iPhone 14: Everything you need to know

The iPhone 13 is hugely popular, but that doesn’t mean Apple isn’t working hard on the iPhone 14 already – and given a surprising number of leaks, we’ve already got some idea of what the company could be planning for its 2022 flagship range.

In fact, if the rumours are true, it could be a much more exciting upgrade than what’s on offer from the iPhone 13, with current rumours pointing towards a potential redesign, the removal of the Face ID notch, and an improved camera setup too.

With that in mind, we outline all there is to know about the iPhone 14 right now, including release date and pricing predictions as well as the latest leaks and rumours detailing what to expect from Apple’s 2022 flagship iPhone range.

When will the iPhone 14 be released?

Apple officially unveiled the iPhone 13 in September 2021, which means we’re getting ever closer to the release of the next-gen iPhone 14.

While many assumed it’d take place on Tuesday 13 September 2022, mirroring the release of last year, Apple has decided to switch things up a bit this year.

In invites sent out on 24 August, Apple has confirmed that it’ll be holding an event on 7 September 2022 at 10am PT/1pm ET/6pm BST, reverting to the same release schedule as the iPhone 7 before switching to the second week of September. It’s also on a Wednesday, which makes for a nice change compared to its usual Tuesday events.

Regardless of the announcement date, don’t expect wide availability at launch though; it has been noted by Nikkei Asia that production on the new ‘iPhone 14 Max’ has suffered as part of the month-long Covid lockdowns in China, with a “rather slow” pace of reopening.

The report claims Apple has told suppliers to speed up production development, but ultimately, there could be limited stock of the iPhone 14 Max if and when it does appear next month. 

We’ll update this section once we hear more, so check back frequently for the latest details, and if you can’t wait that long, take a look at our iPhone buying guide.

How much will the iPhone 14 cost?

Even with chip shortages in 2022 driving up the price Apple has to pay for components, this year’s iPhone 13 range comes in at the same price as its predecessor.

While this doesn’t necessarily mean we’re expecting the same from this year’s models, it’s a good sign that Apple is trying its best to hold the iPhone to its current pricing.

In fact, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that we could see an increase on the iPhone 14 range due to increased manufacturing costs. Taking to Twitter, the analyst claims that the range could see prices skyrocket by as much as 15%.

Apple likes to end its product pricing in $49 or $99, which leads us to believe that the iPhone 14 could cost $799/£799 (if compared to the 13 Mini price), while the iPhone 14 Pro could start at the same $1,099/£1,099 as the larger last-gen iPhone 13 Pro Max.

There were rumours that Apple could increase the storage of the range, possibly even introducing a new 2TB model, but more recent claims from Haitong International analyst Jeff Pu now suggest the range will come in the same 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB options as its predecessor.

What to expect from the iPhone 14 range

Despite being quite some time away from the potential release, we’ve got a rough idea of what the iPhone 14 will offer – and it’s set to be an exciting one if current rumours are to be believed.

Bye Mini, hello Max

We all knew it was coming; after poor iPhone 12 mini sales, and expecting very much the same with the iPhone 13 mini, Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that Apple will discontinue the line officially in 2022.

Instead, the company is said to offer 6.1in and 6.7in variants of both the base and Pro models, meaning we could see the introduction of a new iPhone 14 Max alongside the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The Elec goes as far as to suggest that the iPhone 14 Max could offer the same 120Hz refresh rate as the Pro range, although this is dependent on manufacturing costs and availability.

A 9to5Mac source has also confirmed that the Mini is indeed dead, set to be replaced by an iPhone 14 Max with the internal codename D28 – although there’s no mention of the possibility of ProMotion support. 

Mark Gurman also believes the iPhone 14 Max will share the 14 Pro Max display, though like other sources, is yet to comment on ProMotion support. 

The introduction of a new Max model was all but confirmed when leaked images of alleged iPhone 14 metal molds appeared on Chinese social network Weibo in April 2022, depicting two 6.1in and two 6.7in models. 

That was followed up by the reveal of iPhone 14 dummies by notorious leaker Sunny Dickson, showcasing the two 6.1in and 6.7in models in all their glory ahead of release later this year.

At this point, the replacement of the iPhone mini with the iPhone Max is all but confirmed, but we’ll have to wait for Apple to reveal the smartphone range to know for sure. 

No more Face ID notch

Back in March 2021, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released predictions not only for the iPhone 13, but the iPhone 14 – though it was referred to as the 2022 iPhone, not specifically the 14.

