – which get their name from their similarity to the instrument used on submarines and other naval vessels – essentially allow the viewer to zoom to extreme lengths while maintaining image quality. In the limited space of a phone's camera module, a periscope camera uses mirrors to allow for more lens elements, and therefore a longer zoom length – not to mention it can be mounted transversely.
As mentioned in the display section of this article, the larger 6.3-inch screen size of the iPhone 16 Pro will supposedly accommodate this inevitably hefty periscope camera.
The addition of a periscope zoom lens on the iPhone 16 Pro won’t necessarily bring parity between the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max (or iPhone 16 Ultra), however.
Indeed, some early reports suggested that this supersized 6.9-inch iPhone could get what’s known as a ‘super-telephoto’ periscope camera. ‘Super telephoto’ is a term used to describe lenses with focal lengths of over 300mm. Such lenses enable photographers to capture close-up images of distant scenes and subjects, like sporting events and wildlife.
Apple’s current iPhones are already among the best camera phones on the market, but this ‘super-telephoto’ periscope camera would represent a potentially game-changing upgrade for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. For comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x telephoto zoom camera sports a focal length of up to 120mm, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 10x telephoto zoom camera sports a focal length of 230mm.
Talk of this 'super telephoto' lens has since died down, and it's now looking more likely that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will have a 5x zoom again instead. But Apple may yet surprise us with a mega-zoom camera on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
On the materials front, we've heard that both the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max might use thin molded glass for their telephoto cameras, which could help them fit extended zooms distances into a similar size.
Apple's iPhone 16 Pro models are rumored to get a 48MP ultra-wide camera, too, which would mark a big improvement over the 12MP ultra-wide camera currently used by the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
The ultra-wide setup on Apple’s current best iPhones isn’t bad, by any means – the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max take consistently bright and vibrant wide-angle photos. However, this rumored 48MP ultra-wide lens on the iPhone 16 Pro should capture much more light, resulting in even more impressive low-light photos.
Indeed, both the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max already boast a 48MP main camera that uses "pixel binning" technology to merge data from four pixels into one "super pixel” for improved low-light image capture, and this technology will presumably make its way into the iPhone 16 Pro’s rumored 48MP ultra-wide lens.
We've heard talk of both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max getting a 48MP ultra-wide camera multiple times now, with a recent leaker adding that the iPhone 16 Pro Max could also get a new (but still 48MP) main sensor, and echoing other reports that the iPhone 16 Pro will get a 5x telephoto.
However, they don't mention a 'super telephoto' camera for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, saying instead that this will stick with the same 5x zoom as the current model.
iPhone 16: software and features
- iOS 18 will bring several upgrades to core iPhone apps
- Apple Intelligence will bring Google Gemini-like features to the iPhone 16 line
Apple confirmed the existence of iOS 18 at WWDC 2024, so we've already got an insight into the type of software that the iPhone 16 will run.
The huge OS update – which is destined for any iPhone newer than the iPhone XS – will bring significant upgrades to core iPhone apps including Mail, Messages, Photos and Wallet later this year, so the experience of using the iPhone 16 will be markedly different to that of older iPhones.
On top of the aesthetic changes to Mail, Messages, Wallet and other core apps, though, the iPhone 16 line will also feature Apple's new Apple Intelligence toolset, which will help users process and create language and images, take actions on their behalf, and speed up everyday tasks.
Apple has confirmed that Apple Intelligence features will be exclusive to A17 Pro-equipped phones like the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, but if the standard iPhone 16 also gets an A17 Pro chipset (or an even newer chipset), then these features will presumably be made available on every iPhone 16 model, regardless of their nomenclature.
Indeed, prior to WWDC, we'd heard that the chipset likely to power the iPhone 16 line could have "significantly" more cores in its Neural Engine, and that the A18 Pro might also have a larger die area, all of which should benefit the AI capabilities of every iPhone 16 model.
Apple is also reportedly going to upgrade the microphones on the iPhone 16 line, so that Siri – which is set to receive a major ChatGPT update in iOS 18 – can hear you better and respond more accurately.
iPhone 16: specs rumors
- A17 Pro or A18 chipset likely for iPhone 16
- A18 Pro/Bionic chipset likely for Pro models
Given that the standard iPhone 15 inherited the A16 Bionic chipset from the iPhone 14 Pro, and both the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max got Apple's shiny new A17 Pro chipset, we think that the standard iPhone 16 will inherit the A17 Pro from the iPhone 15 Pro, while the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max gets an as yet unnamed A18 Pro/Bionic.
That said, one leak points to every iPhone 16 model having an A18 chipset, so they might all be equally powerful. The source notes, however, that it's possible there will still be some differentiation, with the Pro phones perhaps having a Pro version of the chipset.
