All of the changes the iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to feature compared to their direct forerunners are listed below, using information from a wide range of reliable sources that we have previously covered here on MacRumors. We will continue to update this article as more rumors emerge prior to Apple's "It's glowtime" event on Monday, September 9.
Displays
Both iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to feature larger displays than their predecessors, pushing the iPhone 16 Pro Max to be the biggest iPhone ever offered. There are also reportedly improvements to the underlying OLED technology in store.
| 6.1- or 6.7-inch display | 6.3- or 6.9-inch display |
| Thinner borders around the display | |
| More efficient OLED display with brighter micro-lens technology |
Chip, Thermals, and Connectivity
Under the hood, the iPhone 16 Pro models are rumored to bring notable improvements in processing power, thermal management, and connectivity. From a more powerful "A18" chip to advanced thermal designs and enhanced connectivity options including the latest Wi-Fi standards, these changes promise to further update the iPhone's basic specifications.
| A17 Pro chip (TSMC's "N3B" 3nm process) | A18 chip (TSMC's "N3E" enhanced 3nm process) |
| 16-core Neural Engine | Enhanced neural Engine with "significantly" more cores to support Apple Intelligence more effectively |
| Thermal design with copper heatsink and black foil battery casing | New thermal design with graphene heatsink and metal battery casing |
| Snapdragon X70 5G modem | Snapdragon X75 5G modem |
| Wi-Fi 6E connectivity | Wi-Fi 7 connectivity |
Cameras
The iPhone 16 Pro models are slated to receive a range of substantial camera enhancements, such as a larger main camera sensor, a 48-megapixel sensor on the ultra wide camera, and a dedicated hardware button for photography and videography on the side of the device.
| 1/1.28-inch main camera sensor | iPhone 16 Pro: 1/1.28-inch main camera sensor
iPhone 16 Pro Max: 1/1.14-inch main camera sensor (12% larger) |
| Sony IMX-803 main camera sensor | iPhone 16 Pro: Sony IMX-803 main camera sensor
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Sony IMX-903 main camera sensor with stacked design for better performance, a 14-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) for high-quality image data conversion, and Digital Gain Control (DCG) for better dynamic range and noise control |
| 7P main camera lens | 8P main camera lens |
| iPhone 15 Pro: Telephoto camera with second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization
iPhone 15 Pro Max: Telephoto camera with larger sensor, folded tetraprism design, optical image stabilization, and autofocus 3D sensor-shift module |
Telephoto camera with larger sensor, folded tetraprism design, optical image stabilization, and autofocus 3D sensor-shift module |
| iPhone 15 Pro: 77mm maximum focal length
iPhone 15 Pro Max: 120mm maximum focal length |
120mm maximum focal length |
| iPhone 15 Pro: 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 3x optical zoom
iPhone 15 Pro Max: 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x optical zoom |
0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x optical zoom |
| 4P telephoto camera lens | 5P telephoto camera lens |
| 12-megapixel ultra wide camera with f/2.4 aperture | 48-megapixel ultra wide camera with f/2.2 aperture, 48-megapixel ProRaw support, and improved low-light performance |
| 5P ultra wide camera lens | 6P ultra wide camera lens |
| Support for new JPEG-XL format | |
| Support for 3K video at 120 fps with Dolby Vision | |
| Capacitive "Capture Button" with force-sensitive half-press and sliding gestures to trigger photography and videography features |
Batteries and Charging
The iPhone 16 Pro models could receive some major improvements in battery technology and charging, sporting bigger, denser batteries and faster charging capabilities.
| Single-layer battery technology | Stacked battery technology for increased energy density and prolonged lifespan |
| iPhone 15 Pro: 3,274 mAh battery iPhone 15 Pro Max: 4,422 mAh battery |
iPhone 16 Pro: 3,577 mAh battery (+9.25%) iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4,676 mAh battery (+5.74%) |
| Up to 27W wired charging | Up to 40W wired charging |
| 15W charging via MagSafe | 20W charging via MagSafe |
Other Features and Changes
While many of Apple's devices are set to receive Apple Intelligence via software updates later this year, the iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to take these further with exclusive capabilities and an upgraded microphone.
| Apple Intelligence support with iOS 18.1 | Apple Intelligence support with iOS 18.1, plus a suite of exclusive AI features |
| Microphone | Upgraded microphone with improved signal-to-noise ratio and water resistance |
| Up to 1TB of storage | Up to 2TB of storage |
| Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Blue Titanium color options | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium color options |
| Brushed titanium frame | Glossy titanium frame |
Dimensions
To accommodate the devices' larger displays, both iPhone 16 Pro models are rumored to grow in height and width, but no changes to the depth are anticipated.
| iPhone 15 Pro: 146.6mm height
iPhone 15 Pro Max: 159.9mm height |
iPhone 16 Pro: 149.6mm height
iPhone 16 Pro Max: 163.0mm height |
| iPhone 15 Pro: 70.60mm width
iPhone 15 Pro Max: 76.70mm width |
iPhone 16 Pro: 71.45mm width
iPhone 16 Pro Max: 77.58mm width |
| iPhone 15 Pro: 187g weight
iPhone 15 Pro Max: 221g weight |
iPhone 16 Pro: 194g weight
iPhone 16 Pro Max: 225g weight |
Release Date
The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are expected to be announced at Apple's "It's glowtime" event on Monday, September 9. Pre-orders are likely to open on Friday, September 13, with launch following one week later on Friday, September 20. For more information about the iPhone 16 Pro models, see our comprehensive roundup.
Will It Be Worth Upgrading?
The iPhone 15 Pro was a fairly significant upgrade over the iPhone 14 Pro in 2023, introducing a new design with a titanium frame, slimmer bezels, the Action button, a USB-C port, and more. Based on what we know so far, the iPhone 16 Pro's upgrades will likely not be as substantial as those offered by its predecessor. Most iPhone 15 Pro users will probably have little reason to upgrade, but some who would appreciate a slightly larger display, better cameras, and a dedicated button for photography and videography features may find it worthwhile.
Related Roundups: iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 15 Pro (Don't Buy)
This article, "iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: 30+ Rumored Upgrades Compared" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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