MacRumors

Apple held its iPhone 16 event this week, with the presentation running just over 90 minutes. If you missed the event, or want to revisit the key announcements, Apple shared a recap video with highlights on its YouTube channel.

New products announced during the event include the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 10, two AirPods 4 models, and updated AirPods Max with a USB-C port and new color options. There is also a new Black Satin titanium color option for the existing Apple Watch Ultra 2.

We also shared our own 13-minute recap of Apple's event that you can watch below.

Are you buying an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro? Apple shared a new "Guided Tour" video that explains new features available on those devices.

All four iPhone 16 models support Apple Intelligence, which is launching with iOS 18.1 in October. Apple shared a video about that too.

After watching these videos, consider checking out our list of everything that Apple announced during the event for more coverage.

The iPhone 16 and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus launch later this month, offering 35 changes and improvements over their predecessors. Here's everything that's different.

While Apple's latest models bring a variety of enhancements, the most significant change is support for Apple Intelligence, a new AI system that transforms how you interact with your device by offering smarter notifications, text summarization, and contextual information. The ‌iPhone 16‌ also features the Action Button and Camera Control button, which provide more intuitive ways to access key functions.

But beyond these headline features, how much of an improvement does the ‌iPhone 16‌ really offer? This guide breaks down the differences between the iPhone 15 and ‌iPhone 16‌ models to help you understand all of the changes and determine whether these enhancements are enough to justify making the switch from an iPhone 15.

This guide focuses on the iPhone 15 and ‌iPhone 16‌, but to learn about how the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro improves on the iPhone 15 Pro, see our other comparison guide.

Design and Displays

The ‌iPhone 16‌ introduces several design and display upgrades over the iPhone 15. The shift to vertically arranged cameras facilitates spatial video capture and looks more modern. Durability is also improved with the next-generation Ceramic Shield, which is twice as strong as the previous version. Additionally, the customizable Action Button replaces the traditional Ring/Silent switch and a new Camera Control button streamlines photography.

iPhone 15	‌iPhone 16‌
Diagonally arranged rear cameras	Vertically arranged rear cameras
~2–4 nits minimum brightness	1 nit minimum brightness
Ceramic Shield front glass	Next-generation Ceramic Shield front glass (2x stronger)
	Improved thermal design for better heat dissipation
	Easier battery service
Ring/Silent switch	Action Button
	Camera Control capacitive button with sapphire crystal cover
Available in Green, Blue, Pink, Black, and Yellow finishes	Available in Teal, Ultramarine, Pink, Black, and White finishes

Artificial Intelligence

The ‌iPhone 16‌ includes support for ‌Apple Intelligence‌, a significant upgrade absent in the iPhone 15. This artificial intelligence system enhances the iPhone's ability to understand and process personal context, offering features like Visual Intelligence, which can recognize objects and scenes through the camera and provide relevant information, such as restaurant or product details.

‌iPhone 16‌
‌Apple Intelligence‌ (including priority notifications, text summarization, system-wide writing tools, audio transcription, Genmoji creation, personalized suggestions, and more)
‌Visual Intelligence‌, allowing users to pull up contextual information about objects or scenes in front of the camera (such as restaurant details or product info)

‌Apple Intelligence‌ features like priority notifications, text summarization, and system-wide writing tools can significantly enhance the experience of using the device, making the ‌iPhone 16‌ a substantial upgrade over the iPhone 15 in this area.

Chip, Memory, and Connectivity

The ‌iPhone 16‌ brings notable improvements in performance and connectivity over the iPhone 15, driven by the A18 chip built with TSMC's 3nm process, which is more efficient and powerful than the iPhone 15's A16 chip. The 6-core CPU is up to 30% faster, while the upgraded 16-core Neural Engine is optimized for running generative models, doubling the speed of machine learning tasks. In terms of graphics, the ‌iPhone 16‌'s 5-core GPU delivers a 40% boost in performance and introduces hardware-accelerated ray tracing, enhancing gaming and visual effects.

Memory and connectivity also see significant upgrades, with the ‌iPhone 16‌ offering 8GB of RAM, a 33% increase over the iPhone 15, and the introduction of Wi-Fi 7 and Thread networking for better wireless performance and smart home integration.

iPhone 15	‌iPhone 16‌
A16 Bionic chip (TSMC's "N4P" enhanced 5nm process)	A18 chip (TSMC's "N3E" enhanced ‌3nm‌ process)
6-core CPU	6-core CPU (up to 30% faster)
16-core Neural Engine	Upgraded 16-core Neural Engine optimized for generative models (runs ML models 2x faster)
5-core GPU	5-core GPU (up to 40% faster)
	Hardware-accelerated ray tracing
6GB memory	8GB memory (+33%)
Wi-Fi 6	Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO
	Thread networking technology

The performance gains with the A18 chip and enhanced GPU are particularly meaningful for users who engage in gaming, video editing, or other graphics-heavy tasks. The hardware-accelerated ray tracing will greatly benefit gamers, making the ‌iPhone 16‌ capable of rendering more realistic lighting and shadows. Meanwhile, the Neural Engine upgrade doubles the speed of machine learning tasks such as ‌Apple Intelligence‌.

