With every new generation of iPhone, Apple manages to surprise with certain innovations and changes—sometimes small, other times quite considerable—in design. This upcoming year, with the release of the iPhone 16, it seems we might be in for a pleasant surprise. As reported by MacRumors, this new device could feature significant changes that, although subtle at first glance, signify a noteworthy evolution in the design and functionality of the iPhone.
New cameras, buttons, and colors
The iPhone 16, internally nicknamed “DeLorean” by Apple engineers, is being developed based on the upgrades introduced in the iPhone 15. This includes a curved frame and a frosted glass back. However, what truly stands out in the iPhone 16 prototypes are the modifications in the buttons and the camera layout.
One of the most striking innovations is the new vertical arrangement of the rear cameras. Unlike its predecessor, the iPhone 16 would have vertically aligned cameras. Apple is reportedly considering two different designs for the camera bump: a design akin to the iPhone 12, with two lenses stacked on top of each other, and an iPhone X-style design with a single pill-shaped enclosure.
Regarding the buttons, the iPhone 16 is undergoing experimentation with various configurations. According to MacRumors, early prototypes included a unified volume button, part of the scrapped Bongo project, but the device has reverted to mechanical buttons. Additionally, the action button from the iPhone 15 Pro has been retained, with its size varying in different designs. There’s also experimentation with a new capacitive Capture button on the device’s right side, internally known as Project Nova.
Aesthetically, prototypes have been seen in three colors: yellow, pink, and midnight, although it’s suggested that other colors initially developed for the iPhone 15 might also be used.
While the iPhone 16 doesn’t showcase notable changes in its chassis, the updates such as the vertical arrangement of the camera, a new capacitive capture button, and a capacitive action button are more than enough to signify a significant evolution. We’re unsure which of these features will arrive in the Pro models and which in the entry-level ones, but everything seems to indicate that the 2024 iPhone will indeed be quite interesting.
