iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: 30 Rumored Upgrades Compared
by Hartley Charlton · MacRumorsAfter over a year of rumors, there are now 30 changes and improvements expected to be offered by the iPhone 16 Pro models later this year.
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All of the changes the iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to feature compared to their direct forerunners are listed below, using information from reliable sources that we have previously covered. We will update this article as more rumors emerge in the coming months.
Displays
Both iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to feature larger displays than their predecessors, pushing the iPhone 16 Pro Max to be the biggest iPhone ever offered. There are also reportedly improvements to the underlying OLED technology in store.
| iPhone 15 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro |
|---|---|
| 6.1- or 6.7-inch display | 6.3- or 6.9-inch display |
| Thinner borders around the display | |
| More efficient OLED display with brighter micro-lens technology |
Chip, Thermals, and Connectivity
Under the hood, the iPhone 16 Pro models are rumored to bring notable improvements in processing power, thermal management, and connectivity. From a more powerful "A18 Pro" chip to advanced thermal designs and enhanced connectivity options including the latest Wi-Fi standards, these changes promise to further update the iPhone's basic specifications.
| iPhone 15 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro |
|---|---|
| A17 Pro chip (TSMC's "N3B" 3nm process) | A18 Pro chip (TSMC's "N3E" enhanced 3nm process) |
| 16-core Neural Engine | Enhanced neural Engine with "significantly" more cores to support new AI features |
| Thermal design with copper heatsink and black foil battery casing | New thermal design with graphene heatsink and metal battery casing |
| Snapdragon X70 5G modem | Snapdragon X75 5G modem |
| Wi-Fi 6E connectivity | Wi-Fi 7 connectivity |
Cameras
The iPhone 16 Pro models are slated to receive a range of substantial camera enhancements, such as a larger main camera sensor, a 48-megapixel sensor on the ultra wide camera, and a dedicated hardware button for photography and videography on the side of the device.
| iPhone 15 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro |
|---|---|
| "Capture Button" to trigger photography and videography features | |
| 1/1.28-inch main camera sensor | iPhone 16 Pro Max: 1/1.14-inch main camera sensor (12% larger) |
| Sony IMX-803 main camera sensor | iPhone 16 Pro Max: Sony IMX-903 main camera sensor with stacked design for better performance, a 14-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) for high-quality image data conversion, and Digital Gain Control (DCG) for better dynamic range and noise control |
| 7P main camera lens | 8P main camera lens |
| iPhone 15 Pro: Telephoto camera with second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization iPhone 15 Pro Max: Telephoto camera with larger sensor, folded tetraprism design, optical image stabilization, and autofocus 3D sensor-shift module | Telephoto camera with larger sensor, folded tetraprism design, optical image stabilization, and autofocus 3D sensor-shift module |
| iPhone 15 Pro: 77mm maximum focal length iPhone 15 Pro Max: 120mm maximum focal length | iPhone 16 Pro: 120mm maximum focal length iPhone 16 Pro Max: "Super" telephoto camera with focal length above 300mm |
| iPhone 15 Pro: 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 3x optical zoom iPhone 15 Pro Max: 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 3x, and 5x optical zoom (5x on Pro Max only) | 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x optical zoom |
| 4P telephoto camera lens | 5P telephoto camera lens |
| 12-megapixel ultra wide camera | 48-megapixel ultra wide camera |
| 5P ultra wide camera lens | 6P ultra wide camera lens |
Batteries and Charging
The iPhone 16 Pro models could receive some major improvements in battery technology and charging, sporting bigger, denser batteries and faster charging capabilities.
| iPhone 15 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro |
|---|---|
| Single-layer battery technology | Stacked battery technology for increased energy density and prolonged lifespan |
| iPhone 15 Pro: 3,274 mAh battery iPhone 15 Pro Max: 4,422 mAh battery | iPhone 16 Pro: 3,355 mAh mAh battery (+2.5%) iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4,676 mAh battery (+5%) |
| Up to 27W wired charging | Up to 40W wired charging |
| 15W charging via MagSafe | 20W charging via MagSafe |
Other Features and Changes
While many of Apple's devices are rumored to receive a series of new AI-based features via software updates later this year, the iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to take these further with exclusive capabilities and an upgraded microphone.
| iPhone 15 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro |
|---|---|
| Support for new AI features in iOS 18 | Support for new AI features in iOS 18, plus a suite of device-exclusive AI features |
| Microphone | Upgraded microphone with improved signal-to-noise ratio and water resistance, designed to support new AI features |
| Up to 1TB of storage | Up to 2TB of storage |
| Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, and Natural Titanium color options | Black Titanium/Space Black, White Titanium, Desert Titanium, Titanium Gray, and potentially Rose Gold color options |
| Brushed titanium frame | Glossy titanium frame |
Dimensions
To accommodate the devices' larger displays, both iPhone 16 Pro models are rumored to grow in height and width, but no changes to the depth are anticipated.
| iPhone 15 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro |
|---|---|
| iPhone 15 Pro: 146.6mm height iPhone 15 Pro Max: 159.9mm height | iPhone 16 Pro: 149.6mm height iPhone 16 Pro Max: 163.0mm height |
| iPhone 15 Pro: 70.60mm width iPhone 15 Pro Max: 76.70mm width | iPhone 16 Pro: 71.45mm width iPhone 16 Pro Max: 77.58mm width |
| iPhone 15 Pro: 187g weight iPhone 15 Pro Max: 221g weight | iPhone 16 Pro: 194g weight iPhone 16 Pro Max: 225g weight |
Release Date
The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are expected to launch in the fall. Apple usually hosts an event every September to unveil new iPhone models, with launch following just over a week later. For more information about the iPhone 16 Pro models, see our comprehensive roundup.
Will It Be Worth Upgrading?
The iPhone 15 Pro was a fairly significant upgrade over the iPhone 14 Pro in 2023, introducing a new design with a titanium frame, slimmer bezels, the Action button, a USB-C port, and more. The iPhone 16 Pro's upgrades will likely not be as substantial as those offered by its predecessor. As a result, most iPhone 15 Pro users will have little reason to upgrade, but some who would appreciate a larger display, better cameras, and a dedicated button for photography and videography features may find it worthwhile.