Sweet Sixteen: Apple rolls out new iPhones

Key Takeaways

• The new Iphone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus is set to kickoff pre-order sales starting 5 a.m. PDT on September 13 at $799 and $899 respectively.  
• Both models are equipped with the new A18 chip, offering a major leap in performance and efficiency.

• Built for Apple Intelligence, a system designed to understand personal context and deliver helpful, relevant intelligence while protecting privacy.
• Introduces Camera Control, allowing users to capture memories in new ways.
• Features a 48MP Fusion camera with a 2x Telephoto option, providing two cameras in one. Including a new Ultra Wide camera that supports macro photography.
• Next-generation Photographic Styles allow image personalization.
• Supports demanding AAA games and provides a significant boost in battery life.

On September 9, 2024, global telecom giant, Apple, launched its highly anticipated iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. As expected, the new devices come packed with a host of exciting features.

In this blog post, we unveil sixteen standout features of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus that are set to redefine your smartphone experience and give other brands a run for their money.

Precedents of the iPhone 16

Before the debut of the iPhone 16, Apple’s previous flagship, the iPhone 15, set a high bar with its advanced features and innovations. The iPhone 15 introduced users to a range of enhancements, including improved camera systems, faster processors, and a more refined design.

Looking ahead to the iPhone 16, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook, emphasized that the new model aims to “push the boundaries of what a smartphone can do.” This statement highlights Apple’s commitment to innovation and their focus on delivering groundbreaking advancements. 

However, the company is entering a highly competitive landscape, as other brands have already integrated generative AI features into their devices.

These competitors have set a precedent for AI-driven capabilities in smartphones, challenging Apple to deliver something truly exceptional with the iPhone 16.

What we Know about the new releases

Apple seems to place a strong emphasis on privacy protection with its latest releases. According to the company’s website, Apple Intelligence is designed with privacy in mind at every stage. 

The system is built into the core of the iPhone through on-device processing, allowing it to be aware of your personal information without actually collecting it. This ensures that users can benefit from advanced intelligence features without compromising their privacy.

Apple appears to be placing a strong emphasis on its groundbreaking Private Cloud Compute technology. The system enables Apple-designed server-based models, powered by Apple silicon, to manage more complex tasks. This ensures that the system handles advanced requests, while protecting user privacy.

Apple Intelligence introduces powerful new ways to enhance users’ writing experience. With the systemwide Writing Tools integrated into iOS 18, users can easily rewrite, proofread, and summarize text across various apps like Mail, Notes, Pages, and even third-party platforms. 

In apps like Notes and Phone, users can also record, transcribe, and summarize audio. When a recording starts during a phone call, participants are automatically informed, and after the call ends, Apple Intelligence provides a summary to help users recall key points. These features make managing and improving written and spoken content easier.

Sixteen Distinct Features of the New iPhone 16s

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will be available in five bold colors: black, white, pink, teal, and ultramarine.

1. Camera Control on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus

Apple knows you’ve missed that perfect shot at least once (or ten times) on previous versions. Camera Control is the result of some serious hardware and software wizardry, featuring a tactile switch for that satisfying click, a high-precision force sensor for light press gestures, and a fancy capacitive sensor for touch interactions. In simple terms, it’s designed to get your camera up and running in a flash so you don’t miss the moment.

Launching the camera, snapping a photo, and recording a video are faster than ever.

Plus, a new camera preview lets you adjust all those fancy settings like zoom, exposure, and depth of field with a simple swipe, making it easy to compose a stunning shot even if you’re just aiming for a quick selfie. Oh, and Snapchat? Yep, Camera Control works with that too, so you can bring your A-game to your snaps.

The 48MP Fusion camera offers a 2x optical-quality Telephoto option—because why have one camera when you can have two? The 12MP Ultra Wide camera comes with autofocus, perfect for getting those wide-angle or macro shots with incredible clarity. 

In fact, it pulls in 2.6x more light for those higher-quality photos that even the iPhone 15 just couldn’t quite manage. And for the real pros, spatial photos and videos let you relive your memories in jaw-dropping depth on Apple Vision Pro. So yeah, your photos are about to level up big time.

Later this year, Camera Control will introduce a two-stage shutter that lets you automatically lock focus and exposure with a light press — so you can reframe your shot without losing focus on your subject.

2. Highest-quality video in a smartphone

It seems as though Apple Apple finally heard the cry of frustrated filmmakers everywhere and decided to give them the tools they deserved. 