For everyday users, the jump from 6GB to 8GB of memory ensures better multitasking and future-proofing, while Wi-Fi 7 and Thread networking will improve connectivity speeds and compatibility with smart home devices. The ‌iPhone 16‌'s improvements are substantial for users who demand higher performance and future-ready wireless tech, though those who use their devices more casually might notice less immediate impact.

Camera

The ‌iPhone 16‌ enhances the already impressive camera setup from the iPhone 15. The Ultra Wide camera has been upgraded with an ƒ/2.2 aperture, providing better low-light performance compared to the ƒ/2.4 aperture on the iPhone 15. The ‌iPhone 16‌ also introduces Macro photography and Macro video recording, enabling users to capture detailed close-up shots, while the Camera Control button brings new levels of ease and precision to shooting photos and videos.

iPhone 15	‌iPhone 16‌
48-megapixel Main camera with ƒ/1.6 aperture	48-megapixel Fusion camera with ƒ/1.6 aperture
12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera with ƒ/2.4 aperture	12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture for improved-low light performance
	Anti-reflective coating on Fusion camera lens
	Macro photography and Macro video recording, including slo‑mo and time‑lapse
Photo­graphic Styles	Next-generation Photo­graphic Styles
	Spatial video recording at 1080p at 30 fps
4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps	4K Dolby Vision video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps
1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps	1080p Dolby Vision video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps
Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps	Cinematic mode up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps
QuickTake video	QuickTake video (up to 4K at 60 fps in Dolby Vision HDR)
	Camera Control button features: Launch the Camera App: Pressing the Camera Control button immediately opens the camera app. Capture Photos: A single press of the button captures a photo, providing a quick and tactile way to take pictures. Record Videos: A press and hold action allows you to start recording a video. Half-Press for Focus and Exposure (upcoming feature): A light, half-press will lock focus and exposure, allowing you to reframe the shot without losing focus. Trackpad-Like Control: The capacitive sensor on the button acts like a trackpad, enabling gestures to control zoom, cycle through filters, or switch between lenses by sliding your finger across the button. Third-Party App Integration: The Camera Control button can also be used to trigger third-party camera apps, giving more flexibility to users who prefer other photography tools. Camera Function Overlay: A light touch gesture reveals a clean preview and quick access to key camera controls like zoom or exposure settings. Visual Intelligence Activation: The Camera Control button is integrated with ‌Visual Intelligence‌, allowing users to pull up contextual information about objects or scenes in front of the camera.

Audio Recording

The ‌iPhone 16‌ brings several enhancements to audio recording over the iPhone 15. While the iPhone 15 offers stereo recording, the ‌iPhone 16‌ introduces Spatial Audio recording, providing a more immersive sound experience, particularly with playback on the Apple Vision Pro headset. Additional features like wind noise reduction and the new Audio Mix function further improve the quality and flexibility of recorded audio, making the ‌iPhone 16‌ a more capable device for capturing high-quality sound.

iPhone 15	‌iPhone 16‌
Stereo recording	Spatial Audio and stereo recording
	Wind noise reduction
	Audio Mix

Battery Life and Charging

The ‌iPhone 16‌ brings noticeable improvements in battery life and charging efficiency compared to the iPhone 15. With up to 22 hours of battery life on the ‌iPhone 16‌ and 27 hours on the ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus, the new models offer a modest boost. In addition, MagSafe wireless charging is now significantly faster, supporting up to 25W with a 30W adapter, a 66.67% increase over the iPhone 15's 15W limit.

iPhone 15	‌iPhone 16‌
iPhone 15: Up to 20 hours of battery life iPhone 15 Plus: Up to 26 hours of battery life	iPhone 16: Up to 22 hours of battery life iPhone 16 Plus: Up to 27 hours of battery life
‌MagSafe‌ wireless charging up to 15W with 20W adapter or higher	‌MagSafe‌ wireless charging up to 25W with 30W adapter or higher (+66.67%)

Release Date

The ‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus will be available for pre-order starting on Friday, September 13, 2024, with the official launch and availability in stores beginning Friday, September 20, 2024.

Is It Worth Upgrading?

The ‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus, while bringing some notable improvements, offer what might feel like an incremental upgrade over the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus for most users. The most significant advancements come from ‌Apple Intelligence‌ and the introduction of the Action Button and Camera Control, both of which provide new ways to interact with the device.

‌Apple Intelligence‌ is arguably the most important new feature, as it enhances the iPhone's ability to understand user context and assist in everyday tasks like prioritizing notifications, summarizing texts, and pulling real-time information through ‌Visual Intelligence‌. For users who rely heavily on their phone for productivity and communication, this AI-driven functionality is a meaningful addition. The Action Button and Camera Control button are welcome hardware changes, offering customizable, quick access to key functions and improved control over photography and videography.

Outside of these features, however, the upgrades feel more conservative. The performance gains with the A18 chip, new Neural Engine, and GPU architecture offer incremental improvements in speed and efficiency, which will benefit high-performance tasks like gaming, but may not be immediately noticeable for everyday users. The camera updates, including better ultra wide low-light performance and Macro photography, are valuable for photography enthusiasts, but they don't dramatically alter the overall camera experience for casual users. Similarly, the improvements in battery life and charging speeds are useful but relatively minor, providing a modest boost over the iPhone 15 lineup.

For users with an iPhone 15, the upgrade might not feel substantial unless you're looking to take full advantage of ‌Apple Intelligence‌ or the new buttons. If your phone usage revolves around basic tasks, the iPhone 15 remains an excellent device, and upgrading may not be necessary. However, if you're someone who is interested in AI or more intuitive camera controls, the ‌iPhone 16‌ offers enough to justify the switch. Overall, the ‌iPhone 16‌ is a step forward, but the upgrades are relatively modest.

Will you be skipping the iPhone 16 Pro and waiting another year to upgrade? If so, we already have some iPhone 17 Pro rumors for you.

Below, we recap key new features rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models so far:

• 24MP front camera for all iPhone 17 models: All four iPhone 17 models will feature an upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing camera, according to Apple supply chain analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Jeff Pu. For comparison, all four iPhone 16 models are equipped with a 12-megapixel front-facing camera.
• 48MP rear Telephoto camera for iPhone 17 Pro Max and maybe iPhone 17 Pro: An upgraded 48-megapixel Telephoto camera is rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, compared to the 12-megapixel Telephoto camera on iPhone 16 Pro models. This change has not been ruled out for the iPhone 17 Pro too, but it might not come to the smaller Pro model until the iPhone 18 Pro.
• 12GB of RAM for iPhone 17 Pro Max: An increased 12GB of RAM is rumored exclusively for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and this would benefit Apple Intelligence and multitasking performance. There is 8GB of RAM in the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
• A smaller Dynamic Island for iPhone 17 Pro Max: Another change rumored exclusively for the iPhone 17 Pro Max is a "much narrowed Dynamic Island," as a result of hardware changes to the Face ID system.

iPhone 17 Pro models should launch in September 2025, so there is still plenty of time to go, and additional details will surface over the coming months.

'iPhone 17 Air'

There have been rumors from several credible sources about Apple planning to release a redesigned, significantly thinner iPhone 17 model, which could be called an iPhone 17 Air. There have been conflicting rumors about the design and specifications for this device, but most sources have agreed that it will have around a 6.6-inch display. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expects the device to be equipped with a standard A19 chip, a Dynamic Island, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G modem.

Today we're tracking a big selection of discounts on Anker's and Jackery's best portable power stations on Amazon, with as much as $1,399 in savings on these devices. These accessories are high-capacity portable batteries that can provide backup power to a wide variety of devices, from laptops to RVs.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

For the Anker deals, you'll need to have a Prime membership in order to see some of these discounted prices, while others require an on-page coupon to be clipped before you see the final deal price. In regards to the Jackery discounts, all of these also require an on-page coupon in order to see the deal prices.

Jackery

• Solar Generator with Mini Solar Panel - $249.00 with on-page coupon, down from $349.00
• Solar Generator 300 Plus with Solar Panel - $419.00 with on-page coupon, down from $499.00
• Explorer 1000 (2024 Model) Portable Power Station - $549.00 with on-page coupon, down from $799.00
• Expansion Battery Pack 2000 Plus - $999.00 with on-page coupon, down from $1,599.00
• Explorer 3000 Portable Power Station - $2,149.00 with on-page coupon, down from $2,799.00
• Explorer Kit 4000 Plus (2X Portable Power Stations) - $2,999.00 with on-page coupon, down from $3,799.00

