While the upgrades that the iPhone 16 offers over the iPhone 15 will likely be at the center of Apple's marketing strategy later this year, many users are on two-year upgrade cycles, so the features introduced on both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 will stack up. All of the changes the iPhone 16 models are expected to feature compared to their two direct forerunners are listed below, using information from a range of reliable sources that we have previously covered. We will update this article as more rumors emerge in the coming months.
This guide focuses on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 16, but to learn about how we are expecting the iPhone 14 Pro to improve on the iPhone 16 Pro, see our other comparison article.
Design
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to largely carry over the design of their predecessors. As a result, the iPhone 16 will be a relatively significant evolution over the iPhone 14, featuring slightly rounded edges, a frosted glass back, and a vertical rear camera arrangement to facilitate spatial video capture. Other important design changes are expected to include the removal of the mute switch in favor of the Action button introduced on last year's Pro models and the introduction of an all-new "Capture" button.
| Aluminum chassis with squared-off edges | Aluminum chassis with contoured edges |
| Glossy glass back | Color-infused frosted glass back |
| "Notch" TrueDepth camera array | Dynamic Island |
| Diagonally arranged rear camera array | Vertically arranged rear camera array to support spatial video capture |
| Ring/Silent switch | Action Button |
| "Capture Button" to trigger photography and videography features | |
| Lightning port | USB-C port |
Displays
For iPhone 14 users, the iPhone 16 will offer many of the display upgrades that came to the previous generation, as well as a more efficient OLED panel thanks to micro-lens technology.
| More efficient OLED display with brighter micro-lens technology | |
| 800 nits max brightness (typical) | 1,000 nits max brightness (typical) |
| 1,200 nits peak brightness (HDR) | 1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR) |
| 2,000 nits peak brightness (outdoor) |
Cameras
The iPhone 15 introduced a major camera upgrade for Apple's standard smartphone lineup, bringing over the 48-megapixel camera of the iPhone 14 Pro. With a number of other improvements such as spatial video capture, the iPhone 16 should be a significant camera upgrade over the iPhone 14.
| 12-megapixel main camera with ƒ/1.5 aperture | 48-megapixel main camera with ƒ/1.6 aperture |
| 0.5x and 1x optical zoom options | 0.5x, 1x, and 2x optical zoom options |
| 24- and 48-megapixel super-high-resolution photos | |
| Smart HDR 4 | Smart HDR 5 |
| Portrait mode with Focus and Depth Control | Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control |
| Night mode and Night mode portraits | Improved Night mode and Night mode portraits |
| Spatial video capture |
Chip, Memory, and Connectivity
With the iPhone 16 models rumored to receive the same A18 chip as the Pro models, the new models could offer a major performance improvement over the iPhone 14, which features the A15 Bionic chip first introduced in 2021. The 2GB of additional memory and the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip are also due to be notable upgrades.
| A15 Bionic chip (TSMC's "N5P" enhanced 5nm process) | A18 chip (TSMC's "N3E" enhanced 3nm process) |
| 16-core Neural Engine | Enhanced neural Engine with "significantly" more cores to support new AI features |
| 6GB memory | 8GB memory (+33%) |
| Wi-Fi 6 connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E connectivity |
| First-generation Ultra Wideband chip | Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (connects from 3x further away) |
| Precision Finding for Find My friends |
Batteries and Charging
The iPhone 16 models could receive some major improvements in battery technology and charging, sporting denser batteries and faster charging capabilities. It is worth noting that the iPhone 16 Plus is rumored to feature a smaller battery than its predecessors, but it is not clear how this will affect actual battery life.
| Single-layer battery technology | Stacked battery technology for increased energy density and prolonged lifespan |
| iPhone 14: 3,279 mAh battery
iPhone 14 Plus: 4,325 mAh battery |
iPhone 16: 3,561 mAh battery
iPhone 16 Plus: 4,006 mAh battery |
| Up to 27W wired charging | Up to 40W wired charging (48% faster) |
| 15W charging via MagSafe | 20W charging via MagSafe (33% faster) |
| Setting to prevent charging above 80% | |
| Battery manufacture date, first use, and cycle count information in Settings |
Other Features and Changes
The iPhone 16 will be the first standard-line iPhone to support Apple Intelligence, Apple's upcoming artificial intelligence system, thanks to the more powerful Neural Engine in the A18 chip. The device is also rumored to tout upgraded microphones and new color options.
| Support for Apple Intelligence | |
| Microphone | Upgraded microphone with improved signal-to-noise ratio and water resistance |
| Improved audio quality on phone calls | |
| Available in Midnight, Starlight, (PRODUCT)RED, Blue, Purple, and Yellow | Available in Blue, Pink, Green, Black, and White |
Will It Be Worth Upgrading?
The iPhone 15 was a fairly significant upgrade over the iPhone 14 in 2023, introducing a more modern design with the Dynamic Island, a USB-C port, and a 48-megapixel camera. The iPhone 16 will build on these upgrades, offering the Capture and Action buttons, Apple Intelligence, and spatial video capture. With over 30 upgrades rumored to be in store, many current iPhone 14 users will find upgrading to an iPhone 16 model worthwhile, if not essential.
Release Date
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to launch in the fall. Apple usually hosts an event every September to unveil new iPhone models, with launch following just over a week later. For more information about the iPhone 16 models, see our comprehensive roundup.
Related Forum: iPhone
This article, "iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 16: 30+ Upgrades to Expect" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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