The new Apple iPhone 14 is expected to be unveiled at Apple’s September 7 event. This one got a head start on the rumor mill, with the first bits of information arriving before the iPhone 13 even debuted. Phones take a long time to manufacture, and factors such as the ongoing pandemic and chip shortage may have forced changes in the plans prior to launch. Whatever the case, what matters now is that the iPhone 14 is on its way — and it’s almost here. Here’s everything we know about the iPhone 14 series so far.
iPhone 14 Design
Depending on who you ask, the iPhone 14 will either have a design overhaul that changes the look Apple has favored for the last four generations of iPhones, or it will simply be more of the same. It might even be both! According to renders submitted by leaker Jon Prosser, Apple will adopt the hole-punch design preferred by Android phones. This would imply removing the now-iconic notch and replacing Face ID with an in-display fingerprint sensor or implementing an under-display Face ID.
A later report from South Korea’s The Elec names Samsung and LG as potential suppliers of notch-less iPhone displays, which will be exclusive to the iPhone Pro. If true, this will be a visual differentiator between the iPhone 14 Pro/iPhone 14 Pro Max and older or less expensive iPhones. Given The Elec’s track record with supply chain reports, this makes a novel design for the iPhone 14 Pro more likely than not.
There are a few images floating around the internet of “dummy models” of the iPhone 14 that show what a notch-free Apple phone would look like. Ice Universe, a leaker, shared an image on Twitter that shows the camera and sensor setup, as well as the type of bezel we can expect on the upcoming iPhone. Based on the image, it appears to be about what you’d expect. However, keep in mind that this is not a finalized version of the iPhone 14 Pro, so it is entirely possible that it will change.
The iPhone 14 may also retain the squared-off edges and elongated buttons introduced with the iPhone 12, and for the first time, there may be no camera bump at the rear. Prosser’s renders are supported by the previous reporting by reputable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who also claimed that Apple would remove the notch from 2022 iPhone models. Mark Gurman’s January Power On newsletter confirmed that the iPhone 14 series would have a punch-hole on the top for Face ID, with this and a report from Dylandkt adding that the punch-hole would be pill-shaped. This shape would distinguish iPhones from Android devices, which typically have a simple circle, allowing iPhones to maintain a distinct silhouette.
Further, Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), claims that Apple will place a pill and a circle cutout side by side. The pill and cutout will merge into one when the phone is turned on, so it won’t look like a side-i design. It’s a strategy that has previously been employed by Android phone manufacturers such as Huawei.
91Mobiles has released renders purporting to show off the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14. If these renders are correct, the iPhone 14 will look similar to the iPhone 13, contradicting Prosser’s renders. The 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, on the other hand, would be slightly taller than the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus to accommodate the Face ID components that would normally have resided in the omitted notch. It would be the first time that Apple released two iPhones with different form factors since the iPhone X and iPhone 8. Later, videos from leaker Sonny Dickson surfaced online, purportedly showing off dummy models of the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro.
In terms of color, the iPhone 14 is expected to be available in green, purple, blue, black, white, and red, while the iPhone 14 Pro is expected to be available in green, purple, silver, gold, and Graphite. If true, it would be the first time an iPhone “Pro” model was available in purple. A few “dummy models” of the iPhone 14 have been spotted in Asia, showcasing the iPhone 14’s diverse color palette. Notably, the leaks reveal that the new purple color comes in various shades depending on how the light hits it.
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iPhone 14 Models
Since the iPhone 5s, Apple has released multiple iPhone models, and the iPhone 14 is expected to be no different. Unlike the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12, the 14 is expected to forego the 5.4-inch iPhone 14 Mini model, according to multiple analysts.
Instead, Apple may release a new iPhone 14 Plus, which will be a 6.7-inch version of the regular iPhone 14. (and equip both with the currently-iPhone Pro-exclusive 120Hz ProMotion displays). This will be the same size as the current iPhone 13 Pro Max model and will have a larger screen and battery, making it ideal for those who want a large-screen iPhone experience without paying a premium for the Pro model’s better camera.
In terms of naming, Apple was previously thought to be naming it the iPhone 14 Max in the same vein as the iPhone 13 Mini, but recent reports indicate that the company is resurrecting the Plus branding it used with the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.
Display
Aside from the notch changes already mentioned, reports indicate that Apple will bring the ProMotion display from the iPhone 13 Pro to the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. This means that all phones in Apple’s flagship lineup, not just the most expensive ones, will now support 90Hz or higher.
