Apple’s yearly iPhone launch is the largest date within the firm’s calendar. And after a number of years of cautious upgrades, expectations are excessive for the iPhone 14 in late 2022.
On this article we spherical up the most recent leaks and rumors regarding Apple’s subsequent flagship iPhone launch, together with the iPhone 14’s launch date, tech specs, design adjustments, new options, pricing and extra. The newest information is that each one iPhone 14 fashions are anticipated to get an upgraded entrance digital camera with autofocus and an f/1.9 aperture, whereas a controversial gap + tablet design is about to interchange the notch on the Professional fashions and the handset may acquire an always-on show.
Whereas we anticipate the brand new handsets to reach, you’ll be able to choose up a cut price on the present vary with our roundup of the very best iPhone offers.
When will the iPhone 14 be launched?
We count on the iPhone 14 to be introduced in mid-September 2022, and hit shops round per week later.
Apple almost at all times debuts its new iPhones in September annually, with COVID-19 inflicting one notable exception in 2020. It’s potential there might be comparable delays this 12 months–whereas the iPhone 14 Professional entered take a look at manufacturing on schedule, the non-Professional fashions seem to have been delayed barely–however we’d be stunned if Apple wasn’t in a position to get a deal with on these points in time for the autumn. Mark September 2022 in your diary for the approaching of the brand new fashions.
Right here’s when the previous few generations arrived:
- iPhone 13: September 24, 2021
- iPhone 12: October 23, 2020
- iPhone 11: September 20, 2019
- iPhone XS: September 21, 2018
(Observe that one iPhone has arrived already in 2022: the iPhone SE 3 was introduced at Apple’s spring occasion on March 8. However the flagship launch should wait till the autumn.)
Will Apple announce a brand new iPhone at WWDC on June 6?
No, it received’t. WWDC is a convention centered principally on software program, and the small variety of {hardware} bulletins are likely to revolve across the Mac or often the iPad Professional. Final 12 months there have been no {hardware} bulletins in any respect.
To be clear, there is precedent for an iPhone launch at WWDC: the iPhone 3G, 3GS and 4 had been introduced at WWDCs 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively. However Apple hasn’t finished this in effectively over a decade. The autumn launch schedule for the flagship iPhones, interspersed with occasional spring launches for the iPhone SE fashions, is now effectively established, and there’s no proof from both supply-chain leaks or the analyst group to counsel it will change at WWDC 2022.
Design adjustments for 2022
What is going to the iPhone seem like in 2022? We count on important design adjustments. Listed here are the most recent rumors in regards to the iPhone 14’s exterior look and bodily chassis.
Goodbye mini, hey Max
Essentially the most fundamental and apparent design attribute is dimension, and most pundits agree that Apple is about to drop a giant (or reasonably small) bombshell in that regard. All of the indicators counsel that the 5.4-inch iPhone mini line goes to be discontinued: Ming-Chi Kuo, for instance, has predicted that Apple will kill off the mini to introduce the Max in 2022.
What which means in apply is that we’ll nonetheless get 4 fashions, however as a substitute of those being cut up into one small, two medium and one giant, it is going to be two medium and two giant.
In different phrases,
- iPhone 13 mini (with a 5.4-inch display)
- iPhone 13 (6.1-inch display)
- iPhone 13 Professional (6.1-inch display)
- iPhone 13 Professional Max (6.7-inch display)
might be succeeded by:
- iPhone 14 (6.1-inch display)
- iPhone 14 Max (6.7-inch display)
- iPhone 14 Professional (6.1-inch display)
- iPhone 14 Professional Max (6.7-inch display)
Leaked photos of case molds–used to correctly dimension iPhone instances–illustrate these long-rumored dimension adjustments. Knowledgable Bloomberg report Mark Gurman helps this idea, including that Apple “should get extra dramatic with [2022]’s overhaul, particularly as competitors mounts.”
The iPhone 12 mini and 13 mini are understood to have bought badly, and the transfer is comprehensible. However not everybody might be glad to see the again of the mini, as we clarify in Why we mourn the iPhone mini.
Extra display house (barely)
Observe that these screens received’t be precisely the identical dimension as their direct predecessors; nor will they precisely match the dimensions of the non-Professional fashions. Slimmer bezels across the display imply the Professional iPhones will acquire a fraction of an inch in diagonal measurement, in keeping with the dependable show analyst Ross Younger.
You learn that proper: the Professional Max mannequin is gaining exactly one hundredth of an inch. Evidently, these microscopic adjustments in display dimension are unlikely to be proclaimed in Apple’s advertising supplies, which can proceed to spherical to the closest tenth of an inch.
From notch to “gap + tablet”
The iPhone 13 vary noticed a small lower within the dimension of the notorious notch on the entrance show. However in 2022 it’s set to get replaced by one thing completely different, not less than on the Professional fashions.
