The least sincere generation.

Over half of 2024 has passed, and according to previous years' patterns, Apple's autumn product launch event will be held in September.

X blogger Sonny Dickson began gradually releasing mockups of various iPhone 16 series models on July 31st, including the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. Although these are mockups, they appear to come from a Shenzhen phone case supplier. Combining them with previously leaked 3D renderings from insiders, they are essentially identical to the real devices.

(Image source: X / Sonny Dickson)

The declining interest in the iPhone 16 series is not only due to the public's distracted attention from Apple Intelligent but also because no one believes Apple will make a leapfrog upgrade with this generation. In other words, Apple's incremental hardware upgrades have caused dissatisfaction among consumers.

How can Apple "change its destiny against all odds"? It depends on how much sincerity Tim Cook is willing to show.

Incremental Hardware Upgrades, Compensated by New Colors

Sonny Dickson revealed that the iPhone 16 standard edition comes in five colors: black, white, blue, green, and pink. Yes, white has finally returned to the iPhone standard edition.

Unlike previously released renderings, the saturation of the five colors in the mockups is very high, especially for blue and green. The former is close to royal blue, while the latter resembles a lake green hue. Of course, the iPhone 15 standard edition first used fused glass technology, resulting in lower saturation levels for colors other than black. While this coloring gives a youthful and energetic feel, it lacks the steady ness compared to previous standard edition color schemes.

(Image source: X / Sonny Dickson)

(Image source: Apple)

Both the iPhone 16 standard edition and Plus feature vertically aligned camera modules, as previously speculated. This arrangement is designed for capturing spatial videos, solving the issue of previous generations' inability to do so due to the diagonal camera layout.

Oh, both the iPhone 16 standard edition and Plus have swapped to "action buttons."

(Image source: MacRumors)

The iPhone 16 Pro series sees even fewer changes, with screen sizes increased to 6.3/6.9 inches. An additional "camera button" below the power button is added for quickly launching the camera function, with no other significant changes. The iPhone 16 Pro series also introduces a new color: Midnight Black. Judging from the mockups, this new color closely resembles the Midnight Black on MacBook Pro.

(Image source: X / Sonny Dickson)

From a purely aesthetic perspective, Apple has made an upgrade to its basic colors, which is reassuring. After all, purely colored designs without patterns are rarely seen in today's mobile phone market. However, the iPhone 16 series' four models exhibit minimal exterior changes. If new colors are to attract consumers, Apple's "play with colors" strategy seems conservative, especially compared to previous eye-catching hues like coral and pink. The iPhone 16 series is indeed disappointing in this regard.

The hardware upgrades also fall short of expectations. The iPhone 16 series comes standard with 8GB of RAM across all models, with the ultra-wide-angle camera upgraded to 48MP and powered by the A18 chip built on TSMC's 3nm process. However, according to MacRumors, the most notable hardware upgrade might be the iPhone 16 Pro/Max's support for 40W fast charging.

(Image source: X / Sonny Dickson)

Considering the comprehensive leaks, it's not surprising that Apple Intelligent steals the spotlight from the iPhone 16 series. Compared to incremental hardware upgrades, users are more excited about the new experiences Apple's AI might bring. However, Apple Intelligent has yet to announce a public beta date in mainland China, leaving the iPhone 16 series with inadequate hardware highlights and unavailable AI features. What else is there to look forward to?

Insufficient Highlights, Doomed for Poor Sales?

The sales of the iPhone 15 series indicate that Apple is facing challenges in the smartphone business. Due to lackluster hardware and fierce competition from Android flagships, the iPhone 15 series saw a price drop on launch day and gradually lost channel price control a month later. To meet sales targets, Apple even participated in the 618 promotion.

Certainly, from a results-oriented perspective, the overall sales of the iPhone 15 series didn't decline significantly compared to previous generations. Some models, like the iPhone 15 Plus, even achieved sales close to its predecessor. But relying on price cuts to boost sales isn't a glorious feat for Apple, which values its premium brand positioning.

(Image source: CIRP)

Surprisingly, Apple doesn't seem inclined to to save consumers' hearts through significant hardware upgrades.

