If recent leaks are anything to go by, the iPhone is set to receive a major design overhaul this year. While Apple has been making some minor tweaks to the Pro series reasonably regularly, the non-Pro series hasn’t received a significant redesign for some time now. Not this year, it seems.
According to images of cases obtained by TechNetBook, the new iPhone 16 cases reveal a new design, mainly because they now feature a vertical camera setup. We are also seeing the Action Button make its debut on regular, non-Pro iPhones.
What’s interesting, though, is that some cases also show a cut-out for a dedicated shutter button. This aligns with rumors that the iPhone 16 Pro series will feature a new, physical camera shutter button that the haptic engine will power. This button allows users to focus on a subject with a soft tap and capture a photo or start recording with a secondary, more forceful press.
This addition marks a significant shift from earlier reports suggesting that Apple might eliminate all physical buttons.
Contrary to earlier reports suggesting the removal of all physical buttons, leaks and rumors from various sources indicate that the camera shutter button will be a distinctive feature exclusive to the Pro models, specifically the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max or Ultra, depending on Apple’s naming choice this year.
The camera array is the most notable design change between the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 16. The iPhone 16 will sport a vertically stacked camera island with two cameras, a departure from the diagonally positioned camera unit first introduced with the iPhone 13 in 2021. Naturally, this means that iPhone 15 cases will not be compatible with the iPhone 16 for anyone planning to upgrade.
Apple’s decision to revamp the camera layout, even for its non-pro models, is a significant move. Industry experts speculate that the vertically aligned cameras on the iPhone 16 are designed to support 3D video recording, a feature previously limited to the ‘pro’ iPhone 15 models. If this is true, it aligns with Apple’s strategy to make the Vision Pro and its anticipated more affordable mixed-reality headset more mainstream.
The flash unit, now positioned outside the camera island, resembles that of the iPhone X but is significantly larger than the units on the iPhone X or the iPhone Xs.
Regarding the device’s size, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are rumored to feature 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch 60Hz OLED screens and, therefore, should come in the exact dimensions as their predecessors. These smartphones are expected to be powered by a modified version of the A17 Pro chip to support the newest Apple Intelligence features.
The shift towards a vertical camera setup and the addition of a physical shutter button suggest that Apple is focusing on enhancing the iPhone’s photography and filmmaking capabilities. This aligns with the growing trend of using smartphones for professional-grade photography and videography, which Apple has been pushing very hard. The 3D video recording feature further cements the iPhone 16’s position as a powerful tool for content creators.
