We were also expecting the iPhone 16 series in September, but that would put it in the awkward position of launching without a key software feature. So will Apple delay the iPhone 16 so it can launch with Apple Intelligence out of the box? Not according to serial Apple tipster Mark Gurman.
Writing in his Power On newsletter for Bloomberg (via 9to5Mac), Gurman has said that while the first Apple Intelligence features probably won’t land until October, the iPhone 16 and its siblings – the iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – will still land in September, and at around the same time in the month as last year, with Gurman pointing to September 10 as the most likely date.
That might not come as much of a surprise, but Apple Intelligence is likely to be one of the headline features of the new phones (though at least some parts of Apple Intelligence will come to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max as well).
Plus, there’s some precedent for a delay, as the iPhone 4S was delayed so that it could launch with Siri and iCloud.
(Image credit: Apple)
Apple Intelligence might not be a big deal initially
Still, in general Apple doesn’t delay its phones to get new software features on them on day one, and Gurman also argues that “the first set of Apple Intelligence features aren’t that impressive anyway.” So having to wait a month or so for them and then download a software update shouldn't be that much of a big deal.
Initial Apple Intelligence features (based on what’s present in the beta) include suggested replies to texts in the Messages app, a new interface for Siri (along with the ability to type rather than speak to it), the option to transcribe and summarize phone calls, summaries for web pages, and a handful of other things.
It’s not a bad selection, but it’s arguably less than we’ve already seen from the likes of Google and Samsung. And some of the more exciting Apple Intelligence features won’t be arriving until later, with built in ChatGPT simply promised by the end of the year for example. So even if Apple did delay the iPhone 16 until October, it still wouldn’t have a complete suite of AI tools.
Still, while Gurman has a great track record for leaks it’s always possible that the iPhone 16 series will be delayed, but for now we’d say it’s very unlikely to be.
At this point, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, as although Apple hasn’t revealed anything yet – and probably won’t do so until September – leaks and rumors surrounding the iPhone 16 series have been extensive.
We've heard details about almost every facet of the upcoming phones, from the iPhone 16 colors to the likely iPhone 16 prices, design, specs, and more. As usual, the rumored features are a mix of old and new, but in this article, we’re focusing on the key new things you can expect from the iPhone 16 series.
Below, you’ll find the most significant iPhone 16 features we’ve heard about so far, which aren’t already present on the iPhone 15 series.
A new ‘Capture’ button
The iPhone 15 (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Perhaps the single biggest upgrade we’re expecting on the iPhone 16 line is a new button – and unlike some of the features below, this is a button that will reportedly be present on all four iPhone 16 models.
That could make this button a powerful addition to the camera, and far more effective than simply setting the Action button to take pictures, which you can already do with the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max, as the Action button lacks all the swiping and light pressing potential of the rumored Capture button.
Reports suggest the Capture button will be housed under the power key on the right edge of the iPhone 16, and as well as that, there will still be an Action button on the left – which, according to reports, will this time be offered across the line, rather than just on the Pro models.
There are still some questions surrounding the Capture button – early reports suggested it might just be for videos rather than photos too, and there’s some disagreement over whether it will be mechanical or solid-state, so Apple could yet surprise us at the iPhone 16 launch.
Bigger screens for the Pro models
The iPhone 15 Pro (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
One big – literally – feature that has been rumored specifically for the Pro models is an increase in screen size, with the iPhone 16 Pro said to have a 6.3-inch display (up from 6.1 inches on the iPhone 15 Pro), and the iPhone 16 Pro Max reported to have a 6.9-inch screen (up from 6.7 inches on the iPhone 15 Pro Max).
So, in both cases, these phones would be 0.2 inches bigger than their predecessors, but perhaps more notably, this increase would make the Pro models larger than the non-Pro ones, which will reportedly remain at 6.1 inches for the iPhone 16 and 6.7 inches for the iPhone 16 Plus.
This increase in screen size could further widen the gap between the Pro and non-Pro models, though it would mean that if you’re a fan of compact phones, your choices will further diminish.
Still, a bigger screen will likely make the iPhone 16 Pro models superior for video viewing, and you'll also have more space for interacting with apps and games. If the bezels are reduced (as has been rumored), too, then the overall footprint might not be vastly bigger than that of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
Camera upgrades
The iPhone 15 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Sadly, it doesn’t look like the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Plus will be in for any significant camera upgrades, but the Pro models might be.
