With the much-anticipated release of the iPhone 15, Apple showcased a sleek design featuring a curved frame and a frosted glass back. Now, as the tech giant gears up for the next iteration, the iPhone 16, fresh details have surfaced, indicating further advancements in both aesthetics and functionality.
Insider information obtained by MacRumors sheds light on the early pre-production designs for the iPhone 16, providing a glimpse into the potential variants and hardware configurations that Apple is exploring. Internally referred to as the “DeLorean,” these designs showcase Apple’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation.
Mockups based on internal designs reveal potential color options, with yellow featuring the earliest known button design, including an Action Button, a unified volume button, and an iPhone X-style camera bump.
The pink variant boasts an Action Button and separate mechanical volume buttons, while the midnight model introduces a larger Action button and a new Capture button. The black model, expected to be the final design, incorporates these features.
In the iterative design process, Apple has experimented with multiple hardware configurations, with a significant visual change being a new vertical camera arrangement. The iPhone 16 is set to feature vertically aligned rear cameras, distinguishing it as the latest model.
Apple is deliberating between two camera bump designs: one reminiscent of the iPhone 12, with two lenses stacked vertically, and another in the style of the iPhone X, featuring a singular pill-shaped enclosure. While both designs maintain the flash’s current location relative to the iPhone 15, the dual-lens configuration appears to be favored in prototype units.
The iPhone 16’s journey includes early prototypes with a unified volume button, initially developed for the iPhone 15 Pro’s now-canceled Bongo project. Despite plans for haptic feedback, technical issues led to the abandonment of this feature. Subsequently, Apple reverted to mechanical buttons for the iPhone 16.
The Action button, carried over from the iPhone 15 Pro, signals Apple’s intent to phase out the mute switch in favor of standardizing the Action button across the iPhone 16 range. Notably, the size of the Action Button varies across configurations, with indications pointing toward a capacitive Action Button.
In a bold move, Apple is introducing a new button on the right side of the iPhone 16, known as the Capture Button. Developed under the codename Project Nova, this capacitive button includes a force sensor and “tact-switching” functionality. The Capture Button’s position coincides with the mmWave cutout on U.S. iPhone models, prompting the relocation of the mmWave antenna to the device’s left side.
While the iPhone 16’s front retains the Dynamic Island without noticeable changes, a key addition is the anticipated inclusion of a new capacitive Capture Button, offering enhanced functionality. However, Apple has also developed an alternative hardware configuration sans the Capture Button, providing flexibility in case of unforeseen issues during development.
On the display front, the iPhone 16 is expected to maintain a similar screen to its predecessor, with the base model featuring a USB-C port at the bottom. Initial prototypes showcase three colors: yellow, pink, and midnight, with documentation hinting at the exploration of additional color options.
While the iPhone 16’s chassis may not undergo drastic changes, the key updates include a vertical camera arrangement akin to the iPhone 12, the introduction of a new capacitive Capture Button, and the adoption of a capacitive Action Button.
Just so you know, multiple hardware configurations suggest that Apple’s design plans are not set in stone, leaving room for potential adjustments before the iPhone 16’s official release. As the iPhone 16 is still in the developmental phase, expect additional changes.