[Rumors Summary] Everything about the iPhone 16. Is it finally a true all-screen device? (Updated August 8th)

Even though I’m told “it will come out if I wait,” I still can’t help but worry.

Apple’s iPhone is expected to be the ” iPhone 16 ” series this year, and various rumors are already circulating.

The accuracy of these rumors varies widely, but if they’re true, this year’s iPhone is definitely one to aim for! There are rumors of big changes, so if you want to make a good purchase, it’s essential to start keeping your ears open from now on.

So, here we will summarize the rumors about the iPhone 16 coming this year.

Rather than just waiting, gather information now to raise your motivation and decide which iPhone model is best for you .

iPhone 16 announcement and release date

The latest rumor is that the device will be announced on September 10th and pre-orders will begin on September 13th.

Usually, the iPhone is announced around the second week of September . The cycle of release is repeated the following week or the week after that , and there probably won’t be any big changes this year, so the probability is high. Let’s get ready!

iPhone 16 lineup (standard 4 lineup, but Ultra may be added?)

The lineup for the iPhone 16 series is currently expected to be the standard four-part lineup . That is…

・iPhone 16

・iPhone 16 Plus

・iPhone 16 Pro

・iPhone 16 Pro Max

There are four types:

There are rumors that the Pro series will have more “capture buttons” on the side and a larger screen size . The inch size may be larger than the current model (iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max).

In addition, there has been a theory since last year that an iPhone Ultra that will surpass the Pro Max will be released , but for now, the possibility is a little low. It doesn’t seem to be in iOS 18, which is currently in development …

Will the iPhone 16’s display be ‘true all-screen’?

The details are still unclear, but the screen may change quite a bit!

1. Will the camera move to the bottom of the screen for a truly full screen experience?

There is a rumor that I am looking forward to, and it is that the camera punch hole will disappear and be embedded under the screen . In other words, there will be nothing in the way of the screen , making it a true full screen . This is… I’m looking forward to it!

2. Could the panels be even more energy-efficient? [Updated 7/11]

Although it won’t be a change in appearance, there are also rumors of a change to the OLED panel .

Although it’s the same OLED, Samsung’s new M14 OLED panel is 20% brighter than the previous model, and may be more power efficient.

3. Will the iPhone 16 come in 5 or 7 colors? The Pro will likely come in more colors as well [Updated 8/2]

In terms of design, the color scheme is also worth paying attention to. Every year, the iPhone has a recommended color! So what about this year? There are rumors that the iPhone 16 will be available in a total of seven colors, including white and purple, and there are also rumors that it will be available in five colors . It is said that the texture will be similar to the iPhone 15, with a smooth panel like sea glass . There are rumors that the Pro series will add gold or a deeper rose color, and another source has predicted a bronze color . If true, white will be back for the first time since the iPhone 12. The titanium matte gold and bronze look elegant, and rose is also a popular color in the history of the iPhone. All of the new colors are sure to be popular!

4. Will a “capture button” be added to the side? [Updated 4/11]

Leaked CAD renderings and metal models reveal buttons on the side.

Also, the case that claims to be for the iPhone 16 Pro has a gaping hole in the button area, and the image of the iPhone 16 case also looks like it has a recess in that area.

This is expected to be a “capture button” for taking videos .

Is it to turn the camera on and off? Or to zoom? If you could adjust the focus by pressing the button halfway, it would be cool, just like a real camera.

5. The bezels will be thin, and the Pro model is likely to have a larger screen [Updated 5/17]

There’s a black “bezel” that surrounds the screen. It seems there are plans to make it even thinner for the iPhone 16 series .

This will utilize an ultra-thin bezel technology called “BRS (Border Reduction Structure),” and it’s possible that thin bezels will also be adopted for the non-Pro iPhone 16 series !

Also, the notes for the mockup that were leaked recently included the following screen sizes:

・iPhone 16 Pro Max…6.9 inches

・iPhone 16 Pro…6.3 inches

・iPhone 16…6.1 inches

・iPhone 16 Plus…6.7 inches

The Pro Max is almost 7 inches, so you can enjoy dynamic images without needing a tablet!

6. Is there an update to the invisible MagSafe? [Added 5/9]

There may be updates not only in visible places, but also in invisible places .

Looking at the leaked mockup , the MagSafe ring (which magnetically attaches chargers and accessories) on the inside of the device is also thinner than that of the iPhone 15 series.

