The iPhone 16 Pro Max May Get a Near-Borderless ‘Sci-Fi Form Factor’
Credit: @UniverseIce / X
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It’s not exactly news that Apple plans to increase the size of its Pro model iPhones this year. After all, we’ve been hearing reports of a 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max since around this time last year — four months before the iPhone 15 lineup had even launched.
More recently, we’ve also seen dummy mold units and aluminum-milled casts that clearly show both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max growing in size and stature.
However, now a new leak isn’t just giving us a visual representation; it’s sharing the actual dimensions of the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max right down to the millimeter while also giving us some new insight into what we can expect from the bezels around the screen — something we haven’t heard too many specifics about.
This latest tidbit comes on X from Ice Universe (@UniverseIce), one of the serial leakers who often surfaces on Weibo. While the dimensions aren’t a huge surprise, the leaker notes that this year’s models could get closer than ever to a “borderless sci-fi form factor.”
If that part sounds familiar, that’s because Ice Universe made a similar prediction about the iPhone 15 Pro Max last year, offering a set of measurements that turned out to be spot on.
While that model’s bezels did slim down a bit over its predecessor, hitting 1.55mm and breaking the record previously held by the Xiamomi 13, it wasn’t long before Samsung lapped Apple with the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 1.5mm borders.
The good news is that it sounds like Apple plans to pull back into the lead with this year’s iPhone 16 Pro Max, with Ice Universe predicting the bezels will shrink to an unprecedented 1.15mm. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro, which is expected to grow its screen to 6.3 inches, will shave even more off the bezels, dropping 30% from the iPhone 15 Pro’s 1.71mm down to 1.2mm, only 0.05mm more than its larger sibling.
That won’t be a noticeable difference for those coming from an iPhone 15 Pro model, but since many more folks will be upgrading from an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro, it should feel like an impressive change. Ice Universe has shared a few photos for comparison, showing a stark contrast between the iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
The slimmer bezels are said to be the result of a new Border Reduction Structure (BRS) technology to get the screens as close to the edge as possible. This is also believed to be one of the factors that’s causing problems for suppliers with the new screens, which makes sense as the other specs are expected to remain the same. BRS is just the latest in a string of technologies that Apple has been employing to produce better quality screens and eliminate the distracting bezels; last year, it was low-injection pressure over-molding (LIPO).
Beyond the bezels, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to grow by 3.1mm in height and 0.88mm in width while gaining a single millimeter in thickness. The iPhone 16 Pro will retain the same depth as its predecessor while growing by a similar 3mm in height and 0.85mm in width. Both models are expected to be slightly heavier: 7 grams for the iPhone 16 Pro and 4 grams for the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]