Apple may also introduce an always-on display to the iPhone for the first time. According to Ross Young, Apple is most likely using LTPO panels for the iPhone 14 Pro, which are capable of dropping down to a 1Hz refresh rate, with an Always On Display expected. According to a follow-up from Bloomberg’s PowerOn newsletter, Apple will include an always-on display in the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro.
“iOS 16 includes future support for an always-on lock screen, which Apple had planned for last year’s iPhone 13. This would allow the iPhone to “significantly reduce the frame rate on the lock screen and display quickly glanceable information — similar to newer Apple Watches,” according to the report. When iOS 16 was released in preview form following WWDC 2022, code for an always-on display was discovered. Although preview code does not guarantee that a feature will be implemented, it does provide a strong indication of what is to come. Since the late 2010s, always-on displays have been standard on Android flagships, and Apple is a little late to the party.
A preview of the rumored iPhone 14 Pro ‘Always on Display’ feature might have been leaked by Xcode 14 beta 4 Simulator. Attached are the first two frames of a video of waking the sim. The first image (Always on Display mode) removes texture from the whale image in the widget.
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iPhone 14 Cameras
Apple is considering a 48-megapixel camera for the iPhone 14, according to Kuo. The company has stuck with 12MP main cameras for the last few iPhones, so a 48MP main camera would be a significant upgrade, allowing for tricks like oversampling, which phones like the Pixel 6 and Galaxy S21 already use. According to Bloomberg, Apple intends to differentiate the iPhone Pro line from the regular iPhone by limiting the newer, higher-resolution camera to the iPhone 14 Pro line.
This means that the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus will retain the same capable 12MP cameras found in the iPhone 13. Google did the same thing with the Pixel 6a, reusing a lower-resolution camera for its less expensive phone — a prudent, cost-cutting move that preserves value for the more expensive models. Most users will be satisfied with the 12MP cameras, and those who want the best camera possible will buy the Pro models anyway.
Apple is likely to improve the front-facing cameras on all iPhone models. “The front camera of four new iPhone 14 models in [the second half of 2022] would most likely upgrade to AF (autofocus) [and] around f/1.9 aperture (versus FF (fixed-focus) and f/2.2 on the iPhone 13).” For selfies or portrait mode, AF support and a lower f-number can provide a better shallow depth-of-field effect. Furthermore, AF can improve the focus effect for FaceTime/video calls/live streaming,” Ming-Chi Kuo explained.
According to Korea IT News, these new “high-end” sensors were originally planned for the iPhone 15 but are being pushed forward and sourced from a South Korean supplier, with a further report from Kuo stating that it has a six-element lens to replace the current five-element lens. In the iPhone 7, Apple used a six-element lens for the first time. This would allow the front camera on the iPhone to capture more light and produce sharper selfies. There’s no word on megapixel count, which is where the iPhone still falls short of the vast majority of Android phones (even acknowledging that larger numbers do not necessarily equate to better photos).
Kuo also claims that the new iPhone will support 8K video, cementing Apple’s position as the undisputed leader in mobile videography. If true, this will most likely be limited to the iPhone 14 Pro series. It’s also worth noting that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 supports 8K HDR video recording as well as a slew of other AI-enhanced smartphone photography features. It is now up to Apple to respond with its own in-house Bionic chips.
Another rumored camera upgrade for the iPhone 14 is autofocus support in the ultrawide camera. While Apple has already implemented this for the iPhone 13 Pro, it will be extended to all models in the iPhone 14 lineup, allowing even those who buy the less expensive iPhones to capture sharper wide shots.
Kuo also claims that the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will have upgraded ultrawide cameras with 1.4m pixels (versus the iPhone 13 Pro’s 1.0m). “In this upgrade, the CIS (CMOS image sensor), VCM (voice coil motor), and CCM (compact camera module) have a significant unit price increase of about 70%, 45%, and 40%,” he says.
According to Kuo, the iPhone 14 will not have the periscope camera seen in the Pixel 6 Pro. Apple is developing a periscopic telephoto lens, which will most likely debut with the iPhone 15 in 2023.
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iPhone 14 Specs
Apple is expected to make a few quality-of-life improvements to the iPhone 14. It’s likely that a new A16 chip will be introduced to replace the A15 chip introduced with the iPhone 13 and iPad Mini, though it’s unclear what aspect of the iPhone experience Apple will prioritize with this chip.
