iPhone 16 Series Expected to Feature Vertical Camera Design and Spatial Video Recording

The upcoming iPhone 16 series, scheduled for release in the second half of this year, is anticipated to bring significant design upgrades. Reports suggest that both the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will sport a new rear camera module design, featuring vertically aligned lenses, reminiscent of the iPhone 12. In contrast, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus have diagonal alignment for their cameras. This shift to a vertical camera layout is expected to introduce Spatial Video recording capabilities to the base iPhone 16 models, a feature currently exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro models.

MacRumors recently shared mock-ups of the iPhone 16’s rear panel based on these rumors and speculations. The renders depict a vertical camera arrangement with a pill-shaped camera bump. The wide and ultra-wide angle cameras, along with a flash, are housed within two separate camera rings, presenting a design that combines elements from the iPhone X and iPhone 12. These mock-ups align with schematics recently shared by Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) on X.

With the design upgrade, Apple is expected to introduce Spatial Video recording to the base model iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus smartphones. Currently, only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models support spatial video recording, while the vanilla iPhone 15 models feature a diagonal camera arrangement and lack this capability.

The iPhone 16 series is rumored to launch in September of this year. Apple is speculated to equip the Pro models with an A18 Pro Bionic chip based on a 3nm process, while the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus may run on a modified version of the A17 Pro chip.

Additionally, Apple is expected to retain the Snapdragon X70 modem in the upcoming iPhone series. The Pro models may feature Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and possibly introduce a new ultra-wide lens on the rear. Rumors also suggest that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will boast larger displays compared to their predecessors, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, and may include a dedicated Capture Button.