New iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus: More Power and a New Camera Button That Expands Photographic Options

The new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are finally here as part of Apple’s standard model lineup. The company has also updated its lineup of flagship phones with the highly anticipated iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. All these phones will come equipped with Apple Intelligence, which will be available next month.

The focus of the non-Pro devices remains consistent with previous years. They serve as a more affordable option for those who want all the benefits of an iPhone without needing the advanced features offered by the Pro models. Much like their predecessors, they’re a compelling choice for a wide range of users. Let’s examine them more closely.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus Specs

Long Live the Buttons

Although the sizes of the new iPhone 16 (6.1 inches) and iPhone 16 Plus (6.7 inches) remain the same as the previous generation, there are new color options. In addition to the existing black and white options, the phones are available in pink, green, and blue finishes. The new colors are more vibrant and have somewhat more saturated shades than the previous generations.

Apple has also updated the rear design of the phones, with the camera module now featuring vertically aligned cameras instead of the previous diagonal arrangement.

Moreover, the screen is protected by a new ceramic protector that Apple claims is twice as strong as the protective glass found on other smartphones and 50% stronger than the previous protector.

The new phones’ screen brightness can reach up to 2,000 nits for brightly lit exteriors, offering improved visibility in full darkness.

However, the redesign’s highlight is the addition of two new buttons. Besides the power button on the right side and the volume control buttons on the left side, the new generation of iPhones will have two extra buttons.

The first new button is the Action button on the left side, which was already present on last year’s iPhone 15 Pro/Max. Users can customize this button to perform various functions, such as launching Siri, recording a voice memo, or identifying songs.

The second new button is located on the right side and is called Camera Control. This button allows users to take photos and enables the activation of a feature similar to Google Lens, which provides information about the objects captured by the camera. This feature is based on Apple’s cloud, and the company assures users that images are never saved.

This concept is part of Apple’s “Visual Intelligence” and utilizes multimodal AI so users can use the iPhone camera as a tool for asking questions about their surroundings.

The new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are powered by the Apple A18 chip, which features a Neural Engine twice as powerful as the previous version. This showcases Apple’s focus on Apple Intelligence. The chip also includes a memory subsystem with 17% more bandwidth to support AI functions.

The A18 chip utilizes a 3 nm photolithographic process and has two performance cores and four efficiency cores, making it 30% more powerful than the A17 Bionic while using 30% less power.

The new Camera Control is also a launcher for Apple’s “Visual Intelligence”: If you press it, you’ll get more information about what’s on your screen, a feature similar to Google Lens significantly enhanced by that real-time visual input.

The powerful GPU in the new iPhones consists of five high-performance cores and is 40% more powerful than the GPU in the iPhone 15. At the same time, it’s 35% more energy-efficient than the A16 Bionic. This means users can expect longer and smoother gaming sessions.

Apple claims that the iPhone 16 can provide up to 22 hours of battery life for video playback, while the iPhone 16 Plus can supply up to 27 hours. Both phones support fast charging up to 30 W as well as wireless charging up to 7.5 W with Qi and up to 25 W with MagSafe.

Additionally, the new iPhones will come with iOS 18, which Apple introduced in June during the WWDC 2024 keynote. The new version of iOS delivers new features, surprises and, more importantly, integrates Apple Intelligence to bring AI functions to the devices.

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A Dedicated Camera Button and More ‘Spatial’ Cameras Than Ever

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus showcase significant improvements in their camera capabilities. The main sensor combines a 48 MP f/1.6 sensor with a 12 MP f/1.6 2x telephoto.

In addition, there’s a 12 MP f/2.2 ultra-wide sensor, which supports an impressive macro photography mode.

This year, Apple has changed the camera layout to a vertical alignment, allowing you to capture videos and spatial photos (which you can enjoy using the Vision Pro), a feature not available in the previous iPhone 15/Plus models.

However, the new Camera Control button is the most remarkable feature of the iPhone 16’s cameras. It takes the photographic experience to a whole new level.

Integrated into the side and covered in sapphire crystal, this button doesn’t protrude. Pressing it launches the camera, and another press takes a picture. For video, you simply need to press and hold the button to quickly access the video functions.

Additionally, the button incorporates the Taptic Engine, which we’ve previously seen in other Apple devices like the MacBook’s trackpad. Essentially, it’s a haptic engine that provides tactile feedback and allows you to “feel” the response of the button on your fingers and identify what it means.

The touch sensor distinguishes between a full press and a lighter one. A lighter press activates a special preview, allowing the user to adjust the zoom, depth of field, and other parameters with a double tap.

In essence, this feature is great for photography enthusiasts because it allows for easy utilization of the camera functions in various scenarios. Its functionality is akin to the double-tap buttons found on DSLR and ultra-compact cameras, where a light press focuses the scene and a full press captures the picture. Although the operation here is slightly different, it’s certainly interesting.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus Price and Availability

The new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will be available for pre-order beginning on Sept. 13 and be available for purchase go on Sept. 20 at the following prices:

• iPhone 16: From $799, or $33.29 per month
• iPhone 16 Plus: From $899, or $37.45 per month

Image | Apple

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