Each current iPhone gets its own wallpaper, and it turns out there’s a fun hidden message in the official iPhone 16 wallpapers.
While not obvious when viewing the one of the models in isolation, it becomes much easier to spot when you see three of them side-by-side in the comparison tool on Apple’s website …
As John Gruber notes, the wallpaper actually represents the camera lenses present in each model.
Take note of a clever touch: Apple’s default wallpapers for each phone subtly suggest how many camera lenses they have.
It’s one of those fun things the company enjoys including from time to time. We’ve previously seen what are colloquially known as “easter eggs” – things which only appear in certain circumstances:
This is a little different in that the secret is hiding in plain sight.
Speaking of the camera lenses, Gruber measured the thicknesses of the three models at three different points, with the iPhone 16e being unique in lacking a raised camera module – what Gruber refers to using the geological term mesa, referring to a flat-topped mountain or elevated feature.
Not only does the 16e completely omit the mesa, but the thickness of the entire camera, from the lens to the front display, is less than the thickness of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro at their mesas, not even including their lenses.
Given that this gives the camera and entire rear of the phone a much more minimalist look, it’s somewhat surprising that Apple isn’t expected to take this approach with the iPhone 17 Air – instead we’re expecting an entire raised bar.
Image: Screengrab from the Apple website
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