For a limited time only, the retailer is offering a potent combination of a $100 gift card as a bonus freebie and a trade-in rebate of up to $499 - a saving that's enough to cover the entire cost of the device.

The latest Google Pixel 8a, as with previous iterations in the series, features a superb line-up of specs and AI-assisted features for a wallet-friendly price that significantly undercuts the competition. In addition to a powerful new Tensor G3 chipset, you'll get a 120Hz refresh display and a guaranteed seven years of software updates, making this particular device even better value than its predecessors. You can read more about the device just down below or head on over to our main Google Pixel 8a hub page for a full run-down of everything you need to know. 

Google Pixel 8a deal at Best Buy

What's new with the Google Pixel 8a?

The latest Google Pixel 8a is the most fully featured device yet in the 'A' series thanks to a 6.1-inch Actua display (up to 120Hz), 8x Super Res Zoom, and Tensor G3 chip (the same that's featured in the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro). Internally, the device carries a beefy 4,492mAh battery that Google claims is good for 24 hours of usage. The brand has also confirmed seven years of Android security and feature updates, which should boost the device's lifespan significantly.

As always with Pixel smartphones, the Pixel 8a blends together excellent hardware with the latest software features from the brand. Alongside new generative AI features for text and circle to search, you'll also get old favorites like Photo Unblur and Magic Eraser. These super handy features, as well as Best Take, easily make the Pixel 8a one of the best mid-range devices on the market for avid mobile photographers. 

The Pixel 8a takes many of its design cues from the Google Pixel 8 and its direct predecessor, the Google Pixel 7a, keeping the distinctive rectangular camera bar of both phones and the 6.1-inch display size of the latter – there are some changes though. 

The display is a 2400 x 1400 resolution Acuta panel, meaning it gets up to 40% brighter than the Pixel 7a’s screen and comes with a 120Hz refresh rate as opposed to 90Hz. The rear cameras comprise a 64-megapixel main sensor with an 80-degree field of view and the ability to capture video at 30 frames per second and 60 fps in a 4K resolution, while the ultrawide camera gets a bump up to 13MP and has a 120-degree field of view; around the front there's a 13MP camera. 

There’s a fresh suite of colors for the more affordable Pixel, with the 8a coming in Aloe (think a light pastel green), Bay (light blue), Obsidian (black) and Porcelain (white) colors. 

While the Pixel 7a only offered a model with 128GB of storage, Google has decided the Pixel 8a would benefit from the option of 256GB of onboard storage as well. 18W wireless charging support is present, as is the option for wireless Qi charging. And the battery has got a minor bump as well, up from 4,385mAh to 4,492mAh – expect decent battery life, but nothing to write home about.

I say that because the Pixel 8a comes with Google’s Tensor G3 chip, the same processor as in the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, which not only means a decent slug of power but an AI-centric processing pipeline, enabling the new phone to offer the same suite of AI and generative AI features as its bigger stablemates.

Naturally, Best Take, which enables users to include the best facial expressions for everyone in a group photo, is present, as is the generative AI-based Magic Editor, which enables photos to be re-cropped, with the smart tech generating imagery to fill in any gaps or to basically recompose a photo completely.

The less headline-grabbing smart camera features have also filtered down to the Pixel 8a, including Audio Magic Eraser, which can smartly can remove background noise from videos, Real Tone in video, which ensures skin tones are captured accurately, and Guided Frame mode, to help people with visual impairments take a neatly composed photo.

The generative AI also comes into play elsewhere, with the Pixel 8a having the slick and powerful Circle to Search feature, which lets you press and hold the Android home button, then circle an object or subject in a photo or on screen, and have the AI try to identify what’s been circled and serve up relevant search results.

The Pixel 8a gets other tools like Call Assist, which can wait in a phone queue for you and alert you when it’s your turn to talk to a customer service representative, and the Gemini AI assistant, which can do all manner of tasks, like summarize emails and add images to things from just a command; bear in mind that its availability will be dependent on languages and regions. Smart safety measures are also thrown in for good measure, with tools like car-crash detection and an automated safety check feature aiming to keep users safe or get quick access to aid if they are not.

