iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: 30 Rumored Upgrades Compared

[MacRumors]

After over a year of rumors, there are now 30 changes and improvements expected to be offered by the iPhone 16 Pro models later this year.

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All of the changes the iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to feature compared to their direct forerunners are listed below, using information from reliable sources that we have previously covered. We will update this article as more rumors emerge in the coming months.

Displays

Both iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to feature larger displays than their predecessors, pushing the iPhone 16 Pro Max to be the biggest iPhone ever offered. There are also reportedly improvements to the underlying OLED technology in store.

iPhone 15 Pro	iPhone 16 Pro
6.1- or 6.7-inch display	6.3- or 6.9-inch display
	Thinner borders around the display
	More efficient OLED display with brighter micro-lens technology

Chip, Thermals, and Connectivity

Under the hood, the iPhone 16 Pro models are rumored to bring notable improvements in processing power, thermal management, and connectivity. From a more powerful "A18 Pro" chip to advanced thermal designs and enhanced connectivity options including the latest Wi-Fi standards, these changes promise to further update the iPhone's basic specifications.

iPhone 15 Pro	iPhone 16 Pro
A17 Pro chip (TSMC's "N3B" 3nm process)	A18 Pro chip (TSMC's "N3E" enhanced 3nm process)
16-core Neural Engine	Enhanced neural Engine with "significantly" more cores to support new AI features
Thermal design with copper heatsink and black foil battery casing	New thermal design with graphene heatsink and metal battery casing
Snapdragon X70 5G modem	Snapdragon X75 5G modem
Wi-Fi 6E connectivity	Wi-Fi 7 connectivity

Cameras

The iPhone 16 Pro models are slated to receive a range of substantial camera enhancements, such as a larger main camera sensor, a 48-megapixel sensor on the ultra wide camera, and a dedicated hardware button for photography and videography on the side of the device.

iPhone 15 Pro	iPhone 16 Pro
	"Capture Button" to trigger photography and videography features
1/1.28-inch main camera sensor	iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max: 1/1.14-inch main camera sensor (12% larger)
Sony IMX-803 main camera sensor	iPhone 16 Pro Max: Sony IMX-903 main camera sensor with stacked design for better performance, a 14-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) for high-quality image data conversion, and Digital Gain Control (DCG) for better dynamic range and noise control
7P main camera lens	8P main camera lens
iPhone 15 Pro: Telephoto camera with second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization iPhone 15 Pro Max: Telephoto camera with larger sensor, folded tetraprism design, optical image stabilization, and autofocus 3D sensor-shift module	Telephoto camera with larger sensor, folded tetraprism design, optical image stabilization, and autofocus 3D sensor-shift module
iPhone 15 Pro: 77mm maximum focal length iPhone 15 Pro Max: 120mm maximum focal length	iPhone 16 Pro: 120mm maximum focal length iPhone 16 Pro Max: "Super" telephoto camera with focal length above 300mm
iPhone 15 Pro: 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 3x optical zoom iPhone 15 Pro Max: 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 3x, and 5x optical zoom (5x on Pro Max only)	0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x optical zoom
4P telephoto camera lens	5P telephoto camera lens
12-megapixel ultra wide camera	48-megapixel ultra wide camera
5P ultra wide camera lens	6P ultra wide camera lens

Batteries and Charging

The iPhone 16 Pro models could receive some major improvements in battery technology and charging, sporting bigger, denser batteries and faster charging capabilities.

iPhone 15 Pro	iPhone 16 Pro
Single-layer battery technology	Stacked battery technology for increased energy density and prolonged lifespan
iPhone 15 Pro: 3,274 mAh battery iPhone 15 Pro Max: 4,422 mAh battery	iPhone 16 Pro: 3,355 mAh mAh battery (+2.5%) iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4,676 mAh battery (+5%)
Up to 27W wired charging	Up to 40W wired charging
15W charging via MagSafe	20W charging via MagSafe

Other Features and Changes

While many of Apple's devices are rumored to receive a series of new AI-based features via software updates later this year, the iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to take these further with exclusive capabilities and an upgraded microphone.

iPhone 15 Pro	iPhone 16 Pro
Support for new AI features in iOS 18	Support for new AI features in iOS 18, plus a suite of device-exclusive AI features
Microphone	Upgraded microphone with improved signal-to-noise ratio and water resistance, designed to support new AI features
Up to 1TB of storage	Up to 2TB of storage
Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, and Natural Titanium color options	Black Titanium/Space Black, White Titanium, Desert Titanium, Titanium Gray, and potentially Rose Gold color options
Brushed titanium frame	Glossy titanium frame

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Article Link: iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: 30 Rumored Upgrades Compared

 

[MayaUser]

too bad we are going again big and bigger in physical dimensions...

 

[Seanm87]

too bad we are going again big and bigger in physical dimensions...

Why is that bad?

 

[Mity]

I wonder why they're adding 40w fast charging. AAPL has held out for years due to battery longevity concerns. New type of battery?

 

[Bigg Macc]

Super telephoto lens of 300mm but still only 12MP

 

[Mity]

too bad we are going again big and bigger in physical dimensions...

Once you use a larger display, it's hard going back to a smaller one. I'm sure there's a limit but the Pro Max isn't it. I'd be happy with a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra sized iPhone. But I do think that larger displays works better on Android because the back button and menus are at the bottom, where they belong. In iOS, where it's a jumbled mess with the back button at the very top and occasional menus at the bottom.

 

[imtoretto]

Let’s be Honest alright, the 15 series line up was was mediocre, disappointing, lame, BORING.
I guarantee that the next iphone will only come with 3 difference:
1) larger displays
2) a new button
3) “AI” integrated

Another Boring year ya’ll, so save the cash and skip, AGAIN.

