Kuo: iPhone 16 Models to Lack Significant Design Changes Beyond Larger Displays and Capture Button

[dz5b609]

No AI, no major design changes, another boring iPhone release.

AI is nothing but a marketing term for things that have existed for ages. The iPhone already has tons of AI just like every other phone has for the last decade. Siri has been AI from the start, the camera does tons of AI since ages, IOS does tons of AI stuff all the time.

We just didn't call it AI, because there's NO reason whatsoever to specifically call it AI.

 

[akke4323]

No one is expecting design changes anymore.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Where is news for iPhone Ultra, a companion for Watch Ultra?

Unless this Ultra phone has the same durability and ruggedness as the Watch, it's not a companion.

 

[Mimiron]

The iPhone has been a disappointment since X launched, convince me otherwise, and don't use incremental updates as arguments. Fn dark mode as an OS feature speaks for itself. I want redesign, AI as a major component of iOS.
@BugeyeSTI i assume you upgraded from iPhone 5 lol

 

[hieranonymous]

Foldables may be a buzzy category but they don’t actually constitute a lot of shipments, so I doubt the absence of a shipping foldable is gonna hurt Apple’s bottom line for the time being. Moreover, most foldables currently have mediocre water/dust resistance and overall durability compared to slab phones—and I don’t think Apple would be willing to ship a phone that features regressions in those areas.

 

[citysnaps]

AI is nothing but a marketing term for things that have existed for ages. The iPhone already has tons of AI just like every other phone has for the last decade. Siri has been AI from the start, the camera does tons of AI since ages, IOS does tons of AI stuff all the time.

We just didn't call it AI, because there's NO reason whatsoever to specifically call it AI.

Well said and spot on.

 

[transpo1]

I thought we just had an article a week ago saying that iOS 18 is the largest OS update ever, built entirely around AI? is that off the table or are they just saying there won't be special hardware tied to AI until iPhone 17 or later? If AI plans just rolled over and died for Apple in 2024 that would be hugely disappointing.

Good question. I was thinking the same thing.

 

[transpo1]

now the ultrawide camera is getting updated and getting a 48 megapixel sensor in the Pro models. only the telephoto will stay on a 12 megapixel sensor.

If you wait for the 17 Pro, all three cameras will have 48MP sensors supposedly…

 

[VisceralRealist]

AI is nothing but a marketing term for things that have existed for ages. The iPhone already has tons of AI just like every other phone has for the last decade. Siri has been AI from the start, the camera does tons of AI since ages, IOS does tons of AI stuff all the time.

We just didn't call it AI, because there's NO reason whatsoever to specifically call it AI.

So true. "AI" is just now a popular term because of ChatGPT and LLMs. I'm sure Siri will gain some of those benefits in a software update.

 

[anthogag]

Unless this Ultra phone has the same durability and ruggedness as the Watch, it's not a companion.

Yes, it would have durability and ruggedness.

 

[fel10]

*Pretends to be shocked* 😲

 

[medazinol]

We reached peak iPhone a few iterations ago

 

[scrapesleon]

It’s becoming laughable at this point

 

[AppZ.Zero]

iPhone 13 Pro Max here and i really dont feel any need to upgrade. Becomes even a bigger point with the lack of new features with the last generations.

 

[soyazul]

This rumor contradicts all the iOS 18 rumors, so... I´ll take it as bad information.

 

[jz0309]

Well, I will patiently wait til September until Apple announces the new lineup and then decide if I upgrade my 13PM…

 

[satchmo]

I can't help but imagine where the iPhone could be today if Apple didn't spend 10 years and resources on the VisionPro.

 

[coffeemilktea]

Another year of minimal hardware updates? I'm suddenly having flashbacks to when the iPhone 8 was really just an iPhone 6SSS. 😩

 

[JulianL]

Externally, what could they even do to change the design that’s not change for the sake of change?
We’ve had 15+ years of annual iteration and refinement of this product that has led to what is essentially as flawless a form factor as they can make.
I’d slice off the camera hump, which I’m sure they’d do too if they could. But otherwise?

So true. That’s what bugs me about calls for significant changes in physical case design. If Apple has a well-considered and well-researched idea of what the ideal form factor should be (easiest to hold, least likely to drop, most space efficient etc) then surely it should be aiming to create phones with optimal form factors and once it has reached that point then any change becomes a change away from optimal assuming the geometry of human hands doesn’t suddenly change.

And I also agree about the camera bump - slicing that off is also the one change that I wish was possible to do (without dumbing down the cameras or making the main body so thick that it encompasses the bump which are the two undesirable ways that I can think of to get rid of the bump with current technolog).

 

[CharlesShaw]

I need to save money in 2024, so I’m relieved that there will be no iPhone mini, but my only temptation will possibly be an iPad Pro. I’m hoping for that to be boring too. Sorry guys!

 

[ghanwani]

Please hardware refresh the existing SE. And bring back Jony Ive. We need an iPhone that excites. And fix the display so that it doesn't cause headaches (get away from PWM and any fancy things like temporal dithering). I guess it's too much to ask.

 

[Guacamole]

nothing to get exited about again

 

[Guacamole]

Lame, but expected. Hopefully we get a decent new color.

sure, another shade of blue 😆

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Please hardware refresh the existing SE. And bring back Jony Ive. We need an iPhone that excites. And fix the display so that it doesn't cause headaches (get away from PWM and any fancy things like temporal dithering). I guess it's too much to ask.

The best thing to happen to Apple was Ive leaving; he's a loose cannon without Jobs and did nothing but almost destroy the MacBook line.

 

[Deacon-Blues]

I have a couple problems with this news. First of all, I cannot go any bigger. If a 6.9” screen means a bigger phone, I’m out. How about a thinner phone, like the XS Max? That was a nice phone to hold. How about a smaller camera bump? And what about AI features? The Galaxy S24 phones have some pretty darn cool AI features. Nothing about the 16 interests me at all. I have the 15 Pro Max so I wouldn’t upgrade away, to be honest. But probably the 17.