Anker

• SOLIX C800 Power Station with Camping Lights - $499.00 with on-page coupon, down from $649.00
• SOLIX C1000 Power Station - $549.00 with on-page coupon, down from $999.00
• SOLIX C1000 Power Station with Solar Panel - $899.00 for Prime members, down from $1,549.00
• SOLIX F2000 Power Station - $1,299.00 for Prime members, down from $1,999.00
• SOLIX F2000 Power Station with 400W Solar Panel - $1,799.00 for Prime members, down from $2,899.00
• SOLIX F2000 Power Station with 200W Solar Panel - $1,599.00 for Prime members, down from $2,549.00
• SOLIX F3800 Power Station - $2,999.00 with on-page coupon, down from $3,999.00
• SOLIX F3800 Power Station with 400W Solar Panel - $3,499.00 with on-page coupon, down from $4,899.00

Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

Following its iPhone 16 event on Monday, Apple shared a PDF on its website with a list of all new features and changes coming with iOS 18.

The list includes many features that were already announced, including Apple Intelligence, new customization options for the Home Screen and Control Center, a redesigned Photos app, several enhancements to the Messages app, a Passwords app, and more.

The first Apple Intelligence features won't be available until iOS 18.1, which will be released in October, according to Apple. Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 model with device and Siri language set to U.S. English, with support for additional languages to follow over the course of the next year.

The list also includes some smaller features and changes that were lesser known or unannounced until now, such as the following:

• CarPlay now supports Spatial Audio in compatible vehicles. This works with Apple Music and select third-party apps.
• Spatial Audio is also now supported when using AirPlay to stream audio to a HomePod and select third-party AirPlay-compatible equipment.
• You can now add and locally control Wi-Fi-based Matter accessories in the Home app without needing a home hub.
• iOS 18 expands Live Voicemail to additional languages and countries, including English (U.K., Australia, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Puerto Rico), Spanish (U.S., Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico), French (France), German (Germany), Japanese (Japan), Mandarin (China, Taiwan, Macao), Cantonese (China, Hong Kong, Macao), and Portuguese (Brazil).

A similar list of all new features is also available for iPadOS 18.

Apple said iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will be widely released to the public on Monday, September 16.

Apple updated the iPhone 16 Pro and ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max with larger displays this year, increasing the size. The ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro has a 6.3-inch display, up from 6.1 inches, while the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max has a 6.9-inch display, up from 6.7 inches.

According to Apple, the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro models now have the thinnest borders on any Apple product, thanks to a reduction in bezels. Some of the increase in display size comes from the bezels, but the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro models are a little taller and a tiny bit wider than their predecessors.

• iPhone 16 Pro Max - 6.42 inches tall, 3.06 inches wide, 8.25mm thick, 227 grams.
• iPhone 15 Pro Max - 6.29 inches tall, 3.02 inches wide, 8.25mm thick, 221 grams.
• iPhone 16 Pro - 5.89 inches tall, 2.81 inches wide, 8.5mm thick, 199 grams.
• iPhone 15 Pro - 5.77 inches tall, 2.78 inches wide, 8.5mm thick, 187 grams.

Though the size has increased, there are actually few other changes to the display technology. Apple is still using its Super Retina XDR Display with ProMotion for the Pro models, and the brightness and peak brightness haven't changed. All models have 1000 nits max brightness, 1600 nits peak HDR brightness, and 2000 nits peak outdoor brightness.

• iPhone 16 Pro - 2622x1206 resolution at 460 ppi
• iPhone 15 Pro - 2556x1179 resolution at 460 ppi
• iPhone 16 Pro Max - 2868x1320 resolution at 460 ppi
• iPhone 15 Pro Max - 2796x1290 resolution at 460 ppi

What is new is a 1 nit minimum brightness. Apple added this to the Apple Watch too, and said on that device that it would allow for a more frequently updated always-on display with a second hand. Some of that same benefit may be available on the iPhone, and it may be one of the reasons why Apple was able to increase battery life.

While the ‌iPhone 16‌ display also supports 1 nit minimum brightness, it does not have an always-on display or support for ProMotion.

Both models also have a new second-generation Ceramic Shield coating that Apple says is 50% tougher than the prior-generation Ceramic Shield coating used in the iPhone 15 models.

Apple is adding sleep apnea detection to the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and the Apple Watch Series 9. Given that sleep apnea is a breathing disturbance, it's easy to assume that it requires the blood oxygen sensor, but Apple actually uses an entirely different method to detect it.

Breathing Disturbances, the name for the new Apple Watch metric, uses the built-in accelerometer to detect small movements at the wrist that are associated with interruptions to normal respiratory patterns during sleep.

