Apple will reveal the new iPhone 16 series in early September—you can read exactly when that will happen here. In the meantime, here’s everything we think is coming for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, the most powerful models in the series. And for details of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, check this out.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro: the next model will have cameras that look the same but perform much better.
The new Pro models will have bigger screens, come in new colors and have better cameras. They’ll have a faster processor than the regular iPhone 16. All four phones will handle the eye-catching new Apple Intelligence software.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro And iPhone 16 Pro Max: Design And Cameras
While the regular iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will have a similar look and screen size to the current 2023 models, we can expect something different from the Pro models. The current 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays will be replaced by 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch screens, the biggest yet on the iPhone.
That means bigger phones, of course, but not that much bigger, perhaps 3mm taller and 1mm wider on the 16 Pro compared to last year’s phone, and around 7 grams heavier. The larger Pro Max will be around 3mm taller and less than 1mm wider and weigh all of 4 grams more than the current version. Both phones are expected to have the same thickness as now.
If these dimensions are gentler increases than you might have thought, some of the extra screen real estate is provided by narrower bezels.
As for colors, expect the brushed titanium edges color-matched to the phone’s rear glass to continue. The current range is quite muted, and this is likely to be the same this year, but the Blue Titanium finish may be dropped in favor of a bronze or rose gold shade which will likely pop a little more.
The cameras will be improved on the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, with the tetraprism in the 15 Pro Max’s telephoto coming to both sizes of Pro this time. New lens technology could also be deployed and the ultra-wide could see the pixel count increase from 12 megapixels to 48 megapixels.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro And iPhone 16 Pro Max: Capture Button
The new iPhone Pro models are expected to have an all-new button designed for shooting video and taking photographs. “It will operate like a button on a DSLR camera, allowing you to press in slightly to trigger autofocus. A harder press will take the picture. You can also swipe along the button to zoom in and out while shooting photos and videos,” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter. Some analysts say the Capture Button will be on the regular iPhones, too.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro And iPhone 16 Pro Max: Processor
In 2023, the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro came with different processors. This year, all four iPhones will likely sport a new A18 processor. “All four models will now have 8 gigabytes of memory as well. That’s the minimum needed to run Apple Intelligence,” says Gurman.
This does not, please note, mean the processor will be the same in all four phones. Don’t be surprised if the Pro models have an extra capability or two or feature a different graphics capability.
Faster Wi-Fi is likely to be on board the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max in the form of Wi-Fi 7 for the first time.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro And iPhone 16 Pro Max: Battery Life
There have been reports of new battery design which will either mean there’ll be longer battery life or, and I’d say more likely, stay the same while managing to handle all the extra demands that new features and Apple Intelligence may put on the new iPhones. The iPhone 16 Pro is likely to benefit most from battery size enhancements. And it will probably have better thermal capacity to aid longer battery life.
Other updates include a new microphone to improve Siri, an improved main camera sensor and new ways to watch video.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro And iPhone 16 Pro Max: Release Date
The next Apple keynote will likely take place on or around Tuesday, September 10, at 10 a.m. Pacific, though this could slip a day earlier or two days later. Either way, pre-orders will surely begin on Friday, September 13, and the new iPhones will be on sale on Friday, September 20.