iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 16: 30+ Upgrades to Expect

After over a year of reports, there are now 20 specific rumors about the features and improvements set to be offered by the two non-Pro iPhone 16 models upon their announcement next week.

While the upgrades that the ‌iPhone 16‌ offers over the iPhone 15 will likely be at the center of Apple’s marketing strategy later this year, many users are on two-year upgrade cycles, so the features introduced on both the ‌iPhone 15‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ will stack up. All of the changes the ‌iPhone 16‌ models are expected to feature compared to their two direct forerunners are listed below, using information from a range of reliable sources that we have previously covered, here on MacRumors. We will continue to update this article as more rumors emerge prior to Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event on Monday, September 9.

This guide focuses on the iPhone 14 and ‌iPhone 16‌, but to learn about how we are expecting the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro to improve on the iPhone 16 Pro, see our other comparison article.

Design

The ‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus are expected to largely carry over the design of their predecessors. As a result, the ‌iPhone 16‌ will be a relatively significant evolution over the ‌‌iPhone 14‌‌, featuring slightly rounded edges, a frosted glass back, and a vertical rear camera arrangement to facilitate spatial video capture. Other important design changes are expected to include the removal of the mute switch in favor of the Action button introduced on last year’s Pro models and the introduction of an all-new “Capture” button.

‌iPhone 14‌

‌iPhone 16‌

Aluminum chassis with squared-off edges

Aluminum chassis with contoured edges

Glossy glass back

Color-infused frosted glass back

“Notch” TrueDepth camera array

Dynamic Island

Diagonally arranged rear camera array

Vertically arranged rear camera array to support spatial video capture

Ring/Silent switch

Action Button

“Capture Button” to trigger photography and videography features

Lightning port

USB-C port

Displays

For ‌iPhone 14‌ users, the ‌iPhone 16‌ will offer many of the display upgrades that came to the previous generation, as well as a more efficient OLED panel thanks to micro-lens technology.

‌iPhone 14‌

‌iPhone 16‌

More efficient OLED display with brighter micro-lens technology

800 nits max brightness (typical)

1,000 nits max brightness (typical)

1,200 nits peak brightness (HDR)

1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR)

2,000 nits peak brightness (outdoor)

Cameras

The ‌iPhone 15‌ introduced a major camera upgrade for Apple’s standard smartphone lineup, bringing over the 48-megapixel camera of the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro. With a number of other improvements such as spatial video capture, the ‌iPhone 16‌ should be a significant camera upgrade over the ‌iPhone 14‌.

‌iPhone 14‌

‌iPhone 16‌

12-megapixel main camera with ƒ/1.5 aperture

48-megapixel main camera with ƒ/1.6 aperture

0.5x and 1x optical zoom options

0.5x, 1x, and 2x optical zoom options

24- and 48-megapixel super-high-resolution photos

Smart HDR 4

Smart HDR 5

Portrait mode with Focus and Depth Control

Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control

Night mode and Night mode portraits

Improved Night mode and Night mode portraits

Spatial video capture

Chip, Memory, and Connectivity

With the ‌iPhone 16‌ models rumored to receive the same A18 chip as the Pro models to support Apple Intelligence, the new models could offer a major performance improvement over the ‌iPhone 14‌, which features the A15 Bionic chip first introduced in 2021. The 2GB of additional memory and the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip are also due to be notable upgrades.

‌iPhone 14‌

‌iPhone 16‌

A15 Bionic chip (TSMC’s “N5P” enhanced 5nm process)

A18 chip (TSMC’s “N3E” enhanced 3nm process)

16-core Neural Engine

Enhanced neural Engine with “significantly” more cores to support Apple Intelligence

6GB memory

8GB memory (+33%)

Wi-Fi 6 connectivity

Wi-Fi 6E connectivity

First-generation Ultra Wideband chip

Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (connects from 3x further away)

Precision Finding for Find My friends

Batteries and Charging

The ‌iPhone 16‌ models could receive some major improvements in battery technology and charging, sporting denser batteries and faster charging capabilities. It is worth noting that the ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus is rumored to feature a smaller battery than its predecessors, but it is not clear how this will affect actual battery life.

‌iPhone 14‌

‌iPhone 16‌

Single-layer battery technology

Stacked battery technology for increased energy density and prolonged lifespan

iPhone 14: 3,279 mAh battery

iPhone 14 Plus: 4,325 mAh battery

iPhone 16: 3,561 mAh battery

iPhone 16 Plus: 4,006 mAh battery

Up to 27W wired charging

Up to 40W wired charging (48% faster)

15W charging via MagSafe

20W charging via ‌MagSafe‌ (33% faster)

Setting to prevent charging above 80%

Battery manufacture date, first use, and cycle count information in Settings

Other Features and Changes

The ‌iPhone 16‌ will be the first standard-line iPhone to support Apple Intelligence, Apple’s upcoming artificial intelligence system, thanks to the more powerful Neural Engine in the A18 chip. The device is also rumored to tout upgraded microphones and new color options.

‌iPhone 14‌

‌iPhone 16‌

Support for Apple Intelligence

Microphone

Upgraded microphone with improved signal-to-noise ratio and water resistance

Improved audio quality on phone calls

Available in Midnight, Starlight, (PRODUCT)RED, Blue, Purple, and Yellow

Available in Blue, Pink, Green, Black, and White

Will It Be Worth Upgrading?

The ‌‌iPhone 15‌ was a fairly significant upgrade over the ‌‌iPhone 14‌‌ in 2023, introducing a more modern design with the ‌Dynamic Island‌, a USB-C port, and a 48-megapixel camera. The ‌‌iPhone 16‌ will build on these upgrades, offering the Capture and Action buttons, Apple Intelligence, and spatial video capture. With over 30 upgrades rumored to be in store, many ‌current ‌iPhone 14‌‌ users will find upgrading to an ‌‌iPhone 16‌ model worthwhile, if not essential.

Release Date

The ‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus are expected to be announced at Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event on Monday, September 9. Pre-orders are likely to open on Friday, September 13, with launch following one week later on Friday, September 20. For more information about the ‌iPhone 16‌ models, see our comprehensive roundup.

This article, “iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 16: 30+ Upgrades to Expect” first appeared on MacRumors.com

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