The Apple Watch collects 30 days of data and then analyzes it, alerting users if there are consistent signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea. Users will see Elevated or Not Elevated readings under the Breathing Disturbances section of the Health app, and the data can be used to share with a doctor to get information on the next steps for sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment.

While aggregating data for sleep apnea detection requires 30 days of information, users can see an overall look at their nightly Breathing Disturbances in the Health app to assess the restfulness of sleep. Breathing patterns can be interrupted by alcohol, medications, and sleep position.

With sleep apnea, breathing momentarily stops during sleep, which stops the body from getting adequate oxygen and often has the effect of waking a person up. It can be a difficult condition to diagnose because it occurs during sleep, and Apple says that more than 1 billion people are estimated to be impacted worldwide.

Apple says that its sleep apnea notification algorithm was created using advanced machine learning and an extensive data set of clinical-grade sleep apnea tests, and then it was validated in a clinical study. Every participant identified by the algorithm had at least mild sleep apnea.

Apple expects sleep apnea detection to get marketing authorization from the FDA and other global health authorities in the near future, and it will be available this month in more than 150 countries.

Apple introduced new second-generation 3-nanometer chips for both the iPhone 16 and the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro models, bringing notable improvements in performance. The ‌iPhone 16‌ and 16 Plus have an A18 chip, while the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro and Pro Max have an A18 Pro chip.

The chips are similar, but there are some differences to be aware of, along with differences in the ‌iPhone 16‌ and 16 Pro thermal design.

A18 and A18 Pro Shared Features

• Built on second-generation 3-nm process with smaller transistors.
• 6-core CPU with four performance cores and two efficiency cores.
• Upgraded 16-core Neural Engine optimized for running large generative models.
• Upgraded memory subsystem with 17 percent more memory bandwidth.

A18/iPhone 16 Features

The A18 has a 5-core GPU rather than the 6-core GPU in the A18 Pro.

The ‌iPhone 16‌ models have a new thermal design. Apple says that it updated the main logic board, centralizing chip placement and optimizing the surrounding architecture. There's a recycled aluminum substructure that dissipates heat for 30 percent higher sustained performance for gaming.

The A18 also adds hardware accelerated ray tracing, a feature that was available in the iPhone 15 Pro models with A17 Pro, but is new to the standard iPhone lineup. Hardware accelerated ray tracing is useful for gaming, and the ‌iPhone 16‌ models can run all of the console-quality games that Apple touted for the iPhone 15 Pro models last year.

A18 Pro/iPhone 16 Pro Features

The A18 Pro has the same 6-core CPU as the A18, as well as the same Neural Engine, but it has one more GPU core for a 6-core GPU instead of a 5-core GPU.

According to Apple, the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro maximizes thermal capacity with a machined chassis that uses 100 percent recycled aluminum. It is bonded to the titanium frame using solid state diffusion, and it is combined with a graphite clad aluminum substructure. The new thermal architecture enables a 20 percent improvement in sustained gaming performance compared to the A17 Pro.

A18 Performance

Compared to the A16 Bionic chip, the A18's CPU is 30 percent faster, and it offers the same performance while using 30 percent less power.

The GPU is 40 percent faster than the A16 Bionic GPU, and it is also more efficient. It offers the same performance using 35% less power.

The new Neural Engine is 2x faster for machine learning than the Neural Engine in the A16 Bionic chip.

A18 Pro Performance

The 6-core A18 Pro CPU is 15 percent faster than the A17 Pro CPU, and it delivers the same performance using 20 percent less power. Apple says that it is the fastest CPU in any smartphone, with next-generation ML accelerators that are directly programmable for high-efficiency, high throughput and low latency computations.

The 6-core GPU is 20 percent faster than the GPU in the A17 Pro, and hardware accelerated ray tracing is 2x faster.

The upgraded Neural Engine is faster and more efficient than the Neural Engine in the A17 Pro. Apple says that Apple Intelligence features run 15 percent faster on the A18 Pro than the A17 Pro.

There is a new advanced display engine for ProMotion, a new video encoder, and a new image signal processor. Combined, they process twice the amount of data for fast video encoding and improved efficiency.

With the launch of the new AirPods 4, Apple discontinued the low-cost AirPods 2 and AirPods 3, making the AirPods lineup much less confusing. The ‌AirPods 4‌ come in two variants, one with Active Noise Cancellation and one without, allowing Apple to hit two separate price points.

The ‌AirPods 4‌ without Active Noise Cancellation are priced at $129, which is the same price that Apple used to sell the AirPods 2 for. The ANC version is priced at $179, the same cost as the prior-generation AirPods 3.

There wasn't notable difference between the AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 in terms of core functionality, which was undoubtedly confusing to the average consumer not familiar with Apple's products. The new lineup makes it very clear what's what, and what you get for the extra $50. Apple has also eliminated the confusing charging case options, and both models use USB-C.

