© YouTube (via Technizo Concept)
The smartphone releases from Apple and Samsung are undoubtedly the two big highlights of the year – and for good reason: the two brands are not always the first on the technologies and other new products that they offer each year.
These are often the best for a more unified, intuitive user experience – their smartphones are particularly well finished, premium, at the cutting edge of what is available, without too many unuseful gadget ideas or new features that risk being unprecedented through a lot of innovation, but without thinking sufficiently about their integration.
This is why every year the iPhone releases, like that of the iPhone 16 which arrive after the # 8217;summer, are among the most followed and commented on in the sector, Apple being particularly good on this point. On the agenda: this year, Apple must unfold its vision of AI on mobile, refine the design of the iPhone 15, erase their flaws, and generalize new features like the Action button. and introduce a mysterious new Capture button.
The iPhone 16 already has the scent of a release that is significantly more innovative than what we would have been entitled to expect from a launch after that of & #8217;a generation as major as that of the iPhone 15.
Everything indicates, by observing the now almost traditional launch window, that the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be released during September . Of course, nothing is official at the moment and it remains at Apple's discretion to move its launch to a later or earlier date, depending on its strategy or logistical constraints. However, for several generations now the Apple keynote has always taken place at the beginning of September – so there is little chance that this will change this time.
On the price side, and despite a context of inflation, we do not see a huge change between the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 generation, it is therefore reasonable to believe that the prices will remain approximately the same. same. Note, however, that the first iPhone arrived in France at a price between €399 and €599 depending on the storage options (which already seemed quite expensive at the time). In the iPhone 8 generation, preceding the borderless era at Apple, we had a price range between €809 and €1,080.
The iPhone X, then XS, marked a sharp price increase, of around 300 euros. But Apple has raised the entry ticket to €809 from the iPhone 11 generation – while catching up on storage options, with a variant then at €1,659. The starting price of 809 euros remained for a long time, until the iPhone 13. But the iPhone 14 generation was marked by an inflation of €100 – with in the meantime the disappearance of the mini model, one of the most compact on the market of all brands.
The price then increased slightly with the transition to iPhone 15, although it depends on the versions. As a reminder, the iPhone 15 range is offered at the following prices:
- iPhone 15 : from 969 €
- iPhone 15 Plus: from 1 119  ;€
- iPhone 15 Pro : from 1 229 €
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: 1 479 €
Obviously this evolution of prices, followed by other high-end brands, makes these models particularly exclusive. While a minimum wage allowed you to buy about four bare appliances in 2007, it barely allows you to buy one of the most basic models in 2024, with the smallest storage capacity available. Note that in France, some operators now offer smartphone rental or mobile payment in installments, making it easier for many to swallow the pill.
© Apple
The outlines of the iPhone 16 technical sheet are just beginning to take shape – although certain elements, in view of previous iterations, raised little doubt (the same is true, moreover, for the even more distant iPhone 17 generation). If we stay in general, the next iPhones should take up the achievements of the current generation (Apple always makes a big leap forward, followed by a more timid generation every other year) – while equipping them with better screens and a new generation of chips. But the timing seems to force Apple to shake up its routine, and launch a generation that pushes innovation further – particularly on the software part.
The iPhone 15 generation offers, on the cheapest variants, an A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU. The Pro models offer a faster chip, A17 Pro with 6-core GPU. In both cases, whether for the base iPhone 15, or the Pro variant, we did not notice any real difference in use. Apple is far ahead on the subject, with performances that exceed those delivered by the best Qualcomm chips in the Android – for many generations now. We are talking about something on the order of one to two years in advance on this point.
The A18 Pro chip in the iPhone 16 Pro, which will probably have to manage, we will come back to this, new local generative AI features, should simply deliver the performance required to ensure a smooth user experience , without the slightest noticeable slowdown. The likely move to an A17 chip on the base and Plus variants could bring them USB C (USB 3 protocol) transfer speeds 20 times faster than what is seen on the base variants currently available.< /p>
Although everything is not yet very clear on this point. A leaked technical document suggests that all four versions will run on an A18 chip, with a possible A18 Pro distinction on the iPhone 16 Pro variants. Which could mark a series of differences, including transfer speeds. The A18 chip would in any case be equipped with a significantly more muscular neural engine for the reasons we discuss in more detail in the following section. All models would now have 8 GB of RAM (compared to 6 GB for the base iPhone 15).
