The iPhone 16 is ready for primetime.Apple has sent invitations for a “special event” that is likely to include the launch of its next-gen iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. It’s scheduled for Monday, Sept. 9, at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino; things kick off at 10 a.m. PT. That’s a day later than initially expected, notes Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who had tipped a Sept. 10 event. Typically, Apple’s events are held on Tuesdays. That was the case for the launch of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 13, though the iPhone 14 switched things up with a Wednesday event, so Apple clearly likes to keep us guessing.As for what to expect, the tagline on Apple’s invite says “It’s Glowtime” below a glowing, multi-colored logo. That could be a reference to the redesigned Siri, which takes over the edges of an iPhone’s screen in iOS 18 with a similar color-changing effect. But with Apple, it could mean anything.
The new Siri will make the edges of the whole iPhone screen glow when you’re interacting with it. (Credit: Apple)
Apple will livestream the event on its website and Apple TV.We scoured the web for the most reliable and up-to-date rumors to give you the best idea of what to expect at the iPhone 16 announcement. Here’s what’s likely to be on tap.When Does the iPhone 16 Come Out?With an event on Sept. 9, we’ll probably see the iPhones launch the following week. Gurman tweeted that Apple “scheduled an unusual and mandatory meeting for employees at all Apple retail stores for the evening of Sept. 12 or morning of Sept. 13…ahead of the iPhone 16 release a week later.” If Apple follows its typical pattern, preorders for the new devices will begin on Sept. 13, with an on-sale date a week later on Sept. 20. Apple IntelligenceApple Intelligence was the star of the show at WWDC, but we’ve since heard that it won’t launch with iOS 18 in September and will instead arrive as a software update in October with iOS 18.1. Siri Apple Intelligence features aren’t expected until 2025.
iPhone 15 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)
When it does arrive, you’ll need at least an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max. Presumably, it will work across the iPhone 16 lineup, but we’ll need to wait for confirmation from Apple on that.New A18 Chip to Power Apple IntelligenceApple Intelligence will need a boost in processing power to run smoothly. Apple looks to power the entire iPhone 16 lineup with an A18 processor and at least 8GB of RAM, 9to5Mac reports. In the current lineup, the non-Pro iPhone 15 models have 6GB of RAM while the two Pro models have 8GB.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)
The iPhone 15 series also uses different chips; the A17 Pro for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max and the A16 Bionic for the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. But according to back-end code found by Nicolás Alvarez, all iPhone 16 models will have the same A-series chip, MacRumors reports. Since Apple has relied on different chips to differentiate between the Pro and non-Pro iPhones for the last few years, it will be interesting to see if it differentiates them in another way.Better Cameras, Smaller Bump, Fun Colors, New Sizes9to5Mac says the Ultra Wide camera on the iPhone 16 Pro will increase from 12MP to 48MP, while the iPhone 16 cameras will get a redesigned and rounded camera module in order to potentially accommodate the recording of spatial video. There’s no word yet if Apple will improve the iPhone Pro’s video capture powers beyond 4K60 to 8K. Competing Android devices have been able to capture 8K video for years.
iPhone 15 Pro cameras (Credit: Eric Zeman)
We got a good look at the new camera bumps on the iPhone 16, as Apple leaker Sonny Dickson shared a picture that showcases the backs and colors of the iPhone 16.
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The two lenses of the non-Pro iPhones are stacked vertically on a rounded camera bump, a significant departure from the diagonally opposed arrangement on the iPhone 15. Apple will offer the phone in white, black, blue, green, and pink. Dickson also posted a photo of the backs of the iPhone 16 Pro, which include a three-camera setup, along with white, black, and tan colorways. Some commenters have suggested the tan color may actually be bronze.
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Finally, he showed the different sizes we can expect across the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro lineup.