As an alternative of a notch minimize out of the highest of the display, we now perceive that the 14 Professional and 14 Professional Max could have a pair of smaller apertures for the front-facing digital camera and different sensors: each a pinhole digital camera and a notch, as we first heard again in October. Right here’s what that may seem like, based mostly on a picture showcasing the “gap + tablet” design that was posted on Chinese language social media in February 2022:
One other leak in Might gave us one other glimpse of the twin-hole design, and a direct comparability between the pilled-up Professional fashions and their notch-based equivalents. On this picture (sourced from Weibo, through Twitter), we will clearly see the slight distinction in bezel thickness which can imply extra display house on the more expensive fashions.
@SaranByte
Different sources have argued that the iPhone 14 Professional could have only a single pinhole aperture, and we examine whether or not the iPhone 14 could have a notch in depth in a separate article. However at this level the twin-aperture idea appears by far the almost certainly, particularly following the alleged leak of a brand new advert for Apple Pay that appears to substantiate the brand new design. Doubts stay over whether or not that is legit, nevertheless it’s yet one more level in favour of pin + gap.
The return of Contact ID
A technique for Apple to make it simpler to take away the notch can be to reinstate Contact ID on the following iPhone. This may be finished in one in all two methods, each of which have been closely rumored for a while now.
The primary is to introduce an under-display fingerprint sensor for Contact ID, as urged by Ming-Chi Kuo to MacRumors, whereas the opposite is for Apple to make use of the identical Contact ID sensor within the energy button that it at present deploys within the iPad Air (2020) and new iPad mini (2021).
However is Apple ready to countenance such an apparent backwards step? Contact ID was dropped from the flagship iPhones as way back as 2017, with its ongoing confinement to extra budget-focused fashions an implicit assertion that face recognition is healthier than fingerprint.
Our suspicion is that Apple will solely restore Contact ID to its top-tier telephones when it’s in a position to supply it alongside Face ID. And that doesn’t assist by any means with the removing of the notch.
The demise of the Lightning port
The concept Apple will ditch the Lightning port on the iPhone and have no ports in any respect has been rumored since earlier than the iPhone 12 was launched. On this idea, reasonably than depend on cables for charging, all energy can be delivered wirelessly. This might immediately render many equipment and energy banks redundant, however Apple has by no means been shy about making unpopular choices up to now. That would but turn into a actuality, however not within the close to future.
Within the meantime, a extra seemingly choice is that Apple will ditch Lightning and exchange it with USB-C, because it’s already finished on most of its iPads. The EU has been on the warpath for some time about proprietary charging requirements, and a draft legislation forcibly standardising smartphone ports was rumored in August 2021. This got here a step nearer in September 2021, when the EU Fee offered a invoice to unify charging cables. This might legally oblige Apple to provide a USB-C iPhone on the market in Europe–or to base all its new iPhones on USB-C in order to keep away from the manufacturing inefficiency of creating multiple design.
Certain sufficient, Ming-Chi Kuo has now gone on document with a prediction that Apple will certainly change from Lightning to USB-C on its iPhone, though this received’t occur till 2023. Which means the iPhone 14 could have an iPhone port, however it is going to be the final iPhone to take action.
New MagSafe adapter
With reference to charging ports, there’s additionally a curious rumor surrounding MagSafe. Not the MagSafe customary utilized by the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 fashions to connect wi-fi chargers to their rear, however a brand new magnetic cable customary that’s far nearer to the outdated MagSafe utilized by MacBooks.
Apple has patented “a plurality of magnets aligned with a linear configuration of the plurality of spring-biased pin assemblies…”
Really, it’s in all probability simpler in the event you have a look at this illustration:
How this may circumvent the EU drawback or standardise Apple’s connector points is unclear, however it’s an interesting-looking know-how.
Tech specs and new options
One of many tech group’s favourite video games is figuring out what enhancements and improvements Apple will provide you with annually for its new iPhones.
Apple assessments many new applied sciences, however whether or not they make it into the iPhone or not has to do with a sophisticated internet of technical feasibility, value, availability of components from suppliers, and extra. Listed here are the strongest clues now we have in regards to the options and spec upgrades you may even see within the iPhone 14.
ProMotion screens
The iPhone 13 is claimed to have 120Hz ProMotion shows on the Professional fashions, with panels made by Samsung, whereas the non-Professional variants will reportedly use common 60Hz shows made by LG. With the iPhone 14, LG is claimed to be making LPTO OLED shows able to 120Hz to provide the complete iPhone line.
So it’s potential that the complete iPhone 14 line could have 120Hz ProMotion know-how, which might observe Apple’s pure cadence: deliver a characteristic to the Professional mannequin first after which observe with the remainder of the road a 12 months later.
