Smartphones & Tablets | February 15, 2024
The iPhone 16 will be Apple’s next flagship, scheduled to arrive in the second half of 2024. Expectations for its features are high, and rightfully so. It aims to compete with the most advanced devices from other brands in the high-end segment. However, to be among the best in its class, it must come with significant improvements. Recent releases like the Samsung Galaxy S24 have set a high standard by strongly embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other intriguing innovations. Among the potential improvements, some features are crucial and shouldn’t be overlooked. Here are the 5 features we hope to see in the iPhone 16.
It’s still several months away from the iPhone 16 launch, scheduled for September 2024. As of writing, there’s no official information about its specifications or market availability. Nonetheless, we expect it to come with various enhancements and novelties, some more impactful than others. Among all these potential improvements, these 5 features are essential and eagerly awaited.
The Achilles’ heel of iPhones has been their slow fast-charging capability. For many generations, Apple’s phones have lagged behind the competition in terms of fast-charging speeds, considering their premium prices. While most Android devices surpass them with fast-charging speeds of up to 240W, iPhones have been easily outpaced by Android phones costing less than 200 euros. Higher-tier Android models boast even more powerful charging, allowing them to fully charge in a matter of minutes.
The iPhone 16 needs to address this if it wants to outshine its predecessors and spend less time connected to the charger. The iPhone 15, released a few months ago, featured 20W fast charging, providing up to 50% charge in 30 minutes and a full 100% charge in just over an hour. The Pro and Pro Max models, on the other hand, came with up to 27W fast charging, but this could only be utilized with a compatible power adapter, not the one sold by Apple, which is limited to 20W.
A recent leak suggested that the iPhone 15 might have 35W fast charging, but this did not materialize. Speculation now points to the possibility of this feature being part of the iPhone 16, perhaps only in the Pro versions. While not a groundbreaking leap, having higher charging power in the new iPhone generation would be a welcome improvement. In any case, one of the features we expect to see in the iPhone 16 is faster fast-charging, promising a full charge in less than 1 hour.
Apple’s decision to equip the base models of the iPhone 13, 14, and 15 with 60Hz displays was disappointing to many. This was particularly disheartening considering that for several years, most smartphones on the market, even those priced below 200 euros, have featured displays with refresh rates of 90Hz and 120Hz. Some even offer 144Hz and 165Hz displays, as seen in the Black Shark 5 Pro and Nubia Red Magic 7, respectively, both priced similarly to the current iPhone models.
To distinguish the base models from the Pro and Pro Max, Apple only provided the latter with 120Hz displays, giving them smoother performance and higher frame rates when running applications, games, and even during scrolling. We expect Apple to release the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus with a 120Hz display, just like the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. Not doing so would likely lead to another major disappointment.
We are in the era of Artificial Intelligence, and many manufacturers are integrating AI features into their most advanced smartphones. Samsung and Google, with their Pixel phones, are notable examples. Apple is also working on AI, and it is expected to fully embrace this technology with the new iPhone 16. Recent rumors suggest that the iPhone 16 will be equipped with AI-based features that facilitate certain daily tasks. One feature we’d love to see is real-time call translation, a functionality already present in the Galaxy S24.
This may be possible before the arrival of the iPhone 16, with iOS 17.4, but it could be better implemented for the launch of this device. Apple’s decision to allow the installation of apps through third-party stores was prompted by an order from the European Union to comply with anti-monopoly regulations. However, the functionality will not be similar to Android, where you can download APK files from any source and install them without restrictions. Instead, it will be necessary to have an app store approved by Apple within this program. In other words, on the iPhone 16, and any subsequent models, you will be able to install apps only through certain approved app stores, not directly from downloaded app files.
Since the iPhone 11, introduced in 2019, Apple has not significantly redesigned its smartphones. In other words, for almost five years now, iPhones have maintained nearly the same aesthetic.
The only changes have been in their finishes, transitioning from rounded edges to slightly more angular ones. The base iPhone cameras also shifted from a vertical to a diagonal arrangement. Additionally, the notch was reduced by about 20% from the iPhone 13 to the 14, while the Pro models adopted the in-screen Dynamic Island. However, beyond these tweaks, the essence has remained largely the same in each generation. This is why another feature we hope to see in the iPhone 16 is a novel design that is easier to distinguish from its predecessors. There isn’t much room for speculation here as no leaks about renders of this phone have surfaced. Still, we hope Apple surprises us.
