iPhone 16 Pro leak reveals two major upgrades — what you need to know

iPhone 15 Pro Max shown in hand
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Apple is still months from launching its iPhone 16 series, but a new leak suggests we’ll be getting two major upgrades for this year’s models.

Both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will ship with larger screens this year, according to a leaker using the name yeux1122 on South Korean platform Naver. The person said that the iPhone 16 Pro’s screen will jump from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max will see its display increase in size from 6.7 inches to 6.9 inches.

In addition to a larger screen in both models, Apple will also reportedly adopt Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology to increase the brightness and improve viewing angles in both displays, according to the report.

The iPhone 16 Pro series’ batteries will also get upgrades this year, according to yeux1122, and each model will launch with larger batteries. That should translate to battery life performance that tops any previous iPhone Pro launch, the leaker said.

Although Apple hasn’t commented on any iPhone 16 plans, the rumor mill has been churning out reports at a rapid rate over the past several months. We’ve previously heard that Apple wants to bundle bigger batteries in this year’s models, and there’s some back-and-forth on whether the company will indeed boost the iPhone 16 Pro series screen sizes or stick with their existing size.

Apple will be playing catch-up with the Galaxy S24 series, which just leapfrogged Apple on our best phone battery life list. The Galaxy S24 Ultra lasted a whopping 16 hours and 45 minutes on our web surfing test over 5G, while the Galaxy S24 Plus endured for 16:32. The iPhone 15 Plus (14:14) and iPhone 15 Pro Max (13:39) offer impressive endurance but are a good 2 hours behind. 

Additionally, reports have surfaced that suggest the iPhone 16 lineup’s cameras will be getting a major upgrade this year, including a new 48-megapixel ultrawide lens, and Apple could add a physical Action button to the device to make it easier to snap photos. The tech giant may even add a host of AI features, thanks to the expected launch of generative AI features in this year’s iOS 18.

However, as in years past, Apple isn’t discussing its iPhone 16 plans, so it’s difficult to say for sure what the company has planned. It’s also worth noting that we don’t know the true identity of yeux1122 or how they were able to obtain information about Apple’s plans. It’s best, therefore, to take their claims with the proverbial grain of salt until more rumors corroborate the claims and Apple itself has a chance to chime in.

But with a growing number of rumors cropping up as we continue on through 2024, it’s clear we’re inching closer to the iPhone 16’s launch. And until then you should tune in to our iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro hubs for all the latest rumors and leaks. 

More from Tom's Guide

Don Reisinger is CEO and founder of D2 Tech Agency. A communications strategist, consultant, and copywriter, Don has also written for many leading technology and business publications including CNET, Fortune Magazine, The New York Times, Forbes, Computerworld, Digital Trends, TechCrunch and Slashgear. He has also written for Tom's Guide for many years, contributing hundreds of articles on everything from phones to games to streaming and smart home.

Read more
iPhone 16 Pro Max shown in hand
iPhone 17 Pro Max — all the rumors so far
Iphone 17 pro max render next to iPhone 16 Pro Max being held in hand
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: Biggest expected upgrades
Renders of the iphone 17 in teal, green and dark green
iPhone 17 rumors — everything we know so far
A render of the iPhone 17 Pro Max
iPhone 17 Pro Max — this new rumor could push people towards iPhone 17 Air
iPhone 17 Pro render
iPhone 17 Ultra just tipped to replace Pro Max in new leak — with these key upgrades
iPhone 17 Air render
iPhone 17 Air screen size and specs leak — here's what you need to know
Latest in iPhones
iPhone 17 Pro render
iPhone 17 Ultra just tipped to replace Pro Max in new leak — with these key upgrades
RCS messaging on an iPhone
Forget green bubbles — iPhones will soon get encrypted RCS messaging to Androids
iPhone 17 Pro render
iPhone 17 Pro Max leak claims it’s ready for production — and seems to confirm its new design
iPhone 16e review.
iPhone 16e is facing Bluetooth problems — here's what's going on
iPhone 17 Air vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
iPhone 17 Air vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: Everything we know so far
iOS 19 logo on an iPhone
iOS 19 risks turning Apple Intelligence into the new Siri — and that's not good
Latest in News
Nintendo Switch 2
New Nintendo Switch 2 FCC filing suggests this beloved Nintendo controller could make a comeback
(From L to R) Rohan (Nik Dodani), Josh (Brandon Flynn), Dorothy (Edie Falco), John (Dean Norris), and Liddie (Lisa Kuthrow) in The Parenting
Max top 10 movies — here’s the 3 worth watching right now
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE renders
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE price leak is bad news for budget-conscious buyers
Google Assistant
Gemini to kill off Google Assistant on most Android phones — here's what you need to know
MacBook Air M4
MacBook Air M4 teardown reveals familiar repairability pain points
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Saturday, March 15 (#643)