Here's what we know so far about the rumored iPhone 14
The iPhone 14 is likely to show up on September 7, with Apple setting a date for its big Apple September Event. But with a week to go before the big arrival, we already have a clear idea of what to expect thanks to a steady drumbeat of iPhone 14 rumors.
The standard iPhone 14 should be rather similar to the iPhone 13, though we're expecting some improved features and specs over the current models. In addition to the 6.1-inch iPhone 14, we're likely to see a larger 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max (or iPhone 14 Plus) that shares many of the same specs.
It's the iPhone 14 Pro models are expected to offer a bigger redesign, finally killing off the infamous display notch, opting for a punch-hole and pill-shaped dual display cutout design instead. An improved main 48MP camera and new A16 Bionic chip are also in the cards for the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, along with a possible always-on display.
iPhone 14 latest rumors (Updated September 1)
- There's not long until we likely meet the iPhone 14 line-up, but iPhone 14 leaks are still picking up. Here's a rundown of the latest last-minute iPhone 14 rumors.
- A possible different name for the new iPhone 14 Max model has been rumored, and it fits in with some older iPhone names.
- A new iPhone 14 Pro leak shows how the notch replacement could look(opens in new tab), and it's a big shock.
- The pricing for the iPhone 14 range may not be going up like other rumors have claimed.
- A new rumor tips the iPhone 14 Pro models to get 30W charging.
iPhone 14 possible release date and price
You can stop speculating about when we'll officially see an iPhone 14 unveiling. Apple has an event planned for September 7, and with the event titled to be "Far Out" which we've chewed over what that could mean for the iPhone 14.
Bloomberg(opens in new tab), which correctly forecast the September 7 product event ahead of time, expects devices to go on sale September 16. iPhone pre-orders are expected to begin September 9, which would be just a couple of days after the Apple event.
As for price, the iPhone 14 Pro models have been tipped to get a price increase of some $100, but in return could offer 256GB starting storage rather than 128GB (this rumor has been contested by a more recent analyst report). As such, the iPhone 14 Pro might hit $1,099 and the iPhone 14 Pro Max may hit $1,199.
So can Apple justify this $100 price hike for the iPhone 14 Pro models? We've chewed over what Apple is likely to do to ensure the iPhone 14 Pro offers good value for more money.
The standard iPhone 14 is expected to stick at $799 (also backed up by a claim coming via Twitter leaker Dohyun Kim(opens in new tab)) and the new iPhone 14 Max is tipped to cost $899. We may even see some models decrease in price, according to leaker yeux1122, which would be a very welcome surprise.
When a new iPhone arrives, it often means the end of the line for older iPhones, with the iPhone 13 mini looking to be the likely phone to get cut from Apple's smartphone lineup. As such, we had a dig into which iPhones could be discontinued when the iPhone 14 launches.
iPhone 14 rumored specs
iPhone 14 | iPhone 14 Max | iPhone 14 Pro | iPhone 14 Pro Max | |
Screen size |
6.1-inches | 6.7-inches | 6.1-inches | 6.7-inches |
Refresh rate |
60Hz | 60Hz | 1-120Hz | 1-120Hz |
CPU | Apple A15 Bionic | Apple A15 Bionic | Apple A16 Bionic | Apple A16 Bionic |
RAM | 6GB (LPDDR4X) | 6GB (LPDDR4X) | 6GB (LPDDR5) | 6GB (LPDDR5) |
Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
Cameras | Dual 12MP (Wide, ultrawide) | Dual 12MP (Wide, ultrawide) | 48MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom | 48MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom |
Battery size |
3,279mAh | 4,323mAh | 3,200mAh | 4,352mAh |
Colors | Green, purple, blue, black, white and red | Green, purple, blue, black, white and red | Purple, green, silver and graphite | Purple, green, silver and graphite |
iPhone 14 design
We've been hearing hints of a design change for some iPhone 14 models since last year, just ahead of the iPhone 13 launch, thanks to renders posted by leaker Jon Prosser.
