iPhone 16 Pro Lineup Rumored to Bring Major Design and Battery Upgrades
Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models may introduce some significant changes, according to recent rumors and supply chain reports. Two key areas of potential improvement stand out: the Face ID system and battery capacity.
Under-Display Face ID Coming Sooner?
A surprising development from Britain hints that Apple may be ready to move Face ID components under the display as soon as this year's iPhone 16 Pro models, rather than waiting until 2025 as previously expected:
- A microchip facility in the UK, owned by US company Coherent, is closing after losing its biggest customer - reportedly Apple
- The facility produced components for Apple's Face ID system
- Apple allegedly stopped orders due to changes being made to the next version of the iPhone
This aligns with an earlier timeline from display analyst Ross Young, who initially predicted under-display Face ID for the iPhone 16 Pro before revising his forecast to 2025. If accurate, this would be a major design change, reducing the size of the display cutout significantly.
Larger Batteries to Power Bigger Screens
Another set of rumors points to increased battery capacity for the Pro models:
- iPhone 16 Pro: 3577mAh (up 9.3% from iPhone 15 Pro)
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4747mAh (up 7.3% from iPhone 15 Pro Max)
While these specific numbers should be taken with skepticism due to the source's mixed track record, larger batteries do make sense given the rumored screen size increases:
- iPhone 16 Pro: 6.3 (up from 6.1)
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 6.9 (up from 6.7)
The extra battery capacity could also help power new AI features expected to be driven by an enhanced Neural Engine in the A18 Pro chip.
What to Expect
If these rumors pan out, the iPhone 16 Pro lineup could offer:
- A more immersive display experience with reduced notch/cutout size
- Longer battery life to complement larger screens
- Powerful on-device AI capabilities
As always with early rumors, it's important to maintain a healthy dose of skepticism. We'll likely learn more as we get closer to Apple's traditional September iPhone launch window.
Update: Sunday July 07 17:38
The iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to feature larger displays, with the Pro increasing to 6.3 inches and the Pro Max to 6.9 inches. These devices will likely incorporate new Border Reduction Structure (BRS) technology, resulting in ultra-thin bezels of 1.2mm and 1.15mm respectively. Camera improvements may include a 5x optical zoom tetraprism lens on both Pro models, a 48MP ultra-wide camera, and new lens coatings to reduce internal reflections. The displays could also see a brightness boost to 1,200 nits in typical use. Additional potential upgrades include a new thermal design, improved microphones for Siri, and an extra button, possibly for video recording. Apple is also rumored to be working on deep AI integration for iOS 18, which may debut with the iPhone 16 series.
