The iPhone 16 event is coming in a matter of minutes, and – even though I'm a professional and have owned every single iPhone since launch – I'm still excited. I wish I wasn't. I'm trying to contain myself. I've promised myself this will be the year I skip a year, so what happens in the presentation will affect not only my decision, but those of many others, and you can view it right here – just scroll down to the live window.
The iPhone 16 event is coming in a matter of minutes, and – even though I'm a professional and have owned every single iPhone since launch – I'm still excited. I wish I wasn't. I'm trying to contain myself. I've promised myself this will be the year I skip a year, so what happens in the presentation will affect not only my decision, but those of many others, and you can view it right here – just scroll For an idea how many others, the iPhone 15 – introduced September 2023 – was the best-selling smartphone in the fourth quarter of 2023; just the Pro Max accounted for 4.4% of all smartphones globally. It is estimated that there are more than 1.3 billion active iPhone users worldwide, and 60% of US market share belongs to Apple.
This time the rumours have pointed to some significant changes in both the 'standard' iPhone 16 models – which we expect to have their two cameras re-arranged so that they can shoot Spatial Video (the 3D video you can view on Apple's Vision Pro, the headset I tried recently). We're also hearing talk of bigger screens (but not bigger phones, so that sleek black edge might have to go?)
We're also expecting a new button to be added to the frame – not actually a button, but a sensor which will have haptic feedback (a vibration from inside) – which might serve as a shutter button. This will be on top of the multi-function button added to the iPhone 15 Pro series.
In terms of software, of course, all the excitement is around Apple Intelligence which was first announced to developers (and anyone who cared to watch) at the WWDC 24 which I covered in June. It'll be exciting to see just what Apple is keen to show to their biggest customer base – iPhone users.
Oh – though as photographers & video makers the iPhone is iconic, other key tools might get a mention, including the AirPods and Apple Watch 10. Don't expect to hear about the best MacBooks for photo editing though; any M4 computers will likey get their own event (although you never know). to the live window.
Our coverage has begun, but the actual event starts at 10:00am at Apple HQ, Cupertino, Pacific Time – or 18:00 UK, 1:00 pm EDT.
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The wait is over—Apple iPhone 16 pre-orders are now live worldwide. After the initial announcement, Apple and various carriers have made their flagship models available for purchase, with some fantastic promotions for those ready to upgrade.
Below, I've listed the main carriers for both the US and UK, along with key details you need to know before making your purchase. While I don't expect iPhone 16 preorders to sell out, it’s wise to grab one during the initial launch period, as the early deals tend to be better than those offered later.
If you're not excited by the possibilities at Apple, with no on-launch-day delivery of the iPhone 16 Pro models available any more – any color, any size – you could take your chances with Amazon. I'm not seeing shipping dates – just the release date, but it's worth a try where you are, right?
You can pick color and memory options on the page – but in the US they're locked to Boost mobile.
For the time being, all the iPhone 16 phones – even the sexy new blue, teal, and pink ones, seem to be shipping on September 20 or available for collection, so the madness has mostly targeted the iPhone 16 Pro Max and (specifically in the UK) the black and gold iPhone 16... for now...
According to our friends at TechRadar, the most popular colors for pre-order on the iPhone 16 Pro were going to be the Black (50%) and the Desert Titanium (32%) by a long margin.
If you want to pre-order now it isn't color but size that is the issue in the USA – as you can test on the Apple Store configure tool.
🇺🇸 All iPhone Pro Max shipping dates 3-4 weeks, regardless of memory size or color
🇺🇸 All iPhone 16 Pro Still available for 20th Sept.
🇬🇧 Some iPhone 16 Pro (smaller) are going to 2-3 weeks including Black and 'natural' – others still available
🇬🇧 All iPhone 16 Pro Max shipping dates 3-4 weeks, regardless of memory size or color
On the day Apple Store pickup is already looking unlikely for the iPhone 16 Pro Max too. Do try the Apple Store UK configure tool to test the days.
