iPhone 16 Release Date & Everything We Know

Though digital camera use has massively decreased in the wake of the smartphone, we aren’t wholly anti-iPhone here. Smartphone cameras have greatly democratized photography as a medium, and with the iPhone 16 family of smartphones on the way, users can experience a new level of pocket-sized digital imaging. So what can we expect from the iPhone 16’s camera - and when can we expect it?

iPhone 16 Announcement

Apple’s new announcement event has been teased for September 9th, with the tagline “It’s Glowtime”. Along with a slew of other Apple products, we expect to get our first look at the iPhone 16 range, including the 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max.

After that, Apple products tend to launch within a fortnight of their unveiling, with a minimal pre order window. As such, we’re predicting an iPhone 16 release date between the 23rd and 27th September. This leaves plenty of time in the run-up to Christmas for new orders, and for Apple to highlight the core features of their new model.

iPhone 16: Camera Leak

Apple Insider recently disclosed their leaks regarding the iPhone 16’s imaging capabilities. The camera apparently retains the dual-lens structure of previous models: the primary digital zoom camera for portraits and a secondary ultra-wide angle lens - though they will be stacked vertically in a smaller enclosure rather than diagonally. The two Pro models will also get a major improvement in image quality, according to these leaks.

The primary lens of the iPhone 16 Pro variants will have a 48MP equivalent resolution - a major upgrade from the iPhone 15’s 12MP. It is also set to inherit the 5x zoom capabilities of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. That said, the digital zoom will mean that the resolution of zoomed photos will be reduced to 12MP. The ultra-wide lens, meanwhile, will also be 48MP.

Though these high-resolution capabilities are apparently limited to the Pro models, the other iPhone 16 units should see their own improvements in imaging. Though the lens resolutions will seemingly be retained from the iPhone 15, the wide-angle lens will see an improvement in maximum aperture: from f/2.4 to f/2.2, across all iPhone 16 models.

These lenses are also set to be the first non-Pro iPhones from Apple to support macro photography, and we’re especially curious about what that ends up looking like. Given that the Apple Insider leak posits that the lenses on the base iPhone 16 family are the same, a Macro setting may simply be minor digital adjustments to an image - in the same way that the current crop of lighting and aperture adjustments tweak an iPhone’s image.

iPhone photographers worldwide will rejoice at the next portion of the leak: the entire iPhone 16 range is set to have a dedicated “capture” button for photos. Whilst contending with the volume buttons on iPhones has been serviceable in the past, having a more conveniently located capture button makes it easier than ever to take photos on the go. Apple Insider claims the button has some degree of touch sensitivity, with users able to use varying degrees of pressure to control the camera’s functionality. This includes focus, zoom and capture capabilities - all controlled by simple pressure adjustments and wholly dedicated to photographic apps. For those worried about accidentally triggering a photoshoot when the iPhone is in your pocket, the button is reported to be “capacitive”: your finger is the only thing that can control it.

An interesting addition to Apple Insider’s leak is the inclusion of a new “JPEG-XL” file format for the iPhone 16. As anyone who’s had to convert a HEIF or an M4A file for use elsewhere will testify, Apple’s obsession with proprietary file types is often frustrating. While a “JPEG-XL” isn’t a JPEG, it likely points to better compatibility with external imaging programs.

The other key consideration with the iPhone 16 is the further use of Apple Intelligence, the company’s flagship AI software. The engine is still somewhat in its infancy, and as such the iPhone 16 is expected to launch with a barebones version of the software. Could AI be part of the claims of the iPhone 16’s 48MP camera? As full-fledged camera companies begin to integrate AI into their autofocus and noise reduction technology, there is every chance that part of Apple Intelligence’s feature set includes photo enhancement. This is entirely speculative, however: Apple has made very little progress on AI implementation, and this is likely to continue.

iPhone 16: Other Core Features

Of course, the appeal of a smartphone camera is all the other features that it comes packaged with. For those considering trading in their current phone for the iPhone 16, here are some other elements to consider.

Design

The iPhone 16 retains the core silhouette that has been the mainstay of the range for over a decade now. With the aforementioned camera streamlining, the rear camera bump should be reduced significantly. Leaker Sonny Dickson posted our first glimpse of the iPhone 16, highlighting the colors and a few of the available colors.

Other leaks corroborate that the new iPhone range will be thinner. According to MacRumors, the new range will use new “Border Reduction Structure” technology to reduce the size of internal components. This will lead to thinner bezels and a more svelte design overall.

Alongside the aforementioned camera button on the side, the iPhone 16 range will also apparently have a programmable action button - akin to the iPhone 15 Pro. This offers users the opportunity to fine-tune their phone to their precise needs. With a wide range of programmable options, this is a welcome addition to the next generation of iPhones.

Display

Though there have been rumors to the contrary, we don’t think Apple will make huge improvements to the 60Hz displays from the iPhone 15. Similarly, the physical display size is unlikely to change - something that has been corroborated by leaks. As such, the reported screen sizes of the range are as follows: 6.1” for the iPhone 16, 6.1” for the iPhone 16 Pro, 6.7” for the iPhone 16 Plus, and 6.9” for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. These would make them identical to those of the iPhone 15 range. The jury is out on whether these displays will have any other improvements - or whether there is a discrepancy between the display size and the physical panel overall. Given that Android competitors can be faster, brighter and higher-resolution than iPhone equivalents, we would hope for more.

Battery

As pertinent as what the iPhone 16 can do for many will be how long it can do it for. Whilst larger batteries don’t necessarily correlate to improved battery life, an online listing spotted by Phone Arena highlighted between a 2% and 6% increase in battery capacity for the iPhone 16 range - with the notable exception of the iPhone 16 Plus which is actually 9% smaller than the iPhone 15 Plus. Whether this actually affects battery life or smartphone performance remains to be seen, but we doubt that Apple is actively devolving its battery efficiency.

Storage

For storing all of your content, particularly prospective 48MP photos, you’ll need a large storage capacity. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max both offer 1TB storage options, but according to MacRumors we could see the jump up to 2TB with the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. Whether that allows the iPhone 16 to store up to 1TB is as yet unknown, but more storage is always better when it comes to smartphones.

iPhone 16 Potential Specs: At a Glance

Though none of these features or specs are confirmed as of yet, we don’t have long to wait for the announcement - and not long after that to see the iPhone 16 on shelves worldwide. Our interests are certainly piqued by Apple Insider’s details regarding the iPhone 16’s improvements - both the higher-end lens resolution to the dedicated capture button - and can’t wait to see them in action.