The iPhone 16 Pro is widely rumored to be getting the same 12MP 5x optical zoom camera as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which would be an upgrade on the iPhone 15 Pro’s 12MP 3x optical zoom.
On top of this, the iPhone 16 Pro is also reportedly getting a 48MP ultra-wide camera, in place of the current model’s 12MP sensor.
But the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s cameras might be in for an even bigger upgrade, with this phone reportedly also getting a new 48MP ultra-wide camera, and potentially a new main sensor, too, which would stick at 48MP like last year’s but should still deliver improvements to photos.
There’s a chance the iPhone 16 Pro Max could even get a new telephoto sensor, with some leaks tipping a ‘super telephoto’ lens, which might offer 10x zoom or more. However, recent leaks haven’t mentioned this particular upgrade, so we wouldn’t count on it becoming a reality.
Still, even if just the main and ultra-wide snappers are improved on the Pro Max, and the telephoto and ultra-wide cameras are upgraded on the Pro, then these upcoming models could be well worth buying for photography fans.
A speedy new chipset
Playing Asphalt 9: Legends on the iPhone 15. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The final big new feature we’ve heard talked about (for the iPhone 16 Pro models, at least), is an A18 Pro chipset, which will likely provide a big power boost over the A17 Pro found in the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This chipset could also be key to powering some of the iPhone 16 line’s AI features.
However, while the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will almost certainly get an A18 Pro chipset, there’s a high chance that the standard iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Plus will instead get a lesser A18 chipset, or inherit the A17 Pro from last year’s Pro models.
In either case, this would be an upgrade on the A16 Bionic chipset used by the current base models, but it would still leave them lagging behind the Pro models on the power front.
We should see the iPhone 16 break cover in around a month or so, and the leaks are starting to pile up for Apple's 2024 flagship phone – including new information on the battery capacities of the Pro and Pro Max models.
According to well-known tipster Instant Digital (via MacRumors), the iPhone 16 Pro is going to come with a 3,577mAh capacity battery fitted, while the battery inside the larger iPhone 16 Pro Max will have a capacity of 4,676mAh.
To put those numbers into context for you, the iPhone 15 Pro has a battery capacity of 3,274mAh, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a capacity of 4,422mAh. Both models would seem to be getting bigger batteries this year, but the jump is bigger on the Pro model.
We have heard that same 4,676mAh capacity for the iPhone 16 Pro Max in a previous leak, though an earlier rumor had put the capacity of iPhone 16 Pro at 3,355mAh – so this latest source suggests that the increase in size is going to be bigger.
Better battery life?
The iPhone 15 Pro (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Of course, it's quite possible that battery capacities have changed as Apple has been developing the phones and refining their designs, which might explain why some of the rumors we've been seeing so far are listing different numbers.
It's also difficult to say how these increased battery capacities are going to affect battery life. Both the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max are said to be getting larger screens this year, up to 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches respectively, which might affect the calculations.
As our iPhone 15 Pro review and iPhone 15 Pro Max review will tell you, the current models are able to go for about a day (or a little over) with general use. It looks as though the new editions will still need charging overnight most of the time.
Apple hasn't announced a launch event for September yet, but that's the month when it usually unveils its new iPhones. At the same event we should also be getting reveals for the Apple Watch 10 and the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
We saw a slew of new Apple Intelligence features demoed for iOS 18 (and Apple's other software packages) at WWDC 2024 in June, but they're yet to roll out to devices. In the case of ChatGPT integration we now know it's arriving before the end of 2025.
As MacRumors reports, on a recent earnings call Apple CEO Tim Cook said that ChatGPT will be built into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia "by the end of the calendar year". We're expecting iOS 18 to make its way to iPhones sometime in September.
When the feature does go live, you'll get the option to get Siri to refer certain questions to ChatGPT, and it'll also be part of the writing assistance feature that can help with composing text messages, emails, and more.
You'll also be able to generate images in a variety of styles, Apple says, all powered by the latest GPT-4o model. Access to ChatGPT will be free, and you won't even need to register an account with OpenAI – though if you're a paying ChatGPT Plus member, you will be able to connect your account to get at additional paid-for features.