In short, the Google Pixel 8a is basically a cheaper way to get access to a whole load of Google’s latest smart and generative AI-based features. At $499 / £449 / AU$849, it keeps the same price as its predecessor, but is AU$100 more expensive in Australia. However, it comes with more powerful innards and a new dose of smart features – and there’s now seven years of software updates, a first for the Pixel a-series.

Pre-orders are live today (May 7) and the Google Pixel 8a will hit shelves on May 14. We suggest waiting for TechRadar's review before taking the plunge on the new Pixel; if you’re very keen on buying a phone today, then check out our best phones list and best cheap phones list for a budget option.

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To coincide with the launch of the new Google Pixel 8a, Google is offering you three high-value ways to save on your new smartphone, whether you want to trade in your old device, accessorise your new phone, or pick up some other Google tech in the purchasing process. So, to help you find the best way to save on your new phone, we've broken down every deal Google has announced for the Google Pixel 8a below. 

Today's best Google Pixel 8a deals

Why buy the Google Pixel 8a?

The Google Pixel 8a blends Google's class-leading mix of performance, styling, and AI features with the A-Series' renowned value for money. The Google Pixel 8a comes with a 6.1-inch Actua display (up to 120Hz), dual rear cameras with Super Res Zoom giving you up to 8x zoom from your phone, and the Google Tensor G3 chip seen in both the Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro. Plus, a 4,492mAh battery, seven years of Android security and feature updates, and IP67 water and dust resistance, all mean you'll be sure to have years of functionality and enjoyment from Google's latest high-value smartphone. 

Despite starting at only £499 in the UK, the Google Pixel 8a comes packed with the latest Google features and innovations. Whether you want to make the group selfie perfect using Best Take, the finish line photo crisp and clear using Photo Unbur, or the family videos absolutely perfect using Audio Magic Eraser, the Google Pixel 8a lacks none of the key AI-driven features you'd see from it's more premium counterparts the Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Where are the best Google Pixel 8a deals?

With the Google Pixel 8a now open for preorders, we're beginning to see the first waves of deals become available on Google's latest flagship. If you're looking to get the Google Pixel 8a alongside an airtime plan from a network provider, be prepared for slightly higher costs depending on the benefits included in your contract.

We will be tracking all the latest Google Pixel 8a deals as they come out, so make sure to keep an eye on TechRadar to find the latest, and best deals as they become available. 

That's a whopping $440 discount for what's essentially an unlocked device. While you'll be locked to Mint for a year of service, this is far less restrictive than similar deals at the major carriers which require a three-year commitment. Plus, this is easily the cheapest upfront price we've seen for the Pixel 8 Pro without the usual annoying trade-in criteria.

And, it's worth switching over to Mint Mobile if you're looking for a decent prepaid plan. Right now, this carrier offers some of the best cheap cell phone plans on the market thanks to a respectable line-up of choices. We'd particularly recommend the unlimited data plan for $30 per month ($360 upfront for a year), although the entry-level 5GB and 15GB monthly plans also offer outstanding value for the money.

In addition to the saving on your device, this Mint Mobile deal on the Pixel 8 Pro also comes with six months of free service, meaning you'll get a decent amount of cheap service alongside your device. Note, however, that you will need to port your number over to be eligible for this great plan and device combo deal.

Google Pixel 8 Pro at a record-low price

We stated that the Pixel 8 Pro is the best Pixel device that the brand has ever made in our Google Pixel 8 Pro review. It's got even better lately thanks to the recent addition of features like circle to search and generative text. While it's true that it's not the most powerful device on the market right now (compared to the iPhone 15 and Galaxy S24), it's easily one of the most useful and helpful for day-to-day use.

If you're looking to save even more cash, then you could potentially wait for the impending launch of the Google Pixel 8a, which could land any day now. This mid-range device is likely to feature the same Tensor 3 chipset as the Pro model but will forgo some of the more higher-end components and features. 

Alternatively, we'd recommend checking out this week's best cell phone deals for other discounts on other brands. 

This information comes from Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu, in an investor note seen by 9to5Mac, and Pu claims that this new Slim model will have a 6.6-inch display (down from 6.7 inches on the iPhone 15 Plus). Though another leaker – Ross Young – has said in a new X post that it will be slightly smaller still, at 6.55 inches.

