Apple is expected to launch the next-generation iPhone 16 series later this year. The smartphones in the range are expected to receive a number of new updates and may also feature larger batteries compared to their predecessors. However, Apple is reportedly planning to equip the iPhone 16 Plus with a smaller battery than its predecessor.
Tipster OvO Baby Sauce OvO reported on the Chinese social media site Weibo that the iPhone 16 Plus may have a lower battery capacity than last year’s iPhone 15 Plus.
The numbers reported by the leaker match those posted by another league player, Majin Poo, on microblogging site X (formerly Twitter) in February.
Based on the information I managed to obtain, the new iPhone 16 will have a 3561 mAh battery, while the 16 plus should have a 4006 mAh battery and the 16 Pro Max, should be equipped with a 4676 mAh battery that is no longer L-shaped due to the redesign of the internal structure… pic.twitter.com/T7VuhQ6Brs
— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) February 7, 2024
However, the post does not mention what battery capacity is expected in the iPhone 16 Pro models. The latest leak shows that the battery capacity of the iPhone 16 has apparently undergone a complete overhaul.
Apart from the size difference, both models iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to have the same features. According to a report from MacRumors, battery savings will be practically negligible as this model could make more money in other areas.
Why is the iPhone 16 Plus battery small?
According to this report, Apple could try to maximize the difference between iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max by reducing the capacity. With this change, the company may be trying to nudge customers towards higher features (and prices) on the top model. Below is a list of iPhone 15 and 16 battery capacity comparisons shared on Weibo:
| Models | iPhone 15 Lineup (2023) | iPhone 16 Lineup (2024) | % Change expected |
| Standard | 3,349 mAh | 3,561 mAh | +6% |
| Plus | 4,383 mAh | 4,006 mAh | -9% |
| Pro | 3,274 mAh | 3,355 mAh | +2.5 |
| Pro Max | 4,422 mAh | 4,676 mAh | +5%
|
Apple replaced the iPhone 13 mini with the iPhone 14 Plus in 2022. The Plus model allowed customers to get a 6.7-inch display like the iPhone 14 Pro Max without paying extra.
Additionally, the iPhone 14 Plus model has a larger battery capacity than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which has allowed Apple to promote the device as having “longer battery life.”
However, with the release of the iPhone 15 series, Apple increased the battery capacity of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, making it the largest battery ever used in an iPhone.
Another rumor suggests that this year’s iPhone 16 Pro Max will have an even longer battery life of 30 hours (versus the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 29 hours).
Additionally, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will have slightly larger displays.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