In the note to investors, the analyst suggested that certain models of iPhone 14 could ditch the notch that houses the Face ID smarts. It has been present on every iPhone since the iPhone X, and although Apple shrank the unit by 20% on the iPhone 13, it’s apparently not done just yet.

According to Kuo, the Pro models will instead offer a “punch-hole” cutout for the front-facing camera while still keeping full Face ID functionality, offering an almost full-screen viewing experience. The analyst then doubled down on the claim in late September 2021, again suggesting that the Pro models will ditch the notch for a holepunch camera.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also seems to think that Apple will ditch the notch for a hole punch camera in 2022, with Gurman suggesting a ‘complete redesign’ is on the way, and The Elec’s unnamed industry sources also point towards a holepunch. 

But while you might assume it’s a circular hole punch, whispers suggest otherwise. Leaker @dylandkt claims it’ll instead be “pill-shaped”, and while he doesn’t go into any more detail, it sounds like it’ll be close to a dual-front facing camera setup like that of the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus.

But what about a combination of the two? That’s what display analyst Ross Young believes. Taking to Twitter, the analyst  – with a 100% track record – predicts a combination of a circular hole punch and a pill-shaped cutout on the front of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.

The leaker even showcased an image in the tweet, although it’s an inverse view – the pill-shaped cutout is allegedly on the left, with the circular holepunch on the right.

Young also claims (in a now-deleted tweet) that the hole is said to house the Face ID dot projector while the pill cutout will house the front-facing camera and Face ID’s infrared camera at a minimum.

9to5Mac sources suggest that the iPhone 14 Pro range could be slightly taller than iPhones before it to help accommodate that pill-shaped cutout. 

The hole + pill combination has appeared in leaked CAD renders and schematics mentioned earlier, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also believes the combo is incoming, suggesting that Apple has indeed decided on the rather odd camera cutout.

Most recently, the alleged front panels for the entire range have leaked on Weibo, corroborating many of the earlier rumours we’d heard. 

As with the Notch, the new camera cut-out is a stepping stone to a ‘true’ full-screen iPhone, and Ming-Chi Kuo expects that to be dropped within two years too.

Taking to Twitter in April 2022, the analyst claims that the “real full-screen iPhone will come in 2024”. He explained that the high-end Pro models would adopt an “under-display front camera alongside the under-display Face ID”. 

So, while the iPhone 14 Pro might not have a true full-screen display, it’s likely in the works behind closed doors at Apple Park. 

Minimal design changes

While there were early rumours from the likes of Jon Prosser that a redesign could be on the way, it’s looking like it was simply a false rumour. More recent reports suggest a more familiar chassis is on the way, largely mirroring that of the iPhone 13 range – and that includes updated claims from Prosser himself.

Leaked CAD renders of the iPhone 14 Pro were shared via 91Mobiles in March 2021, allegedly sourced from industry sources. The renders depict the redesigned Face ID notch (covered more below) on the front, while the rest of the chassis looks identical to that of the iPhone 13 Pro.

Days later, leaker Max Weinbach posted images of alleged iPhone 14 Pro schematics on Twitter, providing more context to the leaked CAD renders released days before.

Per the leaked images, it looks like the iPhone 14 Pro Max will ditch the traditional Face ID notch for something more streamlined, and it’ll have a larger camera cutout, but bigger design changes outlined by Jon Prosser seem to be missing. 

It’s said that the iPhone 14 Pro Max will measure in at 160.71 x 78.53 x 12.16mm, though the extra thickness is said to account for the larger camera bump on the rear – it shouldn’t be that thick all over.

It has also been suggested that the bezel of the display will shrink from the 2.42mm of the iPhone 13 Pro Max to just 1.95mm, though just how much of an effect that’ll have on the display experience is yet to be seen. 

Leaked images of iPhone 14 production molds also seem to confirm the increased camera cutout across the range, though most notably on the Pro models. 

Interestingly, it seems Jon Prosser has gone back on his earlier redesign claims, showcasing new iPhone 14 Pro renders in a recent episode of Front Page Tech that align more closely with rumours we’ve heard over the past year with no mention of his original claims. The renders look great, but they’re not what Prosser proclaimed back in September 2021.

ProMotion is still a Pro exclusive

One of the key new features of the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max is the 120Hz ProMotion display, offering buttery smooth animations compared to the 60Hz display of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini.

While some might’ve hoped that the upgraded tech would transition to the rest of the line with the iPhone 14 – like with the Sensor-Shift OIS that was exclusive to the iPhone 12 Pro Max before the iPhone 13 range – a report from The Elec suggests differently. 

