While the iPhone is the most popular high-end model globally, even outselling most mid-to-low-end cost-effective models, even with its widespread appeal, one cannot ignore the shortcomings that have persisted in the iPhone for many years. Some aspects have been reluctantly changed, such as the charging port finally switching from Lightning to USB-C, but the standard models still use USB 2.0 (while the Pro models use USB 3.0). Others remain steadfastly unchanged, like the screen refresh rate, which remains at 60Hz in the standard iPhone 15 models, even as competitor models priced under $1000 now support 120Hz refresh rates.

There are also changes that seem half-hearted, like charging power. Since the iPhone 13 Pro Max, models have supported up to 27W charging power (which can charge up to 50% in 35 minutes), and this hasn't changed in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, since the iPhone 16 series will introduce new features with higher battery life requirements, it makes sense to increase battery capacity (though even for the Pro Max, it won't exceed 5000mAh), and charging power must also increase accordingly.

Recently, more definitive news online has confirmed that the iPhone 16 series will support up to 40W charging power. This is evidenced by the fact that 40W charging products compatible with the iPhone are already on sale, indicating that third-party accessory manufacturers have received advance notice. Some netizens have joked that compared to the current 27W, the 40W power upgrade is "epic" and a bit "over-the-top".

In fact, up until the iPhone 15 series, Apple only offered 27W charging power because there was no rule mandating an increase. The European Union merely warned against restricting charging power, and 27W already exceeds the minimum standard. This means that user dissatisfaction cannot substantively impact Apple's decision. Whether to increase charging power depends entirely on Apple's discretion (here, it refers to Apple's perception of the need for increased charging power, unrelated to user preferences). The iPhone 16 series upgrade is likely due to Apple recognizing that 27W is insufficient to maintain battery life in new models.

Currently, Apple's domestic factories are making final preparations for full-scale production, with significant hiring and slightly increased wages, indicating that production tasks for the iPhone 16 series remain heavy this year. Apple is optimistic about the new models' prospects. As previously mentioned, Apple has placed orders for nearly 100 million A18 chips with TSMC, most of which will likely be used in the iPhone 16 series.

To support AI functions, all iPhone 16 models will come standard with 8GB of RAM, raising questions about whether standard models will increase in price. Apple is also preparing Samsung sensors for the iPhone 16 series cameras, likely for the two standard models. It remains to be seen whether users will mind the different camera sensors between standard and Pro models. Personally, I believe the 40W charging power is most likely to be reserved for the two Pro models, with standard models maintaining the previous generation's standard. This is typical of Apple, where significant changes are not immediately applied across an entire generation.

Regarding the price of Apple's official 40W charger, I personally believe it will be set at over 300 yuan. What do you think?