In either case, the fact that two different reputable leakers are talking about an iPhone 17 Slim means there’s a fair chance this is a real thing.

Design changes for every model

As for the rest of the iPhone 17 series, Pu claims that the iPhone 17 will have a 6.1-inch screen, the iPhone 17 Pro will have a 6.3-inch display, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a 6.9-inch one. That’s in line with the sizes we’re expecting from the iPhone 16 line, so it’s only the iPhone 17 Slim that might be getting a screen size change.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max will, unsurprisingly, apparently be clad in titanium, much like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but interestingly, the other three models are said to have a “more complex” aluminum design. That could actually be a downgrade for the iPhone 17 Pro though, since the iPhone 15 Pro also uses titanium.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is additionally said to have a “narrowed Dynamic Island”, while the other three phones will apparently stick with the Dynamic Island we're used to. This reduced size is supposedly due to a new “metalens” technology, which could shrink the size of the Face ID sensor.

More megapixels and RAM

The same report also points to the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Slim having 8GB of RAM and either an A18 or A19 chipset, while the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will apparently have 12GB of RAM and an A19 Pro chipset. For reference, currently the standard models have 6GB of RAM, while the Pro models have 8GB, and with the iPhone 16 line, it’s rumored that all four phones will have 8GB of RAM.

Finally, all four iPhone 17 models are said to have a 24MP front-facing camera, up from 12MP on the current phones.

So, it sounds like the iPhone 17 Pro Max could be the big winner here, with the largest screen, the smallest Dynamic Island, and possibly being the only titanium option in the line. But the iPhone 17 Pro sounds like a big upgrade too, with more RAM and a faster chipset than current models, and indeed the standard iPhone 17.

The iPhone 17 Slim could be an interesting addition, and given the name, it would presumably be thinner than the 7.8mm iPhone 15 Plus, but that remains to be seen.

Of course, it’s extremely early for iPhone 17 leaks, so even though this all comes from a credible source, we’d take such rumors with a significant pinch of salt for now.

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Even the design, which gets points for solid construction and cute, retro looks, fails to inspire. The touch-screen, physical scroll wheel navigation is one of the worst system interaction strategies I've ever encountered. RabbitOS's incredibly linear navigation only exacerbates the problem. I can't remember the last mobile piece of consumer electronics that didn't know to return to a home screen if you weren't using it. I'd argue the developers took the "rabbit hole" metaphor a little too seriously and designed an operating system that is nothing but rabbit holes and the only way you get out of them is by carefully backing up.

Rabbit R1 was supposed to be different. it was supposed to be special. It's not a smartphone and was never intended to be one or even compete with one. Instead, Rabbit tossed traditional smartphone and app tropes out the window and developed something new: a way of connecting your intentions to action without the need for apps. A new AI or Large Action Model (LAM), would connect spoken requests to app logins and then handle all the interactions and execution for you.

In practice, this means that you're logging into your Uber, Door Dash, Spotify, and Midjourney accounts through the Rabbit Hole desktop interface and then using the Rabbit R1 hardware, its push-to-talk system, and on-board AI to request rides, food, music, and generative images.

Would it shock you to hear that most of that didn't work for me? It's not all Rabbit's fault. Spotify won't accept third-party music requests unless you have a paid account. Doordash couldn't complete the sign-in. Midjourney works but the image generation is happening in Discord and not inside the Rabbit.

LAM turns out to be unimpressive and somewhat jerry-rigged. The built-in large language model that works with Rabbit Vision is somewhat better but why would I buy another $199 piece of hardware to duplicate something I can do with a cheap phone, much less the best phone currently available? I wouldn't, and neither should you.

Rabbit R1: Pricing & availability

The Rabbit announced the Rabbit R1 AI companion at CES 2024 in January. It shipped in April, lists for $199 (about £160/AU$290), and is currently available in the US, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, South Korea, Japan, and Australia. The first run is done and new orders are shipping in June 2024.

• Price score: 3.5 / 5

Rabbit R1: Design & features

You have to give Rabbit and design firm Teenage Engineering credit: the Rabbit R1 looks nothing like a traditional smartphone and that difference helps broadcast its intentions, which are ultimately nothing like your phone's.

