The cameras are often among the most exciting aspects of any new iPhone, and that’s particularly true in the case of Pro and Pro Max models. These handsets typically rank among the best camera phones money can buy, and often have better sensors and lenses than the base and Plus models.

Such is likely to be the case with the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. While we don’t know anything about these upcoming phones for certain – and won’t do until they’re announced, probably in September – we have heard plenty of leaks and rumors, giving us a good idea of what to expect from their respective camera setups.

Below, then, we've detailed our iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max camera predictions. Where rumors aren't consistent, we've mentioned all possibilities – assuming the leaks are credible – but as much as possible we’ve provided an educated guess as to what we think we’ll see from the iPhone 16 Pro cameras.

iPhone 16 Pro camera predictions

The iPhone 16 Pro could get two significant camera upgrades over the iPhone 15 Pro. The first of these is rumored to be a new ultra-wide camera, with numerous reports suggesting that the iPhone 16 Pro will have a 48MP sensor, in place of the 12MP one used by its predecessor.

As well as having more megapixels, this might also be a larger 1/2.6-inch sensor according to some sources, so it could be quite an improvement.

The other major upgrade that we’ve heard mentioned numerous times is a 5x telephoto camera in place of the iPhone 15 Pro’s 3x one. This is in some ways less exciting, though, as it’s expected to be exactly the same 5x camera as we’ve already seen on the iPhone 15 Pro Max (that being a 12MP f/2.8 one).

We’re fairly confident that both of these upgrades will happen, since they’ve been mentioned so often, but what we’re slightly less sure of is whether there will be any changes to the main sensor.

On the iPhone 15 Pro, this is a 48MP f/1.8 camera, with a 1/1.28-inch sensor size. However, leaker Digital Chat Station claims that the sensor size on the iPhone 16 Pro will increase to 1/1.14 inches, albeit still with 48 megapixels.

Having said that, a more recent leak – albeit one from a source with less of a track record – suggests that there will be no change at all to the main iPhone 16 Pro camera. Right now, we’re not sure who's right here, though if we had to guess, we’d say that this main camera won’t be upgraded, since it seems unlikely that Apple would upgrade all three rear cameras in one year.

We’ve also heard that the front-facing camera probably won’t be upgraded on the iPhone 16 Pro, meaning it’s likely to be 12MP again. One source does, however, suggest that one or more of the iPhone 16 Pro's lenses will have a new type of coating, which should help reduce ghosting and artifacts in images. It’s also possible that one or more of the lenses could use a stacked design, which could improve performance in low light.

iPhone 16 Pro Max camera predictions

The iPhone 16 Pro Max will reportedly get the same 48MP ultra-wide camera as the iPhone 16 Pro, detailed above. This would be an upgrade on the current model’s 12MP ultra-wide camera, and indeed if the iPhone 16 Pro gets this, we’d certainly expect the iPhone 16 Pro Max to get it, too.

As with the iPhone 16 Pro, the iPhone 16 Pro Max might also get a new lens coating to reduce ghosting and artifacts in images, and a new stacked camera design for improved low-light performance.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max could also get a new main sensor, which according to one source won’t be coming to the iPhone 16 Pro. It will, however, apparently stick at 48MP, so it might not be a drastic upgrade. This could be the larger 1/1.14-inch sensor that another source mentioned in relation to the iPhone 16 Pro, above.

There's no current suggestion that the iPhone 16 Pro Max's selfie snapper will be upgraded from the current 12MP one, and its telephoto camera also probably won’t be upgraded.

That said, some early leaks did suggest that the iPhone 16 Pro Max might get a ‘super telephoto’ camera, which would extend the zoom range from the current 5x to 10x or beyond. Mind you, we haven’t heard any recent talk of that particular upgrade, so we doubt it will happen.

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Apple usually launches its new iPhones and Apple Watches in September, and it looks as though Tuesday, September 10 could be the date when we get to see the iPhone 16 series (and iOS 18), the Apple Watch 10, the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and the AirPods 4.