At all times-on show
Whereas we’re with regards to display upgrades, what in regards to the recurrent rumor that Apple is planning to present the iPhone an always-on show? Fairly than turning off utterly while you press the ability button or go away the machine idle for a couple of minutes, the display would stay lit always, albeit–assuming Apple follows the identical system it makes use of on the Apple Watch Collection 5 and later–with a dimmer, simplified interface to protect battery life.
That is an outdated perennial rumor, nevertheless it turned significantly common in 2021, when the characteristic was closely rumored to seem on the iPhone 13. Though it did not materialize that 12 months, some pundits consider it has been delayed reasonably than deserted, and that it may but make an look this 12 months.
Up to now, so obscure. However issues obtained extra concrete on the finish of Might 2022, when educated leaker Mark Gurman nailed his colours to the mast with a particular prediction: iOS 16 would deliver an always-on display to the iPhone in 2022, as a part of a wider revamp of the lock display. Regardless of being tied to an OS replace, this modification is not going to be obtainable retrospectively to current iPhones, Gurman says, however might be restricted to the iPhone 14 Professional and 14 Professional Max solely.
We count on to listen to all about iOS 16 and its new options on the opening keynote of WWDC 2022 on June 6. However as a result of it relates particularly to the autumn’s new iPhones, this characteristic could be an exception, and stay secret till the {hardware} to run it has been unveiled too.
Digicam upgrades
Large adjustments are apparently coming to the iPhone’s digital camera within the iPhone 14. Whereas the 2 strains are anticipated to retain the identical setup—twin digital camera in the usual iPhone 14 and triple-camera within the iPhone 14 Professional—Apple is planning a giant leap for the higher-end fashions. Leaked schematics present a large digital camera bump on the Professional fashions, protruding 4.17mm from the again of the case for a complete thickness of 12.02mm, a couple of milimeter thicker than the iPhone 13 Professional.
In keeping with Kuo, Apple is claimed to be contemplating a 48MP sensor for the usual vast digital camera, which might mix the pixels’ gentle assortment in a 2×2 grid when in a low-light state of affairs (producing a 12MP photograph). The digital camera would reportedly be able to taking pictures 8K video, not less than on the Professional fashions. Kuo additionally says the entrance digital camera will acquire autofocus and a wider aperture (f/1.9 as a substitute of f/2.2).
In April, a submit on Weibo (through Macrumors) claimed that the vast digital camera sensor might be 20 p.c bigger than iPhone 13 Professional. Along with the 48MP lens, that seemingly means the iPhone 14 Professional will take extraordinarily detailed photos in vibrant gentle whereas nonetheless counting on evening mode to seize low-light photos.
Whereas the Professional fashions had been beforehand rumored to incorporate a “periscope” lens with variable zoom, the most recent rumor says that characteristic is coming within the 2023 iPhone (presumably the iPhone 15).
New A16 processor
Each new iPhone has a brand new A-series system-on-chip (SoC) and we count on the iPhone 14 to observe go well with. The A16, as it’s going to seemingly be referred to as, may very well be one of many first large-scale processor releases to make use of TSMC’s 3-nanometer manufacturing course of, which ought to assist enhance efficiency, effectivity, and battery life. Nevertheless, a report in November by The Info urged Apple may follow a 5nm course of as a result of struggles with TSMC’s “cutting-edge manufacturing method.”
Nevertheless, latest rumors counsel solely the Professional fashions will get the latest chip, whereas the non-Professional fashions will get a barely upgraded A15 chip. That will be a doubling-down of the technique Apple launched with the iPhone 14, when the Professional fashions obtained a unique A15 chip for the primary time with a 5-core GPU.
Improved battery life
Speaking of battery efficiency, the Chinese language-language web site Financial Day by day Information believes the iPhone 14 will get a lift on this division because of enhancements in 5G know-how. The newest 5G elements are smaller and extra energy-efficient than those used within the earlier technology of iPhones, liberating up house within the chassis and enabling Apple to slot in a bigger battery.
Apple plans to bump the Professional and Professional Max handsets from 6GB of RAM within the 13-series technology to 8GB for the 14-series, in keeping with rumors from South Korea circulating in February 2022. The usual fashions, in the meantime, will bounce from 4GB to 6GB.
As much as 2TB of storage
Apple has solely simply damaged the terabyte barrier, providing a cool 1TB as the highest storage tier on the iPhone 13 Professional and 13 Professional Max for the primary time ever. However optimistic rumormongers suppose Apple will blast previous that milestone and double up once more to 2TB in 2022.
This idea relies on early testing exercise at provider companions. However we’re not fully satisfied.
mmWave 5G
iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 fashions bought within the US supply mmWave (or millimetre wave) 5G, however elsewhere this manner isn’t obtainable. For example, customers within the UK depend on the slower sub-6GHz model of 5G, which US customers get along with mmWave.
