Unless I really see how Apple Intelligence used in daily basis, to be honest, in my case there is not much benefit upgrading from 14 to 16. Is the 48mpx means more storage needed for photos? If so, I also need bigger storage iPhone for my daily pictures (which I don’t really need very high megapixels).
After over a year of reports, there are now more than a dozen specific rumors about the features and improvements set to be offered by the two non-Pro iPhone 16 models later in 2024.
While the upgrades that the iPhone 16 offers over the iPhone 15 will likely be at the center of Apple's marketing strategy later this year, many users are on two-year upgrade cycles, so the features introduced on both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 will stack up. All of the changes the iPhone 16 models are expected to feature compared to their two direct forerunners are listed below, using information from a range of reliable sources that we have previously covered. We will update this article as more rumors emerge in the coming months.
This guide focuses on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 16, but to learn about how we are expecting the iPhone 14 Pro to improve on the iPhone 16 Pro, see our other comparison article.
Design
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to largely carry over the design of their predecessors. As a result, the iPhone 16 will be a relatively significant evolution over the iPhone 14, featuring slightly rounded edges, a frosted glass back, and a vertical rear camera arrangement to facilitate spatial video capture. Other important design changes are expected to include the removal of the mute switch in favor of the Action button introduced on last year's Pro models and the introduction of an all-new "Capture" button.
iPhone 14 iPhone 16 Aluminum chassis with squared-off edges Aluminum chassis with contoured edges Glossy glass back Color-infused frosted glass back "Notch" TrueDepth camera array Dynamic Island Diagonally arranged rear camera array Vertically arranged rear camera array to support spatial video capture Ring/Silent switch Action Button "Capture Button" to trigger photography and videography features Lightning port USB-C port
Displays
For iPhone 14 users, the iPhone 16 will offer many of the display upgrades that came to the previous generation, as well as a more efficient OLED panel thanks to micro-lens technology.
iPhone 14 iPhone 16 More efficient OLED display with brighter micro-lens technology 800 nits max brightness (typical) 1,000 nits max brightness (typical) 1,200 nits peak brightness (HDR) 1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR) 2,000 nits peak brightness (outdoor)
Cameras
The iPhone 15 introduced a major camera upgrade for Apple's standard smartphone lineup, bringing over the 48-megapixel camera of the iPhone 14 Pro. With a number of other improvements such as spatial video capture, the iPhone 16 should be a significant camera upgrade over the iPhone 14.
iPhone 14 iPhone 16 12-megapixel main camera with ƒ/1.5 aperture 48-megapixel main camera with ƒ/1.6 aperture 0.5x and 1x optical zoom options 0.5x, 1x, and 2x optical zoom options 24- and 48-megapixel super-high-resolution photos Smart HDR 4 Smart HDR 5 Portrait mode with Focus and Depth Control Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control Night mode and Night mode portraits Improved Night mode and Night mode portraits Spatial video capture
Chip, Memory, and Connectivity
With the iPhone 16 models rumored to receive the same A18 chip as the Pro models, the new models could offer a major performance improvement over the iPhone 14, which features the A15 Bionic chip first introduced in 2021. The 2GB of additional memory and the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip are also due to be notable upgrades.
iPhone 14 iPhone 16 A15 Bionic chip (TSMC's "N5P" enhanced 5nm process) A18 chip (TSMC's "N3E" enhanced 3nm process) 16-core Neural Engine Enhanced neural Engine with "significantly" more cores to support new AI features 6GB memory 8GB memory (+33%) Wi-Fi 6 connectivity Wi-Fi 6E connectivity First-generation Ultra Wideband chip Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (connects from 3x further away) Precision Finding for Find My friends
Batteries and Charging
The iPhone 16 models could receive some major improvements in battery technology and charging, sporting denser batteries and faster charging capabilities. It is worth noting that the iPhone 16 Plus is rumored to feature a smaller battery than its predecessors, but it is not clear how this will affect actual battery life.
iPhone 14 iPhone 16 Single-layer battery technology Stacked battery technology for increased energy density and prolonged lifespan iPhone 14: 3,279 mAh battery
iPhone 14 Plus: 4,325 mAh batteryiPhone 16: 3,561 mAh battery
iPhone 16 Plus: 4,006 mAh batteryUp to 27W wired charging Up to 40W wired charging (48% faster) 15W charging via MagSafe 20W charging via MagSafe (33% faster) Setting to prevent charging above 80% Battery manufacture date, first use, and cycle count information in Settings
Other Features and Changes
The iPhone 16 will be the first standard-line iPhone to support Apple Intelligence, Apple's upcoming artificial intelligence system, thanks to the more powerful Neural Engine in the A18 chip. The device is also rumored to tout upgraded microphones... Click here to read rest of article
Article Link: iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 16: 30+ Upgrades to Expect
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iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 16 Buyer's Guide
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Not expecting to see any major improvements. Apple Intelligence on the latest iPhones will be the major selling point.