None of this is certain just yet, but the tip comes from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, who is usually accurate when it comes to Apple predictions. Preorders for the iPhones will likely start on September 13, before they actually go on sale on September 20.

This September 10 date makes the most sense looking at the calendar, and going off what Apple has done in the past. It's also a date that's been previously mentioned by tipsters, and we may well see macOS 15 Sequoia pushed out at the same time.

Gurman says "people familiar with the matter" have pointed to September 10 as the big day, though Apple hasn't commented. Considering it's only a little over two weeks away, we might well see an official announcement about this sometime next week.

What to expect

There have been plenty of leaks and rumors around the four expected iPhone 16 models so far: we're expecting faster chipsets, bigger screens for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, some improvements in the camera department, and quite possibly the same starting prices as we saw last year.

We've not seen quite as much speculation around the Apple Watch models, but some information has appeared ahead of time. It looks as though the upcoming Apple Watch 10 could boast a larger screen compared to its predecessor, while the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is said to be sticking to the same design as the current one.

As for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, and macOS 15 Sequoia, Apple revealed plenty about these software updates at its WWDC 2024 event in June. We might not get all of the features right away though: the talk is that some Apple Intelligence features are going to follow on later.

If you're keen to see everything that Apple's been working on, then mark your calendars for an event on September 10. We will of course be covering all the announcements as they happen, and the event will most likely be streamed online too.

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We've heard a whole lot of leaks and rumors in the run up to the iPhone 16 launch, which is expected to be happening sometime next month – and the latest leak is a pretty major one, potentially revealing key camera specs for all four iPhone 16 models.

This comes from sources speaking to AppleInsider, and the details here suggest the upgrades for 2024 in the camera department will be fairly significant, especially for the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

First though the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus: apparently these phones are keeping the same primary 48 megapixel camera with an f/1.6 aperture and 2x optical zoom, but the ultrawide camera is getting upgraded from an f/2.4 aperture to f/2.2, while keeping the same 12 megapixel rating as we saw on the iPhone 15.

Essentially, it means more light will be allowed into the camera lens, meaning sharper shots (and especially in low light). Macro photography is apparently going to be supported on these phones for the first time, and as previously rumored, the cameras will be stacked vertically to enable the recording of spatial video.

Going Pro

On to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, and AppleInsider says they're going to be sticking with a triple-lens rear camera again this year. The 48MP, f/1.78 aperture primary sensor is apparently staying the same, and will still be capable of taking 2x optical zoom 12MP snaps as it is on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

The 12MP, 5x optical zoom telephoto lens from the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be kept, but this year it's said to be going into the iPhone 16 Pro as well, which is a key upgrade. Meanwhile, the ultrawide lens is jumping from 12MP to 48MP, and getting pixel binning capabilities (combining pixels for better shots) as well as ProRAW support.

According to AppleInsider, the new iPhones will introduce a new photo format too, called JPEG-XL. At the same time, the highest quality Pro and Pro Max video recording will be upped to 3K at 120 frames per second, with Dolby Vision support.

Finally, there's confirmation that a new Capture button is indeed on the way. As well as a full press, it's apparently going to support half-press and slide actions too, giving you more flexibility inside your favorite iPhone camera apps.

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Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series, comprising the standard model Galaxy S24 Plus and the mighty Galaxy S24 Ultra make up some of the best phones you can buy right now. And they are true rivals of the iPhone 15 family. 

In fact, I’d argue that on pure hardware terms the Galaxy S24, especially the S24 Ultra, has Apple’s phone beat; and I say that as an iPhone 15 Pro Max user. 

So the question is what the rumored iPhone 16 range can do to keep Samsung’s Galaxy phones at bay? Well, I have some thoughts. 

Faster charging

The Galaxy S24 phones don’t exactly challenge the likes of the OnePlus 12 for speedy charging, but they do outpace the iPhone 15. 

