Author: Mingmei Wuxian

Every year's iPhone release attracts widespread attention from the outside world. According to past precedents, Apple will hold its annual technology spring gala on September 10th this year, introducing the all-new iPhone 16 series. Currently, the series is preparing to enter mass production, and there have been more and more accurate leaked information recently.

First of all, it is reported that the European Union passed a law last year requiring mobile phone manufacturers to ensure that smartphone batteries can be replaced by users using simple tools by 2025. In response to this regulation, Apple is developing a new technology aimed at simplifying the process of battery replacement for users.

According to media reports, Apple is developing a new type of electro-inductive adhesive detachment technology, which allows users to easily remove the battery from the phone chassis by applying a small amount of current. To be compatible with this new technology, the battery design of the iPhone 16 adopts a special metal shell, replacing the previously used soft foil packaging.

It is reported that Apple plans to apply this technology for the first time on a certain model in the iPhone 16 series and expects to popularize it across the iPhone 17 series next year.

However, even if battery replacement becomes more convenient, users still need to open the iPhone themselves when replacing the battery. Since the iPhone's screen is fixed with adhesive and screws, replacing the battery is not a simple task. Apple recommends that users seek professional services when replacing the battery to ensure safety and device integrity.

The development and application of this new technology not only reflects Apple's response to the new EU regulations but also demonstrates its continuous innovation in improving user experience.

In addition, according to the latest news from foreign media, the new iPhone 16 series will be equipped with the A18 processor, and it will be standard across the entire series. The A18 series processor is expected to surpass Apple's own M4 processor in NPU performance. The M4 processor is based on TSMC's second-generation 3nm process, with 28 billion transistors, and its NPU computing power has been increased to 38TOPS. Furthermore, according to previously leaked information, the A18 processor will also adopt a larger chip size to enhance artificial intelligence (AI) performance.

According to Mingmei Wuxian's query of Apple's official press release, the M4 is equipped with Apple's most powerful neural engine to date, with a computing speed of up to 38 trillion operations per second, representing an astonishing 60-fold increase compared to the first-generation neural engine in the A11 Bionic chip.

If the above information is true, then the neural engine computing speed of Apple's A18 chip can exceed 38 trillion operations per second.

The source also indicated that Apple may take a different direction in marketing the A18 chip, suggesting that they may not use the terms "powerful" and "very efficient" that we have seen in past SoC launches.

Specifically, depending on TSMC's 2nm process, Apple will further enhance processor performance in the A19 or A20 series chips.

It is worth mentioning that according to Microsoft's definition of "AI PC," the computing power of the NPU must reach at least 40TOPS. Meanwhile, with the development of AI technology, mobile phones need to support more complex end-side large models.

Therefore, the NPU performance of the A18 series processor is expected to be significantly improved, possibly even reaching 45TOPS, which is currently the strongest NPU among AI PC processors.

And according to previous reports, all four models of the Apple iPhone 16 will come standard with the A18 series chip, rather than adopting a differentiated strategy like the iPhone 15, where the standard version uses the A18 and the Pro version uses the A18 Pro.

In addition, Apple officially announced that the Apple Intelligence feature will serve three iPhone series: the iPhone 15 Pro series, the standard iPhone 16, and the iPhone 16 Pro series. Recent leaks about the iPhone 16 emphasize Apple's significant investment in AI technology for this model, pointing out that to achieve these enhanced AI capabilities, the device will require a larger DRAM capacity.

Previously, the DRAM built into Apple phones was relatively conservative, generally not exceeding 6GB, while older models such as the iPhone 13 only came with 4GB. Given this, the upcoming iPhone 16 series is expected to come standard with 8GB RAM, marking a significant improvement in Apple's hardware configuration to meet the higher demands of AI functions. This step is also seen as a necessary move for Apple to respond to technological innovation.

It is worth noting that the iPhone 16 Pro series is expected to eliminate all physical buttons and adopt virtual buttons simulated by vibrations. This innovation has been confirmed in the code and interface of iOS 18, where when users press buttons such as volume or power off, a pressing feedback animation will appear on the screen to simulate the experience of pressing a button.

In terms of screen size, the iPhone 16/16 Plus is basically the same as the iPhone 15/15 Plus, while the horizontal dimensions of the iPhone 16 Pro/16 Pro Max series are larger than the previous generation, with the thickness remaining unchanged at 8.25mm. It is understood that the iPhone 16 Pro series will adopt a new BRS ultra-thin bezel technology, making the screen bezels narrower.

In terms of imaging, it is expected that the iPhone 16 Pro series will popularize the 5x pentaprism telephoto lens, rather than being exclusive to the Pro Max.

One of the biggest selling points of last year's iPhone 15 was Apple Log, which brought professional-level post-production capabilities to photographers, making camera imaging the gold standard of the Pro series. Therefore, this unified configuration makes sense.

Another point worth noting is that the iPhone 16 series is expected to add a dedicated camera shooting button below the power button to improve photography efficiency and make the photography experience smoother.

This new button uses capacitive technology, which can sense different pressure levels. This means you can focus by tapping lightly, capture images by pressing fully, and even adjust the focal length by applying different degrees of pressure. However, the specific operating details and functional manifestations will have to be revealed at the new product launch event.

In addition, according to some bloggers, the Apple iPhone16 Pro Max is confirmed to use the previously leaked 48Mp Sony IMX903 custom main camera, based on a 1/1.14" super large sensor, and it also comes with dual-layer transistor technology, supporting 14Bit ADC and DCG.

Furthermore, the Apple iPhone16 Pro Max will still adopt a periscope telephoto lens, resulting in a larger curvature at the edges of the screen, similar to the effect of a slightly curved display.

In terms of appearance, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will continue to use the same Grade 5 titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) used in the iPhone 15 Pro, with no significant changes in overall appearance. Considering Apple's usual practice, a new color option is expected to be added.

In other aspects, Guo Mingchi and foreign media also claim that the Apple iPhone 16 Pro will be equipped with the A18 Pro chip, support Wi-Fi 7, and use Qualcomm's Snapdragon X75 modem, achieving a 5G download speed of 7.5 Gbps.

Finally, some bloggers previously showed the battery of the iPhone 16 Pro and claimed that the series battery uses graphene heat dissipation with a capacity of 3355 mAh. In addition, there are also reports that the iPhone 16 Pro will use a new battery stack design, potentially achieving 40W wired charging.

In conclusion, although the iPhone 16 series has many upgrades this year, its attractiveness seems to be lacking. It remains to be seen whether the biggest highlight, "Apple Intelligence," can be implemented. Even if most of the features can be implemented, to enjoy a better AI experience, it is estimated that one would have to opt for the top-of-the-line model, and its price of 20,000 yuan is enough to deter many people.

Moreover, if the iPhone 16 increases in price, its sales may struggle to surge, and the once "explosive" myth may be difficult to sustain.

So, for you, are you more inclined to buy the iPhone 15 at a discounted price or wait for the iPhone 16? If you have anything else to say about Apple's latest iPhone 16 exposure, please leave a comment in the comment section for Mingmei Wuxian to participate in the discussion!