More intriguingly, Apple is said to be dividing the new iPhone’s processor between the A16 for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, and the A15 for the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus (as per Ming-Chi Kuo).
Only two Pro models would upgrade to the A16 processor, while the 14 & 14 Max will remain the A15. All four new models will likely come with 6GB RAM, with the difference being LPDDR 5 (14 Pro & 14 Pro Max) vs. LPDDR 4X (14 & 14 Max).
According to Kuo, Apple will ship all four devices with 6GB of RAM. This contradicts previous reports that the iPhone Pro devices would come with 8GB of RAM. This report was first issued by analyst Jeff Pu of Haitong International Securities before being withdrawn. A later rumor on the Korean website Naver gave it new life. If those reports were correct, the iPhone would be on par with Android rivals like the Pixel 6 and Samsung Galaxy S22.
When it comes to RAM, Apple has frequently lagged far behind competitors, preferring to rely on iOS optimization to effectively manage apps. Kuo’s prediction has been supported by 9to5Mac reports, making it more likely than not. At the same time, the cheaper iPhone 14 phones would still see some performance improvements from the RAM upgrade over the 4GB found in the iPhone 13.
The iPhone 14 (or perhaps only the 14 Pro) may improve on the excellent battery in the iPhone 13 with a more energy-efficient 5G RF chip as Apple chooses TSMC over Samsung for component sourcing. Furthermore, the iPhone 14 lineup is expected to support 30W fast charging.
Software
Apple announced iOS 16, the software that will power the iPhone 14 out of the box, at WWDC 2022. This new update contains a lot, including features that Apple did not highlight. The lock screen and Messages app have been updated as part of the update. With its flexible focus mode-based lock-screen themes, interactive widgets, and repositioned notifications, iOS has finally become nearly as customizable as Android. Undo-send and edit-message features will keep you from sending inconvenient messages, and TapBack spam will be banished as Apple improves SMS reaction support. Simultaneously, system apps such as Mail, Maps, and Safari receive updates to include features similar to those found in Google’s apps — complete with an Apple privacy twist.
Apple is also putting a lot of emphasis on sharing, with SharePlay and iCloud Shared Photo Library coming to the Messages and Photos apps, respectively. Finally, new accessibility features such as Live Text will make using an iPhone much more comfortable for people who are blind or visually impaired.
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iPhone 14 price and release date
The next iPhone, like all previous Apple iPhones, will be released in September. On September 7, Apple will hold an in-person and live-streamed event, presumably to announce the iPhone 14 lineup.
Price-wise, it’s becoming clear that Apple will maintain the same pricing structure as the current iPhone lineup, though the starting iPhone price will be raised a tier to accommodate the rumored iPhone 14 Plus. According to one report, the new iPhone may be slightly more expensive than the iPhone 13 due to overall better cameras.
The selfie camera, in particular, is said to cost three times as much as the module used by Apple now. Customers will almost certainly benefit from this in some way. What about that new display? It is also more expensive. That massive 48MP main camera we mentioned earlier? Yup. It will also result in a more expensive phone. You may have noticed that these updates are primarily focused on the iPhone Pro models, and analyst Ming Chi-Kuo agrees. According to a series of tweets from August, the iPhone 14 models will see a 15% price increase, primarily driven by the iPhone 14 Pro series. To put this into perspective, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives believes the iPhone 14 Pro series will cost $100 more than the iPhone 13 Pro.
In terms of non-Pro iPhones, Apple may start at around $800 (according to a semi-reliable Naver blogger), with prices rising to the mid-high $1,000s depending on the configuration. The absence of the iPhone Mini line effectively raises the starting price of the iPhone, though the presence of the cheaper iPhone SE and refurbished handsets compensates.
In essence, the consensus is that the iPhone 14 lineup will be priced as follows:
- iPhone 14: from $800
- iPhone 14 Plus: from $850
- iPhone 14 Pro: from $1,100
- iPhone 14 Pro Max: from $1,200
If these reports are correct, it will be the most expensive series of iPhones yet — and the company expects to sell a lot more of them than last year, with demand for a less expensive large iPhone helping to drive sales. Trendforce analyst firm forecasts lower price increments, with the iPhone starting at $750 for the iPhone and $850 for the 14 Plus, while the Pro models see $50 increments rather than $100.
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