While I advocate for well-paced charging to maintain battery longevity, I think the iPhone 16 could bring in more wattage for its charging. At best the iPhone 15 Pro Max can charge at 27 watts with a compatible charger, but a Galaxy S24 Ultra can juice up with a 45W charger. So I think it's time Apple took some inspiration from its South Korean rival and adopted some speedier charging. 

Integrated AI  

An obvious one here, but with the AI features on the Galaxy S24 phones – and indeed the new clutch of Google Pixel 9 phones – Apple lags behind on having a smart smartphone. 

What’s important here is to see truly integrated AI – not nice to have features. Apple’s iOS and its ecosystem are rather seamless to use, so I’d expect any AI features to be the same. While it’s looking unlikely that we’ll see a barrage of Apple intelligence features in the next-generation iPhones, I hope we see some smart tools; say customized automatic replies to calls and texts, or the ability for Siri to come up with a clear agenda of one's week by sucking in email and calendar data and then integrating it with Maps to come up with ideas on where to get lunch on Tuesday in between meetings and so on. 

 More pro cameras 

I tend to think Apple offers the best camera phones around, despite the overall TechRadar preference for the Galaxy S24 Ultra. To me, iPhone cameras offer a consistently high level of performance, in both stills and video, that makes the phones fantastic.

However, I think the options to fine-tune a shot are limited – maybe that’s on me, but I feel Apple could do more here.

And with all the Neural Engine processing touted by the Cupertino crew, I’d like to see Apple’s computational photography take a new leap forward – say better processing of highlights and shadows without compromising contrast. Or smarter shot guidance so people can better capture what they're seeing or expect to see from a photo. 

 Push gaming more 

With the A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, Apple touted the ability to run proper console-quality games like Death Stranding. And the phones could do that, albeit not perfectly. 

I still feel there’s untapped potential here, especially with Apple Arcade. So I’d love to see all four predicted iPhone 16 models get powerful chips that can run games typically designed for PS5 or Xbox Series X. 

Add in Apple’s developer ecosystem and we could see a new generation of mobile games that are elevated above others and offer experiences that other devices, including even the best Android phones, can't deliver. 

Pro potential

Speaking of power, the current Pro iPhones aren’t short of it, yet outside of some limited gaming, I feel it’s hard to tap into all that power. Conversely, the Galaxy S24 phones can offer Samsung DeX, with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip able to power a pseudo-desktop experience; while not perfect it could double up as an acceptable work machine in a pinch. 

It’s wishful thinking, knowing Apple, but I’d love to see something similar. We’ve seen how iPads are getting closer to MacBooks, so I see no reason why an iPhone couldn't kick out a semi-desktop take on iOS via a wired or wireless connection to a monitor — heck, Apple could even offer a dedicated hub so it has something to sell on top of this option. 

If nothing else, such an option could make editing photos and video captured on a Pro iPhone a lot more finessed than trying to tap away at a screen. I live with the hope that an Apple engineer somewhere will read this…

Of course, iPhones being iPhones, regardless of whether Apple does adopt any of my wishes in the iPhone 16 models, they're sure to be popular.

However, the competition from Android phones has arguably never been stronger. So I do think Apple could do with something a bit special for the next-gen iPhones to keep wandering smartphone eyes firmly on the house Steve Jobs built.  

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Now that that it's been around for over 17 years, iOS is a pretty stable operating system – but a security researcher has managed to find a rare bug that causes iPhones and iPads to crash with the typing of just four letters.

The researcher known as Konstantin on Mastodon (via TechCrunch) discovered that SpringBoard, the app that manages your iPhone home screen, will crash if you swipe right past all of your home screens to the App Library and type the following into the search bar: ""::  

We found that doing this on an iPhone (running iOS 17.5.1) indeed made our phone display a spinning wheel of doom for several seconds, before it returned to its lock screen. Typing those four letters, or the alternative "": followed by any letter, into the Settings app's search bar also makes that particular app crash.

