As we approach the launch of the iPhone 16, rumors about the smartphone have intensified. While recent discussions have focused on whether the phone will get the GenAI features Apple showcased at the WWDC, the iPhone 16 could come with some significant hardware changes, starting with a vertical camera setup on the back and two new buttons on the cassis.
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iPhone 16’s Case Contains A Vertical Camera Cutout
Folks at TechNetBook have got their hands on high-resolution images of the baseline iPhone 16’s case. The pictures reveal some crucial details about the purported iPhone, the first of which is the presence of a vertical camera system. In line with previous reports, the picture of the iPhone 16’s case showcases a vertical cutout for the dual cameras. This suggests a significant change in design, as Apple has retained a digital camera system on the baseline iPhones for the last three generations.
Placing the cameras vertically will not only change how the phone looks but also facilitate the spatial video recording feature (for viewing on the Vision Pro). “For optimal spatial capture, the lenses need to be horizontally aligned, mimicking the position of human eyes,” the report adds. Further, it could also get rid of the slight jitter (and change of angle) that occurs while switching from the primary camera to the ultrawide camera on iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and the iPhone 15 models.
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The iPhone 16 Cases Also Have Space For Two New Buttons
The side profile of the cases also unveils two major changes. First, the left side of the cases houses two volume buttons, but there also seems to be a tiny button above them, which could be best described as the Action Button. For those catching up, the Action Button debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro (review) and iPhone 15 Pro Max as a programmable button that can perform tasks like turning on the flashlight, opening the camera, or muting the phone. This also corroborates the rumors about Apple removing the mute switch from the upcoming iPhone.
Additionally, there seems to be a huge cutout on the right side, about the same height from the bottom as the power button is from the top. This could be the dedicated camera button that we’ve heard about. Whether it will be a mechanical button (which will provide a more shutter-like feel) or a touch-sensitive button isn’t known at the moment. However, it could “provide quick camera access, photo capture” and zoom/focus controls.
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If the pictures are anything to go by, the iPhone 16 will have some major hardware changes around its chassis. However, we’re more interested in knowing whether the baseline model will support the intuitive Apple Intelligence features. While its presence will provide old iPhone users a compelling reason to upgrade, its absence could disappoint baseline iPhone 16 buyers as other smartphones in the segment already offer several AI-based features, like the regular Galaxy S24.
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