 

[MayaUser]

Once you use a larger display, it's hard going back to a smaller one. I'm sure there's a limit but the Pro Max isn't it. I'd be happy with a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra sized iPhone. But I do think that larger displays works better on Android because the back button and menus are at the bottom, where they belong. In iOS, where it's a jumbled mess with the back button at the very top and occasional menus at the bottom.

so your hands gets also bigger and bigger, our pockets gets bigger and bigger..so you dont have anything against if Apple and Samsung goes with 8" displays in 4 years?! Lets get real, 6.5-6.7" its ok for a "big phone". When we draw a line since the borders now are at their limits...so you cannot go larger display without getting also larger physical dimensions
Lets travel with our phone not with mini tablets

 

[Biro]

Once again, the iPhone Pros will come in just a bit bigger and heavier. Enough already! iPhones and iPads need to go on a diet. And enough with “feature creep.”

 

[haunebu]

Are they ever going to do something new? I understand that there's risk in introducing entirely new concepts, but... a slightly better camera for edge cases? Uh... yay.

Come on, Apple. At least do a side project here. Samsung has had a whole line of flip & fold devices for years and they're great. Can't we have at least some innovation in the phone offering anymore?

 

[I7guy]

Let’s be Honest alright, the 15 series line up was was mediocre, disappointing, lame, BORING.
I guarantee that the next iphone will only come with 3 difference:
1) larger displays
2) a new button
3) “AI” integrated

Another Boring year ya’ll, so save the cash and skip, AGAIN.

I categorically disagree with the above assessment. YMMV.

 

[philstubbington]

Why is that bad?

Pockets aren’t getting any bigger 😂

 

[jz0309]

iPhone 16 Pro Max: "Super" telephoto camera with focal length above 300mm

that sounds intriguing, but I'll wait what apple actually announces cause last year rumors were saying 10x tele and it ended up 5x ...

 

[jz0309]

too bad we are going again big and bigger in physical dimensions...

that seems to be what the market (aka users) want, right or wrong. my wife has a 13 mini and she'd love another mini but doesn't seem to be happening

 

[azentropy]

Why is that bad?

Some people, myself included, would rather they keep the same size screen but the physical device smaller so it is easier to use. How big is too big for you? Would you just carry an iPad instead if it had all the same camera/cell features? We all have our preferences of when a device has become too big and would prefer something smaller.

Edit: My hope/wish/dream is that by moving to 6.3/6.9 that it makes room for a "bigger than mini" but smaller iPhone 17/Pro at say 5.8/5.9". Basically a X/Xs/11Pro size screen in a modern and slimmer form factor.

 

[darngooddesign]

The 16 Pro is going to have that big gap between 2X and 5X. Bleh

 

[jz0309]

Let’s be Honest alright, the 15 series line up was was mediocre, disappointing, lame, BORING.
I guarantee that the next iphone will only come with 3 difference:
1) larger displays
2) a new button
3) “AI” integrated

Another Boring year ya’ll, so save the cash and skip, AGAIN.

the days of "exciting" updates year over year are over, people don't upgrade every year anymore, but for plenty people on older iPhones the new ones will be exciting ...

 

[jz0309]

The 16 Pro is going to have that big gap between 2X and 5X. Bleh

and here I thought that is what "digital zoom" is for ...
/s

 

[darngooddesign]

Let’s be Honest alright, the 15 series line up was was mediocre, disappointing, lame, BORING.
I guarantee that the next iphone will only come with 3 difference:
1) larger displays
2) a new button
3) “AI” integrated

Another Boring year ya’ll, so save the cash and skip, AGAIN.

Counterpoint. It will be a great upgrade from my XR.

 

[Sorinut]

the days of "exciting" updates year over year are over, people don't upgrade every year anymore

People never upgraded every year; it was almost always two years except for enthusiasts..hence the S line of iPhones. Now it's almost every three years, on average.

As for this bit of info...meh... Keeping my 13 Pro for another year, at least.

 

[citysnaps]

Though I have a 15 PM, I'd purchase the 16 PM just for the potential main camera improvement (assuming it pans out in tests).

 

[cocky jeremy]

Why is that bad?

I've learned from being on this site a lot... a lot of people buy pants with very small pockets. lol.

 

[Mity]

so your hands gets also bigger and bigger, our pockets gets bigger and bigger..so you dont have anything against if Apple and Samsung goes with 8" displays in 4 years?! Lets get real, 6.5-6.7" its ok for a "big phone". When we draw a line since the borders now are at their limits...so you cannot go larger display without getting also larger physical dimensions
Lets travel with our phone not with mini tablets

Re-read carefully what I wrote above:

Once you use a larger display, it's hard going back to a smaller one. I'm sure there's a limit but the Pro Max isn't it. I'd be happy with a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra sized iPhone. But I do think that larger displays works better on Android because the back button and menus are at the bottom, where they belong. In iOS, where it's a jumbled mess with the back button at the very top and occasional menus at the bottom.

The S24 Ultra isn't prohibitive to carry. I wouldn't mind an iPhone that size.

 

[HackMacDaddy]

And that ladies and gentlemen is why many people love their foldables! Small footprint in the pocket, but when you need to go big, just unfold it and voila!

 

[HackMacDaddy]

Counterpoint. It will be a great upgrade from my XR.

You're gonna love the display especially. I now notice a huge difference between LCD (very slow) and OLED, even without 120HZ. 120HZ (on my wife's pro) looks like another dimension to my eyes haha 🤣