@techradar

♬ Photoshoot - Gucci Mane

There's no evidence that this bug is a security issue or anything to worry about – we've contacted Apple for a statement and will update this story if we hear back. In our tests, it also doesn't cause iOS to fully crash – only SpringBoard and the Settings app appear to be affected.

Still, it's an intriguing glimpse into the little hidden weak spots of our otherwise polished iOS devices – and we expect Apple will fully resolve the niggle in iOS 18.

Effective power

iPhone bugs like this are pretty rare, but not completely unheard of. A more serious one emerged on iMessage back in 2015, when a single text message caused iPhones to crash and fully shut down.

Known as 'effective power' (because it was triggered by receiving the message "effective. Power لُلُصّبُلُلصّبُررً ॣ ॣh ॣ ॣ 冗"), the problem prompted Apple to officially respond and release a temporary fix. 

That was a more worrying issue because it potentially gave outsiders the power to fully crash your iPhone. This newer one is small fry by comparison because it's user-generated and isn't exactly a phrase many of us will type in by accident.

We did also recently see Apple admit that a "database corruption" in iOS 17.5 was bringing back deleted photographs for some iCloud users. That problem has now been patched, though, leaving us free to willfully prod our iPhone's funny bone by typing in this obscure phrase.

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While we wait for Apple to confirm the launch date for the iPhone 16 – which should be sometime in September, based on previous years – the leaks are continuing apace, and the latest one points to ultra-thin bezels for the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

This comes from veteran tipster Ice Universe, who has posted a schematic image showing the iPhone 16 Pro Max with a bottom bezel size of a mere 1.153mm. For comparison, the bezel sizes on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro are estimated to be 1.55mm – so we'd be looking at a reduction in thickness of about 0.4 of a mm, which in bezel terms is significant.

A similar leak that surfaced in June put the iPhone 16 Pro Max bezels at 1.15mm and the iPhone 16 Pro bezels at 1.2mm. That leak was from a less reliable source, but together with this latest rumor, it now has more credibility.

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro are also rumored to be getting screen size boosts, up to 6.9 inches (up from 6.7 inches) and 6.3 inches (from 6.1 inches) respectively – which may be due in part to a reduction in bezel size.

Screens and packaging

There's more from Ice Universe too. The tipster has also posted an image of what is supposedly the tempered glass screen on the front of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, giving us an idea of just how thin the bezels around the screen are going to be this year.

In a separate leak, meanwhile, we've seen a glimpse of what's claimed to be the iPhone 16 Pro packaging, as reported by 9to5Mac and originally posted by OvO Baby Sauce OvO on Chinese social media (a tipster who has made several previous iPhone 16 predictions).

This sliver of packaging doesn't tell us too much, other than hinting that some iPhone models will be manufactured in India for the first time this year. That should improve shipping times in that part of the world, and reduce Apple's reliance on China.

All of this information should be confirmed or debunked within the next month, and we will of course be bringing you all the iPhone 16 news as it's announced – and it's likely that the final version of iOS 18 will be pushed out at the same time.

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The iPhone 16 Pro rumors might be promising some improved optical zoom and a better wide-angle camera, but the new winners of the iPhone Photography Awards 2024 show you don't need a new iPhone to take great snaps.

The competition, now in its 17th year, runs independently of Apple but has become a staple in the smartphone-snapping calendar. It claims to be the world's longest-running iPhone photography competition – and as you'd expect, some fine photos are spread across its 15 categories.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is understandably the most well-represented camera in the awards – it was used for 10 out of the 46 award-winning shots. However, the awards are by no means dominated by new Apple models. The second most popular phones were the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone X, which were used in four winning shots each.

A couple of photos were even shot on iPhones that won't even support iOS 18 when it lands next month. First place in the 'Animals' category (shot by Colin Hoskins) was taken on an iPhone 7 Plus, which launched back in 2016. Meanwhile, the top spot in the 'People' category (an eerie shot of some renovators at an LA motel by Brooke Wilen) was taken on an iPhone 6S. 'The best camera is the one you have with you' may be a cliché, but it's also true.

