iPhone 16 May Feature Pill-Shaped Rear Camera Cutout And A New Capture Button: Report

In 2023, Apple didn’t make many changes to its iPhone 15 lineup, except for a slightly curved frame and a frosted glass back. Even the iPhone 15 Pro models look similar, except for the Titanium frame and the new colors that differentiate them from the iPhone 14 Pro models. In fact, the last time Apple made a significant switch in the design of its iPhones was in 2020, when the company launched the flat-edged iPhone 12. The following year, it changed the camera alignment from vertical to diagonal.

iPhone 16 To Ship With A New Camera Layout

iPhone 16 prototypes via MacRumors

However, a report from MacRumors suggests that Apple could make some significant changes in the design of the next iPhone, i.e., iPhone 16. The publication has details about the pre-production designs of the iPhone 16, including mockups and the engineering prototypes used for testing. Per the report, the first noticeable change in the iPhone 16 could be a new camera layout. Unlike the iPhone 15 series, the next model could feature two camera sensors aligned vertically.

Expect An iPhone 12 Or iPhone X Like Camera Module On The Rear Panel

The vertical camera alignment will make the phone easily recognizable, as the last three generations feature a diagonally-aligned setup. Apple is considering two designs, one inspired by the iPhone 12 and the other inspired by the iPhone X.

While the former entails placing the sensors one above the other, the latter includes placing the two sensors in a pill-shaped cutout like the iPhone X. However, the location of the flash remains similar to the iPhone 15.

Apple Experimented With A Unified Volume Button, But To No Avail

iPhone 16’s prototyped unified volume button (on the right) via MacRumors

The earliest prototypes of the iPhone 16 feature a unified volume button (initially planned for the iPhone 15 Pro as the Bongo Project). It would have provided users with haptic feedback, too.

However, since the project was abandoned due to some technical issues, it looks like Apple will stick with the current design for the volume rockers. While a new volume button isn’t something users should see on the iPhone 16, the presence of an Action Button might surprise them.

The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max became the first models to feature a programmable Action Button to perform various tasks. Next year, Apple plans to replace the mute switch on the vanilla iPhone 16 with an Action Button. Although the size and nature of this button have changed in several prototypes, users might get to see a capacitive Action Button on regular iPhone models next year.

The iPhone 16 Could Feature A New Capture Button

Apart from the Action Button, the company is also exploring the possibility of including a new Capture Button below the power button on the right side of the iPhone. The publication’s sources suggest that this button will have a force sensor, as seen on the AirPods Pro, and a “tact-switching” feature.

The all-new Capture Button could replace the position of the mmWave antenna on the United States’ iPhone models. The report also mentions that the company has also prepared an alternative hardware design in case the Capture Button doesn’t work out the way it wants.

Apple Might Stick To iPhone 15’s Color Scheme For The Next Model

Regarding iPhone 16’s colors, the company has made prototypes in yellow, pink, and midnight colors, and there’s a good chance that these will make it to the final lot at launch. On the front, the iPhone 16 should sport the same Dynamic Island and symmetrical all-screen design as the iPhone 15.

]Although the information comes from reliable sources, it’s very early in the product development cycle, and Apple might make some changes before it releases the iPhone 16. Hence, users should take the information with a pinch of salt.

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