The clock is ticking. In the next 24 hours, Apple will finally host its most anticipated iPhone launch event of the year. The event is scheduled for Monday, September 9 at its Cupertino, California headquarters. With an “It’s Glowtime” theme, Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 16 lineup, as well as updates to the Apple Watch and AirPods.

Let’s take a detailed look at why the upcoming iPhone 16 series is creating so much hype and what we expect from the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models.

iPhone 16 will have design changes and a bigger display

As per Apple’s lineup strategy for the past few years, we expect the iPhone 16 lineup to continue with four models: iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are rumoured to retain their familiar 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screens. However, for the base variants, Apple is speculated to introduce a new vertical camera setup, different from the diagonal arrangement of the iPhone 15 series. This new design is said to align with Apple’s plan to support spatial video recording on the standard models, a feature that was previously exclusive to the Pro models.

Meanwhile, the premium iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will largely retain the design of the iPhone 15 Pro line, but with one key difference: a larger display. The iPhone 16 Pro will have a 6.3-inch screen, while the Pro Max will have a 6.9-inch display, both of which are slightly larger than their previous models.

In addition, the Pro models are said to have thinner bezels, providing a sleeker look and allowing for a more immersive viewing experience. Apple is also rumoured to refresh its colour options, introducing a gold titanium finish for the Pro models, replacing last year’s blue titanium.

New buttons: Action and Capture

The iPhone 16 series is also expected to introduce two notable new buttons that are set to enhance the user experience: the Action button and the Capture button. The Action button, previously exclusive to the Pro models, is now expected to be available on the standard iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, adding an extra layer of customisation by allowing users to assign specific functions, such as quickly launching apps, toggling settings or activating accessibility features.

Meanwhile, the Pro model is rumored to have an all-new capture button located on the right side of the phone. This touch-sensitive button mimics the functionality of a DSLR camera shutter, with multiple pressure levels for focusing and capturing photos or videos. Users will be able to press lightly to focus, press hard to take a shot, and swipe to switch between still and video modes or zoom in and out.

Powerful A18 series chip

Apple upgrades its processors with every new generation of iPhone, and this year we expect no less. One of the most significant upgrades in the iPhone 16 series is the introduction of the A18 chip, which is a leap forward from the A16 chip used in the iPhone 15. Manufactured using TSMC’s cutting-edge 3nm process, the A18 chip promises significant improvements in performance and energy efficiency. This advanced chip will power on-device AI processing, enabling features like Apple Intelligence – a new AI suite that includes an updated Siri with advanced capabilities.

The A18 chip is also expected to boost the overall performance of the iPhone 16 series, improving gaming, multitasking, and everyday use. The iPhone 16 models are also expected to feature 8GB of RAM, up from 6GB in the iPhone 15 series, which will further support these advanced features and ensure a smoother, faster experience across the board.

Big battery and fast charging

Battery life and charging speed are other key features where the iPhone 16 series is expected to see significant improvements. The Pro models are expected to include stacked battery technology, which allows for higher capacity and longer battery life without increasing the size of the device.

Additionally, the iPhone 16 series is rumoured to support 40W wired charging and 20W MagSafe charging, a significant upgrade from the 27W charging speed of the iPhone 15 series.

Apple Intelligence in all models

Apple is focusing heavily on AI with this year’s iPhone lineup, introducing its new Apple Intelligence Platform across all models. This suite of AI tools will include an updated version of Siri that’s more responsive and able to handle complex tasks. Initially, Apple Intelligence will focus on summarizing messages and information, with more advanced interactive features expected in future updates.

Powerful camera and much more

The camera will be another big highlight for the new generation iPhone 16 series. The iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to get substantial camera upgrades, including a 48-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera compared to the 12-megapixel sensor on the iPhone 15 Pro.

Connectivity is also expected to improve, with the iPhone 16 Pro models expected to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X75 modem for faster and more efficient 5G connectivity. Wi-Fi 7 integration is also expected on the Pro models, while the standard iPhone 16 models will upgrade to Wi-Fi 6E.

Expected price of iPhone 16 series

The iPhone 16 series is expected to retain the same pricing structure as its previous models. In the US market, the iPhone 16 is rumoured to start at $799, while the iPhone 16 Plus could start at $899. As for the Pro models, the iPhone 16 Pro is expected to start at $1,099 for the 256GB variant, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max could start at $1,199. However, prices are expected to be higher in markets like India due to import duties and additional costs, with potential price points tipped to be around ₹79,900 for the standard iPhone 16 and upwards of ₹1,34,900 for the Pro models.