While we know that Apple has been working for years on its own internal 5G modem, this will still not be included on the iPhone 16. The Pro models will, however, see a significant upgrade on this point with the move to a Snapdragon X75 chip from Qualcomm, allowing gains in performance and energy efficiency. The X75 offers so-called carrier aggregation technology. The integrated circuit dedicated to radio frequencies sees its footprint reduced by 25% – and consumes 20% less energy, which could translate into significant overall autonomy gains. This modem is certified “5G Advanced”.
The standard models will be equipped with the X70 variant which characterizes the entire iPhone 15 range. Analysts such as Ming-Chi Kuo believe that Apple could finally deploy its own complete 5G radio solution from the iPhone generation 17, in 2025. We also think that the iPhone 16 Pro will offer WiFi 7 connectivity (with wireless speed up to 40 Gb/s, superior to wired transfer). The basic iPhone 16s would benefit from WiFi 6E connectivity “a little less efficient”. It’is currently the ultimate available, on the iPhone 15 Pro range.
Apple has also finally learned the lesson of the overheating of the iPhone 15, and would propose a new, a priori very innovative dissipation system based on graphene – backed by a new battery casing which also allows for better heat distribution. The battery would move to so-called “stacked” allowing greater capacity and longer life. The approach is inspired by the automotive sector – and remains very emerging for the time being in smartphones.
Thanks to this technology, Apple could finally offer fast charging worthy of the name – without compromising on lifespan, an argument taken up for a long time by specialists in the sector. So wired charging would increase to 40W and MagSafe charging to 20W. The capacity itself would only change by a few points between 2% and 6%. Which in no way prejudges the autonomy which should benefit from new less energy-consuming 5G modems, and a better Apple Silicon chip, among other significant energy consumption items.
This is the big turning point we expect from Apple this year. It would be very surprising if Apple remained inactive in the field of AI, and we have seen recently with takeovers, and indiscretions drawn from meetings with Google that the firm is preparing something in this area. Leaks on the next chips, particularly at the level of the more robust neural engine, seem to go in the direction of advanced AI functionalities locally.
iOS 18, which will be announced and offered in beta to developers, should shed more light on the future capabilities of the iPhone in this area. A priori, these features will also be offered on older generations that are still supported. But their local execution would be specific to the iPhone 16. Beyond the iPhone experience, these AI models could enrich the experience of many of the firm's services, from Siri, to auto-generated playlists in Apple Music, not forgetting tools to assist with audiovisual and textual creation.
Ming-Chi Kuo also explains that AI will also have an important role in improving audio capture by microphones – themselves upgraded for better fidelity, water resistance and signal-to-noise ratio.
The Pro models could offer a new ultra wide angle lens 48 Mp better in low light conditions, all with pixel binning and other technologies to improve rendering. The main lens of the iPhone 16 Pro could feature a better 8-part lens assembly, with more glass elements.
The Pro models should both offer a 5X periscopic telephoto lens allowing for much better zooms. Quite surprising info, in our opinion, but not impossible: mockups of the standard models suggest that the base models will align their dual lenses vertically, rather than the current design in “dice” . This would bring “spatial video recording” on these models report several analysts.
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(This video shows a concept concocted by designer Technizo Concept – it does not prejudge the final look of the iPhone 16 Pro)
A priori the design will remain in line with that of the iPhone 15, still with the titanium finish for the Pro models. As we told you above, the arrangement of the sensors could become vertical on standard models. Beyond that, it is rumored that the two screen sizes in the range will be increased. We would go from 6.1″ for iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro variants at 6.3″ for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro variants.
The iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max would increase to 6.9″ against 6.7″ for their equivalents in the iPhone 15 range.
The Capture button of the iPhone 16 Pro © Apple x Presse-citron.net
At the outset let us point out that it is highly likely that the Action button, expected to arrive on the next iPhone SE, should be generalized on the four iPhone 16s. But there is better: a new button, whose name “Capture” has leaked, would arrive on all four models.
This button would be placed on the side of the lock button, on the location currently allocated to the mmWave insert exclusive to iPhones marketed by the ’ Verizon operator in the United States. This button will remain mechanical, but it will also respond to pressure and touch.
A priori, it will be possible to zoom in or out by touching it, to change the depth of field/focus by lightly pressing on it, or even to take a photo or start capturing a video by pressing harder on it. Enough to put an end, we hope, to accidental screenshots when you try to take a video or a photo by pressing the volume buttons, configured for this on the current generation. And thus increase the ease of use of this image platform for users.
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