Apple unveils the iPhone 16 with iOS 18, Camera Control, and an all-new A18 chipset
The iPhone 16 launches with a fresh lick of paint and a new chipset
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Applehas officially lifted the lid on theiPhone 16, the cheapest model in a new lineup of iPhones “designed from the ground up forApple Intelligence.”
The key upgrades for the iPhone 16 – which starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,399 – include the Action Button (as first seen on theiPhone 15 Pro), an all-newCamera Control button, a new A18 chipset, andApple Intelligencefeatures.
The latter debuted atWWDC 2024in June, but Apple has confirmed that these new AI-powered tools won’t actually become available on the iPhone 16 until October. From next month onwards, Apple Intelligence features including a smarter Siri, text summarization, writing assistance, and generative image creation will begin rolling out in beta alongsideiOS 18.
The most exciting hardware upgrade for the iPhone 16 looks to be its new Camera Control button, which can be used to snap and learn about your surroundings (in a manner akin toGoogle Lensor Circle to Search).
Another minor change for the iPhone 16 is its vertically aligned camera lenses. The new phone still gets the same 48MP main and 12MP ultra-wide lenses as its predecessor (albeit with some neat new telephoto capabilities), but this new vertical orientation means the iPhone 16 can capture spatial, Apple Vision Pro-compatible video.
The key specs for the iPhone 16 are as follows:
The iPhone 16 ships in ultramarine, teal, pink, white, and black, and will be available to pre-order from Friday, September 9. The new device will hit store shelves on Friday, September 20 alongside theiPhone 16 Plus,iPhone 16 Pro, andiPhone 16 Pro Max.
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For full iPhone 16 pricing, head to our dedicatediPhone 16hub.
Axel is TechRadar’s UK-based Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site’s Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion.
Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.
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