A recent leak on Twitter has sparked speculation about the upcoming iPhone 16, suggesting a significant design change compared to its predecessor, the iPhone 15. According to Twitter user @URedditor, also known as Unknownz21, the iPhone 16 will feature a vertical camera arrangement, reminiscent of the iPhone 12, instead of the diagonal cameras found in the iPhone 14.
In the past, Apple has typically reserved major product changes for its premium Pro iPhones before incorporating them into later generations. For instance, the iPhone 14 Pro introduced the Dynamic Island, a feature expected to trickle down to the standard iPhone 15 in 2023.
The shift from a diagonal to a vertical camera layout in the iPhone 16 is a departure from Apple’s recent strategy, which has focused on incremental changes for its standard iPhone models. While the yearly updates have brought significant functionality enhancements, they have largely followed in the footsteps of the Pro models.
The reason behind this design change remains unclear, but Unknownz21 suggests that it could serve as a distinguishing feature, instantly signaling the device as the latest model in the lineup. Apple may have decided that the additional space required for improving sensors and stabilization motors, which led to the adoption of the diagonal layout, is no longer necessary in future iterations.
Interestingly, this leak has led the leaker to express less enthusiasm for the iPhone 15 standard devices. The vertical camera arrangement in the iPhone 16 provides a degree of differentiation, whereas the iPhone 15’s outward appearance is expected to bear close resemblance to the iPhone 14.
While it is still early in the development process, with the iPhone 16 undergoing testing, the leaked information has piqued the interest of Apple enthusiasts and consumers eagerly awaiting the next iteration of the iconic smartphone. As the leak suggests, we may see an iPhone 12-style design with a vertical camera layout in the upcoming iPhone 16, offering a fresh look and distinguishing it from its immediate predecessor, the iPhone 15.