Citing unnamed supply chain sources, the South Korean outlet suggests that the 120Hz LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) OLED panels will be exclusive to the Pro models, while the standard models will use the same 60Hz LTPS (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon) OLED panels as the 13 range.  

The upgraded ProMotion tech in the iPhone 14 could also allow for always-on display technology. It was a feature originally rumoured to appear alongside the iPhone 13, but it never materialised. Now, Mark Gurman suggests that “iOS 16 builds in future support for an always-on lock screen” that would “allow the iPhone to turn down the frame rate significantly on the lock screen and display quickly glanceable information”.

Interestingly, it’s based on rumours that the Pro models will feature an upgraded LTPS (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon) panel – different to the panel outlined by Elec sources – that Apple could use to refresh the display as little as once per minute. That’s ideal for updating the time, date and incoming notifications on a lock screen.

However, an early 2022 prediction from analyst Jeff Pu seems to fly in the face of The Elec’s claim. Instead, the analyst suggests that the entire iPhone 14 range will feature a 120Hz refresh rate, although, with a less-established track record than other analysts, it’s worth taking with a pinch (or kilo) of salt. 

Camera improvements

Camera improvements are almost a given when it comes to the yearly iPhone update, but the iPhone 14 Pro range is said to house something special; a new 1/1.3in 48Mp CMOS image sensor for the main wide-angle lens. What’s more impressive is that the new sensor could offer hybrid operating modes to improve pixel size and light-gathering capabilities.

Kuo believes that “the new 2H22 iPhone may support 48MP output and 12MP (four cells merge output mode) output simultaneously”. Merging pixels to improve quality – also known as pixel binning – isn’t a new concept for Android users, but it’ll be a first for the iPhone.

That’s not all either. Kuo claims that “With 12MP output, the CIS pixel size of the new 2H22 iPhone increases to about 2.5um, which is significantly larger than the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, and larger than existing Android phones, and close to the DSC level.” For reference, the iPhone 13 pixels measure in at 1.7um, while the Pro line cranks that up to 1.9um.

Along with improved image quality, Kuo believes that it’ll also enable 8K video capture – a massive jump over 4K offered right now, though he doesn’t detail potential framerates.

Kuo reiterated the claim in late September 2021, while also suggesting the changes would be exclusive to the “two high-end models” – a claim that has been backed up more recently by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

The idea of a 48Mp snapper with 8K video capabilities has also been backed up by analysts at Haitong International Securities, and again more recently by analysts at TrendForce, lending more credence to the claim. 

Then, just a week before the reveal of the iPhone 14 range, Ming-Chi Kuo revealed another key upgrade for the iPhone 14 Pro range – an improved ultra-wide camera. While it’s said that it’ll still offer the same 12Mp megapixel count as the current model, the pixels are said to jump from 1.0 to 1.4, representing a 40% boost to pixel size. That means we could see much better low-light performance on the ultrawide snapper, which hasn’t really been a focus for Apple until this point.

It’s not just the rear-facing camera getting an upgrade though; Kuo suggests that we should also look forward to an improved selfie camera too. While not much is known about specs, Kuo is confident that it’ll feature an upgrade from fixed-focus to auto-focus, which should vastly improve the quality and look of shots taken with the front-facing camera.

It’s worth noting that most rumours currently point towards the standard iPhone 14 using the same rear camera setup as the iPhone 13, with minimal changes on offer. 

4nm chipset – but not for all iPhones

Apple’s A15 Bionic at the heart of the iPhone 13 runs on an improved 5nm process, offering improvements to efficiency and power compared to the 5nm A14 Bionic – but changes aren’t that dramatic compared to the A14 Bionic.

That’s set to change with the iPhone 14, however, according to a TrendForce analyst forecast.

The forecast, which came out in late 2020, claims that Apple’s 2022 iPhone range will be powered by a 4nm processor manufactured by TSMC, likely dubbed the A16 Bionic.

Switching to a narrower structure width will allow for more noticeable improvements to performance and efficiency, which should also have a knock-on effect on battery life – all welcome upgrades to the iPhone experience.

This is seemingly confirmed by a report from The Information, citing engineers familiar with the matter. The report suggests that TSMC isn’t quite ready to ship even smaller 3nm chipsets with the iPhone 14, although it is still expected to begin ahead of its competitors. 

