Apple may offer surprise iPhone 16 design upgrade and not just for Pro models

Apple has confirmed it will host an event dubbed ‘Glowtime’ on Monday 9th September where we fully expect the Californian tech firm to announce the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. It means that with less than two weeks until the covers are lifted on this year’s new iPhones, rumours and leaks are speeding up that give us a better picture of what to expect.

One thing that seems certain is at least one model of iPhone 16 is going to get a brand new button. Dubbed the Capture Button, previous rumours suggested only the Pro iPhones would get it, but a new report from Apple Insider seems to point to the new feature coming to all four new iPhone 16 handsets.

The publication said its sources claim the Capture Button “is expected to debut across the entire iPhone 16 range” and that Apple has tested it to work with all four new iPhones. The button is on the right edge of the phones underneath the power button and is also long in length. It’s expected to be flush with the frame of the phones rather than stick out like the power, volume and Action Buttons do on the latest iPhones.

The Action Button is currently only found on the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, replacing the Ring/Silent switch found on every other model of iPhone ever, including the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. If this new report is accurate, all iPhone 16 models are likely to have the Action Button and Capture Button.

A Capture Button would mostly act as a shutter button for the Camera app much like you would find on any digital camera, but also on Sony Xperia smartphones. Unlike those products, Apple is said to have made the Capture Button flush with the body of the iPhone, and it could be a capacitive button that doesn’t move - much like the Home Button on the iPhone SE or trackpads on MacBooks - and give the user the impression of movement through vibrating haptic feedback.

The button could be touch sensitive to allow for half a press to focus and firmer press to take a photo, similar to the deep press action possible on MacBook trackpads. There’s also a chance the button could be swipeable to scroll menus or zoom in when using the camera.

If Apple brings the Action and Capture Buttons to every new iPhone 16 model it would mean even fewer hardware differences between the ‘regular’ and Pro iPhones in 2024. It’s expected that Apple will give the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus 60Hz displays, which is almost unheard of for any other premium priced smartphone. Smoother, better looking 120Hz panels are found on Samsung, Google, OnePlus, Xiaomi and Pro iPhones.

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are said to keep the titanium build of the 15 Pro phones, and the 16 and 16 Plus will stay aluminium but with new colours and vertically aligned cameras instead of diagonal to differentiate them from the iPhone 15 series.

Apple could also be preparing two brand new versions of its extremely popular AirPods wireless earbuds for the 9th September event, along with a new Apple Watch Series 10.

For the latest iPhone 16 release date, price and specs rumours you can check out our full article here.