Well-known technology reporter Gurman: There will be little adjustment to the iPhone 16 series, and Apple (AAPL.US) sales will remain stable
Zhitong Finance learned that according to well-known technology reporter Mark Gurman, Apple Inc. (AAPL.US)’s iPhone 16 will keep sales steady until more innovative models are launched next year; in addition, Gurman noted that a smaller Mac mini is in development and the photo app for iOS 18 has changed course; apples AI function Apple Intelligence still has a long way to go before it can achieve the effect of marketing promotion.
Since Apple revamped its entire iPhone lineup in 2020 (with new designs and 5G connectivity), the device hasn't received a major makeover. That won't change when the iPhone 16 goes on sale later this year.
Although last year's iPhone 15 Pro debuted a titanium casing, it's essentially the same as the 14 series. While the iPhone 14 Pro adds Dynamic Island — billed as a new interface — it’s not a major change from the 13 Pro, which was just a minor tweak to the 12.
This year’s iPhone 16 series will conform to this model. The four new models - likely to be named iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max - won't look significantly different from existing versions and won't add major new features.
16 Series Update
Apple's big selling point will be Apple Intelligence, the company's new suite of artificial intelligence capabilities. All iPhone 16 models will be equipped to run Apple Intelligence, but the feature will also be available on iPhone 15 Pro versions. Gurman said: "It's difficult to say how alluring this is; as I said last week, I don't think these elements alone are motivation to update.”
The regular version of iPhone 16 will add action buttons, a feature that was already available on last year’s high-end versions. But Apple will introduce a more customizable Control Center and changeable lock screen options in iOS 18, which may make the action button less important.
Speaking of buttons, there will be a new camera control on the right side of the phone (at least on the new Pro). It operates like a button on a DSLR camera, allowing you to trigger autofocus with a slight press. When taking photos and videos, you can also slide the button to zoom in or out.
Another change may only appear on the Pro model: a slightly larger screen. The Pro will increase from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches, while the Pro Max will increase from 6.7 inches to 6.9 inches.
As usual, the colors will be updated. For the Pro, blue is expected to be replaced, while rose gold, which was popular a few years ago, will also return. And it will be equipped with a new chip A18. All four models will now have 8G of memory. These are the minimum requirements required to run Apple Intelligence.
These are nice upgrades, but probably not necessary. Gurman doesn’t think the new models will create a gold rush for Apple. Moreover, the company did not provide updated financial guidance - it declined to predict iPhone sales growth in the current quarter. We might get some hints if Apple expects material growth.
Future Products
But there will definitely be bigger changes in the iPhone product line next year. Gurman confirmed the existence of the ultra-thin iPhone 17 and wrote that the idea is to create some form of "Air" iPhone, something between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro. He expects the new ultra-thin model to be "more popular" than the iPhone 12/13 mini and iPhone 14/15/16 Plus.
Gurman predicts that next year, Apple will try again with a fourth concept phone. The approach this time: a thinner design. Apple’s idea is to create an iPhone-like “Air” version, somewhere between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro. The most apt comparison might be the original MacBook Air from over a decade ago, which sat somewhere between a regular MacBook and a MacBook Pro.
Moreover, he likewise depicted a few insights regarding other future iPhone models. Gurman revealed that Apple will want to incorporate the Pro's capabilities into smaller models, and the company may not be able to achieve this goal until at least 2027. With a slimmer form factor, Apple could launch an iPhone Ultra model that would be more attractive than the currently rumored iPhone 17 Slim.
The combination of the new SE and ultra-thin models may be enough to return the iPhone to meaningful growth in 2025. Gurman believes Air-style phones will be at least more popular than the Mini and Plus phones of recent years.
But even this thinner entry is just a step toward better. Ultimately, Apple hopes to squeeze the Pro's features into this smaller design. This feat may not be achieved until at least 2027. Gurman also expects Apple to launch a foldable iPhone, but all internal indications are that a foldable iPad is also a priority. This means we may see a foldable tablet version soon.
Regardless, those options are still years away. In the short term, consumers will see a familiar sight: an iPhone that looks very similar to last year's model.
Gurman also revealed that the iPhone SE 4 will not only look like the iPhone 14, with a clearer OLED display throughout the device but will also support Apple Intelligence, which means the new phone is expected to be equipped with high-performance chips. Upgrading its low-end phones for the first time since 2022.
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