What's clear from the winners below is that composition and a little editing both trump hardware these days. Very few shots appear to be 'straight out of camera', with many displaying the tell-tale signs of color tweaks from the best photo editing apps like Snapseed and Lightroom, or a tasteful black-and-white conversion.

While the competition's rules stated that "photos should not be altered in Photoshop or any desktop image processing program", that does leave the room open for mobile editors – and there's nothing wrong with that in our book.

Looking for some World Photography Day inspiration? Here's a gallery of all of this year's award winners, and the iPhone that was used for each shot...

Overall winner

The judges chose the shot above, Boy Meets Shark by Erin Brooks, as their Grand Prize Winner. Erin is no stranger to the awards, having previously come second in the Portrait category in 2022 and winning the Series category in 2021. The black-and-white shot was taken on an iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Taken in Tampa, Florida, the shot captures the moment a young boy comes close to a huge shark – behind the safety of glass at least – with the judges stating it symbolizes "the innocence of youth juxtaposed with the mysteries of the deep sea." The processing also fittingly gives it a picture-book quality.

It certainly wasn't the only standout entry, though, as you can see in the galleries of the other category winners below...

Photographer of the year

Abstract

Animals

Architecture

Children

Cityscape

Landscape

Lifestyle

Nature

Other

People

Portrait

Series

Still Life

Travel

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The iPhone 16 is most likely going to break cover next month – though Apple hasn't made anything official, yet – and one of the most detailed leaks for specs and prices we've seen yet could help you decide whether or not you're going to upgrade this year.

This rundown comes from @theapplehub, and covers everything from display sizes to battery capacities. This isn't a source we've heard a whole lot from before, and it's not clear exactly where all this information comes from, so don't take it as confirmed just yet.

First up we get the display sizes: 6.1 inches for the iPhone 16, 6.7 inches for the iPhone 16 Plus, 6.3 inches for the iPhone 16 Pro, and 6.9 inches for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. That means small increases for the Pro models, which are also said to be getting the A18 Pro chipset as opposed to the standard A18 version.

There are details of battery capacities here too. We can expect 3,561mAh (iPhone 16), 4,006mAh (iPhone 16 Plus), 3,355mAh (iPhone 16 Pro) and 4,676mAh (iPhone 16 Pro Max) capacities, which is a boost for every model compared to its predecessor except for the iPhone 16 Plus (down from 4,383mAh last year).

The price might be right

Perhaps most interesting are the starting prices, which mostly match the 2023 prices: the $799 / £799 / AU$1,499 for the iPhone 15, $899 / £899 / AU$1,649 for the iPhone 15 Plus, and $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,199 for the iPhone 15 Pro Max starting prices are apparently being kept this year, with only the iPhone 16 Pro getting a hike.

This leak puts the iPhone 16 Pro starting figure at $1,099, up from $999 / £999 / AU$1,849 for the iPhone 15 Pro. That's been previously predicted, but it's worth pointing out that the iPhone 15 Pro offers a 128GB storage model, which is apparently getting scrapped this year – and so the 256GB price would match the 256GB price from last year.

Considering that just about every detail here has leaked before – including Wi-Fi 7 support and an improved 48MP ultra-wide camera for the Pro models, the jump to 8GB of RAM for all models (mentioned in a follow-up @theapplehub post), and the precise battery capacities of each model, this is more of a rumor round-up than breaking news.

However, it's nice to have all these rumored specs in one easy-to-read table, as it might help you decide if you want to splash the cash this year or wait for the iPhone 17 – and it's also a reminder of just how many details have leaked ahead of Apple's big reveal.

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The main trend in smartphones currently is AI, as exemplified by the AI-packed Google Pixel 9 line, but for iPhone owners, AI might not be such a big deal.

This is according to a survey of over 2,000 US adults that own iPhones, carried out by SellCell (via 9to5Mac).

