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Apple appears to be making a significant shift in storage options for its upcoming iPhone 16 Pro models. According to a report from Taiwanese market research firm TrendForce (via MacRumors), Apple is expected to drop the 128GB base storage variant and introduce a minimum of 256GB for the iPhone 16 Pro.
Why the Change Makes Sense
This move would align with Apple’s strategy from last year when it increased the base storage for the iPhone 15 Pro Max to 256GB. Given this trend, it’s logical to anticipate a similar upgrade for the Pro variant in the iPhone 16 series. However, with this bump in storage, we might also see a higher starting price for the iPhone 16 Pro.
Price Increase Justification
The increase in the base storage could indeed mean a higher price tag for the Pro model, but TrendForce suggests that the price hike might be more acceptable to consumers if it also comes with new high-end features. One such feature is the tetraprism zoom lens, which was exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The iPhone 16 Pro is expected to inherit this feature, which could justify the price increase.
Apple followed a similar strategy with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, where it introduced the tetraprism zoom lens while simultaneously increasing the base storage from 128GB to 256GB. This combination allowed Apple to increase the price while offering more value to consumers.
What Else to Expect from the iPhone 16 Series?
Apart from storage and camera upgrades, the TrendForce report also aligns with earlier leaks about the iPhone 16 series hardware:
- Chipset Upgrades: The non-Pro variants are expected to receive the A18 chip, while the Pro models will likely be equipped with the more powerful A18 Pro processor. This will provide a significant performance boost and differentiate the Pro models further from their non-Pro counterparts.
- Increased RAM: Apple may also upgrade the RAM in the non-Pro models from 6GB to 8GB. This increase could cater to the growing demand for Apple Intelligence features, enhancing multitasking and overall performance.
Launch Timeline
These details are still early speculations, and more concrete information about the iPhone 16 series is expected as we approach the official launch event. Currently, the launch is rumored to be scheduled for September 9th, 2024.