It should still be compatible with compatible accessories, so I don’t think it’s something we need to worry about, but if it makes it a little lighter thanks to this…that’s nice!

The camera could be a big change for the iPhone 16

The iPhone’s camera gets better every year.

This trend is unlikely to change this year, but it looks like the iPhone 16 series will see even bigger changes to the camera than ever before .

1. Will the camera layout change on the iPhone 16? [Updated 6/7]

Multiple sources predict that the iPhone 16 will have a vertical camera .

The image above is an image provided by MacRumors, in which the camera lens cover (the transparent part around the lens) has been reduced in size and the camera is positioned vertically .

The leaker has leaked images of the camera chassis parts , renderings based on CAD information , and images that are said to be metal models . There are even images of the molded case and a model with the camera and parts clearly visible! Everything is vertical, vertical, vertical.

Personally, I like the vertical layout because it reminds me of the iPhone X, but isn’t the size of this camera too big? I’m a bit worried.

By the way, the lens configuration is expected to remain the same, with wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses. There is also a theory that the lens will be vertically oriented to accommodate spatial video shooting .

Comparing the iPhone 15 with the mockup , it appears that there is more white space on the back, making the phone appear lighter.

So what about the iPhone 16 Pro, which has many cameras? It might look like a Philips shaver. There’s a ridiculous theory!

Can you all believe this? It’s novel, but I don’t really want to believe it…

2. The Pro model may also have a super telephoto camera! [Updated 7/11]

There are also rumors of camera changes for the iPhone 16 Pro.

A tetraprism-type 5x optical telephoto camera will also be coming to the iPhone 16 Pro . There are rumors that the camera performance will be unified across the Pro series .

This rumor has been circulating since November last year , shortly after the release of the iPhone 15 series, but the same topic has since been reported by multiple sources .

Similar information has been released by an Asian research company and a supplier of telephoto tetraprism lenses , so can we really trust this information?

3. Will the ultra-wide-angle camera have higher image quality? Will the dynamic range be further expanded? [Updated 7/4]

Since the iPhone 16 Pro series is a camera-focused iPhone, there are still rumors of improved image quality .

There are rumors that the ultra-wide-angle camera will be upgraded from the current 12 megapixels to 48 megapixels , and there are also rumors that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will be equipped with an image sensor that is 12% larger than before.

There are also rumors that the camera will include processing to reduce ghosting and flare, which can be a nuisance when taking night photos , so maybe night scenes will be captured more romantically!

We’ve heard a lot about the camera’s performance , so maybe it’s pretty much confirmed…? If so, then maybe it’s time to aim for the high-quality and emotional Pro Max!

There may be changes to the microphone and buttons on the iPhone 16

The way you use an iPhone remains fundamentally the same.

There’s a myth like that, but the way things are done has changed surprisingly (I was surprised to see the home button gone). And it looks like the change in buttons will come with the iPhone 16 as well .

1. All models come equipped with an “action button”

There are rumors that the “action button” used in the iPhone 15 Pro series will be adopted in all models in the iPhone 16 series .

And maybe it will be equipped with a pressure sensor. In other words, it might not be a physical button anymore, but a touch sensor type button! That’s what I’m talking about. If that’s true, what will it feel like to press it?

2. Will a “capture button” be added for taking photos? [Updated 5/9]

It looks like the iPhone 16 Pro (and maybe the iPhone 16 as well) will have even more buttons .

The rumors first started to emerge around September of last year , when rumors emerged that the iPhone 16 Pro series would add a “capture button” for taking photos .

The same rumor then emerged from a different source , and more recently , images of a non-Pro iPhone 16 case hinted at the presence of the button.

Another thing that all the images of the case have in common is that only the button area is cut out , so this is probably a touch sensor!

As for its use, the most popular theory so far is that it could be used as a button for recording 3D videos, or that it could respond to a half-press like a camera shutter .

Maybe this year’s iPhones will be able to be used in an even more camera-like way?

3. Your microphone might perform better.

Not only will there be visible changes, but also invisible ones. For example, the microphone may be reconsidered .

The iPhone’s microphone is already excellent enough, but it will be upgraded to make it even easier to hear people’s voices ! It is speculated (or imagined?) that this is Apple’s ambition to run Siri with generative AI .

