Another year, another iPhone; Apple announced that the new iPhone 16 and its variants will be released in stores on Friday, Sept. 20th. Yet little is known about the device, with many details remaining unclear until Apple’s expected release.
Lisa Eadicicco, a technology writer for CNET, says,
“Don’t expect the new iPhone to look very different from the iPhone 15.”
Lisa Eadicicco
So, what has changed from the previous models? Is upgrading even worth it? The answer is not a simple yes or a no.
Leaks and early glances at these products are not a rarity, but note that there have not been any confirmed reports of the phone’s details by Apple as of right now.
Here’s what has been revealed so far:
Design
Upon first glance at the screen of the phone, not much–if anything–has changed. But, when looking at the phone’s back, there are some noticeable differences.
According to David Phelan, a Forbes tech writer of over two decades, the most notable change is the rearrangement of cameras from a diagonal configuration to a vertical one.
“This will mean, among other things, that users can shoot spatial video, that gorgeous 3D format you can play back on the Apple Vision Pro. Right now, only the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max can tackle this.”
David Phelan
Aside from the camera, recent evidence shows that there may be new color options for consumers to choose from. A photo leaked on X by Sonny Dickson suggests that the new phone could feature shades of white, black, blue, green, and pink. Other photos from Dickson revealed dark gold, and silver options as well.
These photos also disclose a mysterious new button on the side of the phone. According to Eadicicco and Phelan, this button could be an ‘action button’ that captures pictures and is capable of zooming in and out from a more comfortable hand position.
Under the Hood
One of the most notable changes lies within the processing unit of the phone. Apple wishes to incorporate its own artificial intelligence (AI) platform called “Apple Intelligence”. To do this, the phone would require an A18 processing chip. This is a faster and more powerful chip compared to the A17 used by current Apple products.
To use the new chip, however, the phone would require a bump in RAM, base storage or both. Stevie Bonifield, a freelance tech writer for Laptop Magazine, said,
“Either case is good news for iPhone users since it means Apple will increase the iPhone 16’s RAM to 8GB or increase its base storage to 256GB. Apple could even give us both upgrades!”
This is not the only potential benefit of the new chip:
“It’s also thought that the next chips will double down on avoiding thermal issues and overheating, which—briefly—dogged the current iPhone 15 Pro,”
David Phelan
The issue of overheating has plagued iPhone users for years.
Price
It’s no secret that a new iPhone is an expensive investment. There’s been no evidence pointing to this changing any time soon, so consumers can expect these products to be pricey.
The price for the base model is around $799, which would keep it on par with the previous iPhone. Bonifield says that based on Apple’s previous pricing model, the iPhone 16 Plus is expected to be $899, the iPhone 16 Pro should be priced at $999, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max will most likely sit around $1,199.
More information about these new products is expected to be released on Sept. 9th before they are released on Sept. 20th.
Let us know what you think of these changes @VALLEYmag on X and all other socials.
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