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According to Dickson, the display on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will remain the same at 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches, respectively, but the screen on the iPhone 16 Pro is in for a jump. The phone will now feature a 6.3-inch display (matching the new Pixel 9 Pro) instead of the 6.1-inch size found on the iPhone 15 Pro. The iPhone 16 Pro Max will also get bigger, as it will have a 6.9-inch screen compared with the 6.7-inch display on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The larger size will put it on even footing with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.Action Button for AllLast year, Apple introduced the Action button exclusively on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. It replaced the mute button and can be programmed to activate many different actions, including the camera, the flashlight, or a shortcut.
iPhone 15 Pro Max action button (Credit: Eric Zeman)
MacRumors reports that this button will make its way to all iPhone 16 models. At some point, Apple might also give the button new features, such as force touch, which would allow it to detect pressure changes. There’s no indication that this particular feature will appear any time soon, though it does seem likely that the current version of the Action button will make an appearance on the iPhone 16 this year.Dedicated Camera Button
(Credit: Eric Zeman)
9to5Mac also reports that the iPhone 16 could see an additional button on the right side of the phone dedicated to bringing up the camera app and taking pictures. The button could also come with some kind of touch sensitivity, which would allow users to zoom in and out by sliding their fingers up and down the button. Camera buttons used to be a staple across high-end phones but eventually disappeared. Longer Battery LifeMore battery life is always better, and a report by MacRumors suggests that the iPhone 16 Pro Max might be in line for an even larger battery. This could potentially give the device the longest-ever battery life on an iPhone, topping over 30 hours of usage.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)
Apple already claims up to 29 hours of battery life on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, though it managed only 20 hours and 15 minutes in PCMag’s testing. There’s no doubt the Apple A18 processor will play a role in determining how efficiently the new iPhones run.
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Apple Watch X and Ultra 3
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)
This year will be the tenth anniversary of the debut of the Apple Watch, and Apple was originally thought to be marking the occasion with a big redesign. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo thinks that the watch could be thinner but offer larger sizes. Kuo also says the two models could be larger—from 41mm and 45mm, respectively, to 45mm and 49mm. A new color may be included in the lineup, too.However, newer reports from Mark Gurman suggest design changes, if any, will be minimal. “This year’s third-generation Apple Watch Ultra will have roughly the same look as the original, and the other watch models still resemble the Series 4 launched in 2018,” he writes.Other potential upgrades include a new chip with better performance and the potential for AI features, longer battery life thanks to an upgraded display, and, of course, all the new tools built into watchOS 11.AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3Apple hasn’t introduced significant redesigns to its in-ear AirPods for a few years. The AirPods 3 have been around since 2021. And though the AirPods Pro 2 gained a UBS-C connector last year, the headphones have otherwise remained unchanged since 2022. Leaker Kosutami recently suggested that both the AirPods 4 and the AirPods Pro 3 will be announced soon. Details about what may be new, however, are rather thin. Gurman suggests that Apple may introduce two models of the AirPods 4, one without ANC to replace the aging AirPods 2 and another with ANC to sub in for the AirPods 3. Other enhancements would entail improved audio and battery life.Waiting on a new set of over-ear cans from Apple? Your wait may continue. Reports of a successor to the 2020-era AirPods Max, Apple’s $549, ANC-equipped headphones, are few and far between.iPhone 17 and SE RumorsThe iPhone 16 has yet to be released, but that hasn’t stopped speculation about the iPhone 17. Some of these reports, according to MacRumors, include under-display Face ID technology for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models. This would remove the front camera cutout altogether in favor of a small, circular cutout for the camera.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)
We could also see even larger display sizes, plus the 120Hz ProMotion screen might trickle down to all the phones in the iPhone 17 lineup. There’s also talk of an entirely new model called the iPhone Slim, which would be thinner and only have one rear camera. The iPhone 17 lineup could also be getting an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip, which could potentially better integrate with Apple’s existing hardware and software to get even faster Wi-Fi speeds.Additionally, Gurman predicts that we’ll see the first iPhone SE since 2022. This new version could look similar to an iPhone 14 but with an OLED display and even smaller bezels. It will also most likely have access to Apple Intelligence.
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About Sarah Lord
Analyst, Mobile
I’m a Mobile Analyst at PCMag, which means I cover wireless phones, plans, tablets, ereaders, and a whole lot more. I’ve always loved technology and have been forming opinions on consumer electronics since childhood. Prior to joining PCMag, I covered TVs and home entertainment at CNET, served as the tech and electronics reviews fellow at Insider, and began my career by writing laptop reviews as an intern at Tom’s Hardware. I am also a professional actor with credits in theater, film, and television.
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