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Apple unveiled new products at its Glowtime event on Monday, including the latest Apple Watch and AirPods. As usual, the star of the show was the iPhone, which will come in four versions: the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The new phones go up for pre-order tomorrow and will hit stores on September 20.
Every year sees minor tweaks and occasional big jumps, so it's not always clear when (and if) you should upgrade. Pre-orders start September 13, but you can before– Pre-order by making your selections on Apple's website now, and your shopping cart will be saved when the pre-order window opens. Here's what's all-new, better, and similar to the iPhone 16.
Related toApple rarely holds sales, but you can get its tech for up to 55% off right now.
What's new: Apple Intelligence, camera control button, A18 chip
Apple, known for leading innovation, has found itself in the unfamiliar position of trying to catch up. With many brands rolling out AI features, the Cupertino company has taken its time following suit, but the new iPhone 16 is Apple’s first smartphone designed for the AI era. Apple’s AI, dubbed Apple Intelligence, is designed to enhance writing and image creation tasks, while improving Siri. Apple has also been notable for its commitment to privacy, with privacy and security features built into Apple Intelligence.
But there are caveats. Apple Intelligence is the big new feature, but it won’t actually be available until next month when iOS 18 is released. The new iPhones are built from the ground up with Apple Intelligence, but older models aren’t out of the question; Apple Intelligence will be available on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, as well as iPad and Macs with the M1 chip and later.
Another new feature on the iPhone is the camera button, a simple but clever upgrade that makes taking photos easier. The capacitive button can open the camera app and take photos, which is great for anyone who gets stuck trying to open their camera app only to miss the perfect shot. The camera button will be available on all iPhone 16 models. The iPhone 16 will use the new A18 chip, which Apple says “delivers a huge leap in performance and efficiency.”
What's better: Longer battery life and an updated camera
Apple didn’t give specifics but talked about a big improvement in battery life. “With the new internal design and advanced power management of iOS 18, the batteries are optimized to deliver a significant increase in battery life,” Apple says of the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. When it comes to the Pro models, Apple is more daring, saying it’s made a “huge leap in battery life,” with the Pro Max offering “the best battery life ever in an iPhone.”
In terms of durability, the Ceramic Shield display is touted as being “twice as strong as the glass in any other smartphone.” Image quality remains a big focus for Apple, and the camera hardware has been upgraded with a 48-megapixel Fusion camera. Apple says it “enables a Telephoto option with twice the optical quality, which is like having two cameras in one.”
All iPhone 16 models inherit the customizable Action button from the iPhone 15 Pro, meaning iPhone users now get two buttons for quick access, a camera control and an Action button. It's an interesting shift to physical buttons, given that Apple ditched the Home button after the iPhone 8.
What is similar: price, size, offer
One pleasant detail that has remained the same is the price. The new iPhone 16 starts at $799, the same price as the iPhone 15 when it first came out. It’s also the same price as Samsung’s Galaxy S24. As the iPhone 16 goes on sale, Apple has dropped the price of the iPhone 15 by $100.
Other details that have remained the same are the USB-C port, Dynamic Island, and Super Retina XDR display. In the iPhone 16 and Plus models, the iPhone has kept the same screen size as the iPhone 15. However, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch display, compared to 6.7 inches for the 15 Pro Max. Similarly, the iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch display compared to the 15 Pro's 6.1-inch display.
The iPhone 16 is also exactly the same size as the iPhone 15, but if you were hoping to use the same phone case, you’re out of luck. The addition of a new capacitive button requires a compatible case. Fortunately, the best phone case brands are ready to go, meaning you can already order a case for the iPhone 16 series before you even get your hands on the new phone. Here are some options.
Casetify Wavy Grid by Poketo
The Casetify app lets you choose the case based on how much protection you need, and offers fun collaboration and the ability to customize your case. This design was created in collaboration with Los Angeles-based home design studio Poketo. It’s available for all four versions of the new iPhone.
Bellroy phone case
Bellroy designs are all about simplifying your daily life, and this case features a stylish secret door design that can store up to three cards. The case is available in three colors to choose from, and is available for all new iPhone models.
iPhone 16 Silicone Case with MagSafe Technology
Apple's cases come in a wide range of attractive colors, including bright yellow and purple, as well as muted shades of blue, brown, and black. They're designed to work “seamlessly” with the new camera control button.
