Apple’s move last year sparked significant outrage among fans when only the more expensive iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max received the new, faster A17 Pro chip. The company installed the A16 Bionic chip, which also powered the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max that debuted in 2022, in the base models, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.
However, this year, it seems that Apple won’t repeat this move, as all four iPhone models released this year will feature a new chip. Nevertheless, the performance gap between the base and Pro models will remain. According to the latest leaks, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will house the A18 chip, while the more expensive models will feature the A18 Pro, following the naming convention of the M-series chips.
Although not guaranteed, this also increases the likelihood that Apple Intelligence, debuting with iOS 18, will be available on the base models as well. Therefore, Apple won’t limit this feature to just the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max.
New Cameras, Unchanged Design
As previously reported by Index, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will look almost identical to their predecessors, except for the camera island. Currently, the base models, iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, feature a square camera island with diagonally positioned lenses, an arrangement introduced with the iPhone 13 to keep the camera island as small as possible despite larger lens sizes. Before this, the two lenses were positioned vertically.
IT APPEARS THAT APPLE IS RETURNING TO THIS ARRANGEMENT.
The decision is driven by Apple Vision Pro, specifically the Spatial Videos viewable on it, which can currently only be recorded with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. This unique recording mode utilizes both the wide and ultra-wide cameras simultaneously to create a three-dimensional effect, mimicking our eyes’ function. Interestingly, the A16 Bionic chip in the iPhone 15 can also support this recording technique, but the diagonal camera arrangement prevents achieving the desired effect. To enable this feature on the two base models, Apple will position the cameras vertically, as seen in the images above.
A Fifth Model on the Way
According to fresh leaks, not only the four iPhones arriving this fall will feature a variation of the A18 chip. Insiders suggest that a fifth device, likely not the long-awaited iPhone “Ultra,” but the 4th generation iPhone SE debuting in early 2025, will also benefit from this chip. The device is expected to resemble the iPhone 16 models with a 6.1-inch display, Dynamic Island-embedded Face ID, colorful aluminum frame, and glass back. The major difference will be the lack of an ultra-wide camera, as the new SE will still feature only one rear camera. Further details about the new SE are currently unknown, but following the pattern of previous releases, it is almost certain to be revealed at the company’s next spring event.
