Leak Unveils iPhone 16's Redesigned Camera Chassis, Hints at Vertical Layout

Following MacRumor's previous comprehensive coverage of the iPhone 16 and the numerous camera bump designs Apple has tested, user Majin Bu has published new information on the social media website X. Despite having an unsatisfactory history, this user has, on occasion, offered precise insights into the design of forthcoming iPhones. Their most recent publication is an imminent examination of an authentic iPhone 16 component.

Bu's post featured an image of the primary camera chassis of the base model iPhone 16, constructed vertically. User comments in response to Bu's post indicate that the fact that the part image was uploaded inverted does not compromise the component's authenticity.

iPhone 16 Leak Confirms Shift to Vertical Camera, Adds New Capture Button

MacRumors possesses the capability to authenticate the component design depicted above autonomously. We have confirmed from industry sources that the item showcased in Bu's post is the primary camera chassis for the I-34 camera initiative, designed for implementation in the iPhone 16 base model scheduled for release in the latter part of this year.

This most recent component disclosure is consistent with numerous rumors regarding the iPhone 16's forthcoming vertical camera layout, which Apple has reportedly designed. Apple has made the strategic change from the existing diagonal camera alignment observed on the base model iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus to a vertical orientation, as mentioned earlier in the MacRumors December report on early iPhone 16 prototypes and our analysis of more recent internal designs. By implementing a vertical camera configuration, Apple could incorporate Spatial Video recording into the entry-level model iPhone 16, thereby extending the availability of this feature to the entire iPhone 16 lineup.

In addition to the vertical camera configuration, the Action button is anticipated to be retained from the iPhone 15 Pro, and the right side of the device will feature an additional Capture button equipped with force-sensor technology.

Apple Tests a Design for a Slim Camera Bump on the iPhone 16 Base Model

Apple has been experimenting with various camera bump designs for the conventional iPhone 16 models over the past few months. Three of Apple's prototype designs were described in December, but the company has redirected its attention.

We've developed a series of renderings based on internal designs to assist readers in visualizing the addition to Apple's most recent prototype, which features a pill-shaped raised surface and a vertical camera arrangement.

By incorporating elements from previous prototype designs, the pill-shaped camera bulge showcases two distinct camera rings, one each for the Wide and Ultrawide cameras. The prototyping process ensured that the camera was arranged vertically, and Apple has not altered the placement of the flash or camera optics in this most recent update.

Apple's most recent camera aesthetic experimentation is influenced by previous iPhone models, including the iPhone X. The camera on the iPhone X was also pill-shaped and featured a slender bump design. Although the iPhone 12 also featured a vertical camera, it was distinguished by a broader square protrusion that accommodated the flash and microphone.

With the implementation of the vertical camera layout, it is anticipated that Apple will incorporate spatial video recording capabilities into the iPhone 16 base model and iPhone 16 Plus model. At this time, only the iPhone 15 Pro models and the Vision Pro headwear can capture spatial video, as the iPhone 15 models lack this capability due to their diagonal camera arrangement.

As previously documented, in addition to the revised camera protrusion design, more recent prototypes of the iPhone 16 feature minor adjustments to the Action Button and Capture Button. The latest prototype units include a pressure-sensitive Capture Button integrated with the device's frame and a smaller Action Button comparable to the iPhone 15 Pro.

Although the redesign of the camera hump primarily pertains to the aesthetics of the glass backplate, the alteration made to the Action Button during the prototyping stage is more substantial. The updates from Apple indicate that the company has abandoned its original plan to incorporate a capacitive action button into the iPhone 16 series.

Photo: Samuel Angor/Unsplash