AI bots for all
(Image credit: Apple)
When ChatGPT integration was first introduced, Apple did say the feature would be live by the end of the year – so really this is confirmation that the original timetable is still on track. There has been some speculation that certain Apple Intelligence features could be delayed beyond the launch of the iPhone 16 and iOS 18.
It also seems as though Apple is open to adding other AI bots to Siri in the future – including, perhaps, Google Gemini. It's also clear that Apple researchers are hard at work trying to get Siri on a par with ChatGPT and Gemini.
A limited number of Apple Intelligence features are already available in the developer beta of iOS 18.1, but while we've tried out the software, it's not suitable for everyday use yet. Most people are best waiting until the stable and final version of the update is pushed out.
It's likely that we'll hear more about Apple Intelligence and the date of its arrival at the iPhone 16 launch event, which should be sometime in September. Apple will almost certainly unveil the Apple Watch 10 and the finished iOS 18 at the same time.
Thanks to a plethora of consistent leaks, we have a good idea of what colors to expect the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max to ship in, with multiple sources pointing to white or silver, rose, black, and gray (which might be marketed as Natural Titanium). And now, not only have these shades been mentioned again, but three of them have been pictured.
Leaker Sonny Dickson (via 9to5Mac) has shared a photo of what looks to be three iPhone 16 Pro Max dummy units, and they show a white shade, a black shade, and a color that’s quite similar to the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s Natural Titanium.
That similarity suggests it will carry the Natural Titanium name again, though it appears slightly darker here, and the black color is significantly darker than last year’s Black Titanium. The white, meanwhile is, well, white. But it’s very much white rather than silver.
Sadly, there’s no sign of the rumored rose color here, which is arguably the most interesting of the rumored shades, both because it’s likely to be a bit more colorful, and is the only option that doesn't already exist in some form for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Its absence here also adds to the possibility that rose won’t be offered after all, but Apple sells the iPhone 15 Pro Max in four shades, and we’d expect to see four colors offered again for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, so if not rose then something else.
The same shades for the Pro
In any case, it’s worth noting that Apple typically sells the Pro and Pro Max in the same colors, so we’d expect all of the same shades to be offered on the iPhone 16 Pro as well.
With the possible exception of rose, it’s not the most inspiring selection, but it’s in line with the understated color choices Apple tends to use for its Pro phones. If you want bolder shades, then you’ll likely have to go for the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Plus, which recently leaked in five colors.
We should find out exactly what the iPhone 16 colors will be soon though, as these upcoming phones are likely to land in September.
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iPhone 16 Pro Max: latest news, rumors and everything we know so far
The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are sure to be more powerful than their predecessors, but they might also support higher data speeds, if a recent leak is to be believed.
According to a report in DigiTimes (via MacRumors), the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will both support Wi-Fi 7, which would be an upgrade on the Wi-Fi 6E support of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Wi-Fi 7 can be dramatically faster than Wi-Fi 6E, with theoretical speeds of over 40Gbps – which is four times faster than what you can get with Wi-Fi 6E. And it’s not just faster, it also offers lower latency and greater reliability, for an all-round smoother experience, which should be especially beneficial for online gaming and downloading massive files.
As ever, we’d take this rumor with a pinch of salt, but this isn’t the first we’ve heard of Wi-Fi 7 support, as back in October, Jeff Pu – an analyst with Haitong International Securities – made the same claim. Pu has a reasonable track record, and while that was very early for iPhone 16 leaks, hearing the same spec again now suggests that this tip might well be accurate.
Just one part of the chain
The iPhone 15 Pro (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Of course, to make use of Wi-Fi 7, your phone also needs to be connected to a router that supports it, and most don’t yet. On top of that, if you’re not on a very high-speed internet plan, then you also won’t be able to get the most out of it.
So, for most people, the addition of Wi-Fi 7 will probably be more future-proofing the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, rather than providing major benefits on day one, but it would still be a nice upgrade to have.
Whether it’s an upgrade we’ll get remains to be seen, but we should find out in September, as that’s when the iPhone 16 line will most likely be unveiled.
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iPhone 16 Pro: latest news, rumors and everything we know so far
We’re now fairly confident as to which colors we’ll see the iPhone 16 arrive in, as a leaker has shared a photo showing dummy units in five shades – and they’re five shades that have leaked multiple times previously.
