The iPhone 16 Pro will reportedly be taller and narrower than the iPhone 15. The larger iPhone Pro model is expected to increase in size from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches. This is in line with CAD renders and other rumors. The Pro Max model will get an even bigger jump to a 6.9-inch display. The Pro Max model will also reportedly be wider, with estimates placing it at 76.7 mm. That puts the device on the edge of what most individuals find comfortable as Apple continues to push boundaries.
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the new display will allow the Pro series phones to support a periscope zoom lens. This lens will reportedly provide up to 6X optical zoom and up to 30X digital zoom. Apple currently offers 3X optical and 15X digital zoom on its iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models. Kuo expects the smaller Pro model to get a larger display next year as well, but won’t include the periscope zoom lens.
Interestingly, Kuo’s report suggests the standard iPhone will remain at a 6.1-inch screen. This is in contrast to previous rumors, which indicated the non-Pro iPhone would grow in size as well. It will be interesting to see whether Apple keeps this same size difference between its Pro and non-Pro offerings in 2023 as well.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max reportedly gets a size bump of its own, but for different reasons. The current iPhone 15 Pro Max is 159.8 mm tall, while its successor is 165 mm. This is a significant increase, and a bit of a shock for Apple, which typically is rather conservative with design changes. Kuo says the increase is needed to accommodate a periscope zoom lens, which the smaller Pro model will not get.
In addition to a change in display size, the Pro series will also get a new color option. Rumors suggest that Apple will introduce a blue version of the iPhone 16 Pro in addition to its usual silver, gold, and space gray. The iPhone 16 Pro will also reportedly get a faster A12 processor, which could lead to improved performance. The Pro series will also get capacitive solid-state buttons with haptic feedback to replace the traditional physical Side, Volume, and Ring/Silent buttons. This is also in contrast to early rumors, which suggested that the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max would ditch these buttons altogether in favor of on-screen navigation controls. It’s not clear why Apple has decided to stick with these physical buttons, but both Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu and Kuo believe the iPhone 16 Pro will retain them due to production issues with the complex and costly solid-state button technology. This should help to keep the price of these Pro-level iPhones relatively affordable, which will be a welcome change for consumers who want top-of-the-line features but aren’t willing to pay the premium for the new Pro series.