Disappointingly, even the A18 Pro might not be massively powerful, with one leak stating that the A18 Pro is just around 10% more powerful than the A17 Pro, and another suggesting that it will be less powerful than the rival Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. We've also heard that the A18 Pro probably won't support LPDDR6 RAM, which could put it at a disadvantage compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 when it comes to AI tasks.
Either way, though, these chipsets will inevitably bring superior performance and longevity to the iPhone 16 line, compared to the iPhone 15, but Apple’s processors have become so efficient in recent years that these upgrades are likely to appear negligible when it comes to real-world use. In any case, leakers have indeed suggested that the entire iPhone 16 range will be kitted out with 3nm chips.
For RAM, one leak suggests that all four iPhone 16 models will have 8GB. That would be an upgrade for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, but no change for the Pro models. We've since heard from another source that the base iPhone 16 might have either 8GB of RAM or 256GB of storage, or both, with the extra being there to benefit AI.
We've also heard that the iPhone 16 Pro models might support Wi-Fi 7 and have a new 5G modem according to one leak, which would mean upgraded Wi-Fi and 5G speeds, which the standard iPhone 16 models wouldn't be able to match.
Claims regarding 8GB of RAM for all iPhone 16 models and a 5G modem upgrade for the Pro models have since been reiterated by the same source three months later, which suggests they're very confident of this.
We've also heard about storage, with the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max reportedly getting up to 2TB, which would be double the current capacity. This is reportedly due to a change in storage technology, with the new tech taking up less space and potentially also being cheaper, but slower and less reliable.
iPhone 16: battery and charger rumors
- Bigger batteries tipped for all models except the Plus
On the battery front, serial Apple tipster Majin Bu has teased (via X) that the iPhone 16 will feature a 6% larger battery than the iPhone 15 (3,561mAh vs 3,349 mAh), while the iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature a 5% larger battery than the iPhone 15 Pro Max (4,676mAh vs 4,422mAh).
Bu has “not been able to obtain information on the Pro model for the moment,” but the tipster does write that the iPhone 16 Plus – in stark contrast to its siblings – will feature a 9% smaller battery than the iPhone 15 Plus.
These same claims have been echoed in another iPhone 16 battery leak, which this time does include the iPhone 16 Pro. That will apparently have a a 3,355mAh battery, which would be 2% bigger than the 3,290mAh battery in the iPhone 15 Pro.
Elsewhere, all four iPhone 15 models were rumored to come with a new stacked battery design – of the sort used in electric vehicles – so there's a chance that this more efficient battery technology will make its way into Apple’s 2024 iPhones.
In theory, stacked batteries can be more tightly packaged and offer a higher energy density than current mobile batteries, so the iPhone 16 series may offer serious battery life improvements over the iPhone 15 line if true.
We've heard a similar claim more recently, with respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claiming that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will have a higher energy density battery, though they're uncertain whether that will translate to a greater capacity or the same capacity in less space.
We've also elsewhere heard that the iPhone 16 Pro Max could have the biggest and longest lasting battery ever in an iPhone.
The iPhone 16 line might all include graphene heat sinks too, according to one source, with the Pro models additionally having a metal battery housing. This is to help keep them cooler, so they can avoid the overheating issues of the iPhone 15 series.
Beyond that, we expect Apple to offer reverse wireless charging functionality across the entire iPhone 16 line. Oh, and like the iPhone 15 line, every iPhone 16 model will sport a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port, thanks to new EU regulations that become legally binding in 2024.
My analysis
Roland Moore-Colyer has been covering iPhone rumors, news, analysis, hands-on experiences and more for around a decade. Having moved from Android to iPhone, he's an experienced users of the best iPhones, tapping into their hardware and software features, and putting the cameras through extensive testing.
At the time of writing, I'm torn between trying to figure out if the iPhone 16 (from the standard model to the Pro versions) will be significant or iterative upgrades over the iPhone 15 lineup.
A lot of promising upgrade have been tipped, such as new chips and bigger batteries. But I find the overall hardware experience of Apple's smartphones to be top-notch, especially since the iPhone 13 Pro brought in a 120Hz refresh rate. So aside from bringing that refresh rate to the standard nad Plus models, and maybe the titanium chassis as seen in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, I'm not sure where Apple can go next.
However, I'm hopeful about the Action button coming to all iPhone 16 models and the scope for upgrades in how it can be used. And I'm keen to see how new AI features could be integrated into new iPhones to make the use of smart tools feel seamless.
Overall, I've become accustomed to Apple choosing evolution over revolution when it comes to its iPhones. I'm just hoping all these tipped minor upgrades add up to something significant and see the iPhone 16 take a shot at the best phones spot.
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Axel is TechRadar's UK-based Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site's Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion. Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.
- James Rogerson
- Roland Moore-ColyerManaging Editor, Mobile Computing