So, today is the day for ordering your phone. If it is like previous occasions the popular shades will sell out (at least for a few weeks) but Apple are letting people skip ahead by pre-pre ordering (yes, I know).
In other words, you can go to the pre-order page before pre-orders start at 13:00 and specify the model you want and have the company run your credit card before you actually go through the process on when the time comes in a few hours, enabling a faster pre-order at the time!
It could make all the difference if you want to show off that Desert Titanium first!
In a world where we long-time Apple followers are all still missing Jony Ive's part in Apple events, is he our man – albeit it a bit more cheerful? I kinda hope so!
I've managed to weigh up a quick refresher of some of the best aspects of the Pro phone especially, and generally, how much love there was for photographers in the whole event, in a separate news story – iPhone 16 Pro is ALL about photography – with some more images of the features including that awesome sound reduction feature I hope works as well as implied.
In answer to my question about selling older phones, only eBay has been suggested by my friends – even though Apple seem to be offering pretty tempting rebates of up to $1000 (though I'm guessing that's for a lot more memory than my iPhone has!)
(Image credit: Apple)
So, we ought to round off with the basic factual:
The iPhone 16 will release on September 20th.
OK, Tim is wrapping up with the rainbow behind him. He seems pleased.
I think he should be – photographers are going to find the iPhone 16 series so much more enticing than 'just a button' might have been thanks to a brilliant bit of software design more than anything. I'm already counting the days to holding one and a couple of hours ago I was convinced this would be the year I didn't get a new iPhone for the first time!
The fact Apple specifically indicate they have new cases which work seamlessly with the new camera button suggests to me that there might be a lot of problems with that button's sensitivity and cases. We shall see!
New audio abilities look very exciting to filmmakers, though obviously it remains to be tested – apparently the mics and AI can detect background sound and isolate the voices of the subjects with studio or cinematographic feel. How cool is that? Very, very impressive (if true). While it's filling the phone with ProRes video too!
4K 120fps – taking on action cameras – made possible by the 'faster sensor' apparently. And 4K Dolby Vision 120fps slow mo is possible.
Finally you can change the speed after capture without resorting to FCPX, too!
Then we get to see an app using the new camera button. It does seem like this is an area Apple have a huge advantage, because there is enough market share to introduce a feature like this and get support.
Apple are leaning even harder than I expected on photography. It's odd, since the main camera specs aren't changing, though we do get a 48MP wide angle sensor. We're still stuck with 12MP on the tele, but the 5X is on both Pro and Pro Max (as expected).
That new button won't work straight away - the two stage button will be updated later in the year, apparently – but we're seeing a lot of very 'photographer-driven' stuff in the app. It just looks a LOT more camera-like.
They even suggest it is possible in video and 'like professional color grading, in real time' – hmmm....
iPhone 16 Pro... and yes "Apple Intelligence takes us even further"
OK, that's Tim's bit... and there's that cool new button again.
Thin Borders are 6.3 and 6.9 inches are there, so bigger screens, and now we're being told how the whole thing is being designed for AI and that AI will help photographers – specific examples were given, like helping dress a location!?
Oh, we get an A18 Pro chip with the Pro phones!
A 16-core neural engine to help, as part of "The fastest CPU in any smartphone". Still 6-core CPU, and ProMotion / ProRes encoding tools are discussed.
(Image credit: Apple)
A quick refresher of the Photos app AI features seen at WWDC to sort images was seen, before we dive into a discussion about how the phone works for gaming (quite well, say Apple, apparently).
There is an Ultra Graphics Mode with a lot of the ability to run games that only the iPhone 15 Pro could handle before. "Console level" is a phrase Apple likes, but it is pleasing that they segway it into battery life.
Now it's a cool wrap up video and the main event must be coming...
(Image credit: Apple)
Yeay - Camera time again.
So the button is recessed, and it does seem to have a pressure sensor and the ability to sense touch gestures – so yes, it can do the touch to focus thing.