The image, shared by Sonny Dickson (via 9to5Mac), can be seen below, and shows a dummy unit of the iPhone 16 in black, white, blue, green, and pink shades. All of these iPhone 16 colors were also previously leaked by Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a good track record, and by another leaker who has less of a track record.
We've not seen any conflicting reports either – though the latter source additionally mentioned yellow and purple options, which we’re less convinced about.
But with three sources now pointing to black, white, blue, green, and pink versions of the iPhone 16, we’d think those colors are very likely to make an appearance. That said, we still can’t be certain, and nor can we be certain that the exact versions of those colors shown here will be the ones Apple goes for.
If we do see these exact shades though, then they’ll be quite a lot darker than the colors Apple used on the iPhone 15 line, which could help differentiate these new phones.
Looking at the lenses
The camera layout could also help to differentiate them, because this photo shows the long-rumored vertical camera arrangement, which the company is reportedly changing to for the iPhone 16.
That’s in place of a diagonal arrangement on the iPhone 15, with this rumored change likely being so that the phones will be able to record spatial videos for viewing on the Apple Vision Pro.
As with the colors though, we can’t be certain of anything until Apple confirms it, and that's unlikely to happen until September, when we're expecting the iPhone 16 – alongside the iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – to be unveiled.
The terrifying ferocity of the Android vs iPhone debate means you'd be forgiven for thinking that no one ever switches sides. But according to a new report, that's far from the case – in fact, a surprisingly high percentage of new iPhone owners last month were people who have defected from Android.
According to new data from CIRP (Consumer Intelligence Research Partners), in June 2024, a massive 17% of iPhone buyers in the US came from Android. As the report states, that was "the highest level of switching from Android to iOS among iPhone buyers" in the "last several quarters."
While that might sound like a flag-waving moment for Apple fans, it may not be quite as positive for the iPhone as it sounds. As CIRP notes, this high percentage of Android switchers is a reflection of the difficulty that Apple is having in convincing existing iPhone owners to upgrade.
A separate report this month found that the iPhone 15 series isn't selling as well as the previous new iPhone series. In the second quarter of 2024, the iPhone 15 models were only 67% of total iPhone sales (compared to 79% for the iPhone 14 series in the equivalent quarter of 2023).
This CIRP chart shows the percentage of iPhone buyers that came from Android in the June quarter over the past few years, with June 2024 hitting a high of 17%. (Image credit: CIRP)
This isn't too surprising when you look at the reasons why Android fans are moving to iPhones—in the survey, 53% said it was due to 'prior phone problems,' while 15% said it was down cost (in other words, they could spend less on a new iPhone than they expected or less than for a comparable Android phone).
Apple tried hard to boost the appeal of the base iPhone 15 last year – as our iPhone 15 review notes, "for the first time in a while, Apple's most affordable new iPhone doesn't feel miles away from the flagship."
However, for buyers, it also seemingly doesn't feel far enough away from the iPhone 14 to justify the cost. Last month, 15% of new iPhones sold were iPhone 14 models, with the newer iPhone 15 only just ahead by 19% (and the 15 Plus down by a measly 8%). The iPhone 15 Pro Max was the most popular single model in 22% of iPhone sales, but it still sold less than the iPhone 14 and 13 series' combined (28% of the pie).
The announcement of Apple Intelligence in June might leave the iPhone 15 series even further in the cold. Apple's AI features are only compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max – so if you don't care about AI, you may as well get an iPhone 14 model or older, as many Android defectors are doing. But if you do want a future-proofed Apple phone, you should probably wait for the iPhone 16 at this stage.
It's clear that AI and Apple Intelligence are now the key upgrade features for Apple and Samsung. But with few tangible AI benefits today, the current flagship phones are in a tough spot – and many are instead choosing the value of previous flagships, which arrived before smartphone tech hit its current plateau.
As the CIRP report notes, "these older phones cost less and have less advanced features, and they turn out to be especially interesting for former Android owners." But that's also a sign of the relatively weak appeal of the iPhone 15, as "the consistency and urgency of those upgrading iPhone owners is at an apparent low point."
It seems likely that a foldable iPhone (or a foldable iPad) will make an appearance at some point, but when? A new report suggests that we're going to have to wait until 2026 for such a device, and that when it does arrive it'll be a clamshell foldable in the style of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.
