Exclusive new iPhone 16 Pro reveals Apple bonus button

Updated April 17: Article originally published April 16.

One of the biggest points of contention around the iPhone range was Apple’s choice of materials and properties for the action and capture buttons. Now, a new video has given us a clearer view of the design.

Following the revelation of the iPhone 16 blanks by sonny dicksonEFTM’s Trevor Long has shown more details about the new design.

These models are machined blanks rather than mockups that use the same external materials that would be seen on the final iPhone models, suggesting this is an earlier part of the design process. However, it’s safe to assume that these blanks represent the final design choices of Tim Cook and his team and reflect the hourly phones we’ll see in September.

It should also be obvious that they offer no indication of the functionality that will come in the software; For that, we need to look at June’s Worldwide Developers Conference and Apple’s alleged move into the generative AI space with new versions of iOS and macOS for the new iPhone, iPad and Mac devices launching in late 2024.

What can we learn from the new images and details of the iPhone blanks?

Apple’s decision to introduce an action button on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max altered the UX for premium iPhones, but left the smaller, cheaper iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models with the traditional mute switch . Unlike the addition of the Touch Bar on the MacBook, including the programmable action button is a fairly easy adaptation for developers to make.

As illustrated in the blanks, the action button has been added to all four iPhone 16 models, so developers can be sure it will be present on any new iPhone. However, compatibility with millions of older devices means that apps can’t assume that the action button will always be present.

It’s been known for some time that Apple has been considering adding a new second button on the edge of iPhones. After numerous options were leaked, the blanks largely imply that the final decision has been made.

Not only will all four iPhone 16 models adopt the alleged capture button, but the design recessed into the white spaces points to the use of a capacitive button, presumably with Apple’s “Taptic Engine” creating enough feedback to provide a sensation. genuine button. Without a doubt, if consumer feedback is welcomed, Apple could move to using fewer physical and more capacitive buttons in future designs.

While we previously had a clear picture of the camera’s lens design, it’s good to receive confirmation of the vertical lens arrangement that will offer a side-by-side arrangement to enable stereoscopic video recording and subsequent playback on the Apple Vision headset. Pro.

Update: Wednesday, April 17: While the blanks don’t offer any details on the components or specifications of the upcoming iPhone 16 family, they do highlight that the design is essentially complete. If that is the case then the internal design will also be complete.

This means that the capabilities of the next iPhones will become clearer over the coming weeks and months. The white spaces show a key change to the camera, with the capture button now present on all four models. They also show the vertical housing of the camera lenses, which allows stereoscopic viewing in landscape mode. AND the latest leak about the new ultra-wide camera lens potentially reveals a new feature.

The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max currently feature a 12-megapixel Ultrawide camera that, along with the main camera lens, enables stereoscopic video recording for regular on-screen playback or stereoscopically in Apple Vision Pro using “Spatial Video.” from Apple. brand system. Due to the 12 megapixel lens, these videos were limited to 1080p resolution. By upgrading to a 48-megapixel lens, iPhone 16 Pro phones can record these videos at 4K resolution and offer crisper, clearer playback on headphones.

Long also took the opportunity to compare some of the blanks to their current counterparts, noting that the iPhone 16 Pro Max is larger than the 15 Pro Max on sale today, suggesting a larger screen and more internal volume. that will probably be used. for a larger battery;. However, the higher power requirements of the upcoming Apple Silicon chip, which will run demanding artificial intelligence processes, may require more space and materials to keep it running at room temperature.

Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 16 family on September 10, the traditional second Tuesday in September.

Now read more about Apple’s plans for the next iPhone SE…