Of course Apple have come up with a lot of other possibilities for multiple taps which will need learning with all these sensors that may need a bit of re-watching!
And apps can use it their own way, so be prepared to need to remember a lot of features / get very confused!
Main camera is now 48MP on the iPhone, not 12MP as before. The wide camera is 12MP, but boasts a wider aperture and macro (as some had anticipated).
"The equivalent of 4 lenses in the pocket" aparently (and yes, Spatial Video and – now – Spatial Photos).
Ah... Craig Federighi's man-stance as he explains the Apple's AI was something we knew was coming at some point in the presentation.
So what does Apple Intelligence mean for us? I'll ignore the dinner party invitation example (not something I do a lot). I'm more interested in the fact that I'll be able to search for photos and specific moments in videos by typing something like "Candice doing a flip"
Sadly this is followed up by some examples that look like Apple's existing auto-generated albums which are only so-so, so let's hope this search is better.
(Image credit: Apple)
Craig continues to talk about a lot of things Siri will be able to do, which makes me think "Shouldn't Siri be able to do this already".
Then he says "Will be abailable" and "Starting next month" and apparently even English-speaking countries that aren't America will have to wait a few extra months – like England (you know, where English comes from!) – other languages, that could be longer.
AI is already sounding less 'awesome' (no matter how much emphasis Craig puts on the word) but like a massive experiment that we can't afford not to be part of!
Wow, so now we're learning about the A18 chip – yes, we've missed a generation apparently, though that sounds like a clever trick with naming to me. There are 6 CPU cores, 5-core GPU (involved in some of the camera features).
Efficiency is key too – now the iPhone 16 (not just the Pros) are getting 3nm chips
(Image credit: Apple)
Finally, iPhone!
Again Tim Cook goes straight for Apple Intelligence, before the video confirms all we expected about, er, where the two cameras would be – a great nostalgia trip for iPhone X lovers but of course it's a "Vibrant new look"
And wow is it covered with buttons! Well, OK two more (and one fewer switch). The iPhone 16 is only just getting the Action button, and it's also getting the new button... which is called THE CAMERA CONTROL.
Yeay!
I said we'd be talking headphones – specifically AirPods – and we are. These are very useful for all of use – especially photographers. So much so that many devices from the likes of GoPro (see the best action cameras) and Insta360 have gone out of their way to add compatibility to use the microphones in them for vloggers.
The addition of active noise cancellation to the non-Pro AirPods – plus Transparency mode - might make the AirPods Pro a little less appealing for some (I'm certainly starting to grumble, especially as I have to cope with the old pre-USB-C case.
Oh, and the case has magnetic charging. Come on. What was the point of Pro?
(Image credit: Apple)
Ah, so they are talking about the AirPods Pro. Apparently there will be profound new benefits... health features (groan). but it's going to be health benefits (I'm trying to suppress my inner "Boring" complaint as basically, an algo, is going to turn the noise down)
OK, if you're not bored by Hearing Protection (or at least have faith Apple can help with it), apple will apparently be able to provide 48,000Hz passive noise protection which they expect people to wear at gigs so they look like they're listening to something else. There will also be a "clinical grade" hearing test feature in Apple's Heath App (which might mean more, or less, work for doctors).
Finally the AirPods Pro can turn into hearing aids automatically based on what the app learns – and they share your ear profiles across all your devices (let's hope you don't share your Apple TV with anyone).
We 'expect' to receive clearance from the FDA "soon" they add. Hmm. (Not listing the UK in countries expecting the tech. Interesting.)
Wow, so they weren't kiddinng about the Apple Watch Ultra getting basically nothing. Ultra 2 is still called Ultra 2. It's got a new black color and the features of Watch OS 11. But then the other watch has watch OS 11 at doesn't coast $799!
(Image credit: Apple)
So ends the watch line up...
I'm chatting with fellow journalists about whether the new watch will look that good in real life. Let's just say that I'll bet Apple have just made at least one sale!
