Leaked iPhone 16 cases hint at MagSafe upgrades this year
There’s already no shortage of iPhone 16 leaks ahead of its expected September launch, and the latest to emerge suggests that the MagSafe charging system used by Apple’s flagship phone series may be getting an overhaul this year.
This specific tip comes from Shop system (through New), and molds used by third-party case makers have been used so they can get their wares ready for the iPhone 16 launch. They usually give us a good indication of what the actual phones will look like.
In this case, it’s noticeable that the MagSafe rings on the back of the iPhone 16 models are thinner than those on their iPhone 15 counterparts. It’s not the most dramatic of changes, but it indicates that wireless charging technology is about to become more efficient and lighter – perhaps with a reduction in the size of the chargers.
The iPhone version of MagSafe (unlike the older Mac tech) launched in 2020 alongside the iPhone 12. It’s likely due to an upgrade, perhaps including a faster charging speed over the current 15W, but this could also could mean that the new iPhones come with a whole new set of accessories and cases.
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These cases also show a vertical camera alignment for the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Plus, which we’ve heard about before. Take a look at our iPhone 15 review and you’ll see that the two rear cameras are arranged in a diagonal pattern.
The thinking is that swapping the alignment of the cameras could allow the cheaper iPhones to record spatial video: that’s Apple’s proprietary 3D video format that can be viewed on the Apple Vision Pro.
We’ve also heard rumors that the Pro and Pro Max will have slightly larger screens this time around, but it’s hard to tell from these cases. Given the way the industry has evolved over the past year, it’s likely that the iPhone 16 will also go big in AI, with the help of iOS 18.
If Apple sticks to its usual schedule this year, we should see the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max released sometime in September. Before that happens, a big iPad event is planned for tomorrow, May 7, where we expect several new tablets.