Apple’s latest releases have officially taken video quality to the next level with the iPhone16 Plus, boasting an impressive 4K 120 fps Dolby Vision — their highest resolution and frame rate combo yet. Powered by the new 48MP Fusion camera with a second-gen quad-pixel sensor and the A18 Pro chip, this is video capture on steroids. 

Now, you can adjust the playback speed after capture in the redesigned Photos app, giving you greater editing capabilities. To add a dreamy quality to your shot, try out the new half-speed option. Or for a cinematic effect, slow it right down to 24 fps playback.

3.  A18 Pro Chip

Apple’s new iPhone 16 and iPhone16 Plus are powered by the groundbreaking A18 Pro chip, which serves as the brain behind Apple Intelligence. This exceptionally powerful chip features a faster Neural Engine, an upgraded CPU and GPU, and a significant increase in memory bandwidth. 

The A18 Pro chip drives advanced capabilities such as Camera Control and provides the best-ever graphics performance for AAA gaming. The new 16-core Neural Engine boosts the efficiency and speed of Apple Intelligence, while the enhanced 6-core GPU delivers superior graphics performance.

4. Super-Ultra Gaming Experience

Apple is transforming the gaming experience with the new iPhone 16 and iPhone16 Plus. The A18 Pro chip brings up to twice the hardware-accelerated ray tracing performance, making games appear and feel exceptionally lifelike with enhanced graphics and realistic lighting. 

Additionally, Game Mode in iOS 18 optimizes performance by providing better sustained frame rates for uninterrupted gameplay and improved responsiveness when using wireless controllers and AirPods. This combination of advanced technology ensures a superior and immersive gaming experience.

5. 4 more hours of battery life

Apple’s new iPhone 16 and iPhone16 Plus feature significant upgrades in battery life, with the iPhone16 Plus offering up to 4 more hours of usage. This impressive improvement is achieved through an optimized internal design that accommodates larger batteries, working in harmony with the A18 Pro chip to ensure highly efficient performance despite the added capabilities. 

For faster wireless charging, users can now use a new MagSafe charger, supporting up to 25W with a 30W power adapter or higher, allowing for up to 50% charge in approximately 30 minutes. Additionally, the iPhone16 Plus Max supports up to 33 hours of video playback, while the iPhone16 Plus offers up to 27 hours.

6. Stay Connected 24/7 in times of Emergency 

Apple’s new iPhone 16 and iPhone16 Plus come with groundbreaking features designed to keep you connected even when traditional networks aren’t available. The iPhone16 Plus can connect to satellites if you lose cell service or Wi-Fi, allowing you to stay in touch and receive assistance. 

With Messages via Satellite, you can send and receive texts and Tapbacks directly from the Messages app, even when you’re off the grid. Additionally, the iPhone16 Plus offers Roadside Assistance via Satellite, enabling you to get help for issues like flat tires or dead car batteries. This service connects you with a roadside assistance provider who can dispatch help to your exact location, free for two years with the iPhone16 Plus. 

Both models also include vital safety features to help in emergencies. If you need to call 911 but have no cell service or Wi-Fi, you can text emergency services over satellite. Plus, Crash Detection uses advanced hardware sensors and motion algorithms to detect severe car crashes, automatically calling 911 and notifying your emergency contacts if you’re unable to.

The AI Library onboards the finest yet powerful AI tools globally. 

View them here.

7. Green Environment

Apple’s new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus highlight the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability. These models feature over 30 percent recycled content overall, including 85 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 80 percent or more recycled steel in various components. 

For the first time, the iPhone 16 lineup includes batteries made with 100 percent recycled cobalt and over 95 percent recycled lithium. Additionally, the devices meet Apple’s rigorous energy efficiency standards and are free of mercury and PVC. The packaging is completely fiber-based, advancing Apple’s goal of eliminating plastic from its packaging by next year.

8. Premium Titanium Design

Apple’s new iPhone16 Plus boasts a Grade 5 titanium design with a refined micro blasted finish. Known for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, titanium makes the iPhone16 Plus both incredibly durable and impressively lightweight. The device is available in four striking colors, including the new Desert Titanium, enhancing its premium look and feel.

9. Enhanced Performance with Internal Design Upgrades

Apple’s new iPhone 16 and iPhone16 Plus feature significant internal design improvements that boost performance. The devices incorporate a 100 percent recycled aluminum thermal substructure and optimized back glass to better dissipate heat. 

