When Apple releases the iPhone 16 Pro this fall, it will bring numerous significant changes. Notably, the introduction of significantly faster charging will partially alleviate the prevalent issue of battery anxiety. The new charging speeds will surpass any previously seen on an iPhone by a considerable margin. However, some Android users, particularly those with phones like the OnePlus 12, which support even faster charging speeds, might not be impressed.
The battery sizes of the new iPhones will also influence their charging capabilities, with an intriguing impact on the iPhone 16 Plus. Reports suggest that while the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max will have larger batteries, the iPhone 16 Plus is expected to have a smaller battery than its predecessor, the iPhone 15 Plus. Britta O’Boyle at T3 notes an anticipated 8.6% reduction in battery size for the iPhone 16 Plus. However, this smaller battery, combined with support for faster charging, could mean that the iPhone 16 Plus charges quicker than the rest of the range.
Several updates have been reported for the iPhone 16 series, including different displays on some models, wider implementation of the exceptional tetraprism camera, a new strategy for next-generation processors, more advanced camera lenses, more efficient OLED displays, a new thermal design to prevent overheating, and an improved main camera sensor. However, the latest reports focus on battery life, a crucial factor for many users. The new batteries will not only have different capacities but will also recharge much faster when depleted.
According to a report from IT Home, spotted by MacRumors, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will support 40W wired charging speeds. This capability might extend to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus as well. Currently, all phones in the iPhone 15 series support wired charging speeds of up to 27 watts, given a sufficiently powerful charging plug. This allows the iPhone 15 to charge from zero to 50% in about 30 minutes. While this is already impressive, faster charging speeds would be even more beneficial.
Support for wired charging of up to 40W could significantly reduce charging times, potentially allowing the iPhone 16 to charge from zero to 50% in just over 15 minutes, assuming the use of a powerful enough charging plug. In practice, charging times might be slightly longer, especially since most iPhone 16 models are rumored to have larger batteries. Even so, achieving 50% charge in around 20 minutes could be a realistic expectation.
Wireless charging, which is highly convenient but typically slower, currently maxes out at 15W. The report also predicts that the iPhone 16 series will support 20W wireless charging, offering another boost in charging speed.
As the release date for the iPhone 16 series approaches, likely in mid-September, more details and revelations are expected. Stay tuned for further updates on what promises to be an exciting new release from Apple.