This comes from sources speaking to The Information (via MacRumors), and Apple is apparently now in touch with its supply chain partners to see who might be able to provide the necessary folding screens for an 'iPhone Flip'.
It's not clear exactly why Apple would take this route instead of going for a book-style foldable like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, but it's certainly the cheaper option. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 will set you back from $1,899 / £1,799 / AU$2,749, compared with $1,099.99 / £1,049 / AU$1,799 for the Z Flip 6.
The Information does note in its report that Apple's plans are subject to change, and Apple would need to be happy with the quality of the device before launching it. However, the foldable has apparently now been given a codename within Apple – V68 – which is one of the key steps in the development of a product.
A long time coming
Samsung launched two new foldables in July (Image credit: Samsung)
One of the rumors we've heard about the foldable iPhone is that Apple isn't happy with the crease effect in the foldable screens of the devices rival companies have launched so far. While the tech is improving year on year, you can definitely still see the crease in the displays of current folding handsets.
There's also been talk that Apple could be working on self-healing folding screen technology, so any minor dents or scratches could repair themselves. However, this kind of display is likely to still be several years away.
Apple hasn't yet confirmed that a folding iPhone is in the pipeline, but then it wouldn't until the product was actually being unveiled. There's no doubt that it'll be exploring the idea of making such a device though – and leaks have suggested that Apple might be working on folding laptop screens as well.
The Information also notes that standard iPhones take 24 months to develop from start to finish, and a foldable version could take longer – so we might be waiting until 2027 or beyond for the iPhone to take on a new form factor. Meanwhile, Android manufacturers continue to launch foldables at a steady clip, and you can find out what we make of Samsung's latest folding flagship in our in-depth Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review.
As we ready ourselves for the launch of the iPhone 16 in September, the first iPhone 17 rumors are starting to emerge – and the latest leak may be enough to persuade you to wait until 2025 for your next iPhone upgrade.
The leak comes from the usually reliable Ice Universe on Chinese social media site Weibo (via MacRumors), and covers the four handsets we're expecting next year.
One of the rumors we've heard is that the Plus model is set to be replaced by a new Slim flagship, and that's the first reason you might want to skip the iPhone 16 – the arrival of a new, supercharged top-end iPhone 17 model that will apparently have a 6.65-inch screen and a starting price of $1,299 (about £1,000 / AU$1,950).
However, there's some confusion around the Slim model in this new leak: it's said to be the most expensive of the four, but has the same specs as the standard iPhone 17. It's possible that some of those specs have been mistakenly copied from the iPhone 16 Plus.
Always on
The iPhone 15 doesn't have an always-on display (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
A second reason to hang on for the iPhone 17: all four models are apparently getting Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide (LTPO) displays, which means ProMotion (variable refresh rate) support, and quite possibly always-on display modes too (both currently exclusive to the Pro and Pro Max handsets).
Reasons three, four and five to wait are specific to the Pro and Pro Max (and maybe the Slim) models: 12GB of RAM, three 48MP rear cameras, and an A19 Pro chip based on a new 3-nanometer manufacturing process. That would all likely mean a significant step up in terms of performance and photo and video capture.
Obviously we're still not sure what the iPhone 16 series is going to bring with it, let alone the iPhone 17 range; but based on the rumors we've seen so far, this year's upgrades are set to be more minor than what's rumored to be in the pipeline for 2025.
There's little doubt that the iPhone 16 handsets will be the best iPhones that Apple has ever put out – but if you find them somewhat underwhelming when they're unveiled in a couple of months time, you can always start saving up for 2025.
The iPhone SE 4 rumors went quiet for a while, but they've ramped again in a big way – with fresh speculation suggesting that Apple's iPhone SE 3 successor could make some major changes when it lands early next year.
This latest leak from the largely reliable Ice Universe on Weibo (via MacRumors) could be interpreted as good or bad news, depending on what you want from a future iPhone SE model. It claims that the iPhone SE 4 will be the first in the series to include an OLED screen and that it will also get a "significant increase in size."
The leak's rumored specs table for the SE 4 suggests it'll have a 6.06-inch screen, quite a leap from the 4.7-inch screen on the current iPhone SE. That would effectively push it into iPhone 16 territory, with the rumors suggesting it'll similarly pack an A18 chip.
