the WWDC keynote (all info) is over and now we know everything about iOS 16 and its new features. At least almost everything, one display feature hasn’t been addressed directly, the odds that we’ll still see it in the iPhone 14 don’t look bad. Read more about this under Always-on display .
Release: When will the iPhone 14 appear?
©Front Page Tech / Jon Prosser, Ian Zelbo
If Apple doesn’t break with tradition, the iPhone 14 will likely be announced in mid-September 2022, with stores about a week later. Apple almost always launches its new iPhones in September of each year, with the exception of 2020 due to COVID-19. It’s possible we’ll see similar delays this year too – while the iPhone 14 Pro entered test production on time, the non-Pro models appear to have been slightly delayed – but we’d be surprised if Apple didn’t experience these issues get under control in time for autumn.
Models: Bye mini! Hi Max!
We expect big changes: Everything indicates that the 5.4-inch iPhone mini range will be discontinued: Ming-Chi Kuo, for example, has predicted that Apple will discontinue the mini iPhone in order to introduce the Max in 2022. The iPhone 12 mini and 13 mini are said to have sold poorly, so this move is understandable. There will therefore continue to be four models:
- iPhone 14 (6.1-inch)
- iPhone 14 Max (6.7-inch)
- iPhone 14 Pro (6.1-inch)
- iPhone 14 Pro Max (6.7-inch)
We also have information that supports this theory. According to our source (who doesn’t want to remain secret) there will be no iPhone 14 Mini this year, but an iPhone 14 Max.
Price: How much does the iPhone 14 cost?
In terms of price, we expect the standard iPhone 14 model to start at around €800, while the iPhone 14 Pro model will cost between $1,000 and $1,100.
Notch: From Notch to “Hole + Pill”
©Front Page Tech / Jon Prosser, Ian Zelbo
On the iPhone 13 series, Apple reduced the notch by 20 percent. This year it’s set to be replaced by something else, at least on the Pro models. Instead of a cutout at the top of the screen, the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max will have two smaller openings for the front camera and other sensors. We can also confirm this rumor. Regarding the new “Notch”, we also have credible evidence that supports circulating rumors about Apple’s design change – at least for the Pro models.
Lightning or USB-C?
The idea of Apple getting rid of the Lightning connector on the iPhone and not offering any connectors at all was rumored even before the iPhone 12 was unveiled. With this concept, all electricity would be transmitted wirelessly instead of charging with cables. That would instantly make many accessories and power banks obsolete, but Apple has never shied away from making unpopular choices in the past. That could still become a reality, but not in the near future.
reading tip : iPhone 14: Why it’s worth the wait
In the meantime, Apple is more likely to ditch the Lightning connector and replace it with USB-C, as is already the case with most iPads. The EU has been on the warpath for proprietary charging standards for some time, and in August 2021 a draft law to force the standardization of smartphone connectors was announced. In September 2021, a step was taken when the EU Commission presented a draft law to standardize charging cables. This could legally oblige Apple to produce a USB-C iPhone for sale in Europe — or base all new iPhones on USB-C to avoid the production inefficiencies associated with making more than one design.
In fact, Ming-Chi Kuo has now put on record that Apple will indeed switch from Lightning to USB-C for its iPhone, although it won’t happen until 2023. That means the iPhone 14 will still have to make do with Lightning.
The iPhone 13 is said to come with 120Hz Samsung ProMotion displays on the Pro models, while the non-Pro variants use regular 60Hz displays from LG. For the iPhone 14, LG is said to be making 120Hz LPTO OLED displays for the entire iPhone lineup.
So it’s possible that the entire iPhone 14 range will feature 120Hz ProMotion technology. This would follow Apple’s natural cadence: a feature rolls out first for the Pro model, and then a year later for the rest of the range.
Always-on display
Speaking of screen upgrades, what about the recurring rumors that Apple is planning an always-on display for the iPhone 14 models? Instead of turning off completely when you press the power button, the screen would always light up, albeit with a simplified interface to save battery.
It’s an old recurring rumor, but it became particularly popular in 2021 when the feature was rumored to be coming to the iPhone 13. Though it didn’t materialize this year, some experts believe it’s more likely to have been delayed than given up and that it could be out later this year.
So far, so vague. But things got more concrete in late May 2022, when well-known leaker Mark Gurman made a concrete prediction: iOS 16 would bring an always-on screen to iPhone in 2022, as part of a major lock screen overhaul. While this change is tied to an operating system update, Gurman says it won’t be available retrospectively for existing iPhones, only the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max.
During this year’s WWDC, Apple didn’t address the topic of “always-on-display” itself, but with iOS 16 a whole new lock screen presented. On this, users now have the option of adding widgets, which would also work great if the display were always on. So the chances are not bad, but we still have to be patient until we know more concrete details.
camera
©Front Page Tech / Jon Prosser, Ian Zelbo
With the iPhone 14 there will apparently be major changes to the iPhone’s camera. The two ranges are expected to retain the same setup – a dual camera in the standard iPhone 14 and a triple camera in the iPhone 14 Pro. Apple is probably planning a big leap for the higher-end models. Leaked plans show a massive camera hump on the Pro models, protruding 4.17mm from the back of the case and measuring 12.02mm thick overall, about a millimeter thicker than the iPhone 13 Pro.
According to Kuo, Apple should be considering a 48MP sensor for the standard wide-angle camera, which would focus the pixels’ light collection into a 2×2 grid in low-light conditions (resulting in a 12MP photo). The camera is reportedly capable of recording 8K video, at least on the Pro models. Kuo also says the front camera will get autofocus and a larger aperture (f/1.9 instead of f/2.2).
While there have previously been rumors that the Pro models will have a vari-zoom “periscope” lens, the latest rumor has it that this feature won’t come until the iPhone 2023 (believed to be the iPhone 15).
A16 chip
Every new iPhone has a new A-series system-on-chip (SoC), and the iPhone 14 looks set to follow suit. The A16, as it’s likely to be called, could be one of the first major processors to be made using TSMC’s 3-nanometer manufacturing process, which should improve performance, efficiency, and battery life. However, a report from The Information in November suggested that Apple could stick with a 5nm process due to difficulties with TSMC’s “state-of-the-art manufacturing technology”.
However, recent rumors suggest that only the Pro models will get the latest chip, while the non-Pro models will get a slightly upgraded A15 chip.
battery pack
Chinese-language website Economic Daily News believes the iPhone 14 will get a boost in terms of battery power thanks to improvements in 5G technology. The latest 5G components are smaller and more energy efficient than those in the previous iPhone generation, freeing up space in the case and allowing Apple to fit a larger battery.
R.A.M.
According to rumors from South Korea circulating in February 2022, Apple plans to boost the Pro and Pro Max phones from 6GB of RAM in the 13-generation to 8GB in the 14-series. The standard models, on the other hand, are increased from 4 GB to 6 GB.
Storage
Apple has only just broken the terabyte barrier and is offering 1 TB as top storage for the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max for the first time. But optimistic rumor-mongers believe Apple will surpass that milestone, doubling again to 2TB in 2022. This theory is based on early testing activities at supply partners. But we’re not entirely convinced.
Tag: iphone design, iphone 14, apple iphone, iphone release