When is the iPhone 16 release date? Leaked prices, features and more

Will the iPhone 16 release date impact Apple’s rumored decision to halt Apple Intelligence until October? Apparently not, according to reports.

The AI-powered update was supposed to launch alongside the launch of the company’s latest flagship phone and its latest iOS 18 operating software. However, it will instead arrive a few weeks later as a downloadable update.

As for the iPhone 16, its launch is still on track — and the tech press already has some pretty concrete information about when exactly that will happen.

Here’s what we know about Apple’s new flagship, including release date, price, and features.

According to everyone from TechRadar to Bloomberg’s Apple expert Mark Gurman, Apple is sticking to its traditional September launch date for the new device.

More specifically, the iPhone 16 is set to launch on September 10, around the same time as last year. That’s Tuesday, a day Apple traditionally reserves for iPhone announcements.

Others have gone even further with their predictions. Forbes’ David Phelan (who previously reviewed the iPhone 15 and Apple Vision Pro for The Standard) said that based on that date, Apple could begin pre-orders on September 13 and begin selling the phone on September 20.

Although the tech giant was counting on Apple’s AI as a key selling point for the new device, the iPhone clearly won’t be held hostage to its AI development schedule.

That’s good, because the initial release may lack the wow factor. Unfortunately, major features like ChatGPT integration, Genmoji creator, and Siri app control won’t arrive until later.

While it is almost certain to happen in September 2024, the official price remains a mystery.

The iPhone 15 starts at £799 for the standard model and jumps to a hefty £1,199 for the high-end Pro Max. However, analysts are divided on whether the iPhone 16 will be priced the same way, with some saying it could be cheaper than its predecessor due to rumors of Apple changing its chip production in late 2024, potentially benefiting customers.

However, rumors of rising production costs are threatening those plans. A recent report from Nikkei Asia suggested that the iPhone 15 Pro Max was already costing Apple 12 percent more to produce than its predecessor. If rumors of more expensive camera technology in the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max turn out to be true, prices could rise as Apple passes on the extra costs to consumers.

Apple’s AI can create slideshows from photos and videos in your gallery based on text suggestions

Apple

Another intriguing aspect is the potential arrival of the first “Ultra” iPhone. While rumors initially pointed to a 2023 release for the Ultra, Apple is reportedly saving the big launch for this year. Whether it will sit alongside the Pro Max or replace it remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure — Apple’s first Ultra is set to be its most expensive iPhone yet.

We’ve gathered the biggest iPhone 16 leaks from a network of reliable sources. The latest information follows Apple’s usual update patterns, giving us a good idea of what the new phone could offer.

6.1-inch OLED display
A18 system
8GB RAM
Vertical dual camera system with 48MP main sensor
3561mAh battery (6% increase)
Action button and new capture button

6.7-inch OLED display
A18 system
8GB RAM
Vertical dual camera system with 48MP main sensor
4006mAh battery (9% decrease)
Action button and new capture button

6.3-inch ProMotion OLED display
A18 Pro Processor
8GB RAM
Triple camera system with 48MP main lens, 48MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and 12MP telephoto lens (5x optical zoom)
Battery 3355-3577 mAh (2-9% increase)
Action button, capture button

6.9-inch ProMotion OLED display
A18 Pro Processor
8GB RAM
Triple camera system with 48MP main lens, 48MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and 12MP telephoto lens (5x optical zoom)
Battery 4676-4747 mAh (5-7% increase)
Action button, capture button

Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company is devoting a huge amount of time and effort to artificial intelligence

Yui Mok/PA Archive

Between the new camera and the larger size, Apple is once again saving its best upgrades for the premium Pro models. Here’s a closer look at the main improvements to help you decide which iPhone is best for you.

Apple, overall, will reportedly stick with its four-element iPhone lineup for the iPhone 16: the standard model, the iPhone 16 Plus, the iPhone 16 Pro, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max or Ultra. That’s according to references spotted in early development versions of the iOS 18 software update, according to Apple news site MacRumors.

Pro users, rejoice! The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will boast larger displays, measuring a rumored 6.3 inches (up from 6.1) and 6.9 inches (up from 6.7). ProMotion technology supporting up to 120Hz refresh rates will remain exclusive to iPhone Pro models until at least 2025.