The standard iPhone 14 should look a lot like its predecessor; instead, it's the iPhone 14 Pro models that the rumors tip to look a bit different. While the Pro models will retain the flat edge design, they're expected to drop the display notch for a pair of cutouts — a circular one for the front camera and a pill-shaped one for Face ID sensors. We've had leaked supply chain photos and other leaks that back up these claims.
A last-minute iPhone 14 Pro leak shows that the replacement for the notch could just be one bigger pill-shaped hole(opens in new tab) instead of two cutouts. But we'll have to see what the final design looks like.
For a bigger breakdown of the notch design changes, check out our rundown of what to expect from the iPhone 14 notch; in short, no big changes for the standard model but a big shift for the Pro phones. A new patent filed by Apple, shows how the company could pull-off a no-notch display on the iPhone 14 Pro.
And yes, that means no Touch ID support is expected for any of the iPhone 14 models. That's not going to sting as much as we had predicted, as with iOS 15.4, Apple has made it so that Face ID can recognize a legitimate user even when they are wearing a mask. It works remarkably well, meaning Apple may have bypassed the need for fingerprint-centric biometrics.
Some schematics that show the iPhone 14 Pro models with a raised camera array being even bigger on the iPhone 14 Pro. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, that's because a larger module is needed to house a 48MP camera. From the renders we've seen, it doesn't look likely the standard iPhone 14 will get a set of cameras flush with its rear panel.
A more recent tip appears to show off leaked mages of the iPhone 14 Pro, seemingly confirming a lot of the design rumors thus far. And we get a glimpse at the potential colors of the next wave of iPhones.
While the Pro modes look to offer the most interesting design, the standard iPhone 14 is tipped to be joined by the iPhone 14 Max. This model is expected to offer a larger 6.7-inch display to give users a bigger-screen iPhone without forcing them to pay big bucks for the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Not everyone is sure about whether this is a good idea, though — in fact one Tom's Guide writer really wishes Apple wasn’t killing the iPhone mini in favor of the iPhone 14 Max. And one editor says that you might want to skip the iPhone 14 Max(opens in new tab) in favor of one of the Pro models despite the hype.
One rumor that has long been doing the rounds is USB-C connectivity for the iPhone 14. However, now it looks like the iPhone 14 range will still stick with the Lightning port, with a USB-C iPhone not coming until late 2023, likely with the iPhone 15.
iPhone 14 colors
For color options, one source has said there will be Midnight, Starlight, and Product RED color options as usual, with the current blue being swapped out for a lighter sky blue.
As for the iPhone 14 Pro, a Chinese leaker claimed that alongside the familiar Graphite, Silver and Gold Pro iPhone colors, the new option for this year would be a dark purple.
For color options, one source has said there will be Midnight, Starlight, and Product RED color options as usual, with the current blue being swapped out for a lighter sky blue.
As for the iPhone 14 Pro, a Chinese leaker claimed that alongside the familiar Graphite, Silver and Gold Pro iPhone colors, the new option for this year would be a dark purple.
Meanwhile, leaked iPhone 14 cases show off eight potential colors. While these leaks don't cover official cases, given how case makers like their designs to complement phones, the colors could provide an additional clue as to which direction Apple will take with the iPhone 14.
iPhone 14 display
We’re expecting a shakeup in the iPhone 14 range, as we'll reportedly see a standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro come with a 6.1-inch display, while an iPhone 14 Max/Plus joins the iPhone 14 Pro Max in offering a 6.7-inch screen. That means no more 5.4-inch iPhone mini.
A leak from Shadow_Leak claims that the iPhone 14 will have a 6.08-inch display (rounded up to 6.1 inches) and the iPhone 14 Max with have a 6.68-inch panel (rounded up to 6.7 inches). That's the same as the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Max. The thing is though, the Pro models could be getting slightly larger (to 6.12 inches and 6.69 inches respectively) because of new bezels.
Given the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max have a 120Hz refresh rate display, it would be great to see all iPhone 14 models have such a screen, likely using an LTPO panel or an evolution of that display tech that could scale down to as little as 1Hz.