Despite Apple doing its best to hype Apple Intelligence earlier this year, the survey found that just 21.9% of respondents considered AI to be the most important factor in whether they upgrade, and 82.1% said they would be happy to wait an extra month after launch for the AI features to start rolling out.

So what are the main things that could tempt people to upgrade to an iPhone 16? Well, according to this survey, affordability that’s the main factor, which – since Apple has never been overly known for competitive prices – could be a bad sign for the upcoming phones.

That said, this is still only the top factor for 30.9% of respondents, so there’s no clear consensus on the most important aspect.

In second place there’s the hope of a new thermal design to combat overheating, which is likely a response to the overheating issues some iPhone 15 Pro models initially exhibited.

Then in third place it’s AI, so there is at least some interest in this, and that's followed by a faster chipset, and then the rumored larger screen sizes on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

But while only 19.3% of respondents considered larger screen sizes to be the most important rumored feature of the iPhone 16 line, 54.9% said they would like a larger iPhone, while only 12.9% claimed to be holding out for a new compact model.

Buttons are seemingly boring

The rumored Capture button and the likely presence of the Action button on all four upcoming phones seemingly hasn’t excited many potential purchasers though, with just 19% claiming the latter is the most important factor in their purchase, and 17.7% pointing to the former.

Perhaps unsurprisingly there’s even less interest in Wi-Fi 7 or in a vertical camera lens arrangement for the standard models, but the potential for new iPhone 16 colors was the thing that the fewest respondents saw as the main factor in a potential purchase. Which is fair enough, especially if you’re just going to be putting the phone in a case anyway.

But despite a fairly muted response to some of the most high profile rumored features, 61.9% of respondents said they probably would buy a model in the iPhone 16 line, and among those who claim they won’t the main reasons are the cost, and them being happy with their current iPhone.

Still, while there’s some interesting data here, it’s worth remembering this is a tiny sample size relative to all the people who might consider buying an iPhone 16, and it also only accounts for the US – which is Apple’s biggest market – and only existing iPhone owners. So this definitely won’t tell the whole story.

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We thought we had a good idea of the colors that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will land in, but recently we heard that the iPhone 16 Pro colors might include a brown shade rather than the previously rumored rose one. Now, further evidence for this new color has emerged, though it could be more aesthetically pleasing than initially believed.

Posting on X (via 9to5Mac), leaker Majin Bu has shared an image of what appears to be a colored camera lens ring for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. The ring is shown in four different colors, including silver, black, gray, and what appears to be a dark gold or bronze.

That said, Bu mentions a white option rather than a silver one, so it’s not clear whether we’ll see a white iPhone 16 Pro with a silver camera lens housing, or whether their interpretation of the color just differs from ours.

In any case, we’ve heard talk of a white or silver shade, a black shade, and a gray shade (possibly set to be called Natural Titanium) previously, so this is just more evidence that we’ll see those colors. And those colors aren’t overly exciting – not least because versions of them are already available for the iPhone 15 Pro line.

The interesting bit is the dark gold or bronze, which could replace the iPhone 15 Pro’s Blue Titanium shade, and which Bu calls ‘Desert Titanium’. They describe the new shade as “kind of dark gold, similar to the old purple color, relatively discreet and deep.”

This, then, sounds a little like the recently leaked brown shade, but while many dismissed that as boring, if this ends up being more of a dark gold it could prove more appealing.

Gold or rose?

The big question now is whether some version of this brown, bronze, or dark gold shade is coming, or whether we’ll instead see the previously leaked rose option. It’s unlikely that both will land, since Apple usually only offers four shades on its Pro phones.

Credible leaks have pointed to both, but oddly one of the leakers who pointed to a rose iPhone 16 Pro shade included an example image that looked more bronze or gold anyway. So – especially since the claims of a bronze or gold color are more recent – we’re inclined to say that’s more likely than a rose iPhone 16 Pro. 

Either way, though, it sadly looks very unlikely that the iPhone 15 Pro's blue shade will be making a return.