All iPhone 16 models are expected to feature a new action button borrowed from the iPhone 15 Pro (replacing the mute button), as well as a dedicated photo button for photography enthusiasts.

Analysts believe the iPhone 16 will kick off an upgrade supercycle as people with older phones switch to the latest models

Apple

Sticking with the camera, the iPhone 16 Pro models could get a significant upgrade, with a rumored 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera replacing the current 12-megapixel sensor. Expect more detailed photos, including those in low-light conditions, and improved detail and clarity in wide-angle shots.

Both Pro models can also inherit the “tetraprism” lens technology previously exclusive to the Pro Max, which improves optical zoom capabilities. Ultimately, you can shoot at up to 5x zoom, making long-range photography even more detailed.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max could also receive a significant upgrade to its main camera, with rumors suggesting Sony could be bringing a new 48MP sensor to the top-of-the-range model, promising better overall image quality, better light capture, and a wider dynamic range.

As you can see in the rumored specs for each iPhone 16 above, every model except the iPhone 16 Plus gets a slight bump in battery capacity. This is measured in milliamp-hours (mAh).

mAh basically tells you how much charge the battery can hold. In the case of the iPhone 16 Pro, that can be a whopping 4,747 mAh, giving you up to 7 percent more battery life between charges.

The only model that reportedly doesn’t see an improvement, no matter how minor, is the iPhone 16 Plus. It could be 10 percent less powerful than last year’s version. Despite the drop, overall battery life may not be significantly reduced due to the benefits of the new chip and power management.

Another rumor suggested that the Pro models will support faster charging speeds of up to 40W from 27W, a 48.1 percent increase. Meanwhile, MagSafe wireless charging will see a 33 percent increase from 15W to 20W.

Theoretically, this could shave about 10 minutes off the current fast charging time of the iPhone 15, which can reach 50 percent battery life in 30 minutes using a 20W or higher power adapter. Whether this will have any real-world benefits remains to be seen.

Computing power is key for the release of iOS 18. All four iPhone 16 models are expected to run on the next-generation A18 chip, potentially with the Pro and non-Pro variants offering varying levels of performance for AI and casual tasks.

The expected AI capabilities of the A18 chip should also be seen in the iPhone 16 camera, where image processing and low-light performance will be improved (thanks to AI algorithms).

Apple Intelligence is a completely new AI-based system that runs on iPhone, iPad and Mac software

Apple plans to launch a slew of new generative AI features with iOS 18. These tools use custom-designed chips and internal and external machine learning models trained on massive data sets to generate text, images, and photo and video slideshows.

You can ask bots to change the tone of your emails; create custom emojis based on text descriptions or gallery photos; generate comic-like images with just a few words; and transform sketches and notes into images.

The technology could also be a boon for Siri, with Apple promising a new and improved version of its digital assistant that can better understand what you’re saying, perform additional tasks, and make better use of the piles of data on your phone.

This is because the bot will only offer one language at launch: American English. There will be a flood of typos as the AI changes the spelling of many words.

If you’re not careful, you might replace “center” with “centre” or “theater” with “theatre.” These are just a few of the many spelling variations between the two dialects.

Okay, that’s not a big deal if you’re writing to your parents, but it can get expensive if you ask an AI to polish your cover letter. So much for making the AI’s life easier when it can’t even agree on whether color or color is spelled correctly.

Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed this tidbit during the company’s recent press conference, where he also announced that ChatGPT integration with Siri is expected later this year.

When will Apple Intelligence be available?

Apple Intelligence is expected to arrive in October, right after the company’s next major software update, iOS 18. The AI will be limited to the latest iPhone models, including the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro, as well as select Macs and iPads with the processing power to run it.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who tends to be the first to share reliable information about Apple, claims that the introduction of the new updates has been postponed until October.

The delay will give Apple more time to fix bugs, but it also means iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will come and go in September without an update. As a result, the iPhone 16 may need an update a few weeks after launch to unlock the AI features.

In an unusual move, Apple began offering software developers the chance to preview Apple Intelligence with the release of the iOS 18.1 beta in late July. Typically, Apple waits until after a major new operating software release to test the next update.

The news comes just a few weeks after the iOS 18 public beta was released, allowing anyone to sign up and play around with the software (without the help of AI).

Rumor has it that the Pro models will be available in pink, while the yellow may be replaced by classic white in the standard models.