This use of panel tech means the iPhone 14 Pro has been tipped to get an always-on display. Long rumored to be an upcoming feature for next-gen iPhones, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has claimed the iPhone 14 Pro will finally get always-on display and it'll be used to show "weather, calendars, stocks, activities and other data" on the lock screen, with the a low refresh rate helping preserve battery life.
Being able to display such content on a display without needing to wake the phone up, would give next-gen iPhones a leg up on the best Android phones. And if we've learned that the iPhone 14 Pro's always-on display may simply dim(opens in new tab), while the widgets turn into a special silhouetted, black-and-white outline form. This could in theory give you full access to the lock screen as if the phone was on.
While code in the iOS 16 beta seemingly confirms an always-on display feature, the standard iPhone 14 is expected to stick with simple lift-to-wake option rather than an always-on display. Instead, the iPhone 14 Pro with its adaptive refresh rate will likely support any always-on display feature.
Graphic designer AR7(opens in new tab) has created a set of concept images showing how the iPhone 14 Pro could look with an always-on display. Their designs are based partly on rumors around the phone's hardware, but also on information from the iOS 16 beta — and to our eyes at least, they look pretty good.
One report from The Elec(opens in new tab) says that at least one iPhone 14 model will sport an LTPS display, which means a 60Hz panel could be sticking around. Subsequent supply chain reports have only reinforced the idea that the standard iPhone 14 may miss out on a fast-refreshing display.
But a more recent rumor has the standard iPhone 14 models tipped to get a 90Hz refresh rate display; that's not quite the snappy 120Hz refresh rate we'd like to see, but it would be a notable improvement over a 60Hz panel. Another tipster corroborates this disappointing specs rumor.
iPhone 14 cameras
The latest rumors don't have the standard iPhone 14 set to get a major camera upgrade, with a regular Apple tipster claiming non-Pro models will stick with 12MP cameras. However, if this is the case we can expect Apple to have done some work on the software side to improve the next-gen iPhone's photography skills as well as equip iOS 16 with more camera-centric features.
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo all models of the iPhone 14 have been tipped to get an upgraded front-facing camera,
But it's with the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max we can expect the biggest camera changes. A 48-megapixel main camera may be in the works to capture more detail-rich photos with better control over light and thus overall quality. This would point towards suggesting megapixels mattering once more for Apple.
The ultrawide camera for the iPhone 14 Pro has also been tipped to get an upgrade with an updated sensor reportedly coming in at be 1.4 micrometers, a nice boost from the iPhone 13 Pro's 1.0-micrometer pixels. Larger pixels are better at capturing light making the sensor more effective when things get dark. And as Apple's September 7 launch event is named "Far Out" and seems to have a space theme, maybe we'll see Apple promoting the new ultrawide camera's ability to take great astrophotography and night shots.
All that said, the latest leak claims that the iPhone 14 Pro could have a surprise camera downgrade — in certain conditions at least. @LeaksApplePro(opens in new tab) claims to have spoken to a source who has used the iPhone 14 Pro, and they report that that in low light there is "a substantial amount of noise.” We'd take this one with a big pinch of salt, though, as we can't see Apple upgrading a camera and not improving it in every respect.
For more, see our iPhone 14 camera roundup for all the biggest rumors and leaks.
iPhone 14 chipset and battery life
A suite of rumors thus far have the iPhone 14 tipped to stick with the A15 Bionic chip, while the iPhone 14 Pro modes are expected to get a new A16 chip (something the iPhone 15 series may also do too).
If you're interested in how much extra power the A16 could offer, there have been some leaked benchmarks that could give us a clue. However, we'd argue that the A15 Bionic is so powerful that having it in the iPhone 14 is going to be no bad thing, and you should dismiss the standard iPhone 14 models just because they ay lack a silicon upgrade.
The rumors so far claim that all four iPhone 14 models will have 6GB RAM, a boost from 4GB on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini. However, the base models would use LPDDR4X RAM like the current iPhone 13 range, while the Pro models will allegedly get faster and more efficient LPDDR5 RAM.