“If we’re going to use voice input to generate AI, we need to improve the microphone performance,” is Apple’s logic of striving for perfection. …It’s possible!

Will the iPhone 16 series’ battery specs also be upgraded? …But!

Battery life is also important.

There are both good and bad stories about the battery size of the iPhone 16 series .

First of all, the battery size is likely to increase . Some people even speculate that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will last more than 30 hours . Amazing.

On the other hand, there is also a theory that the iPhone 16 Plus will have a reduced capacity … To summarize the increase and decrease from the iPhone 15 series …

・iPhone 16 → 3,561 mAh (6.3% increase)

・iPhone 16 Plus → 4,006 mAh (8.6% decrease)

・iPhone 16 Pro → 3,355 mAh (2.5% increase) / 3,577mAh (8.7% increase)

・iPhone 16 Pro Max → 4,676 mAh (5.7% increase)

The latest leak suggests that the iPhone 16 Pro will have a significantly increased capacity, so this is something to keep an eye on .

There are also rumors that the battery’s heat dissipation material may be changed from copper to graphene, which has higher conductivity, and that the battery cover may be made of metal to make it easier to replace the battery .

Replacing the battery yourself… It’s a bit risky on an iPhone, so I don’t want to do it… If you want to make your iPhone battery last longer, please refer to this article .

What are the specs of the iPhone 16 series?

There are still many theories regarding the specs, but we are hearing a variety of rumors, including predictions.

1. Will all models use the A18 chip?

For the past few years, the non-Pro iPhones have been using the previous generation chip. In the current iPhone 15 series, only the Pro models use the A17 chip, while the non-Pro models use the A16 chip.

However, there are rumors that all models will be renewed to A18 this year.

This is a good adjustment, as it eliminates the disappointment of buying a new model only to find that the chip isn’t the latest one. However, I hope that this will not be passed on to the cost.

2. Will all models get 8GB of RAM?

There are also rumors of an increase in RAM.

In the iPhone 15 series, only the Pro model has 8GB of RAM. The entry-level iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus have a slightly smaller 6GB of RAM. It seems that all models in the iPhone 16 series will have 8GB of RAM .

The more memory you have, the smoother your multitasking will be, so that’s something to look forward to! It means you’ll have more room for comfort.

3. Will Wi-Fi 7 ever arrive?

I think we can also have high expectations for Wi-Fi standards.

According to the information we have now, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will have Wi-Fi 6E , while the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are rumored to support Wi-Fi 7.

These standards are compatible with the new 6GHz band, so you can now fly through sparsely populated highways. Video downloads will also be faster and more stable, I’m sure!

4. On-device AI features seem like they could be useful! [Updated 6/20]

There were rumors that the iPhone 16 would be AI-compatible, with rumors that a large-scale language model (LLM) function might be added to Siri , and that the company had teamed up with OpenAI, known for ChatGPT, to develop AI models .

This was the correct answer.

Apple’s generative AI, “Apple Intelligence,” was officially announced as a new feature of iOS 18 at the developer conference “WWDC 24.”

To briefly summarize the features:

・”Apple Intelligence” is a hybrid AI function that works on-device and on a server

– It can also summarize emails, create replies, summarize text, and generate images.

・Siri becomes smarter and can respond across apps and functions.

・You can also use Chat-GPT as a third-party AI!

For more details on what you can do, please click here .

Some have speculated that some on-device features may be exclusive to the iPhone 16 series , but since support for the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max has now been announced, it is almost certain that they will be available on the iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max.

On the other hand, compatibility with the iPhone 16 (non-Pro) is a bit of a mystery at this point. I hope it works.

However, this AI function will not be released on the same day as the iPhone, but will be officially released next year . Japanese support will probably be available after next year. Let’s wait patiently.

Summary: It looks like it’s going to be a year of change with a ton of new features. Waiting is the answer.

That was a quick summary of the rumors about the iPhone 16 series.

Of course, these are all just rumors, predictions, and speculations. There is no confirmed information (for now). Still, when people say it might have a vertical camera, or when information about the camera sensor and the latest chip comes out, I get excited. Because, if all of this is true, the changes in this year’s iPhone are amazing!

The iPhone 16 series is likely to be a year of such changes. We’ll be updating this regularly as we’re sure there will be more and more exciting rumors coming out in the future.