With Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 kicking off today, anticipation is building for what the tech giant has in store for its next generation of iPhones. The iPhone 16 lineup, expected to launch in September, is rumored to feature larger screen sizes for the Pro models, a new “Capture Button” for photos and videos, and most notably, advanced on-device artificial intelligence capabilities powered by iOS 18.
Bigger Screens for iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max
According to leaks, Apple plans to increase the display size of the iPhone 16 Pro to 6.3 inches (up from 6.1″), while the iPhone 16 Pro Max could sport a massive 6.9-inch screen (compared to 6.7″ on the iPhone 15 Pro Max). The standard iPhone 16 and 16 Plus models are expected to retain the same 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch sizes as their predecessors.
In addition to larger screens, the Pro models may feature even thinner bezels, resulting in a nearly all-screen front design. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is rumored to have the slimmest bezels of any smartphone to date.
Read: Apple Announces iOS 18 at WWDC 2024 with Focus on AI, Customization and Privacy
New “Capture Button” and Action Button Enhancements
Apple is said to be introducing a dedicated “Capture Button” on all iPhone 16 models, which will function like a shutter button on a digital camera, allowing users to focus and capture images with varying levels of pressure. This new button will complement the Action Button that debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro, which is also expected to be available on all iPhone 16 variants.
Powerful A18 Chip and Improved Cameras
Under the hood, the entire iPhone 16 lineup is rumored to be powered by Apple’s next-generation A18 chip, built on a 3-nanometer process for improved performance and efficiency. The Pro models may receive an even more powerful A18 Pro variant.
Camera upgrades are also in the cards, with the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max potentially featuring a larger main sensor, a 48MP ultra-wide camera, and a 5x periscope telephoto lens. The standard models are expected to gain support for capturing Spatial Video content for Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
iOS 18 and Generative AI Features
Perhaps the most significant update to the iPhone 16 lineup will be the integration of advanced AI capabilities through iOS 18. Apple has announced a suite of generative AI features at WWDC, potentially making iOS 18 “one of the biggest iOS updates in the company’s history,” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
These AI enhancements, collectively branded as “Apple Intelligence,” includes improvements to Siri, suggested email and message replies, text summaries, voice memo transcriptions, and AI-powered photo editing tools. Some of these features will run on-device, while others will leverage Apple’s secure cloud servers.
However, not all iPhone 16 models may have access to the full range of AI capabilities. You will need an iPhone 15 Pro or the upcoming iPhone 16 models to take advantage of all the new features, as they require the processing power of the A17 Pro or A18 chipset.