These rumors back up some similar rumors we saw just a few days ago from Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo, which claimed that Apple's most affordable model could use the same rear-chassis manufacturing process as the iPhone 16. That could mean the phone is getting the same vertical dual-lens camera setup as Apple's flagship phone for 2024.
Despite the similarities, what will almost certainly separate those two phones are their launch dates. It'd be a huge surprise if the iPhone 16 doesn't land in September, but this latest iPhone SE 4 leak suggests that the model will arrive later between March and May 2025.
That would largely fit the series' previous launches, with the iPhone SE 3 landing in March 2022 and the iPhone SE 2 arriving in April 2020. Naturally, the iPhone SE 4 is expected to get a price bump – from $429 to somewhere between $499-$549, according to this latest leak – but perhaps not as significant an increase as you might imagine considering the upgrades.
A change for the SE series?
(Image credit: Future)
The iPhone SE series has largely been defined by its lower price tags and smaller screens, so if the rumors are true, this fourth-gen model would be quite a change.
For some, it'd remove some of the iPhone SE's main appeals. Alongside a small screen, the current model also has a Touch ID home button, which is a comfortably familiar feature for many people.
That feature would likely disappear from iPhones for good with an iPhone SE 4, with the latter instead getting Face ID, a USB-C port, and even potentially the Dynamic Island from higher-end iPhones.
With the iPhone mini almost certainly retired, Apple would no longer be offering a smaller-screen smartphone in its lineup. That's a trend based entirely on demand, but it'd still make the iPhone series look a little more homogenous than today.
The arrival of a powerful iPhone SE 4 would undoubtedly be welcomed by many, though, particularly considering that the series' own existence has been called into question many times in recent months. And if you can resist the temptation of upgrading to an iPhone 16 in September, it could potentially offer a good-value alternative around six months later.
There comes a point in every year where the question is whether to buy a current-generation iPhone or wait for the next model. In this case we’re talking about the iPhone 15 verses the iPhone 16.
As someone who’s been covering Apple products for many years now, the easy answer to that – at the time of writing, being mid-July – is to wait.
Going by conventional wisdom, we’re some six to eight weeks away from what’s very likely to be a September Apple event that’ll see the debut of the iPhone 16 family, comprising the standard model, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
On top of that, I predict the price of the iPhone 15 will drop, meaning even if the next-generation Apple phones don’t catch your eye, then you’d still be better off waiting to get an iPhone 15 model at a lower price.
Wait for the next-generation iPhone
If you have an older iPhone, say an iPhone 13, then it’s definitely worth waiting for the iPhone 16 and seeing what upgrades the phones bring to the table. Even if they are minor compared to the previous generation or two, they’ll likely be a solid step up from what you currently have; you can expect better cameras and overall performance, improved battery life and a refined design.
And if you tend to upgrade your phone on a two-year cadence then it makes total sense to hold fire and upgrade from an iPhone 14 to an iPhone 16.
My prevailing feeling is that once one passes the Amazon Prime Day iPhone deals, which tend to take place in July year-to-year, it’s time to batten down the hatches and stick with the iPhone – or indeed one of the best Android phones – until the new iPhones arrive.
It’s simply not worth getting a new current-generation iPhone when a new one is such a short time away and will be extremely likely to bring with it price cuts for the current iPhones.
If you must buy an iPhone right now...
(Image credit: TechRadar)
But you may have ended up in a situation where you must buy a new iPhone; maybe your one took a tumble from a table onto a hard concrete floor and now has a ruined display, or perhaps an impetuous dog thought your iPhone 14 Pro was a high-tech chew toy…
If that’s the case, I can recommend three things.
First off, look at buying an older iPhone to tide you over, perhaps one that’s been refurbished and is available on Amazon; the iPhone 13 is still a great phone, and features in our list of best iPhones. Also an iPhone SE makes for a good stop-gap Apple phone and can then be used as a secondary smartphone if and when you make a move to an iPhone 16.
The second option is to buy a pre-owned iPhone 15 or iPhone 14, as these phones are often refurbished to a near-new level but can be had significantly cheaper than they are when new.
Thirdly, if you can’t stomach the above options, simply go and check out our ongoing best iPhone deals page, which will flag attractive discounts on class-leading iPhones. And do see the widget below, which should flag the latest iPhone deals wherever you’re reading this article.