I've got to admit that I'm wondering about the strap fittings. Will it work with the traditional fittings? Will it work with the Wristcam strap (that lets you add cameras)? I ask since there is still no camera in the watch!
"From $399" Pre-order today for September 20th.
Jeff Williams (COO) tells us the new Series 10 gets an even bigger screen than the Apple Watch Ultra. You'll be able to type onto the screen.
I'm feeling glad I never bought the Ultra now. That watch has cool shiny new "Jet Black" and a silver aluminium finish, and I think we're about to find we actually can wear it day and night... oh, no, wait, it'll be thinner. So will there actually be enough battery to last long enough? (I know my Series 6 doesn't last so I can't actually measure all the sleep stuff it says it can).
New features include a speaker (so you can annoy people in public, as many do with phones.
Oh, and polished titanium is replacing stainless steel – it does look pretty cool, much more James Bond than I'd expect, at least in Apple's video, thanks to the background which simulates metal. Bet it won't look quite so convincing IRL!
(Image credit: Apple)
So, right after the video of happy looking people enjoying the features of the iPhone, Tim Cook kicks off with, you've guessed it, Apple Intelligence. He mentioned it even before telling us how many lives Apple Watch has saved. Yep, it seems we're starting with the watch that's celebrating it's 10th anniversary!
Ooo... "beautiful new design..."
OK, I think we're off... the music has come to life all over the place!
Sadly I've not made up an iPhone 16 bingo card, but things that we could have put on it to spoil everyones day include: iPhone Fold Everyone says Apple are working on it, but we're NOT expecting one, and not just because sales of the iPad are worth protecting! Apple Vision SE Cheaper goggles for all – no doubt an idea in Apple's far future, but for now the future of home cinema is going to stay the wrong side of $3000 iPad Mini Here's betting they save this for another day, though we'd like to see a refresh of the innards.
If you're upgrading your phone, I'd be super interested to hear what you do with your previous one? I know for sure that I won't be using webuyanyphone.com – and, personally, I'd advise anyone else against using them based on my personal experience last year.
Is it best to hand them down to friends and family, donate them, or do you have a preferred online selling site? Tell our social (Twitter).
So, the button. the most photographer-centric of the rumors have this to say about it: it'll be a 2-stage button that you press gently to focus and squeeze all the way to take a photo. OK, no PS5-level feedback, but that is definitely the core of what appeals to any serious photographer.
By 'serious' I mean the kind the general public still peg as "DSLR users" even though it is long since mirrorless swept in. It's also worth remembering that most folk with a compact camera from the early digital era onward will also be familiar with the semi-press to focus approach. Bridge, and all sorts. It's also been on phones before too – nod to Sony Xperia phones – and if you can remember the odd hybrid devices that existed pre-iPhone, like the Nokia N95, some also had camera-like 2-step buttons.
If Apple can replicate all this without harming usability they'll be a long way to winning me over.
So, while we're waiting for anything more exciting, I find myself wondering, "Do I actually want more buttons on my iPhone?" If you call something a 'shutter button' then it's very appealing to the photographer in me, and there are definitely times that I find it very difficult to get a good grip on the phone when attempting a family selfie, but the other reason I can't do that is because I'm in my 40s and I'm too old to think cameras should be used like that!
More places you can touch the device on the edge and cause issues seem to offer as much potential for problems as benefits though, of course, the magic of the rumored touch sensor is that the software will be able to choose to ignore it whenever it likes. Will it be smart enough?
Now I don't know how many DCW readers have also experienced PS5 controllers's adaptive & haptic triggers, but that kind of tech would be amazing – a shutter button that could be adjusted in software to suit your style, and give that perfect retro click if you wanted! A shame it'd also be a tragic waste of power and space on a phone!
The Apple Store online has the 'Be right back' message we've come to associate with a major product launch, so there's no need to buy the latest phone only to kick yourself. Well, not from Apple's store anyway!
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