The iPhone 14 lineup promises to bring some of the most significant upgrades we‘ve seen since the early days of Apple‘s legendary smartphone series. As a self-confessed tech nerd who lives and breathes iPhone rumors, allow me to walk you through an in-depth preview of the iPhone 14 models expected to drop soon based on leaks so far.
When‘s the iPhone 14 Coming Out?
Before we dig into the upgrades, let‘s quickly establish what we know about the iPhone 14 release date so far based on Apple‘s history:
| iPhone Model | Announcement Date | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 13 | Sept 14, 2021 | Sept 24, 2021 |
| iPhone 12 | Oct 13, 2020 | Oct 23, 2020 |
| iPhone 11 | Sept 10, 2019 | Sept 20, 2019 |
Barring last year‘s delayed iPhone 12 due to the pandemic, Apple has stuck to a predictable September timeline for unveiling new iPhones annually followed by retail availability within 2 weeks.
Popular analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has corroborated September 13 as the likely launch event date for the new 2022 series. My money is on pre-orders opening on Sept 16th and retail shelves by Sept 23rd if Apple holds course.
With that out of the way, let‘s jump into what new additions we expect from the iPhone 14 models this year!
4 Size Options – And No More ‘Mini‘
We‘ve grown accustomed to Apple offering a mix of screen sizes ranging from compact to phablet. 2022 may change things up with the venerable iPhone mini set to be retired.
Here are the 4 variants reportedly in testing:
- iPhone 14 – 6.1-inch display
- iPhone 14 Max – 6.7-inch display
- iPhone 14 Pro – 6.1-inch display
- iPhone 14 Pro Max – 6.7-inch display
The non-Pro iPhones will come in 6.1 and 6.7-inch size options vs the 5.4-inch mini offered last couple of years.
This allows the regular iPhone 14 to slot into the $799 price tag left vacant while letting customers enjoy a cheaper full-screen model with the Max. And as you guessed, the Pro series takes things up a notch across screen tech, cameras and power.
Notch, Begone!
Easily one of the most polarizing aspects of recent iPhones has been the display notch dating back to the iPhone X in 2017. After 5 years, Apple seems to finally be ready to ditch the black cutout. But there‘s a catch…
Analyst Ross Young predicts only the iPhone 14 Pro models will lose the notch this year. They are tipped to feature a pill-shaped hole for housing the front camera while the Face ID and other sensors will move under the display. Apple has filed multiple patents around under-panel biometrics so the tech is certainly mature enough.
Meanwhile, Mr Young speculates lower iPhone 14 models will retain an albeit smaller notch over last year‘s. Moving Face ID remains technically challenging and expensive even for Apple, it seems!
Personally, I‘d take even a single lens hole punch cutout over the eyesore notch. Here‘s hoping Apple bites the bullet soon across the lineup.
Titanium Design for Improved Durability
Recent investor notes shared by JP Morgan point to a potential titanium alloy chassis on iPhone 14 Pro variants. This will likely replace the premium stainless steel frame used on iPhone 13 Pro models.
Here‘s how the materials compare per independent testing:
| Material | Hardness (Vickers) | Density (g/cm3) |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless Steel | 500 | 7.9 |
| Titanium Alloy | 850 | 4.5 |
As you can see, titanium alloys flaunt 70% higher hardness with nearly half the density promising a tougher build while shedding some weight. Apple has also filed a patent for utilizing titanium in electronic device enclosures last year.
However, titanium does have its downsides like being prone to dents, tricky to manufacture at scale and relying on special cooling systems to control heat. How Apple mitigates these concerns with its customary finesse will be closely watched!
48MP Pro Cameras & Impressive Zoom Range
Megapixels don‘t tell the full story but after being leapfrogged by the likes of Samsung and Google, Apple is finally prepping a sensor resolution upgrade since the early iPhone 6 era.
Acclaimed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealved that iPhone 14 Pro models will flaunt an upgraded 48MP wide camera. Combined DSLR-grade pixel size, Apple‘s imaging algorithms and pixel binning tech, this promises substantially improved detail.