On the storage side, we'd expect Apple to continue with the options it has for the iPhone 13 range, which start at 128GB and go up to 1TB for the Pro models.
Apple could also launch an eSIM-only variant of the iPhone 14, according to claims by analyst Emma Mohr-McClune of GlobalDate. The move would bolster the iPhone's appeal among users who need dual SIM capabilities, such as business users and overseas travelers.
A source from Weibo claiming to know the battery capacities of the iPhone 14 family shows that all models except the iPhone 14 Pro Max will be getting a slight increase in size. The 14 Pro Max is in fact shrinking a little, but hopefully not enough to impact the phone's overall battery life. Both iPhone 14 Pro models are expected to get a boost to 30W charging, while the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max would stick with 20W charging.
With all this discussion around battery life and charging, we've chewed over how long we thing the next iPhones will last. We're hoping for not only a longer battery life but notably faster charging, even if it just comes to the iPhone 14 Pro models.
Future iPhones are in line to include an Apple-made 5G modem, following Apple's acquisition of Intel's modem business. This would presumably give Apple more control over both the 5G performance and battery life impact. However, that's not expected until the iPhone 15 next year; for now, we're looking at Qualcomm's X65 modem as the iPhone 14's way of connecting to 5G and LTE networks.
While we're on the subject of connectivity, an old iPhone 13 rumor has resurfaced — that the iPhone will gain the ability to connect to satellite networks so that users can send text messages to emergency services when cellular networks aren't available. That feature didn't make it to the iPhone 13, but now tipsters say that the iPhone 14 models could add satellite connectivity, as Apple looks to bolster the emergency features of its phones. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the hardware work is done for the iPhone 14, and all that's standing in the way of this feature is Apple striking deals with a satellite provider.
For more, check out our full iPhone 14 specs(opens in new tab) preview with details on all four models.
iPhone 14 Max to replace iPhone 14 mini
It's looking like it's game over for the iPhone mini, with pretty much every rumor tipping the smaller phone to be replaced by a larger 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max/Plus.
The iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini failed to be runaway successes for Apple with people seemingly preferring the larger-screened phones.
Nevertheless, if you are looking for an smaller phone then we've got a rundown of the best iPhone 14 mini alternatives, with the iPhone SE 2022 leading the pack.
Now the iPhone 14 Pro models are set to have headline-grabbing upgrades, but we feel it would be wrong to ignore the iPhone 14 Max. A bigger screen without a big price tag could be exactly what iPhone fans are after, to the extent that the iPhone 14 Max could be the most exciting Apple phone of the year and the phone to beat come the fall.
Having said that, display analyst Ross Young claims that based on display shipments the iPhone 14 Max will be the phone Apple produces in the smallest quantities. This means Cupertino could end up testing the waters to see if a non-Pro iPhone with a large screen is indeed what the people want.
Our iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 14 Max comparison looks at how the two phones could differ.
Be aware that the iPhone 14 Max may debut under a different name. Leaker Lanzuk claimed Apple will call its 6.7-inch entry level phone the iPhone 14 Plus, which seems to be backed up by some leaked iPhone case packaging. Ditching the iPhone 13 mini isn't the only big change expected versus the iPhone 14. See our iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13 comparison for all the biggest rumored differences so far.
iPhone 14 outlook
While we're still dealing with rumors and claimed leaks ahead of the September 7 Apple event, we now have a fairly good idea of what to expect from the iPhone 14 range.
Both standard and Pro models will be an evolution over what's come before, with the iPhone 14 Pro likely being the one to get all the standout upgrades; check out our early rundown of the iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max.
But iPhones are made to last and the standard iPhone 14 models aren't to be dismissed either, given they are still likely to offer a stellar iOS experience.
For what it's worth, we'd advise you don't buy an iPhone 13 now, and instead wait to see what Apple could reveal next week. It's very likely Apple will have another iPhone range that'll see it look to top our best phones list.