iPhone 16 features that didn’t make it past the prototype stage

Apple’s iPhone 16 series has gone through several different stages Prototype StagesAs is typical with new hardware projects, during these various stages of development, the company sometimes makes significant design changes, changing the appearance of the devices in the process.

But in other cases, Apple may remove new hardware features. This can happen for a variety of reasons, depending on the situation. The company has to make sure that new hardware components meet strict quality control standards, which means that different designs and materials are tested frequently.

During development of iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, Apple changed certain design features and core hardware components. Many of these changes related to the devices’ buttons, as early prototype units were used to test alternative button designs and unique hardware arrangements that were not present in the final production models.

Generally speaking, the new iPhones are iterative upgrades that build on features and changes introduced with the previous generation. The iPhone 16 is no exception in this regard, as some of Apple’s changes to the button were aimed at improving the Action button introduced in 2023.

With iPhone 15 ProApple has replaced the single-purpose mute switch with a user-configurable mechanical button known as the Action button. Users can assign the button to one of Apple’s many predefined actions or use it in conjunction with Shortcuts. The Action button, for example, iPhone Use the flashlight, open the Camera app, start recording a Voice Memo, and more.

Unsurprisingly, the Action button made its way across the entire iPhone 16 lineup, including the base models. However, Apple didn’t always keep its current appearance, as it wanted to further enhance the Action button through additional functionality.

During its development iPhone 15 range is still in the works, Apple has experimented with different button-related design choices for the iPhone 16 series. The company tested two different designs for the Action button, and only one of them was used for the final product.

According to sources close to the matter, AppleInsiderSome early prototypes and internal designs of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro featured a noticeably different Action button.

With Project Atlas, Apple wanted to create a capacitive Action button that would mirror the functionality of Camera Control

Unlike the version found on production units, early prototype devices had a significantly larger Action button. In terms of size, it was close to the dimensions of the volume keys, meaning it would allow for a new look.

The button, developed under the code name Project Atlas, would reflect the functionality of the new Camera Control The button, known internally as Project Nova by Apple, means the larger Action button will have a sapphire crystal surface along with a capacitive sensor and a high-precision force sensor.

In practical terms, this means the large Action button will have the ability to sense different levels of pressure and distinguish between the same gestures used for the Camera Control button. On production units of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, Camera Control offers additional functionality in the Camera app through different gestures and pressure sensing.

A light press of the Camera Control button opens a minimal camera app interface. Users can swipe across the surface of the button to zoom in or out, or use another light press to take a photo. Video can be recorded by holding down the Camera Control button while the Camera app is open.

The Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 allows users to take photos and videos more easily.

A new iOS 18 The feature, known as Visual Intelligence, will enable additional use cases through integration for the Camera Control button Apple IntelligenceWhile the feature itself won’t be available until late 2024, Apple has already explained how it will work.

Users will be able to learn about a location or point of interest by holding down Camera Control and pointing their iPhone at the object. For example, Visual Intelligence will make it possible to add a calendar event by simply scanning a brochure. Pointing the iPhone at a restaurant will display ratings or other useful information for the location.

The same Camera Control button will also allow users to search on Google or ChatGPT, and will become available on third-party apps like Snapchat later in 2024.

Apple’s Project Atlas would enable similar functionality, only on the opposite side of the iPhone, above the volume buttons. Presumably, the large Action button would also retain its user-configurable status. In theory, this means Apple could offer additional customization options specific to the Action button.

The large Action button had a similar appearance, being flush with the bezel as per the Camera Control button. This means that it does not currently protrude like the power button or volume keys. The capacitive Action button was retained until the Proto1 phase of development and was eventually phased out with the Proto2 units.

Project Atlas has its roots in Project Bongo; both were originally set to appear in the iPhone 16 series.

Apple’s Project Bongo was initially designed as a hardware update for the iPhone 15 Pro, aiming to bring haptic volume and power buttons to the iPhone. Apple also planned to use it for the entire iPhone 16 series before the project was abruptly cancelled in April 2023.

Apple’s Project Bongo would feature a new unified volume button design, seen on this prototype iPhone 15 Pro Max

In terms of design, the Bongo project aimed to offer a unified volume knob with a notch in the middle to help users distinguish between volume up and volume down positions. AppleInsider We’ve released exclusive images of this design on the iPhone 15 Pro Max EVT prototype as part of our exclusive reveal report At Project Bongo.

In the same article, we outlined the basic hardware components of the tactile volume and power buttons. In short, the buttons detected changes in pressure via strain gauges and produced tactile feedback via a so-called “Bongo Tactile Motor” – an electromagnetically driven reluctance motor consisting of a ferromagnetic core and copper coil that oscillates relative to a magnet plate.

Apple initially wanted to include both a Bongo-style combo volume rocker, a capacitive Action button, and Camera Control for the iPhone 16. As a result, Camera Control was the only control that made it into the final product.

Apple abandoned Project Bongo in the Proto1 development phase of the iPhone 16 Pro. The Proto2 phase eliminated Project Atlas, making Camera Control the only new feature for the iPhone 16.

Other changes to the iPhone 16 series were stylistic rather than hardware-related. They only affected the base model iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, due to the unique camera layout found on those two devices.

Apple has returned to using a vertical rear camera layout for its standard devices with the base iPhone 16. Unlike the iPhone 15, which had diagonally aligned rear cameras, the iPhone 16 has two lenses stacked on top of each other with a flash on the side.

Early iPhone 16 prototypes featured camera bump designs reminiscent of the iPhone 12 and iPhone X

Apple chose this change to enable spatial video capture on the base model iPhone 16. The new vertical camera alignment allows these devices to record immersive 3D videos and photos, and they Apple Vision Pro earphones.

While the location of the iPhone 16’s lenses and flash never changed during development, early prototypes of the device featured familiar-looking designs for the rear camera bump.

As announced in December 2023 reportPreproduction prototypes of the base model iPhone 16 used two different camera designs. One was more common in prototype devices and had a near-identical camera bump. iPhone 12.

While it clearly featured the iPhone 16’s improved cameras, this design featured two separate lenses on a raised, square camera bump surface, meaning it was a scaled-back version of the iPhone 12 design.

Another iPhone 16 design Apple considered appeared to be a combination of the iPhone 12’s camera bump and lens housing iPhone XThis design featured a raised, square camera bump with a pill-shaped lens housing designed for both cameras.

After trying out two different camera bump designs similar to the iPhone X and iPhone 12, Apple has decided on a third, different design for the camera bump.

These camera bump designs were never realized and only appeared on prototype units. Apple eventually settled on a third design that retained stylistic cues from both, and that’s what ended up on the base model iPhone 16 and the final version of the iPhone 16 Plus.

The capacitive Action button, Camera Control, and combined, haptic volume buttons were also tested on standard iPhone 16 prototypes. With the exception of Camera Control, the projects never went into mass production.

However, there are a number of unique upgrades that make their way into the latest versions of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. The improved performance and powerful A18 chip series with support for Apple Intelligence make the iPhone 16 worth considering.

For those who want devices with a new look, the vibrant color options and vertical rear camera placement visually differentiate the base models and set them apart from their predecessors.