The iPhone 16 is set to be the next major iteration of Apple's revolutionary device, and we're quickly approaching its reveal. Last year's iPhone 15 brought massive new upgrades, including a 48MP main camera, a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, the A16 Bionic, and the addition of a USB-C port. This year's iPhone will be no different, with plenty of rumored features and additions planned.
As of now, Apple has revealed a special keynote planned for September 9 at 10 AM PT. It's here that the company will show off the iPhone 16 lineup, in addition to new accessories and iOS features. Below, we've outlined everything we know about iPhone 16 so far, based on rumors, past releases, and more. Prepare yourself for the next iteration of iPhone!
iPhone 16 Release Date Speculation
As mentioned, Apple plans to reveal the iPhone 16 on September 9. The company will showcase new features, models, and the release date at this time. Based on prior events, we will likely see deep dives into some of the key features of this year's iPhone.
Many are expecting Apple to launch the iPhone 16 on Friday, September 20. This would align with prior iPhone launches after keynote events. Pre-orders will likely open on Friday, September 13. We expect all models of the iPhone 16 to be available at this date.
iPhone 16 Models and Price
As for models, the iPhone 16 is expected to follow the iPhone 15 with four models available: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The iPhone 16 Plus will act as a larger version of the standard iPhone 16, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a bigger iPhone 16 Pro, respectively.
Pricing is also expected to follow iPhone 15, but there is a chance that Apple increases the price of iPhone 16 Pro this year. Due to new hardware components, Apple could take this year as an opportunity to raise the base price of the 16 Pro, but this is not confirmed by any means. Therefore, our expected pricing model is as follows:
- iPhone 16: $799
- iPhone 16 Plus: $899
- iPhone 16 Pro: $1099
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: $1199
iPhone 16 New Features
All iPhone 16 models will receive significant new features, according to reports. From the outside, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro will now feature vertically-aligned cameras instead of a square cutout. Additionally, all models are said to feature the Action Button, which was previously exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro models. There's also the Capture Button, a new button found under the rest button. This will allow you to capture photos without touching or interacting with the screen. Once again, it's been reported that all iPhone 16 models will feature this button.
Another impressive feature that is rumored for the lineup is support for 40W wired charging, which will allow your phone to charge faster than ever before. Currently, iPhone 15 cannot charge at even 30W wired, so this will be a significant upgrade. It's also said that Apple will be changing the design of the battery with iPhone 16, in an attempt to comply with EU regulations and make the battery more easily replaceable.
Of course, iOS 18 is set to have a major focus on AI features, which Apple is grouping together under Apple Intelligence. It's likely that this will be a major focus of the keynote, with the invite card sharing similar colors to Apple Intelligence and stating "It's Glowtime." We know that some Apple Intelligence features include AI-created emoji, smart reply for iMessage, call recording, auto-transcription, and more. It's possible that Apple will showcase these features in action on iPhone 16 during the September 9 event.
New Accessories Are Also Set to Debut
Finally, new accessories are also set to make their debut alongside the iPhone 16 lineup. According to Bloomberg, Apple is planning to reveal new accessories at the "It's Glowtime" event, including Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple AirPods 4.
Apple Watch Series 10 is set to offer a slimmer design and wider screen. A sleep apnea detection feature is expected to be a main focus of this model, with potentially other health sensors like blood pressure monitoring also rumored. As for Apple Watch Ultra 3, this model is not expected to offer any major upgrades from its predocessor. Though, Ultra 3 will receive a new chip that possibly could be set to utilize Apple Intelligence features.
Apple is reportedly set to release two variants of AirPods 4, aimed to replace the entry level and mid-tier models. The latter will bring active noise cancelation to the mid-tier AirPods for the first time, according to Bloomberg. It's possible that Apple will also reveal the third generation of AirPods Pro, but this is not confirmed at this time. Further, Apple could even choose to unveil the next generation of AirPods Max, which have not received an upgrade since they released in 2020.
Beyond these accessories, Apple is not likely to have anything new. We do not expect an upgrade to the HomePod, nor a new unnannounced accessory.
Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium. His favorite series include Xeno, Fate, and Final Fantasy.