Rabbit R1 is a 3x3in by a half-inch thick orange paint-covered and fairly sturdy slab. It has a tiny 2.88-inch color touch screen, an enclosed, rotatable 8MP camera, and below that a large, slick scroll wheel. If you look on the side adjacent to that wheel, you'll see a small gray push-to-talk (to the device) button that goes right through it. On the opposite side is a USB-C charge port (the device does not ship with a cable or charge adapter).  Below that is a SIM slot that you can open with a fingernail, a nice change from all the phones that require a special pin.

There's a pair of microphones along one edge and on the back is a large speaker grill (one inch by about 0.5 in).

Inside is 4GB of RAM, which doesn't sound like much but considering how little Rabbit R1 does on board it's probably enough. There's a surprising 128GB of storage that will mostly go unused. The MediaTek MT 6765 is a middling CPU but it's unclear how much of an impact since the Rabbit R1 is usually talking to the cloud. AI image generation through Midjourney, for example, is not performed in-device. Instead, it sends prompts to the cloud where Midjourney on Discord handles them, generates images, and then sends them back to the Rabbit R1 to be displayed on the tiny, albeit sharp, screen.

Considering how important that cloud connection is to Rabbit R1's operation you'd think it would do a better job of maintaining it, but often when I picked up the Rabbit R1, it would say "establishing connection" while I waited. If I had it connected to my smartphone, the connection would often drop out. You can, by the way, buy and install a SIM card to deliver a constant, dedicated connection to your mobile network. Still, without the ability to make calls or even send and receive texts, what's the point of that?

• Design & features score: 3/5

Rabbit R1: Performance & Battery Life

Setup is mostly pain-free, though to use Rabbit R1, I had to get it on a network, which required typing in a WiFi password into a really tiny virtual touch screen. The Rabbit R1 wouldn't work, though, until I plugged it in and accepted the first of what would become a series of regular updates. 

There isn't much about Rabbit R1's operation that I'd call familiar. If you pick it up, you'll notice the screen is dark until you press the talk button. The default screen is a graphical rabbit (Rabbit's logo) with battery life and time. There's nothing else on the display. Touching or tapping the screen does nothing. It's important that you get used to talking to Rabbit R1, as it's the only way to access its limited feature set. At least Rabbit R1's microphones are powerful enough to pick up my requests even when I whisper them.

Rabbit R1 doesn't do much of anything on its own. There's the cloud-based large-language model (LLM) that does a decent job of answering questions about the weather, history, and other general-interest topics. It's also quite good at reading labels. I noticed that when I pointed it at a rocket model, it accurately identified it and then walked me through the bullet list of details on the box. The built-in camera is not for taking pretty pictures (what do you expect from an 8MP sensor?) and is instead used with Rabbit Vision.

The camera is usually hidden but when I double-click the Talk button, the camera swivels to face out from the back of the Rabbit R1 – you use the scroll wheel to flip the camera from front to back and vice versa. I can hold the button down to ask Rabbit R1 to, for instance, describe what it's seeing. After a few seconds, it usually responds accurately and in surprising detail.

It did well identifying a banana, a camera, and me as a late middle-aged man. But when I asked it to to help me plan a meal based on what it could see in my refrigerator, it only described what it saw in the fridge and told me there were many options. However, it did not describe a single dish and when I followed up and asked it to suggest a meal based on what's in my fridge, it said it could not order food.

I don't speak any other languages, so I tested Rabbit R1's real-time translation abilities by letting it listen to some Japanese language videos on YouTube. I told it to translate Japanese to English and, when I held the talk button to let it listen and then released it, the Rabbit R1 quickly displayed on screen and repeated the conversation in English. That was pretty impressive, though, the lack of on-screen guidance on how to make this work was frustrating. Most people not comfortable with technology might just give up.

I can relive all these interactions with Vision through the online "Rabbit Hole," which keeps the text and images from each interaction in calendar order. There's no search function but each entry includes a trashcan icon so you can delete it.

Rabbit R1 doesn't include communication, email, messaging, social media, games, or anything that might prompt me to engage with it more regularly. It's just an AI wrapped inside a device.

There are some settings and controls for things like volume control. To access them you have to press the Talk button and then, I kid you not, shake Rabbit R1. To navigate the menu, you'll need to use the large orange scroll wheel. This wheel is one of Rabbit's worst decisions. I found it slippery and hard to turn. I hate it.

