According to media reports, the new iPhone 16 will be released on September 10.

Based on the leaks, this year's iPhone 16 is no longer a minor upgrade; it may be a significant overhaul with many improvements.

At least five upgrades can be confirmed so far.

The first upgrade is a larger screen.

While the previous iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro had 6.1-inch screens, and the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro Max had 6.7-inch screens, the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro will feature 6.3-inch screens, while the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max will sport 6.9-inch screens.

Simultaneously, the bezels have been further reduced from 1.55mm to 1.15mm, resulting in a higher screen-to-body ratio and more impressive display quality.

The second upgrade is the chip, upgraded to the A18 Pro.

Although still using TSMC's 3nm process, the second-generation 3nm chip offers significantly improved performance and power consumption. Notably, AI capabilities will see a substantial boost.

Similar to the previous generation, the entry-level models of the iPhone 16 series will use the A17 Pro, while the Pro versions will adopt the A18 Pro chip.

The third upgrade is the camera system.

The new ultra-wide-angle lens has been upgraded from 12MP to 48MP, featuring a new Sony IMX903 CMOS sensor with a 1/1.14-inch large sensor size and a dual-layer transistor design for enhanced image quality.

It is also rumored that for the first time, a dedicated shutter button will be introduced on the device, specifically designed to enhance the photography experience.

The fourth upgrade relates to battery and charging.

Apple is said to have adopted a new battery and cooling system, resulting in an increased battery capacity and improved efficiency. Additionally, the charging power has been enhanced, with wired charging reaching 40W and wireless charging reaching 20W.

The fifth upgrade is AI functionality.

When iOS was released, Apple unveiled AI (Apple Intelligence), and the iPhone 16 series will be the first to feature it, albeit limited to English-speaking markets. Non-English versions are expected to be available next year.

As for the Chinese mainland version of the iPhone 16, it will not have AI capabilities this year. It remains uncertain when AI will be integrated, partly due to Apple's AI partner OpenAI being unavailable in China, prompting Apple to seek a local partner.

So, is the iPhone 16 series worth buying? In my opinion, it's not. Apart from the larger screen, the other upgrades are mostly incremental. Current iPhone screens are already large enough, and larger screens can compromise portability.

For the iPhone 16, the most significant upgrade would have been AI, but its absence in the Chinese mainland version negates any meaningful difference from the iPhone 15 series. Therefore, upgrading may not be necessary. I anticipate that the iPhone 16 series without AI will experience steeper and faster price drops.