A18 Pro Bionic Chip: The definitive upgrade. Expect a new "A18 Pro" chip manufactured on an enhanced second-generation 3nm process (N3E). This will deliver major performance improvements for CPU, GPU, and, most importantly, a significantly upgraded Neural Engine to power on-device Generative AI features.
Larger 6.3-inch Display: The iPhone 16 Pro is expected to grow to a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display (up from 6.1"), featuring thinner bezels thanks to a new Border Reduction Structure (BRS) technology. It will retain the brilliant Always-On and ProMotion technology with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate.
All-New Capture Button: A new hardware button, distinct from the existing ones. It will be a capacitive, force-sensitive "Capture Button" located on the lower right frame. It is designed for seamless control over the camera, acting as a shutter button and a focus/zoom control, solidifying the iPhone's videography prowess.
Tetracamera System with 5x Optical Zoom: A monumental upgrade. The iPhone 16 Pro is rumored to join the Pro Max in receiving the 5x Tetraprism telephoto lens (currently a Max exclusive). This means the Pro model will finally have a powerful optical zoom capability, completing a versatile quad-camera system (Main, Ultra Wide, Telephoto, LiDAR Scanner).
48MP Ultra-Wide Camera: An upgrade to the Ultra Wide camera, boosting its sensor from 12MP to 48MP. This will dramatically improve detail and allow for significant cropping in ultra-wide shots, as well as enable higher-quality night mode photos from that lens.
Wi-Fi 7 Support: A cutting-edge connectivity upgrade. The iPhone 16 Pro is expected to be among the first smartphones to support Wi-Fi 7, offering vastly faster speeds, lower latency, and more reliable connections for high-bandwidth activities like video streaming and AR.
Modular Camera Control Button: In addition to the new Capture button, the familiar mute switch is expected to be fully replaced by the "Action Button" introduced on the 15 Pro, and it may gain new functionality and customization options.
Advanced Thermal Design: To manage the power of the A18 Pro and sustained performance, Apple is rumored to be implementing an improved thermal management system, potentially using graphene, to prevent overheating during intensive tasks like gaming or ProRes video editing.
Spatial Video Recording: Building on the current capability, the enhanced cameras and processors will further refine the ability to record immersive spatial videos for viewing on the Apple Vision Pro, likely at higher resolutions or frame rates.
iOS 18 & Generative AI: The 256 GB storage is the ideal tier for the flagship iOS 18 experience. The iPhone 16 Pro will be the hardware showcase for powerful, on-device generative AI features, including a smarter Siri, real-time language translation, AI-powered photo editing, and AI-generated content creation in apps.