Along with Active Noise Cancellation, there are a couple other differences between the ‌AirPods 4‌ and ‌AirPods 4‌ with ANC. The ANC model has a case that supports MagSafe charging and Find My, and it also has ANC-related features that include Adaptive Audio, Transparency Mode, and Conversation Awareness.

Other than these features, the ‌AirPods 4‌ and ‌AirPods 4‌ ANC are identical in design and functionality.

Apple rounds out the AirPods lineup with the $249 AirPods Pro 2 and the $549 AirPods Max. The latter headphones were just refreshed with USB-C charging and new color options, but are otherwise unchanged. The AirPods Pro 2 were updated in September 2023, and we're expecting to see another refresh in 2025.

The iPhone 16, ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus, ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro, and ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max feature a new version of the Ceramic Shield, which is the glass and ceramic hybrid material that protects the iPhone's display.

Apple says that its latest-generation Ceramic Shield features its most advanced glass ceramic formulation. It's 50 percent "tougher" than the first-generation ceramic shield, and two times tougher than "glass found in any other smartphone." It's not clear how Apple is defining tougher, but Apple has typically focused more on drop protection than scratch protection when marketing the material.

Apple first started using the Ceramic Shield material in 2020 with the iPhone 12 models, and at the time, Apple said that it was developed in partnership with Corning. Corning makes the Gorilla Glass that Apple competitors like Samsung use, including the new "Gorilla Armor" that Samsung included for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the ceramic infused glass appears to be an Apple exclusive.

Once the ‌iPhone 16‌ models launch, we're sure to see a variety of drop and scratch tests that will provide more insight into the benefits of the second-generation Ceramic Shield. Pre-orders for the new devices start this Friday, and an official launch will follow on September 20.

Third-party accessory makers just started releasing next-generation 15W Qi2 charging devices in the last few months, but Apple raised the wireless charging speed bar again with the iPhone 16 models.

With Apple's newly updated MagSafe charger and a 30W power adapter, the ‌iPhone 16‌ models can charge at up to 25W wirelessly over MagSafe, which is 10W faster than Qi2.

Qi2 is great because it's an open standard that doesn't require accessory makers to pay Apple to license its technology, but companies that want to offer the fastest wireless charging speeds for the new ‌iPhone 16‌ models will once again need to turn to ‌MagSafe‌.

When ‌MagSafe‌ was first introduced in the iPhone 12, it was a proprietary Apple charging standard that accessory makers could license. It was able to charge iPhones at up to 15W. The alternative was Qi charging, which was limited to 7.5W, but it didn't require using Apple technology.

Qi2 brought 15W charging speeds that were on par with ‌MagSafe‌, giving us charging speed parity for a short time. Accessory makers could design magnetic chargers that offered 15W charging without paying Apple a fee. That's over now, and we're back in the exact same situation we had when it was original ‌MagSafe‌ vs. original Qi.

Qi2 chargers will only charge ‌iPhone 16‌ models at up to 15W, and 25W charging will be limited to ‌MagSafe‌. This time around, it's a wider difference because 25W charging is fast charging and can provide up to 50 percent power in 30 minutes.

Apple released a new version of the ‌MagSafe‌ Charger alongside the ‌iPhone 16‌ models, so it doesn't look like existing ‌MagSafe‌ chargers are going to provide 25W. Apple says the 25W charging requires a "new" ‌MagSafe‌ charger, which means accessory makers and customers alike will need new charging accessories to get the updated ‌MagSafe‌ speeds. Note that the new ‌MagSafe‌ charger still charges older iPhones at 15W.

While it's just the ‌iPhone 16‌ models that support 25W charging now, this is a new baseline that will be added to future iPhones, and 15W Qi2 charging will soon be antiquated.

Apple focused on camera improvements for its iPhone 16 lineup, introducing a number of new features for every model. There's a Camera Control button for quickly taking a shot in landscape or portrait mode, new editing options, Ultra Wide lens improvements across the board, and more.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus

The ‌iPhone 16‌ models have a new dual-lens vertical camera rather than diagonally arranged lenses, plus there are updates to the Ultra Wide camera.

