iPhone 16: Everything we know about Apple’s flagship smartphone – including launch date, price and a MAJOR design change
The moment Apple fans have been waiting for is finally here: the iPhone 16 will be unveiled to the world next month.
The tech giant is hosting an event dubbed ‘It’s Glowtime’ on September 9, where it is expected to unveil its latest flagship devices.
Aside from the slogan and an animation of the logo, Apple kept what to expect from the event a secret.
However, rumors about the iPhone 16 are already swirling, with leaks flying in all directions, from its price to its key features.
Here’s everything we know so far about Apple’s latest flagship.
Apple is hosting an event at its Cupertino, California headquarters on September 9, where it is expected to unveil a range of new iPhones — and possibly a special new watch as well
When will the iPhone 16 be unveiled?
Apple has confirmed that it will host a launch event at its headquarters in Cupertino, California on Monday, September 9.
The invitation confirms that the event will take place at 10:00am PT (6:00pm BST).
The date – a Monday – comes as a bit of a surprise, as Apple has previously held most of its iPhone launch events on Tuesdays.
“It’s Glowtime. Join us in person for our special Apple event at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park. September 9, 2024 at 10 a.m. PT,” the full invite reads.
Apple’s invitation features the classic Apple logo in a new guise.
An animation shows the logo moving back and forth between the colors blue, purple, orange and pink, which seems to reference the slogan ‘It’s Glowtime’.
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to come in blue, green, white, black and pink
The Pro models will likely come in slightly more muted shades: white, black, gray and bronze
While the reason for this feature is still unclear, it could be a teaser for the full release of Apple’s long-awaited AI system, Apple Intelligence.
MailOnline will be covering the launch event live on 9 September. You can also watch it on apple.com or the Apple TV app.
When will the iPhone 16 go on sale?
If the iPhone 16 is unveiled on September 9, pre-orders will likely start on Friday, September 13, with the first units shipping the following week, on Friday, September 20.
What devices do we expect in the iPhone 16 series?
Rumors suggest we can expect four new iPhone models: the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to retain their current sizes of 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches.
However, rumors suggest we’ll see larger iPhone 16 Pro models this year, with the iPhone 16 Pro expected to be 6.3-inches, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to be 6.9-inches.
Rumors suggest the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will feature the same camera setup as their predecessors, with a 48MP main camera alongside a 12MP ultra-wide lens on the rear and a 12MP camera on the front
What colors is the iPhone 16 available in?
Leaked images suggest fans will be able to choose from a range of stunning colours.
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to come in blue, green, white, black, and pink.
The Pro models will likely come in slightly more muted shades: white, black, gray and bronze.
How much will the iPhone 16 cost?
Leaks disagree about the price of the iPhone 16.
Some are suggesting the price could be as high as its predecessor, the iPhone 15, which starts at £799/$799.
But with the cost of phone components rising, others are claiming the iPhone 16 will be at least £100/$100 more expensive than the iPhone 15, taking starting prices to £899/$899.
If that’s the case, the iPhone 16 Plus could cost £999/$999, while the iPhone 16 Pro could cost £1,099/$1,099 and the iPhone 16 Pro Max could cost £1,299/$1,299.
What camera will the iPhone 16 get?
Rumors suggest that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will get the same camera setup as their predecessors, with a 48MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide lens on the rear, and a 12MP camera on the front.
However, improvements are expected in the form of improved AI-powered editing tools, as seen in recent competing devices including the Google Pixel 9.
The Pro models are expected to feature larger sensors, making photos brighter and more colorful.
“Apple Intelligence” refers to a range of new AI-powered features coming to Apple’s upcoming software update, iOS 18, from AI-generated emoji to a new version of Siri that uses ChatGPT, OpenAI’s infamous chatbot.
Are there any new features we can expect?
Last year, Apple introduced a brand new button on the two iPhone 15 Pro models: the Action button.
This replaced the long-standing mute button and gave users access to virtually any shortcut with the press of a button.
Rumors suggest that the Action Button will appear on all four iPhone 16 models this year.
Additionally, a second new button is also said to be added, the ‘Capture’ button, which will allow users to quickly fire the camera app’s shutter.
The biggest changes to this year’s iPhones, however, are expected to come on the software front.
In June, Apple announced a new AI architecture called Apple Intelligence, which will be featured in the iPhone 16.
The biggest part of Apple Intelligence is the integration of OpenAI’s hugely popular chatbot ChatGPT with Siri, Apple’s built-in virtual assistant.
In June, Apple announced a new AI architecture called Apple Intelligence, which will be used in the iPhone 16.
Users can activate Siri in the normal way by holding down the side button, but thanks to ChatGPT, Siri can “answer thousands of questions about how to do something,” which wasn’t possible before.
For example, you can say, “Play the podcast Jamie recommended,” and Siri will find and play the episode without the user having to remember whether it was mentioned in a text message or an email.
Or you can ask, “When is Mom’s plane landing?” Siri will then look up the flight information and compare it to the real-time flight log to determine an arrival time.
One of the coolest parts of Apple Intelligence is the AI-generated emojis, which Apple calls “Genmoji” (a combination of “generated” and “emoji”).
In the Messages app, you can type a short description of the emoji you want, such as “smiley relaxing with cucumbers” or “squirrel DJ.”
Apple is preparing for the release of the ‘Apple Watch X’, which could feature a radical new design, according to a leaker
Will Apple announce more devices?
According to a leaker, Apple is preparing for the release of the ‘Apple Watch X’, which could feature a radical new design.
Just as the iPhone X celebrated the decade of the iPhone in 2017, the Apple Watch X could mark 10 years since the world saw the first Apple Watch.
This claim comes from respected California-based Apple tipster Mark Gurman, who says in his weekly newsletter that Apple is “preparing a major update.”
“The Apple Watch is coming up to its 10th anniversary and the company has an opportunity to celebrate,” he says.
‘For the X model, Apple designers are working on a thinner watch case and exploring how to change the way the bands attach to the device.’
According to Gurman, the watch could feature a larger display and “other under-the-hood improvements” in terms of hardware.
For example, new AI-capable chips could “lay the foundation for a number of AI improvements in the future.”