While all iPhone 16 series models receive an upgrade to 8GB of RAM, this upgrade is primarily to support Apple Intelligent. Competitors like Samsung and Google, which also require running local models, have upgraded their next-generation flagships to higher RAM capacities, such as the Pixel 9 series with 12GB and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with 16GB. Even without considering AI model memory requirements, 8GB of RAM on the iPhone is barely sufficient.

(Image source: X / ICE UNIVERSE)

Or take the best-selling standard iPhone, which still uses a 60Hz OLED panel. As a premium phone starting at 5999 yuan, its experience may not even match that of a thousand-yuan phone.

Furthermore, while the iPhone 16's camera has algorithmic and hardware upgrades, it still lags behind current Android flagships, particularly in zoom capability and low-light photography. This may affect purchasing decisions for photography enthusiasts.

More importantly, for Apple Intelligent, the current iOS 18.1 Beta is only available for beta testing to US users. Except for devices in Europe and mainland China, users can access it by modifying region settings and changing iCloud accounts. If Apple hasn't confirmed a partner for Apple Intelligent in China by the iPhone 16 series launch, its appeal to consumers may diminish further.

(Image source: iOS)

In fact, even Apple's core component suppliers aren't optimistic about the iPhone 16 series' market performance. In an earlier earnings call, Largan Precision revealed that Apple didn't increase orders for the iPhone 16 series, initially matching those for the iPhone 15 series.

However, it may be premature to conclude that the iPhone 16 series is doomed for poor sales. Like the iPhone 15 series, Apple can turn things around with marketing tactics. Counterpoint Research's latest data shows that the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPhone 15 Pro ranked first, second, and third in global smartphone sales in Q2 2024, with the iPhone 15 accounting for 4.1% of total sales. This is attributed to Apple's price cuts during the 618 promotion.

Is the iPhone 16 Series Still Worth Buying?

Tech media wccftech reports that the iPhone 16 series has entered its final stages before production, with minimal design and configuration changes expected. This means most leaked real-device images and hardware information from bloggers are highly valuable.

As a consumer, is this generation of iPhone 16 series worth buying?

First, if you're a loyal Apple fan, I might suggest considering the Hong Kong or overseas versions. Since Apple Intelligent's strategy in mainland China is unclear, these versions offer a complete experience with the new device and software.

(Image source: Digital Trend)

However, for Android users considering switching to the iPhone 16 series, I think it's not worth it. Currently, besides iOS's software ecosystem, the iPhone offers few hardware advantages. Features like Android's Universal ultra large capacity batteries and hundred watt fast charging 、1 Inch ultra large bottom image are not available on the iPhone.

Moreover, according to digital chatter, Xiaomi, vivo, and OPPO will introduce compact models in their next flagship series, with vivo's X200 series' compact model even surpassing the Pro in hardware configuration. Clearly, they aim to compete with Apple's compact offerings.

(Image source: Weibo / Digital chat station )

Android flagships are also well-prepared. For example, many next-generation flagships will adopt high-density ultra-thin battery solutions, supporting not only hundreds of watts of fast charging but also capacities exceeding 6000mAh, with even 7000mAh prototypes. Imaging flagships are preparing for billion-pixel telephoto or dual periscope telephoto solutions, vastly improving practicality compared to the iPhone 16 Pro/Max's single 5x telephoto. Focusing on battery life and imaging, these are precisely the iPhone's weaknesses.

(Image source: Weibo / Digital chat station )

More importantly, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed that Apple will introduce the iPhone 17 Slim model in the iPhone 17 series, featuring a brand-new design, leapfrog performance enhancements, and imaging configurations. If you don't plan to upgrade your iPhone annually, the iPhone 17 series might be a better choice.

(Image source: X / Apple Tag)

It's undeniable that Apple needs to recognize consumers' endless demand and expectations for innovation. Continuing on the path of incremental upgrades may gradually erode user trust and market share. The iPhone 16's performance will directly impact Apple's market presence and brand image in the coming years. If this upgrade fails to satisfy users, Apple will face even greater challenges and fiercer market competition.

Source: Leitech