Apple is now calling the Main lens the Fusion lens, but it doesn't seem to be upgraded over the prior version. It still enables either 1x or 2x zoom. The Ultra Wide lens did get an upgrade, though, and it appears to be the lens Apple used for the iPhone 15 Pro models. What's new compared to iPhone 15:

• 48-megapixel f/1.6 Fusion lens
• 12-megapixel f/2.2 Ultra Wide lens
• Macro photos with Ultra Wide
• Spatial photos for Vision Pro
• QuickTake video up to 4K at 60 fps in Dolby Vision
• Spatial Audio sound recording
• Wind noise reduction for clearer audio quality when recording video

The Pro models still have an edge when it comes to the Telephoto, Ultra Wide, flash, and image stabilization, as the ‌iPhone 16‌ has no Telephoto lens, a lower MP Ultra Wide, and no second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization. The Pro models also have ProRes and ProRAW.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max

The ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro and Pro Max both have 5x zoom this year, plus there's a new 48-megapixel Ultra Wide lens that's the standout new addition for macro photography.

• 48-megapixel Wide lens renamed "Fusion" lens. Same f/2.2 aperture.
• Second-generation quad pixel sensor for zero shutter lag for 48-megapixel RAW images
• New 48-megapixel Ultra Wide lens
• 5x Telephoto for both Pro models
• Better macro shots
• 100 and 120 fps 4K Dolby Vision video recording
• 120 fps 1080p Dolby Vision video recording
• 120 fps 4K Dolby Vision Slo-mo video recording
• Option to change playback speed when editing
• ProRes video recording up to 4K at 120 fps (external SSD required)
• QuickTake video up to 4K at 60 fps in Dolby Vision
• Spatial audio recording
• New four-microphone array with more true-to-life sound
• Wind noise reduction for clearer audio quality when recording video

All iPhone 16 Models

There are several features that have been added across the ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup.

Camera Control

All of the ‌iPhone 16‌ models have a new Camera Control button that's designed to make it easier to quickly get photos and videos. The button is touch and force sensitive, so it supports swipes and other gestures for swapping through camera options.

A single click opens the camera, a second click snaps a photo, and a click and hold starts a video recording. A light press opens up control options like zoom, and you can swap tools with a double light press. Adjust parameters like zoom and exposure with a swipe. Later this year, Apple is adding an Apple Intelligence Camera Control feature that will let ‌iPhone 16‌ users point the camera at something and get more information about it.

Pointing the camera at a restaurant, for example, will bring up hours and menu information, while pointing it at a plant will identify the plant.

New Photographic Styles

Photographic Styles have been an option for some time, but Apple overhauled the feature this year. There are new, more subtle styles to choose from, and Apple is enabling far more control over the way the style is applied.

Photographic Styles can be previewed live before you make a change. You can shift the way a style looks with the control pad that lets you adjust tone and color. The intensity of specific colors and the tone can be changed, so you can make adjustments that don't affect the entire color scheme of an image.

Apple says that skin tone rendering is more advanced than before, so you can also create a style for dialing in your favorite look and then add it across all of the images that you take. You can also change the Photographic Style after an image is captured, which wasn't an option with prior models.

Audio Mix

Audio Mix is a video feature that takes advantage of Spatial Audio capture. You can use it to adjust the way that voices sound in videos, and there are three different options.

• In-frame - Only captures the voices of people on camera, even if people off camera are talking.
• Studio - Makes voices sound like the recording was done in a professional studio with sound-dampening walls. A recording will sound like the mic was close to the subject's mouth.
• Cinematic - Captures all voices and consolidates them to the front of the screen, which is how sound is formatted for movies.

Pre-orders for the ‌iPhone 16‌ models will kick off on Friday, September 13, with a launch to follow on Friday, September 20. We can expect to see media reviews ahead of the launch, and once we get the new iPhones at MacRumors, we'll do a deep dive into the camera capabilities.

With the iPhone 16 lineup, Apple has increased battery life for all models compared to the prior-generation iPhone 15 models. Battery life is up at least an hour for each device for video playback, with bigger increases for the ‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max.

Streaming video can be played for two to four hours longer depending on device, and the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro models also support longer audio playback. Note that in the comparison below, Apple lists the battery life as "up to" because the time the battery lasts will vary based on different usage habits.

• iPhone 16 - 22 hours video playback, 18 hours streaming video, 80 hours audio.
• iPhone 16 Plus - 27 hours video playback, 24 hours streaming video, 100 hours audio.
• iPhone 16 Pro - 27 hours video playback, 22 hours streaming video, 85 hours audio.
• iPhone 16 Pro Max - 33 hours video playback, 29 hours streaming video, 105 hours audio.
• iPhone 15 - 20 hours video playback, 16 hours streaming video, 80 hours audio.
• iPhone 15 Plus - 26 hours video playback, 20 hours streaming video, 100 hours audio.
• iPhone 15 Pro - 23 hours video playback, 20 hours streaming video, 75 hours audio.
• iPhone 15 Pro Max - 29 hours video playback, 25 hours streaming video, 95 hours audio.