Navigating the Settings menu required a series of turns and presses. You navigate down to a menu item and then reverse those steps to get back home. It's almost as if the designers never used a smartphone. If I weren't testing the Rabbit R1, I might've pitched it out a window.

Initial battery life on the Rabbit R1 was not good and I watched as it lost a quarter of it's battery life in the space of an hour. Subsequent updates seemed to help that a bit but I still think battery life drains far too fast (even when you're not using it). The average smartphone is more efficient and lasts far longer.

• Performance and Battery Life Score: 2.5/5

Rabbit R1: Final verdict

If all it took to achieve success in consumer electronics is to deliver an adorable design at a relatively affordable price, Rabbit R1 might be a success. But that's not the real world.

Rabbit R1 doesn't do enough to replace your smartphone or even operate as a decent companion. It's limited, and poorly thought out and much of the magic it promises happens – slowly – in the cloud and then is delivered back to this underpowered orange product.

If Rabbit hopes to lead the AI gadget charge, it better go back to the drawing board for Rabbit R2.

Should you buy it?

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This comes from accessory maker Thinborne and the team at Android Central, and the suggestion is that the design and dimensions of the Google Pixel 9 have been confirmed as far as the supply chain and industry partners are concerned.

According to the Thinborne case listings, there will be three models: the Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL. That chimes with earlier rumors too – apparently the XL model is the largest of three, as you would expect from its name.

We've previously seen some leaked photos of the Pixel 9, and these cases match up with those images: the Pixel 9 is expected to be slightly flatter than the Pixel 8, with a rear camera module that's more of an island than a bar.

Earlier rumors

As always with leaks and rumors, it's important to bear in mind that nothing is certain until its official. However, the number of leaks we've seen pointing in the same direction mean we're pretty confident that we know what the Pixel 9 is going to look like.

Another rumor we've previously come across suggests the standard Pixel 9 is going to get an extra camera on the back this year, a telephoto camera that should improve the optical zoom capabilities of the most affordable handset in the flagship series.

There's also been talk that the Tensor G4 chipset expected to power the Pixel 9 phones is going to mean a boost in battery life as well as performance. Support for satellite messaging has been predicted for these upcoming devices too.

No doubt there will be more rumors and leaks to sift through between now and October, but in the meantime Google I/O 2024 gets underway on May 14. We should hear more about Android 15 at the event, and it's likely that the Google Pixel 8a will be unveiled.

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This particular tip comes from ShopSystem (via Neowin), and involves molds used by third-party case makers so they can get their wares ready for the iPhone 16 launch. They usually give us a good indication of what the actual phones will look like.

In this case it's noticeable that the MagSafe rings on the back of the iPhone 16 models are thinner than those on their iPhone 15 counterparts. It's not the most dramatic of changes, but it hints that the wireless charging tech might be about to become more efficient and lightweight – perhaps with a reduction in charger sizes.

The iPhone version of MagSafe (as opposed to the older Mac technology) was launched in 2020 alongside the iPhone 12. It's probably due an upgrade, perhaps including a charging speed increase from the current 15W, but this might also mean the new iPhones will require a whole new set of accessories and cases.

Photos, videos, and AI

These case molds also show a vertical camera alignment for the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Plus, which we've heard about before. Check out our iPhone 15 review and you'll see the two rear cameras are arranged in a diagonal pattern.

The thinking is that swapping the alignment of the cameras might enable the cheaper iPhones to record spatial video: that's the 3D video format developed by Apple that can be viewed on the Apple Vision Pro.

We've also heard rumors that the Pro and Pro Max are going to get slightly bigger screens this time around, but it's difficult to tell from these case molds. Given the way the industry has been going in the last year or so, it's likely that the iPhone 16 is going to go big on AI too, with the help of iOS 18.

If Apple sticks to its usual schedule this year, then we should see the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16 Plus, the iPhone 16 Pro, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max show up at some point during September. Before that happens, there's a big iPad event scheduled for tomorrow, May 7, where we're expecting several new tablets.

