After more than a year of speculations, there’s now a plethora of rumors surrounding the features and enhancements anticipated in the comparison of iPhone 15 vs 16, slated for release later in 2024.
iPhone 15 vs 16: Design
The design of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus is expected to bear close resemblance to their predecessors, maintaining similar dimensions. Notable design changes include a vertical rear camera setup to enable spatial video capture, replacement of the mute switch with the Action button introduced in the previous Pro models, and the addition of a new “Capture” button.
| iPhone 15 | iPhone 16 |
|---|---|
| Diagonally arranged rear camera array | Vertically arranged rear camera array to support spatial video capture |
| Ring/Silent switch | Action Button |
| “Capture Button” to trigger photography and videography features | – |
| iPhone 15: 171g weight | iPhone 16: 173g weight (+1%) |
| iPhone 15 Plus: 201g weight | iPhone 16 Plus: 203g weight (+1%) |
Chip, Memory, and Connectivity
The iPhone 16 models are rumored to feature an upgraded A18 chip, offering improved processing power with a more robust Neural Engine to support exclusive generative AI capabilities. Additionally, there’s speculation about a 33% increase in memory and the inclusion of Wi-Fi 6E support.
| iPhone 15 | iPhone 16 |
|---|---|
| A16 Bionic chip | A18 chip (TSMC’s “N3E” enhanced 3nm process) |
| 16-core Neural Engine | Neural Engine with “significantly” more cores to support new AI features |
| 6GB memory | 8GB memory (+33%) |
| Wi-Fi 6 connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E connectivity |
iPhone 15 vs 16: Batteries and Charging
The iPhone 16 models are anticipated to feature advancements in battery technology and charging capabilities, including denser batteries and faster charging speeds. However, there’s speculation that the iPhone 16 Plus may have a smaller battery compared to its predecessor.
| iPhone 15 | iPhone 16 |
|---|---|
| Single-layer battery technology | Stacked battery technology for increased energy density and prolonged lifespan |
| iPhone 15: 3,349 mAh battery | iPhone 16: 3,561 mAh battery (+6%) |
| iPhone 15 Plus: 4,383 mAh battery | iPhone 16 Plus: 4,006 mAh battery (-9%) |
| Up to 27W wired charging | Up to 40W wired charging (48% faster) |
| 15W charging via MagSafe | 20W charging via MagSafe (33% faster) |
Other Features and Changes
The iPhone 16 models are expected to come with various camera enhancements, including spatial video capture for the Apple Vision Pro. Additionally, there’s anticipation for new AI-based features facilitated by the upgraded Neural Engine and microphone.
| iPhone 15 | iPhone 16 |
|---|---|
| More efficient OLED display with brighter micro-lens technology | – |
| Spatial video capture | – |
| Upcoming support for new AI features in iOS 18 | Upcoming support for new AI features in iOS 18, plus a suite of device-exclusive AI features |
| Microphone | Upgraded microphone with improved signal-to-noise ratio and water resistance, designed to support new AI features |
Release Date
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to be launched in the fall. Apple typically holds an event in September to unveil its new iPhone models, with the release following shortly thereafter.
