With the launch of the iPhone 15, Apple launched design adjustments like a curved body and a frosted glass again. Data acquired by MacRumors means that Apple’s next-generation iPhone 16 will construct on these updates with modifications to the buttons and the digicam structure.
We now have particulars on early pre-production designs for the iPhone 16, together with a take a look at the variants and {hardware} configurations that Apple has thought-about up to now. Our data comes early within the design course of, however it supplies a sign of what we will anticipate from the iPhone 16, or DeLorean as Apple engineers consult with it internally.
We have included mockups of what the iPhone 16 might appear to be based mostly on Apple’s inner designs, right down to the precise colours the corporate is utilizing for testing. The iPhone rendered in yellow options the earliest recognized button design with an Motion Button, unified quantity button, and iPhone X-style digicam bump. The iPhone in pink has an Motion Button and separate mechanical quantity buttons, whereas the iPhone in midnight has the bigger Motion button and new Seize button. The iPhone rendered in black is the design we expect at this level.
As a part of the iPhone 16 design course of, Apple has prototyped a number of {hardware} configurations. Whereas these look related at first look, there are a variety of variations between them.
The obvious and visually distinct change is a brand new vertical digicam association. Not like its predecessor, the iPhone 16 may have vertically aligned rear cameras, making the cellphone simply recognizable as the most recent mannequin. Whereas the vertical alignment of the rear cameras has up to now remained fixed all through completely different growth phases, Apple is contemplating two completely different digicam bump designs:
- iPhone 12-style design, with two digicam lenses situated one above the opposite
- iPhone X-type design, with a singular pill-shaped enclosure
Relative to the iPhone 15, the placement of the flash is similar with each designs, which means that Apple doesn’t plan to vary the place of the flash. Whereas each designs have been thought-about, the iPhone 12-like digicam structure with two distinct lenses has been used extra extensively on Apple’s prototype items.
The earliest recognized prototypes of the iPhone 16 included a unified quantity button that was developed as a part of the now-canceled Bongo mission initially supposed for launch with the iPhone 15 Professional. The unified button would have supplied customers with haptic suggestions, however it was scrapped earlier this yr following unresolved technical points. After the cancelation of the Bongo mission, Apple moved again to mechanical buttons for the iPhone 16.
The Motion button is one other carry-over from the iPhone 15 Professional. That we’re seeing the Motion button this early on suggests Apple final yr had determined to part out the mute swap, with plans to standardize the Motion button throughout the whole iPhone 16 vary. The scale of the Motion Button has assorted throughout completely different configurations. Some designs and prototypes characteristic a considerably bigger Motion Button, which was created as a part of Challenge Atlas in an effort to vary the Motion Button from mechanical to capacitive, whereas some have the identical button that is on the iPhone 15 Professional. Indicators level to a capacitive Motion Button presently.
Apple can be experimenting with a brand new button on the best aspect of the iPhone 16. As MacRumors revealed again in September, the iPhone 16 is anticipated to incorporate an all-new capacitive Seize Button, developed internally underneath the codename Challenge Nova. Data from our sources means that this button will characteristic a pressure sensor along with “tact-switching” performance, though it’s nonetheless unclear what the latter entails. The Seize Button is situated in the identical spot because the mmWave cutout on iPhone fashions bought in america, so with the iPhone 16, the mmWave antenna has been moved to the left aspect of the machine.
Whereas it appears like we’re getting a brand new button, Apple has developed an alternate {hardware} configuration that doesn’t characteristic a Seize Button, which it might revert to if there are {hardware} points through the button’s growth.
The entrance of the iPhone 16 doesn’t characteristic any noticeable adjustments, and it continues to make use of the Dynamic Island. The bottom mannequin iPhone 16 is anticipated to characteristic a show just like the one used on its predecessor, with no main variations. As with the iPhone 15, the iPhone 16 has a USB-C port on the backside of the machine.
So far as colours are involved, early prototypes have been seen in three colours: yellow, pink and midnight, whereas documentation means that different coloration choices initially developed for the iPhone 15 have been additionally used for testing at one level.
To sum up, although the iPhone 16 will not have notable adjustments to its chassis, it’ll have the next key updates:
- Vertical digicam association, doubtless just like iPhone 12
- New capacitive Seize Button
- Capacitive Motion Button
The knowledge offered right here precisely portrays and describes early designs of the iPhone 16, however the existence of a number of {hardware} configurations means that Apple’s design plans haven’t but been finalized. The iPhone 16 remains to be removed from launch, and extra adjustments are at all times attainable.
For added data on what to anticipate, take a look at our rumor roundup pages for iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional.