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Thanks to leaks and rumors we already have a good idea of what to expect from the iPhone 16 Plus, even though it probably won’t land until September. So below you’ll find everything we've heard so far, including the rumored release date, price, design, and specs.

We’re sure to hear plenty more rumors about this phone ahead of launch though, and we’ll be collecting them all here. As such, keep checking back if you want the most complete possible picture of the iPhone 16 Plus pre-launch.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The larger-screen alternative to the iPhone 16
• When is it out? Probably September 2024
• How much will it cost? Likely at least $899 / £899 / AU$1,649

iPhone 16 Plus: expected release date and price

• Likely to be announced in the first half of September
• Should ship before the end of September
• May cost around $899 / £899 / AU$1,649

Based on past form, the iPhone 16 Plus will almost certainly be announced during the first or second week of September – probably on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

Pre-orders will likely open on the Friday, and the phone will probably ship on the following Friday, meaning that it will be in buyers’ hands before the end of September.

As for the price, the iPhone 16 Plus could cost a similar amount to the iPhone 15 Plus, which starts at $899 / £899 / AU$1,649. However, it could also cost slightly more, and there’s even a chance it will cost less.

According to a Nikkei Asia report, high production costs could push the price of the iPhone 16 line up, though the publication doesn’t say how much by.

On the other hand, a rumored change in the manufacturing process for Apple’s smartphone chipsets could lead to a lower price. In either case though, we wouldn’t expect a drastic difference.

iPhone 16 Plus: expected design

• Could have a new 'Capture button'
• May include the Action button from the iPhone 15 Pro
• The cameras could be arranged vertically

Visually, one of the biggest changes we might see on the iPhone 16 Plus is to the camera arrangement, which this year could see the lenses arranged vertically rather than diagonally. We first heard this back in May 2023, but since then an iPhone 16 component leak and iPhone 16 molds have backed this up, by showing this design.

We’ve also seen this design in leaked iPhone 16 prototype images, which you can see below. These show three designs that were apparently under consideration, of which the one in black is expected to launch, though all have vertical cameras.

Since then, a set of iPhone 16 series dummy units has leaked, which you can see below. Another similar iPhone 16 series dummy unit photo has also emerged, and in both cases these show a vertical camera layout for the iPhone 16 Plus.

Some of these images also show two new buttons – there’s an Action button where the mute switch used to be, as can already be found on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, and more interestingly there’s a new button under the power key, rumored to be called a ‘Capture button’.

This new button will apparently be dedicated to shooting videos according to one source, with another adding that the Capture button will let you zoom the camera in and out with a swipe, while a light press will focus it, and a hard press will take a photo or start recording a video.

The same source claims that the Capture button will be mechanical, which is at odds with previous leaks saying the Capture button will be capacitive.

As for the iPhone 16 Plus’s colors, leaks suggest it will come in pink, yellow, blue, green, black, white, and purple shades. We’ve also heard that the iPhone 16 Plus might use color-infused glass like its predecessor.

iPhone 16 Plus: expected display

• Rumored to have a 6.7-inch display
• A 60Hz refresh rate is rumored
• Might have a brighter screen than the iPhone 15 Plus

The iPhone 16 Plus might not see any major display changes, with a 6.7-inch screen rumored for this phone, just like the iPhone 15 Plus has.

Sadly, the same source also says that the iPhone 16 Plus will once again be stuck with a 60Hz refresh rate.

We have however heard that the iPhone 16 Plus might at least have a brighter screen than its 2,000-nit predecessor, and the iPhone 16 Plus might also have smaller bezels around the display.

iPhone 16 Plus: expected cameras

• Reportedly a 12MP ultra-wide camera like last year
• Probably the same 48MP main and 12MP selfie cameras too
• Might be able to record spatial video

So far we haven’t head much about the iPhone 16 Plus’s cameras, but that’s probably because there might not be any real changes to them.

According to analyst Jeff Pu, the iPhone 16 Plus will have a 12MP ultra-wide camera, just like the iPhone 15 Plus does. They don’t mention the main snapper, but since that got an upgrade to 48MP last year, we wouldn’t expect further upgrades this year.

And nor do we expect any additional lenses, as leaks haven’t mentioned a third lens, and leaked imagery shows just two – so if you want a telephoto camera, you’ll probably have to pick one of the Pro models.

