On April 8th, Yanko Design unveiled the latest renderings of the iPhone 16 series (based on leaked molds). The appearance of the standard version of the iPhone 16 bears a striking resemblance to the iPhone X, with the main difference being the replacement of the notch area on the front with a dynamic island, and the transition of the phone's edges from curved to square design.
(Source: Yanko Design Official Website)
Reports indicate that the standard version of the iPhone 16 will continue to feature a dual-camera setup with wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses. Unlike its predecessors, where the cameras were arranged diagonally, this generation's cameras are arranged vertically. This design adjustment is reportedly aimed at better supporting Vision Pro for spatial video recording. The vertical arrangement of the dual-camera system is said to more effectively capture spatial depth, whereas the previous diagonal arrangement struggled to achieve this due to the cameras' sensors not being aligned on the same horizontal line.
Apart from the changes in appearance, there are significant upgrades in its internal hardware. The ultra-wide-angle lens in the 16 series will reportedly feature a brand-new 48-megapixel sensor. If these reports are accurate, the imaging capabilities of the 16 series should see a substantial improvement. However, all of these advancements are likely geared towards paving the way for Vision Pro.
(Source: Yanko Design Official Website)
Following Apple's tradition, if it weren't for promoting the Vision Pro, iPhone upgrades would typically be incremental. However, breaking from convention, Apple has equipped the standard version with a 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, a specification not even utilized in the Pro version. This clearly reflects Apple's support for Vision Pro and its planning for future technological trends. As an important attempt by Apple in the field of spatial video shooting and augmented reality technology, the success or failure of Vision Pro will have a significant impact on Apple's future product development.
(Source: Yanko Design official website)
In addition, the "silent switch" of the iPhone 16 will be changed to the "action button" of the iPhone 15 Pro series. Previously, Bloomberg reported that the entire 16 series will introduce a new "camera button". The new camera button retains the mechanical design, has tactile movement, can adjust the focus through touch, and responds to different pressure levels: light press to focus, heavy press to take a photo.
In its latest report, UBS disclosed that iPhone sales in the US market fell by 9% year-on-year in February, while sales in the Chinese market fell by 16% and sales in the Indian market fell by 13%. It is not difficult to see that the fiercely competitive Chinese market is one of the markets where iPhone sales have declined most severely.
(Source: Yanko Design official website)
In the face of declining sales from various fronts, if Apple continues with its toothpaste-squeezing approach to making smartphones, it can be foreseen that in 2024, amidst competition from Huawei's P70, Mate 70, and other high-end flagship models from domestic manufacturers, iPhone sales in the Chinese market could further decline.