Apple is emphasizing battery life gains this year, and product pages for the new devices have a menu for seeing how much more battery life the ‌iPhone 16‌ models have compared to older devices. Upgrading from an iPhone 12 mini, for example, will get you a seven hour increase in battery life.

The ‌iPhone 16‌ models support faster 25W MagSafe charging with one of Apple's new ‌MagSafe‌ chargers and a 30W power adapter or higher. It is the first time that fast charging has been available when charging wirelessly, and ‌iPhone 16‌ users can expect to see a 50 percent charge in 30 minutes.

Qi2 charging is also supported, but that is limited to 15W, the same as the prior-generation ‌MagSafe‌ charging.

The new Apple Watch Series 10 launching next week includes a voice isolation feature that will make you sound better during phone calls.

Apple says the Series 10's Neural Engine is able to suppress background noise during phone calls or FaceTime audio calls, so that your voice sounds more clear and crisp on the receiving end of the call. Apple says the feature even works in especially noisy environments, such as outdoors on a windy day or inside a crowded restaurant.

This feature is not available on the Apple Watch Series 9 or older, but the Apple Watch Ultra 2 does already feature wind noise reduction.

As for iPhones, there is already a voice isolation setting available for phone calls, but all four iPhone 16 models have gained wind noise reduction on top. Apple says machine learning algorithms reduce wind noise for better audio quality, but we'll have to wait for tests to see how much of an improvement there is over previous iPhones.

Apple Watch Series 10 pre-orders began yesterday, and the device will begin arriving to customers on Friday, September 20.

Apple yesterday announced a new black colorway for the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which will launch September 20. With this new color, there are a few new configurations of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 available to purchase, and Best Buy has the first discounts available on these models for members.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

If you're a My Best Buy Plus/Total member, you can get $50 off the new Apple Watch Ultra 2 in black. This knocks the price of the watch down to $749.00, from $799.00. Given that membership prices start at $49.99/year, this deal is best for anyone who already has a My Best Buy Plus/Total membership.

Configurations with the black color include the Black Ocean Band, Dark Green Alpine Loop, Black Trail Loop, and the new Black Titanium Milanese Loop. If you're shopping for the Milanese Loop model, shoppers should note that it's priced at $849.00 with the member discount, down from $899.00.

The original natural finish of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 also has a few new band options that are part of Best Buy's discounts. Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Following its event on Monday, Apple allowed selected media and content creators to go hands-on with the iPhone 16 series and other new devices.

The iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max are all equipped with a new "Camera Control" button that allows you to quickly launch the camera, take a photo, start video recording, and more. Later this year, Apple says Camera Control will be updated with the ability to automatically lock focus and exposure on a subject with a light press.

Below, we have rounded up some iPhone 16 hands-on videos, which offer a closer look at the Camera Control and more.

There are also hands-on videos for the Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4, and USB-C AirPods Max.

Apple today released a firmware update for the Apple Pencil Pro that launched alongside the iPad Pro models earlier this year. The new firmware has a version number of 0.1.40, up from the prior 0.1.33 firmware.

There is no word on what features, fixes, or updates might be included in the new firmware, and Apple does not offer release notes for ‌‌Apple Pencil‌‌ software releases. You'll want to attach the ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro to your iPad to get it to initiate an update.

The ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro is Apple's newest ‌Apple Pencil‌, and it adds several new features that were not available in prior models like squeeze gestures, barrel roll, haptic feedback, and Find My integration.

The $129 ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro is compatible with the M2 iPad Air models and the M4 ‌iPad Pro‌ models.

Apple today released a new firmware update for the AirPods Pro 2, including both the Lightning and USB-C versions. The firmware has a build number of 7A294, up from 6F8, and it is available for all AirPods Pro 2 users. Apple has been beta testing this update, but it is launching ahead of when iOS 18 becomes available next Monday.

There are multiple features that Apple is adding to the AirPods Pro 2 as part of iOS 18, and these features are included in the firmware update.

With head gestures, users can control Siri on the AirPods Pro with a shake or a nod of the head. If you get a phone call, for example, you can shake your head no if you don't want to answer it, or nod to accept the call. ‌Siri‌ interactions can be used for responding to incoming messages, calls, and notifications.

Apple is adding Voice Isolation to the AirPods Pro to cut down on loud background sounds to make you easier to hear, and there is a new Personalized Spatial Audio feature specific to gaming. Game developers will be able to incorporate spatial audio into their games for a more immersive audio experience.

Apple doesn't have a way to manually upgrade AirPods software, but firmware is generally installed over-the-air when the AirPods are in a charging case and connected to an iOS device or Mac.