Currently, dozens of specific rumors about features and improvements about the iPhone 16 Pro models have emerged.
Now, the predictions for the iPhone 16 Pro models are quite complete, even though they are still about 7 months away from being officially announced. Below is 9to5mac's most detailed summary of the iPhone 16 Pro/ iPhone 16 Pro Max when compared with the pair of predecessors.
Illustration.
Screen
Both iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to have larger displays than their predecessors, making the iPhone 16 Pro Max the largest iPhone ever. The OLED display also reportedly features improvements to the technology.
| iPhone 15 Pro/ iPhone 15 Pro Max | iPhone 16 Pro/ iPhone 16 Pro Max |
| 6.1 inches or 6.7 inches | 6.3 inches/ 6.9 inches |
| Brighter OLED display with micro lens technology |
Chips, heat and connections
Essentially, the iPhone 16 Pro models will bring notable improvements in processing power, thermal management, and connectivity, from a more powerful “A18 Pro” chip to an advanced thermal design and enhanced connectivity options, including the latest Wi-Fi standards.
| iPhone 15 Pro Duo | iPhone 16 Pro Duo |
| A17 Pro chip (TSMC's 3nm N3B process) | A18 Pro chip (TSMC's 3nm N3E advanced process) |
| Copper heatsink design and black foil battery case | Graphene heatsink design and metal battery case |
Snapdragon X70 5G Modem | Snapdragon X75 5G |
| Wifi 6E | Wifi 7 |
Camera
The iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to get a host of significant camera improvements, such as a larger main camera sensor, a 48-megapixel sensor on the ultra-wide camera, and a dedicated button for taking photos and videos on the side.
| iPhone 15 Pro Pair | iPhone 16 Pro Pair | |
| Capture button | Do not have | "Shutter button" for photo and video capture features |
| Main camera | 1/1.28 inch main camera sensor | iPhone 16 Pro Max : 1/1.14-inch main camera sensor (12% larger) |
Sony IMX-803 sensor | iPhone 16 Pro Max : Sony IMX-903 main camera sensor with stacked design for better performance, 14-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) and Digital Gain Control (DCG) for better dynamic range and noise reduction | |
7P main camera lens | 8P main camera lens | |
| Telephoto camera | iPhone 15 Pro: Telephoto camera with second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization iPhone 15 Pro Max : Telephoto camera with larger sensor, folded quad-prism design, optical image stabilization, and 3D sensor-shift autofocus module | Larger sensor, quad-prism folded design, optical image stabilization, and 3D sensor-shift autofocus module |
iPhone 15 Pro : Maximum focal length 77mm iPhone 15 Pro Max : Maximum focal length 120mm | iPhone 16 Pro : Maximum focal length 120mm iPhone 16 Pro Max : "Super" telephoto camera with focal length over 300mm | |
iPhone 15 Pro : 0.5x, 1x, 2x and 3x optical zoom iPhone 15 Pro Max : 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 3x and 5x optical zoom (5x only on Pro Max) | Optical zoom 0.5x, 1x, 2x and 5x | |
4P telephoto camera lens | 5P telephoto camera lens | |
| Ultra wide angle camera | 12MP | 48MP |
5P Ultra Wide Camera Lens | 6P ultra wide camera lens |
Battery and charger
The iPhone 16 Pro models could get some major improvements in battery and charging technology, featuring larger, denser batteries and faster charging capabilities.
Other features and changes
While many Apple devices are rumored to receive a slew of new AI-based features via software updates later this year, the iPhone 16 Pro models will take these features further with exclusive features and upgraded microphones.
| iPhone 15 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro |
Support for new AI features in iOS 18 | Support for new AI features in iOS 18, including a suite of device-specific AI features |
| Normal microphone | Upgraded microphone with improved noise cancellation and improved water resistance, supports new AI features |
| Up to 1TB internal memory | Up to 2TB internal memory |
Size
To accommodate the device's larger display, both iPhone 16 Pro models will increase both height and width, with no change in thickness.
| iPhone 15 Pro Duo | iPhone 16 Pro Duo | |
| Length | iPhone 15 Pro: 146.6mm iPhone 15 Pro Max: 159.9mm | iPhone 16 Pro: 149.6mm iPhone 16 Pro Max: 163.0mm |
| Width | iPhone 15 Pro: 70.60mm iPhone 15 Pro Max: 76.70mm | iPhone 16 Pro: 71.45mm iPhone 16 Pro Max: 77.58mm |
| Thickness | iPhone 15 Pro: 187g iPhone 15 Pro Max: 221g | iPhone 16 Pro: 194g iPhone 16 Pro Max: 225g |
The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are expected to launch this fall. Apple typically holds an event in September each year to introduce new iPhone models and puts them on sale a week later.
Recently, source Majin Bu made predictions for this year's iPhone 16 series. Accordingly, the standard iPhone 16 pair will have a redesigned rear camera cluster with vertically stacked lenses like the iPhone X.
iPhone 16 render.
Rumors of Apple moving to a vertical camera array for the iPhone 16 have been circulating for a while now, and the schematics that have been revealed are pretty consistent with other features expected to arrive on the 2024 iPhone lineup, including a capacitive shutter button.
iPhone 16: From schematics to renders
From schematics to renders, the iPhone 16 looks quite similar to the iPhone X from 2017. Apple's 10th-generation iPhone also had a vertically stacked camera array. This style was maintained until the iPhone 13 with a diagonal rear camera cluster.
So why did Apple go back to the older layout? It’s likely that Vision Pro has a lot to do with it, since the iPhone 16’s dual lenses can shoot space-based video simultaneously. But for that to work, both lenses need to be parallel to each other.
iPhone 16 render.
Shooting spatial videos is also one of the reasons why the iPhone 15 Pro Max switches the positions of the telephoto lens and the ultra-wide lens, ensuring that the main lens and the ultra-wide lens can be placed side by side and shoot 3D videos side by side.
This 'new' look for the iPhone 16 could help alleviate confusion among iPhone users, create a more unique identity for the iPhone 16, and potentially open the door for Apple's engineers and designers to continue taking risks.
Conclusion
The changes that will come to the iPhone 16 are welcome changes that will hopefully differentiate it from previous iPhone models.
iPhone 16 render.
Of course, the current images are just prototypes and things could still change. But with the Vision Pro glasses establishing themselves as part of the Apple ecosystem, it makes sense for Apple to equip its iPhone 16 Series with everything it needs to shoot space videos, making them more appealing than just their exterior design.