The design ethos has disappeared. When I compare my recent M2 MacBook Air with the tapered, champagne coloured MacBook Air from 2020 that I luckily still have, the sheer physical desirability of the 2020 MBA is palatable. I find myself *wanting* to work on the 2020 machine instead of the faster, larger, "better" M2.
I am also asking for the article "iPhone 12/13/14/15 vs 16" for everyone outside the US. Here these changes are even less important. I bought 15+ myself and initially thought about changing to 16, but since Apple Intelligence is based on their very own LLM, which, as you can see from the supported languages, cannot be compared to others, and serious questions are answered by OpenAI, I guess GPT Plus I'll be fine until iPhone 19/20.
I went from an iPhone 4 to an iPhone X (which is now really starting to drag browsing websites), so now I'll be looking to upgrade at the next iteration. I think upgrading when you need to is the best option.
I got a free Android phone that came out in 1563 from one of those claw machines at an arcade that has better specs. 🤫
Yep thread been magically resurrected from March more than once.
That's a huge step up. A no-brainer for anyone with a 14 or earlier iPhone (such as my wife who'll be stepping up from an 8 to a 16PM).
For an 8? Sure. For a 12, 13, 14.... I don't think that it's a "no brainer", but an "if you wanna".
This is a very significant upgrade from the base iPhone 14. Three processor generations itself is worth the upgrade. I believe making the basic iPhone this powerful will affect sales of the Pro line, unless there is some Pro features yet to be unveiled.
I hope SOS emergency feature will be free on the 16 ??
My 14+ and 14PM are expiring after 2 years of free SOS service.
Didn't want to pay for the SOS subscription - thus upgrading...
There has been no indication it's expiring, it just hasn't been renewed for free yet. I suspect it will be extended to free SOS indefinitely, and they will charge for regular satellite messaging.... but who knows!?
People said the same thing when the 15 was about to be released.
Thanks for that!
Another reason for me would be the AOD which makes a huge difference when you drive a vehicle and use the phone as a key.
My 14PM has AOD and the connectivity is 100% of the time to my EV which unlocks the car as soon as you step within bluetooth range.
OTOH 14+ does not have AOD and I have to pull out the phone, unlock the phone and open the app to unlock my EV.
Unless the 16 or 16+ will AOD, I'll have to get the 16 Pro...
For many who are serious about photography, image quality, display quality, I think it will be. The 14 finally dealt with lens flare (resulting in halos from nearby Sun rays showing up in photos) by going to a black lens ring/housing (it was silver colored - an awful choice that reflected unwanted off-axis light into the lens). I'm upgrading from a 15PM.
You're upgrading to a 16 from a 15PM? That's unusual.
This article isn't about the Pro or Pro Max line.
If there's no Mini, then there's no chance that I'll be upgrading, maybe ever.
That pill shape camera bump is so ugly. Just give us the iPhone 12 layout please!
I just want to be wowed by an iPhone again. If I weren't heavily invested in the Apple EcoSystem I'd probably go back to my pre-iPhone love, the Razr.
I want a foldable iPhone so I can get that smaller form factor on my Max. Now more than ever with them making bigger phones it'd be nice to fold them smaller. I was also waiting forever for something cool like TouchID under glass. And the Pros don't even come in fun colors, so you can't get any personality to your phone while also having the best specs.
So I'm keeping my 13 ProMax another cycle, waiting yet again for a wow update that will never come. I only upgraded from my 11 for better camera for work, and so my mom could get the "free" 11 which she still uses.
Apple is just silly at this point.
I want a foldable iPhone so I can get that smaller form factor on my Max. Now more than ever with them making bigger phones it'd be nice to fold them smaller. I was also waiting forever for something cool like TouchID under glass. And the Pros don't even come in fun colors, so you can't get any personality to your phone while also having the best specs.
So I'm keeping my 13 ProMax another cycle, waiting yet again for a wow update that will never come. I only upgraded from my 11 for better camera for work, and so my mom could get the "free" 11 which she still uses.
Apple is just silly at this point.