We should find out for sure what colors we'll get soon, as the iPhone 16 Pro release date is likely to be in the first half of September.

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Last month we heard that contactless iPhone payments would be opened up to third-party developers in the European Union, in response to regulatory pressure, and now Apple has announced that the feature is coming in 18.1 – and not just for countries in the EU.

As per Apple's press release, other apps will soon be able to make contactless payments in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the UK, and the US, with "additional locations to follow". It looks as though this will eventually roll out to most places.

It means other apps will be able to use the NFC (Near Field Communication) and Secure Element (SE) tech built into iPhones to offer contactless in-app payments and transactions that are safe and secure. At the moment, you can only use Apple Pay for these payments, though other apps can read NFC tags.

You'll even be able to swap out the default app that launches when you double-click the side button on the iPhone too. It's a significant opening up of the technology inside Apple's phones that developers have previously been unable to get at.

Sometimes less is more

This covers alternatives to Apple Wallet as well as Apple Pay: car keys, corporate badges, student IDs, home keys, hotel keys, rewards cards, and event tickets are also going to be supported. Apple says government IDs will follow "in the future".

However, developers will have to "enter into a commercial agreement with Apple, request the NFC and SE entitlement, and pay the associated fees". It's not clear exactly what that will entail, but it's clear that there are going to be certain strings attached.

While it's encouraging to see developers getting deeper access to the iPhone and its features, our only worry would be the contactless functionality getting over-complicated – part of its appeal at the moment is that only Apple Pay and Apple Wallet can make full use of the NFC and SE technology, which means you can use those apps without thinking about it.

As with the move to support game emulators on iOS, Apple is taking this action to avoid any further fines or sanctions from lawmakers in the EU. We might hear more at the launch of iOS 18, which is expected to appear next month alongside the iPhone 16.

The iPhone 16 series is likely almost here, with all signs pointing to a September launch. But whether you’ll want to buy one of these phones is another matter entirely, especially given that much bigger upgrades could be coming to the iPhone 17 series next year.

In a note to investors seen by 9to5Mac, analyst Jeff Pu has argued that the iPhone 17 line could prove far more popular than the iPhone 16 series, thanks to numerous upgrades.

Pu claims the iPhone 17 line will include a refreshed design, a new 24MP front-facing camera for every iPhone 17 model – up from 12MP on the current phones – and a new 48MP telephoto camera on the iPhone 17 Pro models, in place of the current 12MP one.

Pu also says the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a narrower Dynamic Island, and that the Pro models will have 12GB of RAM, up from 8GB currently, which should help to power their AI capabilities.

On top of which, Pu echoes reports that we’ll see a new model in the form of an iPhone 17 Slim or an iPhone 17 Air, which could slot in between the standard and Pro models, and have a much slimmer design than the other iPhone 17 models.

All this, coupled with the fact that, according to Pu, those Apple loyalists who are still using the iPhone 12 will likely be looking to upgrade their phones next year, could lead to a massive sales boost for Apple.

A limited upgrade

As for the iPhone 16 series, Pu echoes Mark Gurman in suggesting that these phones probably won’t excite many people, saying that the iPhone 16 line will have “limited spec upgrades.”

As a reminder, the key rumored upgrades include larger screens for the Pro models, a new camera control button – likely called the Capture button – for the Pro models, the Action button making its way to the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, a new 48MP ultra-wide camera for the Pro models, a 5x zoom for the iPhone 16 Pro, and a new A18 chipset.

These upgrades aren’t insignificant, clearly, but nor are they likely to be game-changing, and while Pu believes that Apple Intelligence could also tempt some buyers, it apparently won’t be enough to drive strong sales growth.

So this might not be a big year for Apple, and if you’re not desperate for a new phone just yet then it could be worth holding out for the possibly more exciting iPhone 17 line next year.

That said, the iPhone 17 series is still over a year away, so there’s a long time to wait, and with those phones still a long way off we’d take any leaks about them with a serious helping of salt.

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