Foreign technology media MacRumors published a blog post today to share information about the Apple iPhone 16 standard version model.
The design and development of the Apple iPhone 16 standard version is still in the early stages. Apple engineers call it “DeLorean”, which may be different from the final retail version.
Design
According to internal information currently available, Apple has designed multiple iPhone 16 prototypes internally.
The yellow prototype has operation buttons, the volume buttons have a coherent design, and the back has a camera island design similar to the iPhone X.
The pink prototype is equipped with operation buttons and independent mechanical volume buttons; the black prototype is equipped with larger operation buttons and is equipped with a dedicated camera button.
Camera island adjustments
Apple has tested a variety of camera island solutions. Compared with the existing diagonal design, the new model is trying a vertical design to enhance device recognition.
However, reports suggest that Apple is trying two different camera bump solutions:
iPhone 12 style design, square camera island, but the camera adopts a vertical scheme;
iPhone X style design with pill-shaped design.Relative to the iPhone 15, the flash placement is the same on both designs, suggesting Apple doesn’t plan to change the location of the flash.
No tactile volume/power buttons
It was previously reported that Apple is promoting the project internally as “Project Bongo” and plans to redesign the volume and power buttons to bring a new interactive experience in terms of function and appearance.
Project Bongo changes the volume and power buttons from traditional mechanical buttons to tactile buttons, detects pressure and simulates the pressing of physical buttons by using a tactile engine (tactile feedback) that generates vibrations.
The Bongo project’s feedback mechanism for pressing the tactile button is as follows:
There is a flex sensor underneath the button that measures the pressure applied to the button.
Strain gauges detect changes in pressure, convert them into changes in resistance, and accurately measure the changes.
Sends a signal to the main logic board indicating that the button was pressed.
The main logic board issues power instructions to the Bongo haptic engine
Bongo haptic engine uses electromagnetic fields to generate vibrations
Tactile feedback is then generated through vibration, and a slight upward movement toward the finger mimics the feeling of a physical button being pressed.The assembly features two strain gauges, one on each side of the button, that detect changes in pressure and convert them into changes in resistance within the circuit. The change in resistance causes a change in voltage, and the potential difference between the two strain gauges is used to determine the location of the origin of the pressure (increasing volume or decreasing volume).
Apple originally planned to apply it to the iPhone 15 Pro series models, but it was canceled earlier this year due to many technical issues.
The media stated that Apple has not continued to delve into this project internally, and that Apple’s iPhone 16 models will still be equipped with mechanical buttons.
Action button
The biggest change in Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro series is the elimination of the mute paddle and the use of operation buttons instead.
The iPhone 16 series models launched next year will also follow suit and adopt operation buttons.
Apple is promoting the Project Atlas internally, but is trying to change the operating buttons from mechanical to capacitive buttons.
Add new photo button
Apple is trying to install a new button on the right side of iPhone 16, bringing a new capacitive camera button, which is internally developed under the codename Project Nova.
There isn’t much information available about Project Nova at the moment, other than a “tap to toggle” feature, the button will also be equipped with a force sensor.
Also the camera button is in the same location as the millimeter wave cutout on iPhone models sold in the US, so in iPhone 16 the millimeter wave antenna has been moved to the left side of the device.
Continue to use smart island and USB-C port
There aren’t any noticeable changes on the front of the iPhone 16, which continues to feature iPhone 16. The base model iPhone 16 is expected to come with a similar display to its predecessor, with no major differences. Like the iPhone 15, the iPhone 16 has a USB-C port on the bottom of the device.
color
As far as colors go, early prototypes come in three colors: yellow, pink, and midnight.
summary
The overall appearance of iPhone 16 will not be significantly adjusted. The main updates are:
Vertical camera arrangement, likely similar to iPhone 12
New capacitive camera button
Capacitive operating button