That’ll allegedly be paired with a boosted 6GB of RAM across the range, though the Pro models will get the faster LPDDR5 RAM while the standard models will get slightly slower LPDDR4X RAM – that’s according to the latest report from DigiTimes, anyway. Given the fact that Apple tends to boost its RAM offering every two years, and it last got an upgrade with the iPhone 12 Pro range, there could be some truth to the claim – and it’ll likely extend to the standard model too. 

It’s not the only source pointing towards an increase either; Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu suggests that the iPhone 14 Pro range will boast an increased 8GB of RAM, as does Korean blog Naver.

Interestingly, a 9to5Mac report from March 2022 suggests that Apple might – for the first time ever – split the chipset offering between the standard and Pro models, with only the iPhone 14 Pro range getting the latest A16 Bionic.

The rumour suggests that the standard iPhone 14 range could instead sport a souped-up version of the A15 Bionic found in the iPhone 13, which could have an additional GPU core compared to the current offering. It’s possible that Apple will brand it as the A15X, but this is yet to be confirmed.

The concept was backed up within days by Ming-Chi Kuo, who tweeted in mid-March 2022 that the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max would stick with the A15 chipset, and Mark Gurman also claims this will be the case, lending more credence to the idea.

Trend Force followed up on its initial prediction in June 2022, suggesting that “unlike prior offerings, only the latest processors are employed in the Pro series” alongside more GPU power and RAM, while the standard models will sport the A15 Bionic. 

The rumour has gathered more speed over the last few months, with most leaks at this point confirming a chipset split between the standard and Pro models.

Keeping the new chipset exclusive to the Pro models would certainly make them look more ‘pro’, something Apple has had an issue with in recent years, but it’ll be interesting to see the reaction from consumers at release later this year. 

The first eSIM-only iPhone

Believe it or not, but Apple introduced eSIM functionality with the iPhone XS/XR back in 2018, and every iPhone since features the tech.

For the unaware, it’s essentially a digital SIM card that allows you to activate a plan without the need for a physical SIM card, and it’ll work with over 100 carriers around the world – perfect for getting cheap data rates when holidaying if nothing else.

But while it has been an optional feature up until now, whispers suggest an eSIM-only iPhone could be on the way later this year.  

The rumour comes from a MacRumors source that claimed Apple has advised US carriers to prepare for the launch of an eSIM-only smartphone by September 2022, suggesting that at least one model of iPhone 14 could lack the traditional nano-SIM tray.

However, analysts believe that while it is inevitable, it won’t be a complete switchover. GlobalData analyst Emma Mohr-McClune suggests that Apple will likely offer an eSim-only variant of the iPhone 14 through its own storefront and carriers that want to support it alongside traditional nano-SIM variants, so don’t ditch those SIM cards just yet. 

Satellite connectivity

While satellite connectivity was a late rumour for the iPhone 13 that never came to fruition, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests that it could finally make an appearance on the iPhone 14 range.

Discussing upcoming features in his Power On! newsletter, Gurman suggests that satellite connectivity could be used to send short text messages and report emergencies without standard cellular connectivity – though the functionality would be exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro range. 

He points towards a February 2022 deal between Apple and alleged satellite partner Globalstar Inc to buy 17 new satellites as evidence, with the company confirming it’d help power “continuous satellite services” for an unnamed customer that had paid hundreds of millions of dollars.

As for why, Gurman claims that the technology “would provide an alternative to the Garmin inReach Explorer and Spot, handheld satellite communicators with similar features”. 

Improved fast charging

Fast charging has never been a huge focus for Apple. While Android manufacturers are bundling 150W+ fast charging tech on smartphones like the XX, Apple’s iPhone 13 range tops out at 23W and 27W for the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max respectively. It’ll charge your iPhone rather quickly, but it can’t hold a candle to alternatives that can go from 0-100% in 15 minutes.

Though that’s not going to be drastically different with the iPhone 14 range, rumours suggest that Apple has given this year’s Pro models a slight bump to charging speeds, rumoured to top out at 30W. It’s a relatively small bump, but one that’ll hopefully bring down the overall charge time – even if it’s only slightly.

iOS 16

It may sound obvious, but some of the biggest changes to the iPhone 14 will come from the new software: iOS 16.

Of course, iOS 16 will be made available on other iPhones – every model from the iPhone 8 onwards – but the iPhone 14 series will be the first to ship with the new software.

New features baked into iOS 16 include customisable lock screens, the ability to edit and undo send in iMessage, new shared photo library options for iCloud, and more.

Courtesy: https://www.techadvisor.com/