The Ultimate Guide to Buying the iPhone 16

September is fast approaching, and with it, Apple’s much-anticipated announcement of the iPhone 16 release. Industry experts are hard at work anticipating the characteristics of the next iPhone. 

This iPhone 16 buying guide gives you an overview of the expected upgrades and enhancements. By comparing features to the iPhone 15, you can prepare to choose the best iPhone 16 model for you.

Understanding the iPhone 16 Lineup

If history repeats, the new lineup will feature the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

There will be fundamental differences when comparing iPhone 16 models. The most notable is a rumored increase in display size on  the Pro (6.3 inches) and Pro Max (16.9 inches). It’s been years since Apple upsized, so this is a biggie! The iPhone 16 remains the same size as the iPhone 15. 

Other reported changes include:

• New A-series chips built on N3E-nanometer.
• iPhone 15's "Action Button" across all models.
• Vertical camera lens arrangement.
• A new "Capture Button" camera feature.
• Slimmer bezel sizes on some models.
• Improvements to OLED panels.

iPhone 16 Features and Improvements

We expect significant upgrades on iPhone 16 models compared to the iPhone 15. Here’s a breakdown of the most notable differences:

Display

Potential display upgrades include:

• Display size: The display size upgrade on the iPhone 16 Pro models will bump up the body dimensions. The iPhone 16 Pro Max will have Apple's largest display.
• Bezel: Some models may have thinner bezels.
• OLED display: We may see upgraded micro-lens technology for better power efficiency and brightness.

Processor

Processing updates might be on the way, including:

• New Chip: Increases processing power and enhances AI capabilities.
• RAM: iPhone 16 models may have 8GB of RAM instead of the 6GB of RAM in the iPhone 15.
• Thermals: There are whispers of a new thermal design to solve overheating issues.

Camera

We might get the following camera specs:

• Vertical lens design: A stacked lens design may replace the iPhone 15's diagonal layout.
• "Capture Button": There are rumors of a new "Capture Button" for taking photos and videos.
• Megapixel upgrade: There may be a jump in megapixels for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models.

Battery Life

Battery updates may include:

• Battery improvements: A stacked battery gives higher capacity and more battery life.
• Charging capability: iPhone 16 models will likely charge faster than iPhone 15 models.

Choosing the Right iPhone Storage Capacity

iPhone 16 will likely offer the same 128GBM, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage options as the iPhone 15. Models with 256GB of storage have more than enough space for the average iPhone user. If you use your iPhone for photos and videos, you may benefit from 512GB. The 1TB storage option is more suited to users who record 4K or 8K videos.

You can optimize your phone storage by backing up photos, videos and your device to iCloud. Use iPhone’s “Optimize iPhone Storage” setting to save space. This function shows you an image or video preview and only saves it to your device if you open it.

iPhone 16 Pricing

iPhone pricing has remained stable over the past few years. We expect the iPhone 16 prices to stay the same as iPhone 15 models. 

The expected starting price tiers for new models are:

• iPhone 16: $799
• iPhone 16 Plus: $899
• iPhone Pro: $999
• iPhone Pro Max: $1,199

iPhones may not be the cheapest phones on the market, but there’s good reason for that. Exceptional quality and technology are worth paying for. For the savvy shopper, there are finance options to suit your budget. 

Trading in your current iPhone 15 is a smart way to get access to the latest model. Companies like  Mac of All Trades allow iPhone owners to sell their old devices. Mac of All Trades offers the fairest and highest value on your iPhone 15 so you can free up cash for the iPhone 16. 

You could also consider a financing plan as an alternative to buying the iPhone 16 outright. Apple offers an iPhone Payments plan to pay off your iPhone for over 24 months. Phone carriers also offer installment plans for their customers.

iPhone 16 Camera Capabilities

The stacked vertical lens arrangement improves spatial video capture. The “Capture Button” is a new suspected new feature that acts like a digital camera shutter. It may react to pressure and touch to perform functions like zooming, focusing and recording. 

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will likely have the most significant camera upgrades. The Ultra Wide camera gets a rumored 48-megapixel sensor upgrade. With whispers of a tetraprism zoom lens, the images and video quality will trump the iPhone 15 Max.

iPhone 16 Display and Performance

There are a few key display and performance changes between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15:

Display

Here's how the displays measure up:

• Display size: The size of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus remains the same as that of their iPhone 15 counterparts. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max benefit from larger displays with thinner borders.
• OLED improvements: iPhone models will improve on the iPhone 15's OLED display. Micro-lens technology enhances brightness and power usage.

Performance

Compare these possible performance specs:

• New A18 Chip: Although all iPhone 16 models feature the A18 chip, the base and Pro models may differ. The chip improves AI performance with an upgraded Neural Engine.
• Thermal enhancements: The iPhone 15's copper heatsink may be replaced with a higher-conductivity graphene heatsink. Graphene is a better heat conductor than copper.
• RAM upgrades: All iPhone 16 models could upgrade to 8GB of RAM from the iPhone 15's 6GB.

iPhone 16 Battery Life and Charging

Expect major battery upgrades on all iPhone 16 models. The most notable changes include:

• Stacked vs. single layer: iPhone 15 featured single-layer battery technology. iPhone 16's stacked battery technology increases battery density and prolongs life span.
• Expanded energy capacity: iPhone 16 batteries may be bigger with a higher mAh. A bigger battery means more energy.
• Improved charging power: Expect an increase in wired and MagSafe charging power. All iPhone 16 models feature up to 40W wired charging and 20W MagSafe charging. iPhone 15 offered 27W wired and 15W MagSafe charging.

iPhone 16 IOS and Software Features

The iPhone 16 range comes with iOS 18. This platform aims to enhance AI capabilities and features a Chat-GPT integration. iPhone 16 users will likely have access to exclusive AI functionality. iOS 18 includes RCS messaging support for iPhone to Android texting. It also enables you to send a message via satellite in areas without a signal.

iPhone 16 Accessory Compatibility

There aren’t many predictions about compatibility with existing iPhone accessories. The iPhone 16's increased dimensions and camera layout require new case designs. Thinner MagSafe magnets in the iPhone 16 impact MagSafe-compatible cases. 

Since iPhone 16 will use a USB-C charging port, existing USB-C chargers will be compatible. We expect announcements on exclusive iPhone 16 accessories in the future.

Make Your iPhone 16 Dreams Come True With Mac of All Trades

Apple always brings their A-game with new iPhone releases. This latest iteration of the iPhone will likely be no different.

Some of the standout iPhone 16 features and improvements include:

• Bigger display sizes for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max.
• Improved OLED display technology.
• New A18 chip for enhanced processing power.
• Updated camera lens layout and "Capture Button."
• Enhancements to camera features, in particular on the Pro models.
• Increased battery capacity, faster charging and prolonged battery life.

Now that you’ve read this ultimate guide to buying the iPhone 16, we bet you can’t wait to get your hands on one. With Mac of All Trades, you can sell your old iPhone to us and use that money to buy the new iPhone 16. 

At Mac of All Trades, we’re committed to offering the best possible value for your used Apple device. Turning your iPhone 15 into cash is as easy as 1-2-3:

1. Complete a form to get a formal offer.
2. Accept the offer and send your device to us via free prepaid shipping.
3. Get your money within three business days.

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