As the iPhone 16 release approaches, more and more leaks based on actual devices are emerging.

Firstly, recently, topics such as "Apple WeChat" and other related topics have trended on Weibo. It is rumored that due to Apple's previous plans to impose the Apple tax on WeChat ecosystem developers, WeChat may not support the new iPhone 16.

Regarding this, on September 3, Apple's official customer service stated, "Currently, there is no such information that iPhone 16 does not support WeChat," and added, "Don't worry, WeChat can be normally used on current iPhone models." Meanwhile, there are no indications on Apple's official website that any iPhone model does not support or is incompatible with WeChat.

A source revealed that business negotiations between Tencent and Apple are still ongoing, with the focus likely being on the "Apple tax" issue for small and medium-sized developers within the WeChat ecosystem.

Furthermore, in August this year, it was reported that Apple was considering imposing the "Apple tax" on WeChat and Douyin. At the time, media outlets claimed that Apple was increasing pressure on Tencent and ByteDance, demanding that the two companies cooperate to block payment vulnerabilities in WeChat and Douyin. If the ability for developers and users to bypass the Apple ecosystem is not removed, Apple threatened to refuse to provide WeChat updates in the future.

Regarding the "Apple tax," Tencent's management responded during the second-quarter earnings call in August 2024: "Currently, we do not monetize miniprograms on iOS through in-app transactions. I believe that if such monetization were to be realized, it would not only be in our interest but also in Apple's interest and that of game developers and users. However, we hope to achieve this goal under economically sustainable and fair conditions. Therefore, this discussion is ongoing, and we hope to reach a positive outcome, as it would be a win-win-win situation."

Thus, Tencent stated that rumors that the iPhone 16 series may not support WeChat or that WeChat will become unusable after upgrading to iOS 18.2 are false.

Judging from the responses of both parties, it is highly unlikely that Apple's iPhone will not support WeChat. Both companies are too large in scale, and such an extreme move would not benefit either party.

The current point of contention between Tencent and Apple revolves around payment vulnerabilities in miniprograms. Apple claims that WeChat miniprograms can bypass Apple's payment channels, allowing users to complete payments in an external environment. Therefore, Apple demands that Tencent plug vulnerabilities within applications like WeChat and stop guiding users to use external payment methods to avoid the 30% commission. Otherwise, Apple threatens to stop updating new versions of the apps in the App Store.

In any case, the origin of this rumor stems from Apple's intention to impose a commission on certain WeChat miniprograms. Although this is true, it is unlikely that Apple would confront the entire Tencent ecosystem over such a small market segment.

For example, Tencent's mobile games like "Honor of Kings" and "PUBG Mobile" generate monthly revenue from Apple Pay that may exceed the annual revenue of WeChat miniprogram games. It would be a significant loss for Apple to confront Tencent.

As two platforms with equally vast user bases, both Apple and WeChat are essential for Apple users. Personally, I believe it is impossible for the iPhone 16 series not to support WeChat. Eventually, both parties will reach an agreement and find a mutually satisfactory outcome. It's just a matter of time before we see the final resolution. Let's wait patiently for the outcome.

Additionally, according to supply chain sources, production guidance for the iPhone 16 series has been updated to 88 million units, roughly on par with the iPhone 15 series.

It is reported that Apple will release the iPhone 16 series on September 10, consisting of four models: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Analysts suggest that the focus of this event will be Apple's generative AI, Apple Intelligence. The inclusion of new AI features is expected to unleash pent-up demand and accelerate the iPhone replacement cycle, which is currently at a historic high of 4.8 years. Apple may subsequently increase iPhone production orders.

According to leaked information, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus return to a vertical dual-camera setup, while the iPhone 16 Pro series retains the classic camera module design. The most significant change in appearance is the size: the iPhone 16 Pro expands from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max expands from 6.7 inches to 6.9 inches.

The iPhone 16 Pro series adopts a new Border Reduction Structure (BRS) technology, which allows for a more compact and efficient layout of the screen's underlying circuitry, resulting in narrower bezels without compromising screen performance or overall aesthetics.

Incidentally, unlike previous years when multiple new color options were leaked, the supply chain is clear this year that the iPhone 16 Pro will introduce a new bronze color, replacing the previous blue version.

Currently, some media outlets have produced the latest renders, showing that this color is similar to gold but darker, making it Apple's darkest gold hue to date.

Apart from the new color, there are no significant surprises in the iPhone 16 Pro's appearance, as the overall design remains largely unchanged from previous generations.

This bronze color can be considered a marker for identifying those who have upgraded to the new iPhone, and sales are expected to be robust.

In terms of specifications, the standard iPhone 16 will see an upgrade from 6GB to 8GB of RAM, matching the iPhone 16 Pro series, to meet the minimum requirements of Apple Intelligence.

Furthermore, the entire iPhone 16 series will be equipped with the A18 chip family, with the standard models potentially featuring the A18 standard version and the Pro series potentially featuring the A18 Pro.

Moreover, the iPhone 16 Pro's camera specifications match those of its elder sibling, featuring a periscope telephoto lens similar to that of the Pro Max, sourced from the same supplier.

Thanks to this lens, the iPhone 16 Pro series can achieve 5x optical zoom and 25x digital zoom, capturing images at a 120mm focal length.

This is an excellent change for those who enjoy taking long-distance shots, especially when combined with the new shutter button, which will make operations more convenient for many photographers.

Finally, it is reported that Apple's fall 2024 product event will be held at 1 AM Beijing time on September 10, at which time the latest iPhone 16 series will be unveiled. Technical analysts predict that due to the inclusion of more AI features, the price of the iPhone 16 series may increase across the board.

It is worth noting that at its annual developer conference in June, Apple introduced Apple Intelligence, but currently, only the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max support some Apple AI features. The iPhone 16 series will fully support Apple AI, making it, in a sense, Apple's first true AI phone.

However, Apple Intelligence is not expected to launch alongside the iPhone 16 in September, as its official release date has been pushed back to iOS 18.1 in October. Features such as writing tools, notification summaries, and a new Siri interface will be available then, but more advanced features like Image Playground, Genmoji, and ChatGPT integration will be introduced in iOS 18.2 or later.

Some analysts predict that AI could boost iPhone 16 sales by up to 10 million units, so it's not surprising that Apple plans to promote these features in-store.

By the way, at 1 AM on September 10, Apple will unveil the latest iPhone 16 – just 13 hours later, across the Pacific Ocean in Shenzhen, China, Huawei will hold its "Extraordinary Brand Ceremony and HarmonyOS Smart Mobility Product Launch Event."

Apple and Huawei, two tech giants on opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean, are going head-to-head on the same day.

Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 16 series, Apple Watch, and other products, while Huawei and HarmonyOS have officially announced that they will unveil the AITO M9 five-seater version at this event. However, the most significant announcement will undoubtedly be Huawei's long-rumored tri-foldable phone from its "Extraordinary Master" series.

The annual tech circle "Spring Festival Gala" is already shaping up to be a stormy affair.

Well, in the past year, Huawei and Apple's product launches have frequently clashed, but this event is undoubtedly the most intense confrontation between the two. Will the iPhone 16, which aims for stability with incremental changes, steal the spotlight, or will Huawei's bold and innovative tri-foldable phone emerge victorious?

It seems that this year's tech circle gala will be even livelier than previous years.

So, if you have anything to say about Apple's latest iPhone 16 leaks, feel free to leave a comment in the section below and join the discussion with Mingmei Wuxian!