That will change with the iPhone 14. We reported again earlier than the launch of the iPhone 13 that Apple had made a big order for mmWave antenna, which urged that the UK and different nations would get quicker 5G with the iPhone 13. However ultimately the know-how was saved a US-only choice.
In April 2021 the analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that assist for mmWave can be rolled out in way more nations as a part of the launch of the iPhone 13 fashions. He talked about Canada, Australia, Japan and “main European cell operators,” which can embrace the UK. Possibly Kuo’s radar was barely off, and mmWave will make its worldwide debut within the iPhone 14 as a substitute?
So, what’s the massive take care of mmWave? Effectively, the theoretical most velocity for mmWave is 1-2 gigabits per second, in comparison with the 100-400 megabits supplied by Sub-6 GHz. Nevertheless, Sub-6GHz affords an extended vary, which is to the advantage of customers exterior the massive cities. We now have a separate article the place you’ll be able to learn in regards to the 5G protection issues confronted by the iPhone within the UK.
We now have a good suggestion, by the best way, of the elements Apple will use to offer this improved 5G connectivity, with the newly up to date X65 anticipated to seem within the iPhone 14. That is fascinating as a result of it permits the usage of mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G on the identical time, and affords unprecedented speeds of as much as 10Gb/s and even improved energy effectivity.
Wi-Fi 6E
Wi-Fi 6E is just like Wi-Fi 6, which the final three generations of iPhone already assist. Nevertheless it provides compatibility with the 6Hz band, growing bandwidth, bettering speeds and decreasing interference.
In keeping with a July 2021 report from the Taiwanese web site DigiTimes, the late-2021 iPhones had been thought to characteristic assist for the brand new Wi-Fi 6E wi-fi customary. However this didn’t occur, suggesting that it may very well be one of many new options within the iPhone 14 vary–and in November 2021 Ming-Chi Kuo gave this idea his backing.
DigiTimes wasn’t the primary web site to foretell Wi-Fi 6E in iPhones, with Barclays analysts forecasting the identical improve again in January 2021.
How a lot will the iPhone 14 value?
Worth-wise, we count on the usual iPhone 14 mannequin to begin at round $800, with the iPhone 14 Professional mannequin someplace between $1,000 and $1,100 (or extra if you wish to add additional storage).
However count on the pricing construction for the iPhone 14 fashions to be somewhat completely different from the present vary, for the easy motive that there isn’t anticipated to be a 5.4-inch mini model, however reasonably a lower-cost 6.7-inch Max dimension that Ming-Chi Kuo has mentioned may are available at beneath $900. With that in thoughts, we count on the beginning lineup to vary from roughly $800-$1,000 in worth, relying on mannequin and dimension.
The brand new bigger mannequin may additionally shake up the Professional costs. LeaksApple Pro on Twitter reported that Apple “is at present contemplating” bumping the costs of the Professional iPhones by $100 apiece, pushing the iPhone 14 Professional to $1,099 and the iPhone 14 Professional Max to $1,199. The account cites growing manufacturing prices and the necessity to present greater than a $100 distinction between the 14 Max and the 14 Professional.
For a tough comparability, listed below are the present beginning costs on the iPhone 13 sequence, as detailed in our iPhone shopping for information. Observe that these will drop in worth when the 14-series handsets seem (or disappear from sale fully).
- iPhone 13 mini: $699/£679
- iPhone 13: $799/£779
- iPhone 13 Professional: $999/£949
- iPhone 13 Professional Max: $1,099/£1,049
iPhone 15 and past
Whereas many of those rumors look set to seem within the iPhone 14, it’s at all times tough to guess the place Apple will go subsequent. So take this information with a pinch of salt, as something may occur over the months-long anticipate the brand new machine.
Keep in mind too that some deliberate adjustments or new options could slip and get pushed again to the following technology. For instance, when it comes to design, the proof is piling up that Apple is engaged on one thing very radical: extra radical certainly than the iPhone X.
An embryonic clamshell design at present referred to as the iPhone Flip is in growth at Apple HQ. Prolific leaker Jon Prosser says it’s paying homage to the Galaxy Z Flip, and can are available “enjoyable colours.” However he additionally warns that it received’t launch in 2022, ruling out the iPhone 14.
The evaluation firm Omdia has additionally predicted that Apple will launch two foldable iPhone fashions in 2023. Our personal Samuel Nyberg, nevertheless, thinks that Apple is not going to launch a folding iPhone. Compensate for the most recent rumors in our foldable iPhone information hub.
For a deeper dive into the longer term, learn Samuel Nyberg’s evaluation piece: The following 20 years of the iPhone.
