WWDC 2024 was all about software this year, with the big announcements being iOS 18 overhauling the iPhone operating system, macOS getting smart features, Siri getting AI smarts and the introduction of Apple Intelligence. But when it comes to hardware, Apple has very little say.
But now that Apple’s smartest iOS 18 features are limited to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max and Apple Intelligence brings consumer-focused AI tools, we can take a decent stab at seeing what we can make of the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro can expect. Bringing iPhone 16 Pro Max to the table; probably at an Apple event in September.
An intelligent smartphone
Firstly, the next generation of Pro iPhones will certainly rely on AI features via Apple Intelligence; we’re talking smarter ways to capture and edit content, AI-powered organizational features like setting calendars by crawling emails, and smarter web browsing with intelligent search and web page summaries.
If these sound somewhat familiar, it’s because the Google Pixel 8 and Samsung Galaxy 24 have similar generative AI features; For more information, check out our guide to the best AI phones to buy right now.
However, as US Phones senior editor Philip Berne discussed in his Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review, some of the AI features in the best Android phones aren’t the most intuitive to access and calibrate. But judging by the way Apple adopts existing technology, I’m willing to bet that the integration of AI into the iPhone 16 series and iOS 18 – at least once it comes out of beta – will be deep and done in a way that tools like smart photo editors feel natural to use rather than an extra feature.
A Siri showcase
And I expect Apple to pay a lot of attention to SIri and its new smart features when the iPhone 16 launches; As the new Siri comes to other phones, I wouldn’t be surprised if the next generation of iPhones get some exclusive Siri-centric features.
The reason for that thought is that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will definitely come with a more powerful A-series chip, likely calibrated for AI workloads, and thus will be ready to offer new smart features.
But I’ll go a step further and predict that the entire iPhone 16 lineup could get new chips to power large language models for AI tools, all with the goal of spreading and democratizing the use of generative AI.
Subtle adjustments
Now, I don’t expect the design of the next generation of iPhones to be much different from what we currently have; Apple has clearly mastered its design language and has made good use of titanium. But new chips that can run demanding AI workloads for long periods of time will likely need improved cooling to keep them from overheating in the compact iPhone chassis. That could mean internal design tweaks for the iPhone 16 and perhaps even changes to the size and thickness of the phones.
And with more powerful silicon there’s the potential for more power to be consumed, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the iPhone 16 models come with larger batteries than their predecessors and thus have some extra bulk; expect the titanium chassis of the current Pro iPhones to trickle down to the next-generation Standard and Plus models to mitigate any potential weight gain.
Ultimately, WWDC didn’t shed the brightest light on what to expect from the iPhone 16 family. But I’d bet a decent amount of money – if I had it – on AI features being the focus of Apple’s next iPhone speech. I saw this also tied into the Apple Watch 10 rumors.
We’ll have to wait a few more months, but with Apple Intelligence making headlines, Cupertino’s smartphones are only going to get smarter.