Add the ability to digitally zoom up to 6x optically vs 3x on the iPhone 13 Pro for crisp distant shots. Portrait lighting also benefits from the extra resolution allowing more granular processing.
Meanwhile, Kuo adds the front facing camera will get an aperture boost to f/1.9 letting 60% more light for superior selfies and FaceTime calls.
Lastly, 8K video recording support will help Apple catchup to select Android devices that already offer higher resolution capture. Diving into technicalities, 8K allows cropping 4K footage in post with no loss in detail – an editor‘s dream!
While the camera hardware itself witnesses a notable bump, Apple has always stood tall with its imaging software edge over the competition. This married with advanced specs on the Pro iPhones point to tangible improvements that have me thrilled as an amateur photographer!
Breaking Down the A16 Bionic Chip Upgrade
The latest Ax-series Silicon that powers each iPhone generation brings measurable performance and efficiency gains thanks to Apple‘s tight hardware-software integration.
This year however, signs point to the A16 Bionic being an exclusive on iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max:
| iPhone 14 Model | Chipset | Manufacturing Process | CPU Performance (AnTuTu) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Pro | A15 Bionic | 5nm | 820,000+ |
| Pro | A16 Bionic | 4nm | 1,000,000+ (est) |
Phew, that‘s a lot of technical jargon so let‘s break it down in simple terms:
- The A15 Bionic currently features on iPhone 13 series will be carried forward for non-Pro iPhone 14, albeit likely with GPU boost
- iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will feature all-new A16 chips based on enhanced 4nm process promising further speed and efficiency gains
- Early A16 benchmarks indicate another 20-25% CPU-focused improvements over A15
While not the clean break from yesteryear‘s components we hoped for, the non-Pro chipsets will still get meaningful upgrades. Think A16 as the cherry on top cementing the iPhone 14 Pro‘s status as uncompromised Apple flagships!
Emergency SOS via Satellite Connectivity
This one might seem totally unbelievable at first but hear me out. Multiple reports including venerable Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman validate Apple working to incorporate satellite connectivity into upcoming iPhones.
While not in the realm of Starlink grade broadband internet, it aims to enable emergency SOS-like features where no cellular signal is available:
- Send short text messages to emergency services/contacts off-the-grid
- Report major incidents like accidents or fires for aid
- Get location data pinpoint accuracy using satellite reference
Execution remains a big unknown – broadband satcom requires large sophisticated antennas and geostationary satellite access. Perhaps Apple is simply enhancing their existing emergency features with satellite data connectivity?
Either ways, if well implemented, it could literally be a lifesaver in remote hiking trails or disasters killing cell infrastructure!
When Lightning Will Finally Rest
Last but not least – the long-speculated shift from Apple‘s proprietary Lightning ports to ubiquitous USB Type-C charging.
Respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo made heads turn by predicting 2023 iPhones will make the swap to USB-C in lieu of Lightning ports. As someone rocking USB-C gear, I‘d be lying to say this doesn‘t excite me tremendously! 😃
Here are some benefits I‘m looking forward to:
- No more Lightning cable hunting when I need to charge at a mate‘s place! 😅
- Universal fast charging with existing 100W+ USB-PD bricks
- Potential Thunderbolt 3 port enabling high speed docks & monitors
- Reduced e-waste with USB-C interoperability and futureproofing
The long transition is likely due to accessory compatibility considerations and licensing agreements. But when it does land, the convenience and versatility lift will be worth applauding!
So there you have it – an exhaustive yet friendly lowdown into the bevy of upgrades slated for iPhone 14 models. As an Apple loyalist, I‘m particularly thrilled by the 48MP camera, A16 Bionic chip and satellite connectivity perks headed for the Pro variants.
Feel free to hit me up in the comments if you need any clarification or have predictions of your own! And don‘t forget to subscribe for my full iPhone 14 review once its unleashed upon the world soon enough! 😉