These enhancements result in up to 20 percent better sustained performance compared to the iPhone 15 Pro, allowing users to enjoy high-intensity gaming and other demanding tasks for longer periods.

10. Unmatched Durability

Apple’s new iPhone16 Plus boasts impressive durability with its splash, water, and dust resistance. It features the latest-generation Ceramic Shield material, which is twice as tough as any other smartphone glass. This means the iPhone16 Plus is built to withstand the rigors of everyday life, offering exceptional protection and longevity.

11. Enhanced Audio Performance 

Apple has significantly upgraded the audio capabilities of the new iPhone16 Plus. The device now features four studio-quality microphones, offering superior recording with a lower noise floor for more authentic sound capture. 

New Spatial Audio capture technology enhances video playback, creating a more immersive audio experience when using AirPods. Additionally, improved wind noise reduction ensures even clearer audio quality, making the iPhone16 Plus a powerful tool for high-fidelity sound recording and playback.

12. Thrilling Audio Control 

Apple’s latest iPhone 16 and iPhone16 Plus feature a groundbreaking Audio Mix tool, designed to give users unprecedented control over the sound in their videos. Utilizing advanced intelligence and Spatial Audio capture, Audio Mix allows users such as  vloggers or podcasters to adjust voice clarity and background noise using three distinct voice options. 

Whether you want to reduce background sound or focus on specific voices within the frame, you can easily select and fine-tune the audio mix to achieve the perfect sound after video capture.

13. Advanced Camera Personalization

Apple’s latest iPhone 16 and iPhone16 Plus models come with a game-changing feature for photography enthusiasts. The new control pad allows users to personalize their photos with greater precision. 

This tool enables simultaneous adjustment of tone and color, providing a more tailored editing experience. Additionally, users can now fine-tune the intensity of specific colors using a slider, moving beyond the traditional one-size-fits-all approach. This innovation ensures that every megapixel is utilized to its fullest potential, enhancing both photo quality and user satisfaction.

14. Faster Wireless Charging with MagSafe

Apple’s new iPhone 16 and iPhone16 Plus feature an upgraded MagSafe charger that supports even faster wireless charging. With the addition of a 30W power adapter or higher, users can achieve up to 25W charging speed, allowing for up to 50% battery charge in approximately 30 minutes.

15. Deepened Security with the New Passwords App

Apple has introduced a significant upgrade with the new Passwords app on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. This feature simplifies access to account passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and two-factor authentication codes.

With robust security measures, it ensures that your sensitive information is stored securely and synced across your devices with end-to-end encryption. This enhancement makes managing and protecting your credentials more efficient and reliable than ever before.

16. Enhanced Music Experience for All

Apple’s new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus feature Music Haptics, an innovative technology that synchronizes the iPhone’s Taptic Engine with the rhythm of songs. This advancement allows individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to experience the Apple Music catalog in an entirely new and immersive way.

When Will Sales Begin for iPhone 16?

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will be offered in a range of colors—ultramarine, teal, pink, white, and black—and come in three storage capacities: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. The iPhone 16 starts at $799 (U.S.) or $33.29 (U.S.) per month, while the iPhone 16 Plus begins at $899 (U.S.) or $37.45 (U.S.) per month.

Apple is providing several ways for customers to save and upgrade to the latest iPhone. By trading in an iPhone 12 or newer, customers can receive between $180 (U.S.) and $650 (U.S.) in credit. Additionally, up to $1,000 (U.S.) in credits are available towards an iPhone 16 Plus with a carrier offer.

Customers can access these promotions by visiting the Apple Store online or in person. For more details on carrier offer eligibility, visit apple.com/shop/buy-iphone/carrier-offers. To check the value of a device and review trade-in terms and conditions, customers can go to apple.com/shop/trade-in.

Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will begin at 5 a.m. PDT on Friday, September 13, in over 58 countries and regions, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, Türkiye, the UAE, the U.K., and the U.S. 

The devices will be available for purchase starting Friday, September 20. They will also be available in Macau, Vietnam, and 19 other countries and regions starting Friday, September 27. Additionally, iOS 18 will be released as a free software update on Monday, September 16.

What to Expect from Apple in the Nearest Future

Apple is set to advance its technology with several exciting developments on the horizon. Expect further advancements in artificial intelligence and augmented reality, along with innovative hardware designs and enhancements in wearable technology.

The company will likely expand its services, focusing on more content and features, while also continuing its commitment to sustainability. Additionally, new-generation chips will bring even greater performance and efficiency to Apple’s devices.