There’s no news on the iPhone 16 Plus’s front-facing camera either, but there’s a good chance it will be 12MP like last year, especially as even the iPhone 15 Pro Max only has a 12MP selfie camera.

There may be some upgrades to the camera software and functionality though, including the ability to shoot spatial video for use with an Apple Vision Pro. It's speculated that the rumored move to a vertical lens arrangement is to allow for this.

iPhone 16 Plus: expected specs and features

• Rumored to have an A18 chipset
• Could have 8GB of RAM
• The battery might be smaller this year

There’s some uncertainty over what chipset the iPhone 16 Plus will have. The iPhone 15 Plus has the A16 Bionic, inherited from the previous year’s Pro models. So if Apple continues that pattern, then it would make sense for the iPhone 16 Plus to have an A17 Pro, which you’ll currently find in the iPhone 15 Pro line.

We’ve specifically heard the A17 Pro mentioned in an iPhone 16 Plus leak, but a slightly more recent leak points to all four expected iPhone 16 models getting an A18 chipset.

In which case, the iPhone 16 Plus could get a serious power upgrade over its predecessor – though it’s possible that there will be multiple versions of the A18. So, for example, the iPhone 16 Plus might get the standard A18, while the iPhone 16 Pro gets an A18 Pro. Either way though, this should be more powerful than the A17 Pro.

That said, it might not be drastically more powerful, with one leak suggesting the rumored A18 Pro will be 10% faster than the A17 Pro, and another saying it might be less powerful than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, which is likely to power Android rivals.

The A18 Pro reportedly also won’t support speedy LPDDR6 RAM, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 might.

Speaking of RAM, the iPhone 16 Plus might have 8GB of the stuff, up from 6GB in the iPhone 15 Plus. We’ve heard talk of 8GB of RAM for the iPhone 16 Plus multiple times now, and we’ve also heard that the iPhone 16 – and therefore probably also the iPhone 16 Plus – might start at 256GB of storage, which is double its predecessor.

This increase in RAM, storage, and power could in part be to help with AI, which Apple is expected to make a big play for this year, with major AI features likely to be announced as part of iOS 18 at WWDC 2024 on June 10.

One of those features could be an AI-overhaul for Siri, and we’ve also heard that the iPhone 16 Plus might have improved microphones, so this upgraded Siri can hear and understand your requests better.

There could be bad news for the phone’s battery though, as according to one leak the iPhone 16 Plus will have a roughly 9% smaller battery than its predecessor.

The exact capacity of the iPhone 16 Plus’s battery will apparently be 4,006mAh (down from 4,383mAh), which is something we’ve now heard from multiple sources, so it’s likely true.

That said, the same sources say the other iPhone 16 models will have larger batteries than their predecessors; it would be odd if Apple would reduce just the Plus model’s.

Still, the iPhone 16 Plus might at least benefit from a graphene heat sink, which would help keep it cool.

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This has been spotted by 9to5Google, and a lot of the design tweaks are the same. Several of the full screen panels have been changed to show part of the map in the background, giving users some context while they look up different details.

The corners of these panels are now more rounded, and there are easily accessible buttons for closing down or sharing whatever info card is up on screen. The design tested in February also used a stacked approach to the panels, so it looked like they were layered on top of each other, but that has now gone.

Perhaps the biggest change is in getting directions: the fields for the start and end points of the journey now float on top of the map, and the options for changing the mode of transport have been moved down to the bottom of the screen.

Coming soon?

Overall, it means more of the map is visible more of the time – you can click through to 9to5Google to see what some of the changes look like. We've seen the updated look appear on our phone, and we've included a couple of screenshots above.

Google hasn't said anything officially about these design tweaks, either now or in February, but as far as we can tell it's not being rolled out to all devices just yet. The update is applied on the server side, so updating to the latest version of the Android app won't affect whether or not you see the changes.

Considering this new look has been in testing for several months now, it shouldn't be too long before everyone sees it on their phones. Presumably Google Maps for iOS will be updated with the same changes at some point too.

We're now just days away from Google I/O 2024, which starts on May 14. There might well be a Google Maps announcement or two at the developer conference, and we're also expecting to hear about Google's future AI plans and the Pixel 8a phone.

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