The iPhone 16 series is likely to launch in less than 2 months. Apple has a track record of launching its latest iPhones in September every year. This year, the company is expected to announce the new device in the same month. As July is about to end in about 2 weeks and we are inching closer to the iPhone 16 launch event, here is a quick look at the leaked design changes and specs of the 2024 iPhones. Here are the details.

iPhone 16 series will be launched soon: leaked specifications and design changes

Design changes leaked

Apple is reportedly planning to use a new ultra-thin bezel technology, Border Reduction Structure (BRS), to maximize display size on the iPhone 16 series. BRS reduces the bezel at the bottom of the display by rolling the internal copper wiring into a more compact package. This technology will be applied to all four iPhone 16 models, with the Pro models having the thinnest bezels of any smartphone.

All iPhone 16 models will have a new “capture button” dedicated to triggering image or video capture. Located on the bottom right, this button will allow users to zoom, focus, and start recording with varying levels of pressure. iPhone 16 Pro models will have an improved finishing process for the titanium chassis, resulting in a more polished look compared to the brushed finish of the iPhone 15 Pro models. The new finish will also be less susceptible to scratches compared to stainless steel.

The base model of the iPhone 16 series will have a vertical camera arrangement with a pill-shaped raised surface, as opposed to the diagonal arrangement of the iPhone 15. The new camera bump has separate rings for the wide and ultra wide cameras, enabling spatial video recording, which was previously limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models.

New chipset?

Apple’s next-generation A18 Pro chip, manufactured with TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process (N3E), is expected to be in all four iPhone 16 models. The A18 chip will support Apple Intelligence features debuting in iOS 18, which require a high-powered chip for on-device AI functionality.

More storage and RAM? Graphene thermal system?

Apple is rumoured to be working on a graphene thermal system for the iPhone 16 lineup, with the Pro models possibly featuring metal battery casings to reduce overheating. Graphene’s high thermal conductivity could improve heat management, an answer to the overheating issues faced by the iPhone 15 Pro. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max could feature up to 2TB of storage, which is double the maximum capacity of the iPhone 15 Pro models. Additionally, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models are rumoured to have 8GB of RAM, an upgrade from 6GB in the iPhone 15 models.

Camera leaks

Apple is testing a new anti-reflective optical coating technology for its iPhone cameras that could improve photo quality by reducing artifacts such as lens flare and ghosting. The coating, applied using atomic layer deposition (ALD) equipment, would also protect the camera lens system from environmental damage without affecting light capture.

The iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to feature an upgraded 48-megapixel ultra wide camera lens, allowing for better low-light performance and 48-megapixel ProRAW photos in ultra wide mode. The iPhone 16 Pro Max may also feature a super telephoto periscope camera, which will significantly improve optical zoom capabilities. Both iPhone 16 Pro models will feature 5x optical zoom, which is currently exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Battery, charging leaks

As per rumours, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature bigger batteries than their previous models, with capacity increasing by 6% and 5% respectively. However, the iPhone 16 Plus could see a 9% reduction in battery capacity. Apple could use stacked battery technology to increase energy density and extend lifespan across the lineup. The iPhone 16 series is also expected to feature support for 40W wired fast charging and 20W MagSafe charging, addressing the increased charging time due to the larger battery. But, nothing has been officially confirmed yet.