New design reflected in latest leak

Updated August 24 with more information on another big design change: the new cameras expected on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16.

When Apple unveils the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max this fall (and you can read exactly when that will be here), the handsets will come in new colors, one of which will be completely different from the current iPhone 15 Pro lineup. That's not the only change grabbing attention, as a new report about design changes to the cameras is also taking center stage.

The new camera features also include the much-discussed additional hardware button for recording video and photos, which is explained in more detail below. “One such addition is the introduction of a brand new record button that is expected to roll out across the iPhone 16 lineup. Apple has been testing this button on both the base model iPhone 16 and the larger iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max,” says AppleInsider.

ForbesApple iPhone 16 release date: New report reveals exact dateFrom David Phelan

Note that this report says that all iPhone 16 models will feature it, which was not certain in previous predictions, with commentators like Bloomberg's Mark Gurman saying it may be limited to the Pro models only.

It requires a bit of a design change, especially for iPhones for the US market, which have mmWave connectivity for the fastest 5G. That's because the new button sits exactly where the mmWave panel used to be, which is now moved to the other side of the phone.

“Design-wise, the capture button is unique in that it sits flush with the frame, rather than protruding like the power or volume buttons,” the report says, which unsurprisingly suggests that Apple wants to keep the phone as sleek and attractive as ever.

And while the obvious functions are to take a photo or start a video, the device is not limited to these capabilities.

It is also claimed that it will be pressure sensitive. Apparently it will feature what is called “force sensing technology,” meaning it will be able to detect different levels of pressure. It is thought that a light touch will set the focus for an image, while a firm press will take the shot.

Since it's a wide button, it's believed that swiping your finger right or left will give you a nice new way to zoom in and out of your shot.

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will continue to have two cameras, according to a separate and detailed report on Apple Insider, which covers many aspects of the upcoming developments.

The 48-megapixel main camera will remain unchanged and the 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera will have a faster aperture, from f/2.4 to the wider f/2.2. It is also believed that there will be macro capabilities on the regular iPhones as well.

The bigger changes, however, will be made to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. As reported elsewhere, the 5x zoom equivalent of the telephoto lens will be available on both Pro sizes (currently it's exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max due to space constraints, I'm told). The main camera remains the same as on the current Pro models and has a resolution of 48 megapixels.

The most striking news is the introduction of a second 48-megapixel sensor. The ultra-wide-angle camera on the Pro and Pro Max will switch to this sensor and offer the same features as the main camera, i.e. the ability to shoot in full resolution and combine adjacent pixel sides to create better 12-megapixel images.

In addition to all these updates, there is also the aforementioned, highly anticipated Capture Button, which will be available on all iPhone 16 models according to the report. Another advantage of it being a capacitive button: it cannot be accidentally triggered in your pocket.

Back to the new shades that the Pro iPhones will sport. The four colors in the range were detailed by Majin Bu, a regular leaker who was recently embroiled in controversy for posting an alleged invitation to the event where the iPhone will be announced. The invitation was fake (as I described here) and Majin Bu was quick to set the record straight.

I suspect they're on firmer ground here when they say the colors will be white, black, gold, and gray, but that Apple won't call them that. Majin Bu posted about this on X. The current colors of the Pro model are called Natural Titanium, Blue Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium. The more keen-eyed will have noticed that Apple likes to flaunt the fact that the iPhone 15 Pro is made of titanium.

The new lineup appears to be similar, with gray likely being a new version of Natural Titanium. And the gold? According to the leak, it will be called Desert Titanium. Majin Bu says in a separate post: “The Desert Titanium color is a kind of dark gold, similar to the old purple color, relatively subtle and deep.”

Deep Purple was a color on the iPhone 14 Pro lineup and was actually dark enough to be unobtrusive. The new color is said to be a warm brown tone, although the original could be different. Predictions of the exact shades Apple will use are rarely completely accurate.

But the name – if it turns out to be correct – gives us a clue, suggesting something lighter and more eye-catching than the rest of the range.

This fits in with a number of other rumors and dummy versions of the recently released iPhone 16 Pro series. As always, just because multiple commentators predict the same details doesn't mean it's true, although sometimes the numbers increase the probability.

The new report also agrees with others that say the blue iPhone will be discontinued in the current Pro lineup and replaced by the new color.

Majin Bu recently reposted an image that could show the new color, saying, “This image might resemble the new Desert Titanium iPhone 16 Pro, what do you think?” He also backtracked a bit, adding, “The image is based on rumors, it is not certain if the official colorway reflects this 100%.”

Another detail: In the earlier post, Majin Bu showed camera rings for the iPhone 16 Pro in the four colors. The rings look shiny, possibly indicating that the brushed titanium of the 15 Pro series could be replaced with something more polished.

The iPhones will be available in stores this time next month, so we'll know more soon.

ForbesApple iPhone 16 Pro: Everything we know so farFrom David Phelan