Recent leaks about the iPhone 16 have highlighted several exciting upgrades, including support for visionOS tools, the introduction of a popular iPhone Pro feature to more models, and new interface elements. A set of iPhone 16 cases has surfaced, confirming many of these anticipated changes.
Camera Lens Orientation
The first noticeable change is the orientation of the camera lenses. Unlike the iPhone 15’s diagonal arrangement on a square camera island, the iPhone 16 features a vertical arrangement on a more lozenge-shaped island. While this alteration won’t impact regular photos and videos, it allows for side-by-side lenses when recording in landscape mode. This setup is ideal for capturing stereoscopic videos, which can be played back in 3D on the Apple Vision Pro headset.
Action Button
The iPhone 16 will feature a covered button area for the Action Button, a programmable button first introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. This button enables users to assign specific actions or shortcuts, such as quickly opening the camera app to snap a picture. Unlike the iPhone 15, this button will now be available on all iPhone 16 models, including the standard versions.
New Camera Button
Building on positive feedback from the iPhone 15 Pro, Apple is adding a new Camera Button to the iPhone 16. The case design includes a cut-out for this button, which is expected to be pressure-sensitive and support multi-stage presses. This feature will allow users to perform actions like a half-press to lock focus and a full press to take a picture, enhancing the photography experience.
Additional Case Insights
Tipster Ice Universe has shared another look at an iPhone 16 case, confirming the vertical camera arrangement, the press-through Action Button, and the space for the new Camera Button. The cases also suggest an update to Apple’s inductive charging system. The MagSafe ring appears to be thinner than that on the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro models, indicating a lighter, more streamlined design for the iPhone 16 family.
Pro Model Upgrades
These updates bring the standard iPhone models closer to the Pro versions. To maintain a distinction between the two tiers, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are rumored to receive significant upgrades. These include a quadrupled ultrawide camera sensor size from 12 to 48 megapixels, new optical coatings to reduce lens flare, and improved optical zoom on the 16 Pro Max with a larger periscope-style telephoto lens.
Expected Launch
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 16 family in early September 2024. With these updates, the new iPhones promise to offer enhanced functionality and a more refined user experience.