So there you have it — the iPhone 16 is out, revealed on September 9, 2024, and available in stores on September 20, 2024. Another year, another excellent iPhone.
Apple’s iPhone 16 features a faster A18 chip, an ‘Action’ button and ‘Camera Control’ button on all models, improved cameras, and the humble beginning of Apple’s move into artificial intelligence.
Join us as we examine the new iPhone for 2024, including the new features and price.
When is iPhone 16 Coming Out?
Release Date: September 20, 2024
The iPhone 16 launched at Apple’s ‘Glowtime’ Keynote 2024 at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino on Monday, September 9.
iPhone 16: Specs
iPhone 16 Features
Improved Cameras, 8GB of RAM, Buttons Galore
The iPhone 16 opts for the same screen size as previous models, with a 6.1-inch display, along with 8GB of RAM (up from 6GB on the iPhone 15), and storage ranging between 128 GB and 512 GB.
A 48MP primary camera (which can function as a 12MP, 2X digital telephoto) is joined by upgraded ultrawide cameras that add macro photography and a 12MP front camera.
Some reports suggest a 3,561mAh battery on board (an increase of 6%) supported by 25W MagSafe charging.
Apple is notoriously unforthcoming with sharing battery size, but the new A18 processor, increased RAM, and graphene thermal system for better cooling all add up to what Apple claims is “a big boost in battery life“. Apple claims 22 hours of video playback from one charge, up from 20 hours on the iPhone 16.
The mute switch has been replaced with a new ‘Action’ button, previously confined to the iPhone 15 Pro model.
On the opposite side, a touch-sensitive Camera Control lets you take photos and videos. A gentle press helps to focus an image, and swipes allow for aperture and zoom settings.
Apple’s new A18 chip comes with 16-core Neural Engine processing to better handle Apple Intelligence features. However, we need to wait until the end of the year for a software update to see how the features affect the smartphone. This advancement, ready to power iOS 18’s new features, promises efficiency and processing power enhancements, catering to the growing demands of sophisticated mobile applications and games.
Additionally, models are expected to include improved thermal management systems, possibly integrating graphene, which offers superior thermal conductivity.
iPhone 16 Colors
- Black
- White
- Pink
- Green
- Ultramarine Blue
What is the iPhone 16’s Launch Price?
Starting at $799
The iPhone 16 price begins at $799, which shows us that Apple is falling into a trend here, running for the same or similar launch price since the iPhone 12.
That’s not a bad setup considering the price rises we have seen in many sectors across large parts of the world. While we are a little disappointed to see the new AirPods Max refresh being at the same price as its original launch in 2020 without fundamentally improving the tech, the iPhone 16 packs a lot more in without trending the price up each year.
The Bottom Line
Stylistically, the iPhone 16 shares a lot of the DNA of its previous generations, but when you are on to a good thing, why change things up too much?
And the superficial similarities hide a much-improved processor (said to offer 30% better performance), better cameras, more RAM, two great new buttons, and the rise of AI (or more specifically, Apple Intelligence).
The grapevine suggests that the iPhone 17 will be a larger step up than the iPhone 15 to 16, so owners of recent iPhones might consider skipping this model. Nevertheless, Apple has delivered a great new iPhone.